[JRutledge]

Perception can be reality. You can be the best official in the world, but if you are 300 pounds, no one will believe you can keep up or got plays right because of how you look. So yes getting plays right are the ultimate goal, but part of being seen as getting plays right are what we show them. That is why your mechanics need to be sharp. You will not have great rules knowledge for some time until you have screwed up some rules so the mechanics can make you look more confident. Let us face it, coaches we deal with often are clueless and judge us based on perceptions that are not always true. Unfortunately their opinion often matters more than even fellow officials in certain situations. But the more you do this, the more you will find what works for you and then do that. When something stops working as well, change. In may nearly 20 year career I have changed things several times and considered many different attitudes about different things. Many were changed because of personal experience and talking with others.

Peace