I have a question about the smiley under the basket

[SkanSU]

OK ... people have asked me about the smiley under the basket and I try to explain that it's now there to help objectify the charge and blocking call for the refs ...meaning I have no idea how the stupid thing works.

Could somebody please clarify so that I can sound reasonably intelligent when I am asked again.

 

[Upstate]

A player taking a charge cannot be inside that semi-circle (smiley), or else it is automatically called a block. Same rule applies in the NBA.

 

[SkanSU]

TY Upstate!! Uhhh ...another question I got yesterday. My friend was watching the game at MSG and he told me he saw 2 smileys ...one was bigger than the other. I'm assuming one was for NBA and the other college ... right??

Further dumb question: But outside the circle it still can be called a block or a charge?

 

[jcuse44]

It can still be a block if the defensive players feet are not set yes.

 

[SkanSU]

TY 44

 

[HoustonCuse]

Only partially correct. The "smiley" is called the charge circle. Only a secondary defender inside the circle is automatically called for the blocking foul. NCAA officials when asked have clarified that in a zone defense all defenders are considered secondary defenders (seriously). Also note that if any part of the defender's foot is on or above the line, it counts the same as being inside the circle. (And yes, the 3 foot circle is NCAA, 4 foot circle is NBA).

 

[rstone7727]

It can still be a block if the defensive players feet are not set yes.

But it can't be a block if Duke is on defense right?

 

[jcuse44]

The line does not apply to duke no.

 

[Dadarules]

Why doesn't the line go all the way to the baseline? I did a quick search on google and couldn't find it.