whistle on try

[bossman72]

You can always blow the whistle late.  Unfortunately you can't undo an early whistle.

[bama_stripes]

But it doesn't become dead UNTIL it breaks the plane. Big difference!

Even if it's technically an IW, where's the harm?

[Curious]

Even if it's technically an IW, where's the harm?

+1

Been doing this for a Loooong time with no issues.  No harm; just SMART!  Look, if you can't differentiate between a try and field goal, maybe you should be a Water Polo referee.  R/B can't score, so what does it matter.  Let's not over-think this...

[Rulesman]

You can always blow the whistle late.  Unfortunately you can't undo an early whistle.

[Ralph Damren]

B cannot score on PAT but if blocked (bad snap, hold, etc), A still has oportunity to convert for 2; yes?

IF there was a bad snap or muff by the holder the ball would remain in play and could result in 2 for A. IF a kick is made and blocked, the play is dead.

[TampaSteve]

Like most here, round these parts there is an early whistle on trys either soon after toe hits leather or on or about when the plane is crossed.
Rulesman has a fine point about IW.
It seems the intent of the 'quick whistle' for trys is to prevent bubba getting carried away in trying to block a kick, but also to remind/notify the players the ball is dead (i.e. on blocks it is not live) so bubba doesnt pick it up and start a mad-dash.

[prab]

I don't like doing an immediate whistle on the kick because some guys get lulled into the habit, then forget when it's a field goal.

bossman72 nailed it on this one!

Recently in our area (names withheld to protect the guilty):

Score tied in fourth period with seconds left in the period.  K attempts a game winning FG.  While kick is in the air: 1) time for the period expires; 2) an unnamed official has an IW.  Kick lands short of R's goal line and in the field of play.

Officials get together and eventually announce that the 4th period has ended and the game will proceed to OT.  Coach K says nothing.  Coach R complains that the IW cost his team a chance to return the FG attempt. 

It seems that the officials AND coach R got off the hook because Coach K did not know the rule regarding how an IW that occurs while a scrimmage kick is in the air should be handled.

[The Roamin' Umpire]

I don't like doing an immediate whistle on the kick because some guys get lulled into the habit, then forget when it's a field goal.

Damn near did this myself a couple of weeks ago... one of many reasons why it's good to keep talking to each other about what's coming.

[Ted T]

For consistency, our back judge has the whistle on any FG or PAT kick as long as the kick proceeds as normally expected.  If it's blocked or is kicked toward the sideline, the covering official would handle the whistle as they would on any scrimmage play.

We blow the whistle only when the ball is dead by rule.  At one time, many years ago, when individual referees operated their own fiefdoms, several used the "whistle at the kick" on PATs.  That has been mothballed in our efforts to be more consistent and uniform.

[bigjohn]

your chance of getting an IW on a try are a lot less likely than a sack of donuts for a dollar!