How Basketball’s Restricted Area Works Explainer
The restricted area is the semicircle under an NBA basket. It limits when a secondary defender can draw an offensive charging foul beneath the rim, where an airborne driver has little room to avoid contact.
The defender generally must establish legal guarding position with both feet outside the arc before the offensive player begins the upward shooting motion. A foot on or above the line is treated as inside.
The arc does not make every contact an automatic defensive foul. Primary-defender situations, incidental contact, offensive illegal acts, and specified exceptions can produce different rulings.
Officials judge defender status, foot location, timing, the shooter’s motion, and the nature of the contact. Understanding the call requires more than spotting the painted line; the defender’s role and arrival time matter.
The arc limits charge calls against airborne drivers near the basket.
It discourages secondary defenders from sliding underneath late.
Both feet generally must be outside before the upward motion begins.
Touching the line does not establish outside position.
Primary defenders, incidental contact, and exceptions can change the call.
Officials still evaluate the complete play.
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