I stand corrected by Centex with regard to the linguistic definition of "avocation." I guess I never checked the literal definition. My prior, apparently informal, understanding of the word "avocation" was that it was a secondary, but professional, pursuit. "Secondary," because it wasn't something by which someone could make a living, under current and/or traditional standards. I believed an avocation was something into which you might put your heart and soul, but it wasn't something by which your could - as much as you might wish it - house, clothe, and feed your family. You needed a primary vocation to make a living. An avocation might supplement the primary vocation, but it wasn't primary, because - for whatever reason - the economic compensation was simply insufficient.
With regard to American football, the NFL is the only place that can become a primary vocation, and I know several folks who do just that. FBS football is lucrative, but it isn't a living. If it were year 'round, perhaps it could be. But it isn't. No other form of American football officiating remotely resembles a primary vocation.
Whereas, my understanding of a hobby was that is was just some form of recreation or interesting diversion, like collecting and displaying golf balls from different courses around the country/world. Nothing to be scorned or ridiculed in any way. But not the passionate undertaking that is football officiating.
So, I amend my comments to say that we should never allow an accusation that football officiating is either a hobby or an avocation to go unchallenged. It is far, far more.
To me, anyway. I hope for you, as well.
Robert