primary defender

[Cecil4]

In an NCAA game yesterday, the commentator explained that the defender taking an apparent charge is treated differently regarding the restricted area (arc) if they are the "primary defender" of the ball handler.

When did this change and please explain it.

[BillyMac]

If you are the primary defender (the person guarding the ball-handler from the start of the play), the restricted area does not apply to you. You can legally draw a charge anywhere, including inside the 4-foot arc, provided you have established legal guarding position.

Let's wait for an NCAA official to confrm this.

I know more about Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems than I know about NCAA rules.

[JRutledge]

Without more context of what was stated, the only time it is a violation of the RA is when a secondary defender is in the RA. A primary defender is not required to be out of the RA. To my knowledge, this has always been the rule; there was no change (I officiated college basketball before there was an RA).

The general public and many official not working at that level did not know the rules of the RA to start. Many officials want these rules, but do not understand the implications of what they are seeing. There has been no basic change in the RA other than making it larger some years ago than it was initially implemented. Otherwise, the rule has been the same all this time, related to the secondary defender.

Peace

[Cecil4]

Thank you!