Stepping down at C

[rockyroad]

The key thing to understand is that it is NOT one or the other. It's not an "always hook high" or "always step down" proposition. Go where you need to go to referee that match-up and what could come next on that given possession. Sometimes it will be to step down, and sometimes it will be to hook up...find the balance in your crews/games.

[canuckrefguy]

Curl high - but not just because the L should already be in close-down and ready to rotate.

Going high instead of low gives you the wider, outside-in look that you want.

If you go low, you restrict your angle, IMO.

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by canuckrefguy

Curl high - but not just because the L should already be in close-down and ready to rotate.

Going high instead of low gives you the wider, outside-in look that you want.

If you go low, you restrict your angle, IMO.

I failed to mention one important thing about rotating low When you rotate low you must also take a step or two backward to improve your peripheral vision if possible.

-Josh

[zebraman]

Do your best to ref the defense BEFORE A1 gets the ball. That way, you will already be where you need to be before the pass arrives.

Ref where you need to be. Up or down isn't as important as being in the best spot to see the play.

Don't move to T immediately just because the L comes to your side if it is going to take you out of a good reffing position. Having two C's for a bit is not a bad thing.

Thanks for sharing all of your thoughts.

I understand where you're coming from (anticipating the play so you're already in position before it enters your PCA, don't rotate out of a good angle, etc, etc).

I too move to improve, most of the time I used to curl up to mini-T, once & while down when play dictates. But after attending this camp & having an NBA guy stress - stepping down at C, the ball is below the FT line extended then you're a step below FT extended, 2 & 2 - I had no choice but to adhere to it... that's what the camp wanted.
I'm sure you all would've become compliant instead of defiant too.

But I've been trying it & you may have to bust it back to L if the L rotates, other than that it puts you in a great position for rebounding & backside plays if the ball is swung opposite.

[canuckrefguy]

Originally Posted by jdmara

I failed to mention one important thing about rotating low When you rotate low you must also take a step or two backward to improve your peripheral vision if possible.

-Josh

Fine.

But that doesn't change the fact it's better to get the outside-in view. As for rebounds, you're no more than 2-3 steps anyway. Every observer I've run into instructed me to go slightly high when confronted with a matchup right in front of the C.

[tomegun]

I think Rockyroad was correct in saying it isn't an absolute. However, we must remember that going low cuts off possible angles. If the offensive player drives to the basket, the official will either go all the way to the endline or end up going to the topside of the play anyway. My opinion is the opposite can be true when you go high, but I would rather have the action moving away from the basket and lose my angle than lose it when the action is going towards the basket. I heard a NBA official say we should step the opposite direction from where the play is going to the play will open up. Moving the same direction as the action could result in getting stacked/straight-lined.