Hammer Time! (One Last Time)

Don't think this is really the last VFTD post on officiating 'cus you know I'll just change the post title next time I want to talk about reffing. And it will come up again sometime unless of course you all do as I say. (Cue maniacal laughter.) But seriously ...
I'ma suggest two options today; Reform Lite & the Overhaul. Personally I prefer the Overhaul (because I'm a forward thinking kinda guy) and I think it would improve the game and ultimately be easier to officiate but in the meantime there are a couple of less radical alternatives that I am hopeful would go a long way to providing greater consistency in the on field calls.
Truth be told there's actually Reform Lite and Reform Ultralite. What it amounts to is a handful of rules for refs that are introduced across the board to all of a league's refs along with a new scheme for dealing with fast aggressive action, mostly on the wires. It wouldn't change the basic rules as they exist today. It might change the number of refs per field (but "might" only because I don't know how many are normally on divisional fields.) I imagine a work around would be possible. The goal of ref reform is to achieve improved consistency and greater uniformity of process across all the event fields. Consider it a step in the right direction.
Reform Ultralite is very very simple. It's a single rule (or guideline) that states all referees will always default to throwing a yellow flag unless a red flag is unequivocally the correct call. Which means only throw the red when there is no doubt that it's the correct call by existing rule and if you have any doubt throw the yellow instead. But, but, but--no buts.
The Overhaul isn't really much more difficult than than Reform Lite except it would require everyone, refs, players and spectators to assimilate change and of course would require reconciliation of the rule book. (I am not, btw, locked into this particular formula as I believe there are lots of so far unconsidered and unexplored alternatives. This is just what I have to propose right now.)
Two things first; it's my opinion there are two kinds of refs on most fields. The kind who feel like they have to throw more flags to maintain control and those who sometimes hesitate because maybe the "crime" doesn't fit the penalty. The other thing is the range of penalty effects is very narrow (you're out and so is that guy and maybe that other guy) whereas the potential range of a violation's impact on the game is pretty broad. So on the one hand the refs are limited in what they can call and in my estimation the penalty doesn't always fit the "crime." Part of the Overhaul is to even out that imbalance.
Here's the concept. We can debate the details in the comments. The refs keep their flags and the penalties as called now remain (for the most part.) The refs get one extra flag, a black one and to make this work at the divisional level each field gets two extra folding chairs.
In the pro game any player cited for a penalty goes immediately to the box to serve the time and the scorekeeper assigns x number of demerits depending on the flag color; a yellow is one demerit and a red flag is 3 and a black flag is 5 and after x number of demerits the player serves an automatic match suspension at which point the player's demerits reset at 0 but if they reach match suspension level a second time in the same season the suspension becomes and event suspension. The black flag is for the rare gross penalty but given the changes to the penalty structure it would also allow for finer distinctions to be made, for example, wiping might become a black flag offense. [Given that divisional play lacks a penalty box and that most teams do not play a full season a simple alternative is required. Any player receiving a penalty is immediately eliminated and proceeds directly to one of the extra folding chairs next to the scorekeeper's tent. The scorekeeper only needs to note the color of the flag and the point during which the flag was thrown. If yellow, for example, the penalized player must remain in the penalty chair for his/her team's next point before being allowed to return to the pit. If a red flag then for two points after the penalty was called. This way the individual penalized pays the price. (And the option remains to have the penalized team start down a body or split the difference with a yellow flag not affecting the team and a red means the team starts down one the next point. Regardless more flexibility exists under the 'penalty chair' system.)]
Now I still think the refs tend to throw too many reds and are too inconsistent when it comes to routine calls but the changes suggested tend to minimize in game impact while remaining an increasing deterrent to the individual player (as the demerit total gets closer and closer to suspension.) And it would keep the refs from running around to grab extra bodies and allow play to continue with minimal interruption. The structural changes alone aren't sufficient though and every reasonable effort to improve the reffing crew's consistency remains a priority.
There you go. The demerit (or 'penalty chair') system can be implemented almost overnight without disrupting any major element of the Race To format--the largest obstacle would be re-writing the damn rule book again.