1. How are we able to hear that tiny whistle over a big, loud football game?
There are two reasons we can hear a whistle over the considerable noise during a football game (American football games average around 117dB of sound).
First: The whistles football referees use are LOUD! Depending on the model of whistle and the referee's personal lung power, a single whistle can put out an incredible 120dB (or more!) of sound.
Second: A whistle's pitch is typically very shrill, reaching those higher sound frequencies which the roar of the crowd (and human voices in general) aren't likely to occupy -- so while the game may already be quite loud, the sudden introduction of that shrill whistle blast at a frequency that was previously vacant is noticeably audible. Depending on the pitch of the whistle and the power with which it's being blown, some sports whistles can actually be heard from up to a mile away.
2. Why do football referees use whistles, anyway?
Originally, the referee had only his voice and a colorful handkerchief to use to get the players' attention. (Imagine a referee trying to shout and wave a bit of cloth to get everyone's attention at a stadium game today... Yikes. Sure, they still use flags on some calls, but the whistle is essential!) As the games grew more and more popular, and therefore louder and louder, referees were struggling to be seen -- and heard. Then, in 1868, a clever English fellow named Joseph Hudson made the first whistle specifically designed for use by referees during football games. Of course, that was European "football" -- but the whistle approach proved so effective that its use rapidly spread, and similar whistles are now used world-wide in a variety of other sports, industries, and even at the Olympics.
3. Can sports whistles cause hearing damage?
Oh, yeah. Anything that produces 120dB or more of sound is a definite hazard to your hearing! Just as many football teams are investing in custom molded ear plugs to help protect the players' ears, it may be wise for referees to be investing in similar ear protection -- not only does the ref experience the full sound of the game just like the players do, but the ref is also the one blowing that incredibly loud whistle for an extra dose of noise. Still, when it comes to football and hearing protection for the fans, the whistle tweets are generally so short that they're not a big hearing hazard, relatively speaking. You'll need to protect your hearing from the hours of the actual game and the roaring crowd -- not the whistle.
And always remember to protect your little fans with ear muffs for babies and children!
Until next time, be safe and love your ears!
--Sarah Bergman, Web Developer
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