Why do some officiating crews blow their whistle late and sometimes not at all when the player is down and/or the play is dead?
Coaches teach players to "play to the whistle" but refs get upset and sometimes and even call late hits when players make contact with a player after he is "down."
Help me understand. Nwfootball
Posted on 2/28 5:57 PM | IP: Logged
Coaches who teach their players to hit until the whistle sounds are teaching their players incorrectly and are asking for penalties. A player has a responsibility to know when the runner is down, within reason. A defender hitting a runner who is already OOB. It's no different for a player who is downed inbounds.
As for officials and whistles, the rule book reads, "An official's whistle seldom causes the ball to become dead. It is already dead." The fact is the only time an official's whistle causes the ball to be dead is when an inadvertent whistle occurs.
That's why players are required to recognize when the runner is down.
Posted on 2/28 6:50 PM | IP: Logged
Clear and to the point. Thanks. I don't mean this in a negative way - serious question - what's the purpose of the whistle?
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