"More than 140 years after it made its debut, in English soccer, the whistle is the most recognizable sound in sports... But in the age of coronavirus, the whistle may face an existential challenge, or, at the very least, a serious rethinking. To use almost any whistle requires a deep breath and then a forced burst of droplet-filled air — things that, during a pandemic, deeply concern medical experts...
About a decade ago, Fox 40 also began making and marketing an electronic whistle. It operates with the push of a button, and its tones can be adjusted by a switch on the side. The current versions on the market produce sounds that range from 96 to 120 decibels (or from the sound of a lawn mower to that of an ambulance siren)."
does that do all the bosun's whistle calls?
ReplyDeleteI-)
The problem with these electronic whistles, besides not being quite as loud as a regular Fox 40, is that the pitch & volume is constant. (The side switch is used to help differentiate your whistle from that on the adjacent field.) I referee soccer matches and we do a lot of "talking" with the whistle. When used properly, you can tell by the whistle how serious an infraction is. This technique isn't possible with today's electronic whistles.
ReplyDeletePlus, you need to buy and carry at least two of them so you have a backup when the battery dies on the pitch. (And it will.)