[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Freddy

This is a different topic, but one worth commenting on, as we've discussed before...
I can appreciate your personal ability to turn off the laid back, casual mechanics of those summer games when those off-season games end. That, however, is not typical. Problem is, most other officials are unable to do what you claim to be able to do. The non-approved things -- the shortcuts and the lazy habits -- they adopt and develop in the off-season become engrained, and those are the "sequence of video control buttons" they retain. They, unlike you, can't turn those habits off when comes the time for the high school season.
Which is why I discourage unapproved mechanics in the off season. Frankly, for some, it's better than the don't even do off-season games for that very reason.
I like Monty McCutcheon's quote regarding good habits : "Refereeing is about creating good habits so that we can depend on them at the biggest moments. And if we don't have them in our non-conference, preseason schedule, then we don't have them when we get Kentucky/Alabama for the SEC championship. We have to create good habits..."
If you can do it, which I do not doubt, more power to you. Problem is, few others can.
I still like your illustration. And will continue to use it.

I stated using this out of necessity. I started using it no lanyard regularly when I realized when I realized what the benefits were for me. I also work college where we have some different mechanics during the season as well. I used to long time ago work Women's college where they had totally different mechanics. I can do both fine. What others can or cannot do is on each individual. Not every official does only HS mechanics anyway, so they have to adjust when working other levels anyway. If guys cannot do different things then I would not recommend that person do what I do. Mostly we do not use regular mechanics anyway during the off-season like switching and even some basic coverages, so not sure why it is so hard to do one thing during the off-season and do something else in the regular season. And when I say regular season, I mean HS and above games. Guys working anything else might also not do what is a approved mechanic.

Peace