[JRutledge]

I have never taken the term "Referee the defense" as to mean not to ever watch the offense. The term really is only to tell officials to understand that where the defense is so that you do not incorrectly call fouls and possible violations on the defense. If you are not too close to the play, you can see what both are doing. What happens to many officials, they watch the offense the entire time and call blocking calls on defensive players when they were in LGP.

If you referee the defense you can recognize what the defense is doing and understand what the offense will have to do to beat the defense. An offense plays different when they are up against a zone defense or man to man defense.

When you understand that it helps you know what might possibly happen. You can anticipate much more easily and not get caught completely off guard.

Peace