Post Player

[MN 3 Sport Ref]

Originally posted by Back In The Saddle

I have heard this phrase, referee the defense, several times recently (including in the FIBA officials manual). Could you kindly tell me what this means?

Most of us use this in regard to PC/block fouls as well as screening and rebounding action. If you know the position of the defender(legal or not) and who created the contact (offender or defender) this makes your call one way or the other a lot easier. If you "referee the defense" and know their status when contact occurs it is now much easier for you to get the call right and penalize the offense or defense accordingly.