What is considered a marginal contact foul?

A marginal contact foul refers to a situation where a foul is called despite the level of contact being minimal or not significantly impacting the play. In this context, calling a foul when actual contact occurs, but it is deemed to be insufficient to affect the performance of the player or the outcome of the play, accurately describes a marginal contact foul. The referee's decision can depend on the intensity of the game and the context of the situation at that moment.

On the other hand, a foul without any real contact being made does not meet the criteria for a marginal contact foul since a foul inherently requires some level of contact, even if minimal. A technical foul assessed to the coach is a different category altogether, typically relating to unsportsmanlike conduct rather than player contact. Additionally, although a foul that leads to a shooting free throw is certainly part of the game's rules, it does not define a marginal contact foul specifically, which focuses more on the quality and impact of the contact rather than the outcome in free throws.