Mandatory Play Rules

Participation is a primary objective of the EPWBA. We promise each participant a certain amount of playing time each game.  No player sits on the bench for most of a game.  To achieve this goal, we limit roster size to 8 or 9 players, and enforce rules regarding playing time.  The specific rules differ somewhat among the other leagues.

Game Structure

• In the Prep Boys, Prep Girls, Middle, Middle Girls and Freshmen Boys Leagues, a basketball game is played in four 6-minute quarters, and we treat each quarter as composed of two 3-minute segments.  Thus, there are eight 3-minute segments per game.  
• In the High School Boys and High School Girls, a game is played in four 7-minute quarters. 

Summary

Mandatory Play Rules for Each League

Prep Boys, Prep Girls, Middle, Middle Girls, and Freshmen Boys Leagues

Minimum Play Rule

Each team member must play at least three full segments of the eight time segments that compose a game, with at least one segment of play in each half.

Maximum Play Rule

In the Prep Leagues each team member must be out of the game for one full 3-minute segment.  That is, players may play as many as 7 segments but must sit out one full segment in the Prep Age Groups. There is no maximum play rule in the Middle and Freshmen Age Groups.

Full Segments

To play (or sit out) a full segment, a player must be in the game (or on the bench) for the entire 3-minute segment.  Coaches are allowed to substitute within segments, but neither player involved in a substitution (the one going in or the one coming out) is credited with either playing or sitting out a full segment.

Special Circumstances

There may be certain situations in which a minimum or maximum play requirement cannot be met. 

• If a team has only 5 players available for a game, the team is not required to sit players out, and play with four on the court, to meet the maximum play requirement.  The maximum play rule is waived in this circumstance.  Likewise, if a team is reduced to 5 players at some point, for instance through injury or a player fouling out, before every team member has sat out a segment, it is not necessary to sit additional players and play with only four during any subsequent segment.
• If a player has a health issue, such as an asthmatic condition, that may impair his ability to play a full segment, the minimum play requirement could be waived for that player.
• For players arriving substantially late for a game, the full minimum play requirement would not apply. Rather, the late arrival would be entitled only to the amount of playing time that he/she might receive had he/she been present and played during the time actually missed.  It would not be required, for instance, that a team member arriving at half-time play 3 of the 4 segments in the second half.  Insofar as that player could have played 2 segments in the first half if present, the player would be entitled to play one segment in the second half.

High School Boys and High School Girls League

Coaches in the High School Boys and High School Girls League have more flexibility in meeting minimum play requirements than coaches in the other leagues, but adequate playing time is still required.  As noted above, High School Boys and High School Girls League games are played in four 7-minute quarters. They can substitute freely rather than by defined segments. There is no maximum play rule in the Senior League.