Just stumbled across Dee Kanter's last blog entry on the .com. She breaks (broke) down the thinking behind block/charge calls, travels and loose ball fouls.

First of all, it must be determined whether the defender gets her torso or body in a "squared-up" or perpendicular position to her opponent. Then, the refs have to see if the defender beats her opponent to the spot on the floor to where the offensive player is moving. Got it? These are the two considerations in the equation with dribble plays on the court. Oh, and if the defender and offensive player arrive at that spot or point of contact at the same time, it's a block. The defender did not BEAT the dribbler to the spot. Sounds easy enough.

On plays to the basket, the defender not only has to get her torso perpendicular and beat her opponent to the spot, but she must do this prior to the offensive player starting her upward shooting motion. Let's go over this once again: perpendicular torso; beat to spot; prior to upward shooting motion… all at an incredibly fast pace.