Help me not be a clueless commentator.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Legacy Zebra

The restricted arc only applies to a secondary defender right? A primary defender can still draw a charge in the arc, correct? If a secondary defender is in (or above) the arc and there is contact, is it automatically a foul?

The rule is that a secondary defender cannot establish legal guarding position within the restricted arc for purposes of drawing a foul on a player either with the ball or who has just passed the ball (player-control or charging foul). Things to remember:

*On a fast break, all defenders are initially secondary defenders
*All defenders - primary or otherwise - are still permitted to play defense within the restricted arc, i.e., they're allowed to try to block shots
*A secondary defender can establish legal guarding position outside of the restricted arc, back up into the arc - while maintaining LGP - and draw a player-control/charging foul
*A player is considered to be in the restricted arc if their feet are inside the arc, on the line or above the line (i.e., they're on their toes but their heels are above the line)
*The restricted arc doesn't give the offense carte blance to wipe out a defender. If the offense makes flagrant contact with the defender or leads with a foot or an unnaturally extended knee or wards off with their arm, the foul is on the offense
*In NCAAW games, the restricted arc is not in effect if the ball handler/dribbler starts her move to the basket outside the lower defensive box (an imaginary box designated by two tick marks on the endline and the second lane space marks from the free-throw line)

As to the the "automatic foul" question: if...
*there's contact determined to be illegal within the restricted arc, and
*the defender established LGP within the arc, and
*the offensive player did not cause flagrant contact or lead with a foot or an unnaturally extended knee or ward off with their arm

The foul should be called on the defender.