"Referee the defense" ?
 

I hear the suggestion frequently to "referee the defense".
Sounds good, but not particularly helpful without some explanation.

Can I get some explanation of this suggestion.
And maybe a situation where this best applies (e.g., block/charge).

(BTW, this forum is awesome.)

This took me a while to try and learn….and I am still trying to perfect it. Younger officials normally 1) watch the ball too much, and 2) follow the offensive players around.

To me refereeing the defense means watching the entire play, determining who gets to a specific spot on the floor first, and then watching which player (if any) is placed at a disadvantage.

For example: If an offensive player is dribbling straight toward the basket, take your eyes off the dribbler and locate the defensive player. Where are they? Have they established a legal guarding position? Has the defensive player legally gotten to the spot first, (facing the dribbler with both feet on the floor)? If so, the offensive player probably has committed a foul if significant contact occurs.

Who commits the majority of fouls in a game? The defender.

How does an offensive player usually commit a foul? Because the defender has position.

If you focus your attention on the defender, then you'll know when he does something illegal. You'll also know if he has legal position when the offensive player makes contact. And finally, you won't follow the ball around the floor.

Situation:

A1 and B1 on the perimeter A2 and B2 in the paint. A2 moves to the free throw lane to set a pick, B2 follows and becomes stationary. A1 drives around A2 on the curl screen but then wipes out B2 because he didn't see him behind A2. If you are not looking at the defence in this situation, you won't know if B2 was stationary, in legal guarding position, or if he lunged at A1 trying to stop him from scoring and would more than likely call a block. But by watching the defence you know that B2 was stationary and had legal guarding position on the floor - easy call: Player Control on A1.

Actual situation with 6 seconds left a couple years ago. Poor A1 never saw B2 and clobered him. B won by a single point.