Referee The Defense?

[blindzebra]

It's better to think of it as finding and knowing the defense.

As officials we need to know the status of all defenders in our primary, otherwise we get surprised by contact...when that happens a lot of the time good defense gets penalized.

Ref the defense, if taken literally, can cause a tunnel-vision on the defender and that can be just as bad as not knowing if the defender has LGP.

So what does all that mean?

Well, it's simple...we need to find the defense, know the status of the ball (pivot foot, dribble), see through the play and attempt to pick up off-ball match-ups beyond the ball (screens, secondary defenders).

[TimTaylor]

Start with rule 4-23, which tells you what a defender can legally do while guarding an opponent. Study it until you have a solid understanding of what it says. Now use that knowledge in combination with what BZ and others have already said & you're well on the way.....

[kblehman]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

Well, it's simple...we need to find the defense, know the status of the ball (pivot foot, dribble), see through the play and attempt to pick up off-ball match-ups beyond the ball (screens, secondary defenders).

Oh, is that all there is to it? You make it sound so simple!

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by kblehman

Oh, is that all there is to it? You make it sound so simple!

If it were easy that loud mom in the tenth row could do it.

[kblehman]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

If it were easy that loud mom in the tenth row could do it.

Well, they never make a bad call from up there so it's no surprise they think it's so easy.

I've always contended that the 6th row provides the best view to see the contact (high & low) and also see the ball handler's feet to pick up any traveling violations.

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by kblehman

Well, they never make a bad call from up there so it's no surprise they think it's so easy.

I've always contended that the 6th row provides the best view to see the contact (high & low) and also see the ball handler's feet to pick up any traveling violations.

Had a little kids game once and this one area was so loud, after a TO I walked up the bleachers and set in that row. I got a bunch of WTF looks before I stood up and said, "I figured this was the perfect spot to call the game," and smiled.

The whole crowd cracked up and were surprisingly quiet the rest of the game.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

It's better to think of it as finding and knowing the defense.

As officials we need to know the status of all defenders in our primary, otherwise we get surprised by contact...when that happens a lot of the time good defense gets penalized.

Ref the defense, if taken literally, can cause a tunnel-vision on the defender and that can be just as bad as not knowing if the defender has LGP.

So what does all that mean?

Well, it's simple...we need to find the defense, know the status of the ball (pivot foot, dribble), see through the play and attempt to pick up off-ball match-ups beyond the ball (screens, secondary defenders).

Wow, I said the same thing almost a year ago, called it "reffing the matchup" and was criticized a ton. But, this is exactly correct.