Youth Basketball Rules
2015-2016
Rule #1 The official ball size will be youth size 27.5 inch for 5-6 year olds, 28.5 inch for 7-10 year olds and all other girl teams, and 29.5 for 11-15 year old boys.
Rule #2 The ball will be tipped at the beginning of the game. Thereafter, possession of the ball will be awarded following the possession arrow. The arrow will be flipped on jump balls and at change of court at half time.
Rule #3 Age groups of 5-8 year olds boys & girls will play on 8 ft. high goals. All others will play on regulation 10 ft. high goals.
Rule #4 The “free-throw” shot will be forfeited if the player jumps over the line while shooting. Distances for the free-throws are as follows: 5-6 year olds @ 9 ft.; 7-10 year olds @ 11 ft.; 11 & up year olds @ standard length of 15 ft.
Rule #5 No full court press will be allowed in the 7-8 year olds. Defensive teams in this group will be required and allowed time to set up defense inside the three point line, prior to the offense bringing the ball down the court.
Note: In the 5-6 year olds, all players must remain inside the 3 point circle until the ball crosses half court. Then only one defensive player can defend beyond the 3 point line until the offensive team brings the ball across the time line or the first pass beyond half court is received.
Note: In the 7-8 year olds, use the rule above with the exception of “or the first pass beyond half court is made. The difference is that the player(s) behind the 3 point circle may leave the circle once the ball leaves the passers hand to intercept the ball.
Note: In the 5-8 year olds there will be no stalling behind half court. The child should bring the ball at his/her normal pace. Failure to do so will result in a Technical foul.
Note: In the 5-8 year olds, no player may come out beyond the 3 point circle when their team is leading by 15 points.
Rule #6 No pressing will be allowed for any team 15 or more points ahead. The intent is that the ball will not be stolen prior to half court. There will be no violation if a “stray” hand swats at the ball. If the ball is lost prior to half court due to the other team, it will be returned to the team that lost the ball. If the referee must repeatedly warn a team, a team technical foul will be called. This should not be a “quick whistle”. Any coach not making a good faith effort to stop the pressing will result in the coach being brought before the board.
Full court pressing will be allowed only in the 4th quarter for the 9-10 year olds.
Full court pressing will be allowed only in the 2nd half for the 11-12 year olds.
There are no full court press restrictions for all other age groups except of course the 15 point lead rule as mentioned above.
Note: If a team that is down by 15 or more points chooses to press they do so at their own risk and fast breaks will be allowed.
The 10 second rule applies for all age groups.
Rule #7 There will be no fast-breaks from the defensive rebound allowed in the 5-12 year olds.
Fast-break on a stolen pass or ball stolen from the dribbler around the top of the key based on referee discretion will be allowed anytime in the 9-12 year olds. To fast-break, the stolen pass or stolen ball should result in a nearly clear path to the goal. There are no restrictions on fast-breaks during legal pressing periods.
Rule #8 Timeouts per game are as follows: All age groups have 5 (five) timeouts per game. Any remaining timeouts from the second half may be carried over into an overtime period. Each team will be given one additional time-out per overtime period. Coaches may signal for a timeout.
Rule #9 Overtime: One 2 minute overtime period will be played in the event of a tie in regulation. If after the overtime period the score is still tied, then an additional 2 minute periods will be played as necessary to break the tie. Each team will be given one additional time-out per overtime period. No overtime periods will be played for the 5-6 year olds.
Rule #10 Lane violations: Ages 5-8 may occupy the lane for 5 seconds. Ages 9-15 may occupy the lane for 3 seconds.
Rule #11 Length of the game: 5-10 year olds @ 8 minute running clock quarters
11-15 year olds @ 6 minute stopped clock quarters.
IN THE RUNNING CLOCK AGES, THE CLOCK SHOULD ALSO BE STOPPED IN THE LAST 2 MINUTES DURING THE 2nd & 4th QUARTERS FOR ALL WHISTLES IN 7-10 YEAR OLDS.
THE CLOCK SHOULD ALSO BE STOPPED FOR ALL FREE THROWS IN ALL AGE GROUPS.
With exception to the statements above clock stoppages will be on the whistle.
There will be an approximate 5 minute break between games.
Rule #12 No dunking will be allowed in any age group. Penalty will be ejection from the game. Subsequent penalties for dunking in other games could result in expulsion from the league.
Rule #13 Game rosters must be turned into the official scorekeeper prior to each game. All players participating must be included on game rosters. All coaches and players should make necessary plans to be at the gym and ready to play no less than 20 minutes before the scheduled game time.
Admission will be $1 for ages 12 & up. Coaches and players enter free.
Rule #14 All players are required to play an equivalent of two full quarters. Exceptions to this rule are for players who are sick or injured or being penalized for some reason. If this action is to be used against a player, the scorekeeper, referee, and the opposing coach must be informed of this intent by the coach prior to the beginning of the game, unless action is taken during the game for some reason. Limited playing time should be noted in the official scorebook. Pre-game notification to all parties should be noted in the official scorebook. Pre-game notifications to all parties should include the parent of the child when available. Playing restrictions imposed during the game should be reported to the scorekeeper at the time the action is taken. The scorekeeper will inform the referee and opposing coach during the next break in the action. Complaints about playing time (from the opposing coach) should be made within 15 minutes of the end of the game. Obvious violation of this rule, when a complaint is made, will be brought to the Board and may result in forfeiture of all games up to that point in the season.
Rule #15 Only players who have completed registration requirements and covered under their league insurance are eligible to play. For age group placement, the cut off date will be September 1st in the year registration is made.
Rule #16 All players are required to stay inside the gym during games. Players should not bring balls or other objects to the gym that could disrupt games or practices. During halftime, no one is allowed on the court except for the two teams that are playing.
Rule #17 Coaches are required to stay off of the playing floor during the game. They should remain within the coach’s sideline markers and should at all times exhibit exemplary behavior toward the officials and players. First offense will result in a technical foul. Second offense will result in the ejection of the coach. If a coach is ejected from a game for any reason, the ejected coach will be suspended for the next game. In the event the coach is ejected for a second time, said coach will loose his coaching privileges and be replaced immediately. The coach will be required to appear for a review before the league board of directors.
Rule #18 Coaches are responsible for their players’ behavior during league activities. (This is not to imply that the coaches are to take over as parents, but simply provide responsible supervision for all players, especially when the parents of the players are not in attendance.) Coaches will also be asked to keep their parents in check due to their knowledge and relationship. The league retains the right to discipline (as they deem necessary for the preservation of the good will in the community and the safety of people involved) any player for unsportsmanlike-like conduct, maliciousness, fighting, profanity, or any action that infringes upon the rights of others. Any player ejected from a game may not play in the next scheduled game. Any coach playing a previously ejected player in that next game will be brought to the Board for disciplinary action.
Rule #19 Uniforms: The league will provide uniforms for each player. Each player must be in uniform to be eligible to play. Any unanticipated exceptions must be approved by the league President or a designated representative.
Rule #20 Inbounding: The defensive player must give the offensive player approximately one adult arm length clearance. Failure to do so will result in a warning for the first offense. Resulting offenses will result in a technical foul.
Rule #21 No coolers, outside food or drink will be allowed in the gyms.
Rule #22 Pick up Players – If rostered players are unavailable to play, the host administrators will provide approved pick-up players of their choosing. Only rostered players for that team will be allowed to play.
Rule # 23 All teams are expected to be prepared to play at their designated time and venue. Only league administrators are allowed to cancel games. Cancelled games may or may not be made up. Failure to appear for a scheduled game without proper administrative approval could result in disciplinary action. Coaches should make every effort to appear even with partial teams. Prior knowledge of shortfalls of players should be made known to the host so they may prepare for and find pick-up players so the game can be played.