BASKETBALL RULES

THE GAME

1. The game shall be played between two teams with a minimum of four players and a maximum of five players per team.

2. The game will consist of two twenty-minute halves. The clock will run continuously with the exception of the last two minutes of the 2nd half, and time-outs.

3. In the last two minutes of the 2nd half (exception: see #5), the clock will stop on every dead ball, violation, foul, or free throw, and will not start again until the ball is touched in bounds following a throw-in or missed free throw. The clock will run on made baskets.

4. Each team receives three time-outs per game. Unused time-outs do not carry over into overtime. Each team is given one full time-out and one twenty-second time-out per overtime period.

5. The clock will NOT stop in the last 2 minutes of the second half if the point difference between the two teams is 10 or greater. During the last 2 minutes, should the gap be cut to less than 10 then the clock stoppage process would begin. If the gap goes back to 10 or greater, then the clock would continuously run.

6. High school rules are used with two exceptions: (1) Players are allowed to leave the free throw lane following the release of the ball from the shooter’s hand rather than when the ball hits the rim. (2) The clock will not stop during made baskets at any time.

7. NBA rules which do not apply: The continuation rule; getting the ball at half court following a timeout: one-shot technical fouls.

THE TEAMS

1. Everyone associated with a team, players, coaches, and spectators, are subject to the rules of the game and the rules of Sports Connection.

2. Team members must wear the same color of shirt with different numbers. Every shirt must have a one or two digit number on it. No team may use the numbers 0 and 00 for blank shirts. Teams have until Week 2 to have jerseys. If a team does not have jerseys for Week 2, a technical foul will be assessed for each player not in uniform. TAPE CANNOT BE USED TO MAKE A NUMBER.

3. Substitutions of players are to be done from the score table only. A substitute shall remain outside the court boundary until an official beckons him/her onto the court.

4. Substitutions shall only take place during a dead ball, between periods, or at time-outs.

5. A player who has been substituted for may not re-enter the game before the next opportunity to substitute after the game clock has been properly started following his/her replacement.

6. During the administration of a 2 or 3 shot foul the substitute will be beckoned on to the floor before the final shot attempt.

7. Coaches must remain in the coaches’ box at all times.

8. Administrative Technical Fouls can be issued for violations of these policies.

9. A technical foul shall be called if there is: unsportsmanlike conduct by a player, coach, or spectator (including excessive or loud profanity and taunting); an illegal substitution, delay of game, changing or switching jersey numbers during the game, signing in with an incorrect jersey number, a request for a time-out when the team is out of them, or illegal equipment.

10. Any unsporting technical counts as a personal foul against that player. Any administrative technical foul counts as a team foul.

11. The penalty for a technical foul against the offending team is to award their opponent two free throws followed by possession of the ball at half court away from the score table.

12. Two technical fouls against any one individual will result in ejection from the game and at least a one-week suspension. During the one game suspension, the player is not allowed in the facility. If a player plays in multiple leagues, he/she will not be allowed to play in any game during the suspension. Three technical fouls in a season results in an additional one-week suspension, at minimum.

13. The referee may forfeit a contest at any time if any team member, representative, or bench personnel fails to comply with any technical foul penalty or repeatedly commits a technical foul or other act, which makes a travesty of the game.

OVERTIME & FORFEITS

1. If the score of the game is tied at the end of regulation then the game will be decided in overtime.

2. The overtime will consist of three minutes and will be started by a jump ball. If the score remains tied after the first 3 minute overtime period, a second overtime period will be played with the first team scoring four points declared the winner. In the playoffs, multiple 3-minute periods will be played. The clock will run continuously for the first two minutes of the overtime period and stop in the last minute.

3. Each team will have a full time out and a twenty-second time out per overtime period. No time- outs will carry over into overtime, and from one OT period to another.

4. A team can receive a forfeit for the following reasons:

a. The team does not have the required number of players (4) to begin the game at the scheduled start time. A team will be given a 10 minute grace period to see if any other player(s) come(s). If a team does not have at least 4 players at ten minutes after the game time, it is a forfeit. b. A team can also get a forfeit loss for playing with an illegal player.

5. A forfeit is recorded as a 25-0 score.

6. Any team that forfeits twice without advance notice will be removed from the league.