The restricted area in basketball is a semi-circle arc painted just under the basketball goal that outlines the area on the basketball floor where secondary, off-ball defenders are restricted from taking charges. Any secondary defender attempting to draw a charge inside the restricted area will automatically be called for a blocking foul.

No charge semi-circle is introduced not to reward a defensive player who has taken a position under his own basket in order to draw a charging foul against an offensive player who is in control of the ball and is penetrating towards the basket.

The no-charge semi-circle areas shall be marked on the playing court, limited by: A semi-circle with the radius of 1.25 m measured from the point on the floor beneath the exact centre of the basket to the inner edge of the semi-circle. The semi-circle is joined to:

If an offensive player makes contact with a defensive player in this restricted no-charge semi-circle, it is now a defensive blocking foul resulting in the offensive player heading to the free throw line.