Basketball Rules

Except as otherwise noted in these rules, the rules of the NFHS (high school) shall be in effect.

Overview

  • Two 20-minute halves
  • Each team is allowed 2 time-outs per half – unused TOs do not carry over to 2nd half
  • Running clock except for the final minute of the first half and final 2 minutes of the second half (unless a team is up by 15 or more points)
  • In the case of a tie at the end of regulation there will be a 2:00 minute overtime with each team being awarded one time-out for the overtime period.

Beginning the Game

The beginning of the game starts with a jump ball. Possession for all following jump balls are alternate possessions. The start of all over times begin with a jump ball.

Team Size

Each team shall field no more than 5 players on the court at one time. Teams may have up to 12 players on their roster. 

Shirt/Jersey Numbers

Each player is required to have a clearly visible and permanent number on the back of their shirt.  Teams will be allowed one (1) player without a number and that player will be numbered 0 or 00.  All other players MUST have a numbered shirt or they will not be eligible to play.

Sharpie numbers are acceptable, taped or non permanent numbers are not permitted. Each player must have their own number (no duplicate numbers will be allowed).    

Substitutions

There is no limit on the amount of substitutions per team. During the course of the regular season teams are allowed to pick up players that are not on their roster in order to field a full team. In playoffs, players must be on the roster in order to play.

Subs must have their own number on their shirt. The number must be large and permanent (sharpie on the back is acceptable). The number must be different from all other players on the team.

Time

The game will play two (2) 20-minute halves separated by a brief 2 minute halftime break. There's a 5 minute grace period, and if a team doesn't have 4 players ready to play on the court, the game will be a forfeit.

It's a running clock except for the final minute of the first half and final 2 minutes of the second half. During the final minute(s) the clock will stop on all whistles and timeouts, but  time will remain running during made field goals. The clock will not stop in the last two minutes of the second half when one team is ahead by 15 or more points. Each team is granted 2 timeouts per half, unused timeouts do not carry over to the second half. If in the first 38 minutes a timeout is called prior to a free throw, the time will remained stopped during the free throws until the ball is live again.

Overtime

The first overtime period is 2 minutes. The clock runs continuously during the first minute and stops for the last minute on whistles and timeouts. Each team is awarded 1 additional timeout for all of overtime. In playoffs, subsequent 1 minute overtime periods (stop-clock)  will be used until a winner is determined, with no additional time outs. 

For regular season games, there will be a maximum of 1 overtime period–if the score remains tied after two minutes, the game will end in a tie.

Personal/Team Fouls

Personal fouls will be recorded for all leagues. Players will foul-out after being awarded their 5th personal foul. All technical fouls will be recorded as personal fouls.

A team begins shooting single bonus (β€œone-and-one”) on all common fouls on the seventh team foul, and two foul shots on all common fouls on the tenth (10) team foul of each half and will continue to shoot two (2) fouls shots on any subsequent common fouls. If a technical foul happens to be the tenth team foul, the team will shoot the two (2) free throws for the technical and receive the ball, however they will not receive the bonus free throws. All shooting fouls are two (2) shot fouls unless the shooter is attempting a 3 point shot. Then they will receive three (3) shots. If a foul is an intentional foul the player will receive two (2) shots and possession of the ball.

Technical Fouls

Any individual that is assessed two technical fouls will result in being ejected from the game. (Depending on the severity of the technical foul a player can be ejected after being assessed 1 technical under the discretion of the referee.). 

  • An ejection from a game carries an automatic suspension for your next game; additional suspension is at the league's discretion.
  • An ejection during a playoff game is an ejection for all remaining playoff games!

All technical fouls result in two (2) free throws and ball possession.

Clarifications

  • The 3-point field goal is in effect if the court has a line marked.
  • Backcourt violations will be in effect unless otherwise noted.
  • Dunking is allowed when the facility permits. If the facility does not permit dunking, all dunks will result in the basket being waved off, a technical foul assessed on the player, and the other team will shoot 1 foul shot and get the ball at midcourt.