UNC/Duke (Video)

[johnny d]

Moving backwards and leaning backwards are two different things. When I was learning how to officiate and become an HS official I went to a camp run by a D1 official. In that camp the expectation was that leaning back should be a blocking foul while a defender can move backwards without penalty. As I have moved up to college basketball, that has seemed to be the expectation at every level I have made it to. I continue to officiate these plays using that philosophy and will continue to do so in all the college and HS games I work. At the end of the day, whether or not that philosophy is correct by rule or not is irrelevant. As long as the idea is to continue to get games or move up the ladder, it is much more important for an official to follow the accepted practices rather than be a martyr.