[hab_in_exile]

WOW!

I am impressed by the passionate defence of Canadian rules. I respectfully disagree on many counts, but I really do respect your viewpoint, and more importantly, your passion.

I have one more concern about the development angle with the Canadian rules. There was a time when the Canadian game was unique enough to be considered almost its own sport. I don't think that is the case now. Therefore, we are training our kids to be minor league football players. I think we owe it to the kids to train them to become major league players (despite the incredibly long odds). The CFL can then do whatever it wants. They are their own thing.

Secondly, I wanted to address the "you should stop officiating" angle. There is a lot more to football than single points, NY, or backfield motion. I defintely prefer the NFHS rules, but on the balance it is still football and I still enjoy it a lot. Being frustrated with the rules I don't like are the product of loving what I do, not hating it.

I just go out there and do my thing, learn the Cdn rules better, and do a better job of the game whenever I can. When I am the field, my disagreement with rules does not matter, I call what the book says, and I work the game the way the book says. Off the field (and on message boards) I vent a little.

Canadian football is in good hands. Your passion is impressive.