e are supposed to be working hard and seeing the defender. We call it "officiating the defense," but that does not state we watch only the defender. However, too many officials see just the defender and don't pick up the point at which the defender has acquired a legal guarding position.

Too many officials don't even realize that the defender is generally not the player who establishes the legal guarding position. Rather it is the dribbler who has closed the distance to a requisite 6 feet or less and who has then created the legal guarding position for the defender. When officials don't realize that, they are mentally in the early stages of penalizing the defense. That's not good.

Closely guarded and legal guarding position

We must also pick up the dribbler at the point where a closely guarded situation occurs — at 6 feet. Too often officials do not do that, and we penalize the defender. That is probably our biggest mistake when it comes to a block/charge. We only see things at the point of contact.

Continued...