If you have the base tape watch this part. TOM KNOLL says step should be toward the corner with the foot facting the side this is where the confusion is coming from!
If you've been to any of the JO Committee's workshops, Laurie Reid, Tom Koll, Cheryl Jarret, etc. and I've been to them all at least once (Laurie was actually my first coach), then you know they preach the TEXT is the BIBLE OF GYMNASTICS. The pictures in the Handbook are not accurate, the video's released by various professionals are not guaranteed accurate. Go by the text.
And, since I am saying this and I'm at home and not at the gym, I promise I will find the wording, word for word in the Text and quote it here on this forum.
My recollection is the text states SIDE number 8 (Sides being even#'s 2,4,6,8; Corners being odds#'s 1,3,5,7) I might have that number assignement reversed.
Here is how I teach it... after finishing the arched steps into the corner facing the corner, i.e. on the diagonal, picture there is now the interpretation of straight steps "into the corner/diagonal" (zero degrees), a pure direct side step (90 degrees), or the in between step on the "gymnast's diagonal" (45 degrees). The gymnast's diagonal is the correct interpretation of Tom Koll's comments. I'm almost sure of it.
I draw a curved line on the floor with x's for where the steps are supposed to be. This seems to have helped with those that want to take the forward step sharp turn, and those that keep wanting to take the first step with the wrong leg and step across the body to turn. I still have some careless curved runners though, regardless how they've been taught.