BASKETBALL RULES
(revised May 2015)

  1. Division Grade: A players division is his/her gradeof the current season and is to be listed in the game score book/sheet.
  2. Ages: All exceptions must be submitted as an appeal to the board of directors.
  3. Peewee – Kindergarten – 1st grade
  4. Junior Division Girls and Boys – Youth who are grades 2 and 3
  5. Intermediate Division Girls and Boys – Youth who are grades 4, 5 and 6
  6. Senior Girls – Youth who are grades 7, 8 and 9
  7. Senior Boys – Youth who are grades 7, 8 and 9
  8. Super Senior Boys – Youth who are grades 10, 11, 12, who will not exceed age 18 on/before March 15th and are enrolled in a local high school. Any graduates who are 18 or under may appeal to the board of directors.
  9. Sport activities per week: An activity is considered an organized event being held by a coach where players must attend. There will be no more than (3) three activities per week of which only two may occur on school nights. Excluding scheduled practices there will be no activities scheduled on Sunday prior to 12:30pm. All practices will be scheduled by the commissioner. Any additional scrimmages or practice venues must be approved by the commissioner in order to provide all teams equal opportunity.
  10. Team Rosters: There will be no less than 8 and a ceiling of 10 players per team maximum for all divisions. If there are extenuating circumstances, the commissioner and his/her committee will report alternatives to the Board of Directors.
  11. Submission of Team Rosters:
  12. Prior to the start of the game, each team will list its complete roster in the official scorebook/sheet. The players first and last name, number and grade are required to be listed.
  13. Coaches must indicate missing players on the official scoring sheet.
  14. Coaches must indicate on the score sheet any player who is present but ineligible to play due to disciplinary action or for any other reason.
  15. All players in the Jr., Int. and Sr. divisions are to play TWO FULL PERIODS, unless disciplinary actions apply. No player will play for four consecutive periods until all players have played three periods. Coaches in the Super Sr. division must be aware of their kids playing time, so that fair and equitable playing time is guaranteed for all players. The following exceptions apply:
  16. Basketball footwear: Any players who wear their sneakers in from outdoors to either gymnasium will not be allowed to participate in either the practice session or scheduled game. All players will change into their basketball footwear at the gymnasium for the activity and changeover when leaving.
  17. Disciplinary action towards a player is to be confirmed with the commissioner prior to the game. This allows the commissioner to relay roster information to the opposing team prior to the start of the game.
  18. Removal of a player(s) due to injury or rule violation (i.e. 5th personal foul, flagrant foul, etc.). An injured player should reenter the game as soon as possible by the coach notifying the score table and the referee will motion their entrance at the next pause of play.
  19. Control of Game: The following is a tiered process and the rule applies to both Intermediate and Senior divisions respectively.
  20. Anytime the lead exceeds 10 points or more the possession arrow will remain with the team that is behind until the difference is less than 10 points.
  21. Anytime the lead exceeds 15 points or more the leading team will not be allowed to use full court press until the difference is less than 15 points.
  22. Anytime the lead exceeds 20 points or more the leading team must implement a 3 pass rule until the difference is less than 20 points.
  23. Definition of 3 pass rule: While in play, the ball must pass between three different players beyond the mid court line prior to attempting to score. If this minimum is not met the points for the basket will not awarded and the possession following the basket will be granted to the opposing team. If a shot is taken and a basket is not made and the lead team rebounds the ball the 3 pass rule must start again.
  24. Defense: The Intermediate and Senior divisions will play a man to man defense, however if the lead in the game exceeds 20 points the coach of the team with less points may implement a zone defense.
  25. Juniors: Anytime the lead exceeds 20 points the score will no longer be kept.
  26. It is expected that a coach will make every effort to implement the strategies respecting control of the game. If a player refuses to adhere and follow the coach’s directions respecting this rule, the commissioner or a member of the board of directors may remove the player from the quarter or game depending on the severity and repletion of the offense. Coaches not attempting to adhere are subject to the consequences outlined in the Coaches Code of Conduct.
  27. Players arriving after the game has begun:
  28. Guaranteed 2 periods of play if he/she arrives before the start of the second period.
  29. Guaranteed 1 period of play if he/she arrives before the start of the third period.
  30. There will be no forfeit of games.
  31. Time outs: Each team in all divisions will be allowed 5, one minute time outs per game. In overtime play with the exception of the Junior division, time outs remaining will carry over, plus one additional time out will be given per overtime period.
  32. Extra playing time: All replacement players due to absence, injury or removal of from the game are to be of the same grade or less. If no eligible player, of the same gradeor below is available, then the next higher grade is to be used.
  33. Draft Rules:
  1. All coaches and assistant coaches must be approved by the SSYAA Board of Directors and /or Commissioners committee prior to the draft.
  2. Head coach and 1 Assistant coach’s child is assigned to the team and is not considered a draft pick.
  3. All returning coaches and their returning assistants may be in place prior to the draft. No new assistants will be added until after the draft and prior to the first game.
  4. The Head coach from the previous year is considered the head coach for the upcoming year.
  5. All players moving up from another division MUST be picked before the conclusion of the draft as long as they signed up on time.
  6. Siblings are drafted together, and count as one draft pick.
  7. Travel requests will be considered, but are not mandatory.
  8. No player will be assigned to a team, except under Rule 2 and 6.
  9. At no time shall a team have on its roster one more than half of its roster the highest grade in the division. Balance of the roster to be divided equally between the remaining eligible players.

EXAMPLE:

A) 12 player roster. Not more than seven players of the highest grade.

B) 10 player roster. Not more than six players of the highest grade.

  1. The team's draft order is the reverse of the regular season's standings from the previous year.
  2. After rosters are full, remaining players are placed on a confidential waiting list.
  3. Trades may be made at the end of the draft, but before the draft meeting adjourns. (drafted players only)
  4. All players are to be notified within 24 hours of their placement on a team. The Commissioner shall notify those on the waiting list.
  5. Players draft order:

Players Present

Players Registered, not present

Waiting list – Greater Sanford-Springvale Area

Non-Resident

  1. There is no passing allowed. When it is your turn to select a player, you must do so.
  2. A member of the Rules Committee or an SSYAA Board member must be in attendance at the draft to answer any rules questions. Rules may be changed ONLY by the SSYAA Board of Directors.
  3. If expansion teams are required, they will receive the first 2 draft picks each.

A. Flip of a coin.

1. Alternating picks

  1. If a youth is playing for any other organized team, AAU, travel or school they will be placed on a team by the Commissioner/Board. The board reserves the right to move a player to a different team at any time.