You must let the shooter land in that case. Not letting him land disadvantages the shooter.
I don't carry my rule and case books around like I used to, but I'll give you a situation that was ALWAYS advantage/disadvantage for me: Rebounding. If there is contact between two players that is not severe, and the player with position gets the rebound anyway, officials don't want to disrupt the flow of the game and potentially stop a fast break. Most coaches understand an appreciate that application. But here is what Google AI says and I think it's decent enough:
In basketball officiating, "advantage/disadvantage" refers to the principle where referees prioritize letting the game flow by not calling fouls or violations unless a player is clearly put at a significant disadvantage by contact or a borderline violation, meaning they should only whistle when the contact meaningfully impacts the ability to play the game; essentially, allowing some minor contact that doesn't give one team an unfair edge over the other.
Key points about advantage/disadvantage in basketball officiating:
- Not all contact is a foul:
Even if there is physical contact between players, the referee will only call a foul if it significantly hinders the offensive player's ability to make a play, putting them at a clear disadvantage.
- Focus on game flow:
By applying the advantage/disadvantage principle, referees aim to minimize stoppages in play and allow for a more fluid game experience.
- Examples of applying the principle:
- A defender might lightly bump an offensive player while guarding them on the perimeter, but if the offensive player can still maintain their dribble and shot opportunity, it's likely not a foul.
- In a rebounding situation, some minor contact between players battling for the ball might be allowed if it doesn't give one player a clear advantage.
Potential criticisms of advantage/disadvantage officiating:
- Inconsistency:
Some fans might perceive inconsistent officiating if referees interpret "advantage" differently depending on the situation or the players involved.
- Difficulty for spectators to understand:
Not all viewers might understand why a referee chooses not to call a foul in a seemingly obvious contact situation, as they might not be aware of the advantage/disadvantage principle.
