Football refs won’t use traditional whistles this year. What other changes are coming?
College football is adapting with the times amid the coronavirus pandemic. That includes the beloved officials on game days.
Traditional whistles are out. Electronic whistles are in. Yes, you read that right. Even the most minute details such as blowing a play dead have been adjusted for the upcoming season.
What type of whistles officials use was just one of several COVID-19 adjustments announced by the National Football Foundation this week, which is partnered with College Football Officiating.
Among other changes:
▪ The team area will be expanded from between the 25-yard lines to the 15-yard lines to encourage social distancing.
▪ The pregame coin toss will feature only one captain from each team, as well as the referee and umpire. Those four are deemed the only “essential people” necessary for the coin toss, which will be spaced out and conform to social distancing guidelines.
▪ Players will be able to wear a medical mask attached to the facemask. The masks must be the same color and design for every player and can only feature the team logo.
▪ All officials will wear a solid black mask. The official will “mask up” when the snap is imminent and may only lower the mask between plays when the official is in space (i.e. social distancing). The official may lower their mask and replenish oxygen but must mask up if anyone approaches the official or the next snap is imminent.
▪ All officials will be tested for COVID-19 weekly and will follow all conference protocols.
Social justice initiatives
Along with the COVD-19 policies, the NFF announced plans to allow student-athletes the opportunity to voice their opinions and/or express support of racial and social justice by allowing a commemorative or memorial patch to be placed on helmets or jerseys. The patches or decals must not exceed 2 ¼-square inches.
A source said TCU is expected to take part in this initiative with a helmet decal for the SMU game on Sept. 11, and likely a jersey patch for the Big 12 opener against Iowa State on Sept. 26. The team has yet to announce what message or cause it would be supporting for those games.
