History of the Whistle

The football official's whistle is one of the sounds of the game you hear that makes you know exactly where you are at. These little sound makers have an important role in the gridiron game and their evolution is an interesting one.

The history and the evolution of the whistle is interesting. First let's define exactly what the whistle is. To do this we consult the experts, the Whistle Shop.com states that:

" Whistle belongs to a group of woodwind instruments called "fipple flutes" (fipple is the term still used today to describe the block in the mouth piece that constricts the air to produce sound). Originally called "vertical flutes", they were made of bone or clay. In the 17th century, the term "Flageolet" was used to describe a fipple flute with four finger holes on the front, and two thumb holes on the back."

The Whistle Away Crime site reveals a fascinating history of whistles, dating back as far as 5000 years ago in Ancient China. These early whistles, made of reeds, were used by the Han Dynasty as a warning signal against barbarian attacks. The shrill sound, harnessed from the natural resource of reed, was not just a practical tool but a life-saving one.

The site also shares that in 11th-century Europe, carvings were made of players blowing on bone pipes with narrow conical bones. About a hundred years later, bird bones were known to be used to manufacture whistles in Ancient Ireland. This remained relatively stable through the centuries, but there are reports of whistles carved from wood. By the time the early 19th century rolled around, the "Feadan" became popular, a whistle made from hollowed stalks of such plants as cane, elder, and wild reeds and grasses. In 1843, a whistle made of tin was developed by Robert Clarke after he modified the design of a wooden whistle he owned and played. The Clarke Tinwhistle Company is one of the largest manufacturers of instruments to this day.

So how did the whistle reach the football field, and when? Author Timothy P. Brown and an article he wrote in 2019 on officiating whistles on the Fields of Friendly Strife website. Tim tells of how WHistles entered American football in 1887 after Soccer and Rugby used the devices around 1883. It is interesting that according to Tim Brown's piece, the whistle really transformed around 1880 when Scotland Yard in London was looking for a loud-sounding device for its officers to carry in the field to signal people from far-off localized distances. Before finding a better-made whistle that used a pea and could be heard up to a mile away, the London peace officers used rattle-like contraptions.

On the gridiron, the whistle was first used in a duo role to signal the end of a play and to identify fouls. In 1904, per the Fields of Friendly Strife website, the early adaptation of the penalty flag replaced the whistle on fouls so that the shrill sounds could be focused and more effective during dead ball periods of the game.

In the modern game, the whistle still signals when a ball has become dead by rule, and it also helps signal the ready for play along with some other similar minor duties. Modern Zebras carry whistles in three ways: on a lanyard around their neck, on a short hand-held lanyard, or on a finger-gripped whistle that nestles over a few fingers. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and many officials have at least two varieties on their person during games.
The whistle is a great tool for officiating and coaching football, and the game is much better off with it. It helps the flow of a ball game and establishes order and a level playing field.

The banner photo is of McDowell High School's Dave hanlin Field in Erie, PA

A Very Special thanks to information obtained from the following brilliant internet sites mentioned above including the Football Zebras and Fields of Friendly Strife as well asn the Whistle Museum.