Except as otherwise noted in these rules, the rules of the NFHS (high school) shall be in effect.
Overview
- Four 10 minute quarters
- 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 each quarter (unless mercy rule is in effect)
- 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.
Numbers must be screen-printed or ironed on (should be clearly visible from a distance), NO SHARPIE NUMBERS.
Substitutions
There is no limit on the amount of substitutions per team. During the course of the regular season teams are allowed to use 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.
Definitions:
- Guest Players: players that aren't on the roster, and are not registered for any team in that league (regardless of division). They are in another league that season, or have signed the Guest Player Waiver.
- Pick-up Player: this is a player on another team in that league (e.g. Tuesday Men's basketball)
All guest players must use a jersey that complies with the jersey/number requirements. The number must be different from all other players on the team.
A team may only use ONE pick-up player in a game, and it is only to fill out the "starting five" - you may not use a pick-up player if you already have 4 players. Once roster players check in to the game, the pick-up player must be the one to sub out, and may not sub back in. NOTE: you may start a legal game with 4 players, which may include the pick-up player (I.e. 3 rostered players are required to start a game, plus the pick-up player).
*Intent of the rule: A pick-up player is intended to fill in for teammates who arrive late, ensuring that the game can commence while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. It isn't intended to provide a long term extra player/sub.
Time
The game will play four (4) 10-minute quarters separated by a brief 1-2 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 each quarter. During the final minute the clock will stop on all whistles and timeouts, but time will remain running during made field goals. Each team is granted 2 timeouts per half, unused timeouts do not carry over to the second half. If in the first 9 minutes of a quarter a timeout is called prior to a free throw, the time will remained stopped during the free throws until the ball is live again.
Mercy Rule
The clock will not stop when one team is ahead by 15 or more points. If a team is winning by 30+ points, the game will end when there is 2:00 remaining. If at any point a team is winning by 45 points, the game will be stopped and considered final - both teams may use the court to scrimmage for fun for the remainder of the allotted game time.
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 double bonus on all common fouls on the fifth team foul in each quarter. If a technical foul happens to be the fifth 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.