[drothamel]

RefTN--

The step-down was part of a larger picture. Think about it in terms of the larger picture of the rotation. If the ball comes to you in the C and settles right in front of you (free-throw line extended), a switch should be coming. The instruction was to take a step down in order to better referee that play, since it will be the only one you have. Your partner should be coming across on the rotation in order to cover any post play on your side. Once the ball either swings back out, or there is a drive to the basket, you can officiate your play and then finish the rotation by moving out to trail. The reason for the step down, and not up, is that officials had a tendency to bail out on the play because of the impending rotation. The step down forces you to stay with that play, as you should. Also, I still think that the angle is better a tick on the low side than a tick on the high side, espcially because most players will keep the ball on the baseline side of their bodies, so that opens them up to you. Couple that with the fact that most defenders play defense in order to force their man baseline, and it just felt like, to me, that I had a better angle from the low side.

Like I said, two different camps, two different philosophies. It was quite interesting to hear the reasons for each of them. Now at least I know the options, and when I can use them.