League Rules

Prep Age Group | Middle/Freshmen Age Group | High School Age Group

Prep Age Group Rules


  1. Four quarters – six (6) minute stop clock

  2. Mandatory substitutions at approximately the 3:00 minute mark of each quarter

  3. In the flow of the game, game officials will stop play at the first dead ball closest to the 3:00 minute mark of each quarter for mandatory substitutions

    1. Coaches will have players at the scorer’s table around the 3:30 mark of each quarter

    2. Players will check-in when the referee calls them into the game; (if a player being substituted is shooting a free throw, like a normal substitution, that player will come out on the last made free throw or the next dead ball.)

  4. Each player must have three (3) uninterrupted 3-minute segments per game (at least one segment in each half).

    1. [EXCEPTION] Injured players can be substituted immediately. NOTE: If an injured player can return to play, he or she must return as soon as possible within the segment, for the same player originally substituted

  5. The game scorekeepers will track minimum play times for all players

    1. A team in jeopardy of not meeting the mandatory play rule for each active player will be notified by the score keeper at the end of the 3rd quarter

  6. Teams are allowed two (2) full and two (2) 30-second timeouts per game (allowed one additional 30-second timeout for OT period)

  7. ‘Volleyball’ Line Defense Rule (line which runs across the court above the three-point line)

    1. Man-to-man defense starts behind the volleyball line during game play (once the volleyball line has been breached, the defense is allowed to engage anywhere on the court for that trip down the floor.

    2. Note: Coaches attempting to stall or “run the clock” by having the player stand between the half court and volleyball line is strictly prohibited

      1. At the game official’s discretion, a silent 3-second count will be initiated. After 3-seconds, the defense may engage the offense

      2. If the defense does not engage, the offense will not be punished

    3. Teams will be allowed to defend MTM full court during the last 3-minutes of the 2nd and 4th Qtr of regulation time (and any extended overtime period)

      1. Defending full court DOES NOT mean zone traps and double/triple teaming (‘help defense’ is allowed, but not an outright zone type defense)

  8. Official’s Response/Consequences for Full Court/Press Defense violations:

    1. A defensive 'press' violation will cause the referees to stop play and warn the offending player and team

      1. The ball does not change possession - - this is a warning

      2. Each team will be allowed 2 warnings per game

      3. The THIRD, and subsequent backcourt defense violations, will result in a Technical Foul called against the violating team’s bench with the offended team awarded two free throws

  9. Change of possession: Upon a turnover or missed shot in which the ball changes possession, the defense must immediately retreat and not interfere with the ball transition

    1. [EXCEPTION] A defender may attempt to ‘stop the ball’ on a fast break attempt after the ball crosses half court, if there are no defenders at the basket…this is a judgment call by the game officials

  10. Backcourt: A player with the ball is considered in the backcourt until both feet and the ball have crossed the halfcourt line

    1. [EXCEPTION] back-court defense IS permitted if the offensive team returns to their backcourt via an in-bounds play from their frontcourt if the volleyball line was initially crossed before stoppage of play

  11. Loose Ball: A defensive player may cross the half-court line to pick up a loose ball

  12. Referees should make allowance for a reflex defensive action (i.e., a player starts to guard, then remembers the no-press rule and quits)

  13. Teams with 15+ point lead in the last quarter are not allowed to “press” until the lead drops below 15 points.

  14. Foul Shooting:

    1. Weaker players, when attempting a free throw, may step or land over the line; if this happens, and the player is not attempting to go after the rebound, game play should continue (Official’s discretion)

  15. 3-Second Rule: Game officials (at his or her discretion) may allow up to 5 seconds in the lane…with verbal warnings (Coaches, please DO NOT teach 5 seconds in the lane is ok)

Mandatory Play Rule - all players must play three complete 3-minute segments per game (at least one segment in each half)

Maximum Play Rule – Each player must sit out one complete 3:00 minute segment (Maximum play rule is in effect the moment there are 6+ players present for game play)

 

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Middle/Freshmen Age Group Rules


  1. Players’ names and numbers must be in book prior to game start time

    1. Most scorekeepers have the rosters ahead of time; however, it is the coach’s responsibility to make sure the roster is in the book

  2. Uniform Wear:

    1. Home Team wears light-colored side of the jersey (with a white t-shirt if t-shirt is worn)

    2. Away Team wears dark-colored side of the jersey (with a black t-shirt if t-shirt is worn)

    3. No jewelry of any kind will be allowed; earrings will not be allowed (covering with tape or bandages will not be allowed)

    4. Long hair must be secured at all times to prevent injuries

  3. Four 6-minute quarters - stop clock (unless directed otherwise by league/game official)

  4. Home Team provides Clock Operator and Game Ball (Game Ball remains in possession of the officials until the game is over)

  5. Teams may start and play the entire game with 4 players (the opposing team is not obligated to play with 4 players, but highly encouraged as a gesture of good sportsmanship)

  6. Mercy Rules:

    1. Teams with 15+ point lead will not be allowed to press or play full court defense.

    2. For Quarters 1-3, any time there is a 20+ point difference, the game clock runs continuously, except for mandatory substitutions or the game officials stop the clock (time out, injury, etc.)

    3. Any time the lead drops below 20 points difference, the clock reverts to a stop clock

    4. Once a 20-point lead is established in the 4th Quarter, the clock continues to run unless the game officials determine otherwise

  7. Minimum Play Substitutions:

    1. Coaches will have players at the scorer's table around the 3:30 mark of each quarter

    2. In the flow of the game, game officials will stop play at the first dead ball closest to the 3:00 minute mark of each quarter for substitutions

    3. Players will enter the floor when the referee calls them into the game; (if a player being substituted is shooting a free throw, like a normal substitution, that player will come out on the last made free throw or the next dead ball.)

    4. Coaches will receive two (2) Full and two (2) 30-second timeouts

    5. Each player must play a minimum of three uninterrupted 3-minute segments to fulfill the minimum play requirement; at least one segment must be played in each half

    6. Game officials will call for the substitution; Coaches who substitute prior to the official substitution will be allowed to substitute earlier, but will be in violation of the rule

    7. Official Scorekeepers must accurately track player substitutions on Mandatory Play Sheet

    8. Official Scorekeepers must notify coaches at the end of the 3rd period of any player substitution violations

    9. Any player, who was present for the entire game, in violation after the 3rd Quarter, must be allowed to finish the game in the 4th quarter to fulfill the mandatory play rule

  1. Five (5) team fouls (Bonus) in a quarter results in a two free throw shooting situation

  2. Overtime will be one 2-minute period (4th quarter extended) stop clock

    1. Each team will receive an additional 30-second time out for the first OT only

    2. Double overtime will be one 1-minute period (4th quarter extended) stop clock

    3. Triple overtime will be ‘Sudden Death’; after 1-minute of play, if no basket has been made, each team will select a player to shoot 3 Free throws; the Away Team will shoot first

  3. Game officials must sign the book following each game

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High School Age Group Rules


  1. Players’ names and numbers must be in book prior to game start time

    1. Most scorekeepers have the rosters ahead of time; however, it is the coach’s responsibility to make sure the roster is in the book

  2. Uniform Wear:

    1. Home Team wears light-colored side of the jersey (with a white t-shirt if t-shirt is worn)

    2. Away Team wears dark-colored side of the jersey (with a black t-shirt if t-shirt is worn)

    3. No jewelry of any kind will be allowed; earrings will not be allowed (covering with tape or bandages will not be allowed)

    4. Long hair must be secured at all times to prevent injuries

  3. Four 7-minute quarters - stop clock (unless directed otherwise by league/game official)

  4. HOME Team provides:

    1. Clock Operator

    2. Game Ball (Game Ball remains in possession of the officials until the game is over)

  5. Teams may start and play the entire game with 4 players

    1. The opposing team is not obligated to play with 4 players (highly encouraged as a gesture of good sportsmanship)

    2. If a 4th player arrives after the officials have announced a ‘forfeit’, the game official can make a judgment call to continue to call the game (Most officials once a forfeit has been called, will not turn over the decision)

  6. Mercy Rules:

    1. Teams with 15+ point lead will not be allowed to press or play full court defense.

    2. For Quarters 1-3, any time there is a 20+ point difference, the game clock runs continuously, except for mandatory substitutions or the game officials stop the clock (time out, injury, etc.)

    3. Any time the lead drops below 20 points difference, the clock reverts to a stop clock

    4. Once a 20-point lead is established in the 4th Quarter, the clock continues to run unless the game officials determine otherwise

  7. Five (5) team fouls (Bonus) in a quarter results in a two free throw shooting situation

  8. Overtime will be one 2-minute period (4th quarter extended) stop clock

    1. Double overtime will be one 1-minute period (4th quarter extended) stop clock

    2. Triple overtime will be 'Sudden Death'; after 1-minute of play, if no basket has been made, each team will select a player to shoot 3 Free throws; the Away Team will shoot first

  9. Game officials must sign the book following each game



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