Brandon-
I think you are missing their point. You have come on this forum and ask alot of questions and that is a great way to learn. But you should also welcome critisism! So you just made two comment that need to be addressed:
1)
"Another thing that seems to me to be not professional is not enforcing a penalty just because there are :10 left in the game and the WH is the one choosing not to enforce it."
Depending on the score and the flow of the game
unless these are safety related fouls I would say in a vast amount of situations it may be best to pass on these and let the game end.
2)
"Im sorry if you disagree but Im a strong supporter of the term "rules are rules" and we are being assigned to and paid for that game to enforce those rules. If your not going to enforce a penalty just because you want to leave a little bit earlier then why are you out there to begin with? If you don't want to be there then don't come. "
Brandon, when I started officiating football 31 years ago I was as gung-ho as you. I read that rule book and I became a "Rule Book Charlie!" I looked for fouls and by god I found them! I called everything that moved and I was justified in doing so
because it was in the book, AND, in fact, I could show you where it is in the book! Sometimes those old, slow, crew members (who should of retired years ago) would laugh or roll their eyes
when I would throw a flag. Crap, these guys sure missed alot. I remember games where I had 20 or more flags and these old farts had maybe 1 or 2 or
NONE! I could never understand why our assigner would constantly stick me with these clowns every saturday. In fact we would talk about these old farts in our 1st and 2nd year classes and about how many fouls they missed. When we compared our notes it was just amazing how much these old guys would miss.
Then one day one of those old farts (name of
Les) sat me down, told me pretty much to shut up and just listen.
He said alot of things but three things are still stuck in my head today:
1) Anytime you
LOOK for fouls you will likely miss the big one that happens right in front of you.
2)
You can live by the rule book, AND you can die by the rule book!
3) Let the game/level of competition/score dictate what needs to be called and what doesn't need to be called. And, If it doesn't need to be called, pass on it, but let the player know you saw it.
A few years later, Les added number 4
4) If after a game, the winning coach says "you did a great job", or the losing coach says "you guys were terrible" throw them out like yesterdays paper. If, however after the game, the losing coach lets you know you did a good job, pat yourself on the back.
(Les never told me what to think if the winning coach said "you guys were terrible", I figured that one out on my own!)
Today, I am quite proud to say I have become one of those old farts! And Brandon, you don't know what I would give to work one more game with Les. but, alas, the good lord took him to a higher level game just a little bit ahead of the rest of us.
(I have conviced myself however that sky-box seats are included in the package.)
Keep asking questions, it is the only way to learn. But perhaps consider the answer a little longer before you "Cut them to the quick"!
Best wishes