early this week. This guy is my insurance rep and is also a friend. Asked him to explain charging/blocking and he smiled and said there is nothing harder for him to call in the sports he officiates (Football, baseball and volleyball) in addition to basketball. He generally is the lead official on his crew. He told me things I didn't realize, every ref has a specific job depending where they are located on the court, he said the baseline ref watches the top half of the body in the lane area and the ref on top watches the lower half. What I did know is that the defensive player has a "cylinder" that by rule if he stays in that he negates a blocking call, this player can move his feet straight backwards or diagonal both ways, one reason one ref watches the top half and the other the bottom half. Biggest issue is the offensive player that uses his shoulder or arm to get separation, the game is so fast it's hard to determine.
What I did find interesting is that as the lead official most times there is a lot of talk during time outs and being consistent as a crew is the main topic. He told me that just days earlier one guy on his crew was trying to be the guy and that he was calling anything and everything and once a crew member started down that dark rabbit hole the crew played hell in getting their calls back on track. Basketball is one sport I wouldn't want to officiate.
What I did find interesting is that as the lead official most times there is a lot of talk during time outs and being consistent as a crew is the main topic. He told me that just days earlier one guy on his crew was trying to be the guy and that he was calling anything and everything and once a crew member started down that dark rabbit hole the crew played hell in getting their calls back on track. Basketball is one sport I wouldn't want to officiate.
