If you are the R

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

Of course it relates to us as officials. A player with 4 fouls (or even 2 in the first half) will usually play defense differently. You already agreed with me that we should know the team and player tendencies. So you'll have to agree that there's value in knowing when a player might tend to be less aggressive on defense because he wants to stay in the game.

Yes, the four fouls is maybe going to make the player play differently. The key word is "maybe". However, the fact that the player has four fouls is not going to make Dan officiate any differently. Or other officials like Dan. Ergo, the fact that the player now has four fouls is not going to really mean diddlysquat to Dan. Dan is gonna continue making the same calls at both ends that he has made all game. Dan is not going to anticipate that the player is going to back off on defense. Instead, Dan simply is going to react to what actually happens.

At least I think that's what Dan will do. If I'm wrong, feel free to castigate me for predicting what you would do. I've got a thick skin; I can take it.

You might feel that the player will be less aggressive, and he certainly might be, but you still have to be ready to call the same foul on him that you've been calling all game. Your officiating pattern will not change. And if you're not changing your officiating pattern, what possible good is going to come out of having the knowledge that a player does have four fouls?

Note that my reasoning comes from a mentality that is higher than "college and above" too.