So what's your take on staying in your primary? Didn't perfectly follow what you were saying.

There is more latitude with violations than fouls when going outside the PCA. A violation either happened or it didn't as there is no judgement. With a foul, contact either happened or it didn't, however that does not determine if a foul occurred.

That's A Mouthful ...
 

This thread reminded me of a lake in Webster, Massachusetts, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchabunagungamaugg. Translated from Nipmuc, an Algonquian language, "You fish on your side, I'll fish on my side, and nobody fish in the middle". Of course, that wouldn't work very well in a basketball game.

Bingo. We have Primary Coverage Areas (PCA's) but we should look outside the PCA when we have nothing to officiate there, and provide Secondary coverage. It certainly gives the play a look from a different angle, and often it can be a BETTER angle.

This specifically applies IMO to the "C" postion. Who has a unique angle that the "L" and "T" do not have.

Whether you should extend beyond your primary area depends a lot on your ability as an official. Newer officials should really focus on staying in their primary. As we progress in ability, we develop the ability to determine which calls need to be made and which ones can be passed on. We also develop an understanding of just when our distance judgment might be off.

Why would it be unique to C only. Unless the T and L and standing in the same spot, each will have just as unique of a angle on any given play.

The video of the end of the Georgia Southern vs App State game is a prime example of what I said here. Look at what the T and C do on the play, their positioning, their angles of view, and from where the try is attempted.

The video is posted on ESPN.com, but perhaps one of our video guys can post it here.