1 2015-16 WINTER LEAGUE RULES. 11/28/15 2015-16 Revisions & Points of Emphasis 1. KERR BACKCOURT LINE The Red Line is now the over & back line., Time Line is still ½ Court. Purpose to allow more offensive space. 2. LANE VIOLATIONS (G1/2, G3/4, G5/6, B1/2, B3/4) - Shooter may violate, but must not be the 1 st to touch the ball or move further forward after the foul shot is released, until it hits the rim, per PIAA rules. Purpose to clairfy what is allowed of the shooter who stands closer. 3. MEN S 40OV REVERSIBLE RULES Only legal undershirt is (Red Side Rev- Red or Black) & (White Side Rev- White or L.Grey). Purpose is to distinguish team for both the referees, and players. 4. 40OV & WOHS ONLY NEW SUBSTITUTION TIMING Stoppages now occur at 3:30, and 6:30 of each quarter only. There is no longer a stoppage at 5:00. Purpose to allow teams more opportunities to substitute, without adversely adding time or breaking flow. 5. 40OV & WOHS ONLY NEW SITTING TIME MIN - New minimum sitting time rule only requires players to sit one time for 3:30 seconds with any number of players, but does not relieve players from observing rules, that all players must play ½ of each game. Purpose to balance playing time rules and not allow larger or smaller teams to gain an advantage that was not intended. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. PLAYING TIME, SUBSTITUTES, & SUBSTITUTION RULES page 2 2. GAME TIME RULES & 3 POINT SHOTS page 3 3. OVER TIME & SUDDEN DEATH RULES page 4 4. RESTRICTED 1 ST TO 6 TH GRADE DEFENSIVE RULES page 4 5. ILLEGAL DEFENSE & DOUBLE TEAM RULE ENFORCEMENT page 5 6. SEVENTH GRADE-ADULT LEAGUE RULES page 6 7. SPORTSMANSHIP & MERCY RULES page 6 8. JUMP BALLS & ALTERNATING POSSESSION page 9 9. FOULS & DISQUALIFICATION (5, 7, 10) page 6
10. LEGAL GAMES & FORFEITS page 6 2 11. PLAYOFFS, ELIGIBILITY & TRADE RULES page 6 12. UNIFORMS page 7 13. REFEREES ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR AND LANGUAGE page 7 Where Winter League rules are not either clear or do not address a topic, follow NFHS rules. #1. Playing Time, Substitutes, & Substitution Acquisition Rules 7 or 8 PLAYER PLAYING TIME RULE Every player must play at least 2 full quarters (1/2) of each game) and each player must sit a minimum of 1 full quarter. (See below for explanation of fewer player rule). Note: Equal playing time is an oft quoted, but non-league rule. Men s 40OV & WOHS New minimum sitting time rule only requires players to sit one time or for 3:30 seconds, but each player still must play ½ of each game. 6 PLAYER PLAYING TIME RULE If there are only 6 players present then all players must sit a minimum of ½ quarter and all must still play a minimum of ½ of the game. See note above on new minimum sitting time rule for Men s 40OV, and WOHS. SUBSTITUTE TIMING Substitutions may only occur at the start of or 1/2 way through each quarter except in the case of injury. A 10 second clock stoppage may occur around 1/2 way through each quarter to allow for substitutes. This substitution stoppage is NOT a charged timeout. Only players who are being replaced should leave the court. This stoppage should occur roughly at between 3:45 to 4:15 minutes for youth leagues, or 4:45-5:15 for the Men s OHS leagues. It may occur anytime there is even a slowdown in play and does not require a dead ball, but is at the referee direction. Coaches/ Captains should request this of the referees. It is not referees job to remember this. o Men s 40OV & WOHS May sub at 3:30(3:15-3:45) and 6:30 (6:15-6:45) of each quarter. This does not change the playing time maximums or minimums. An injured player may return to play ASAP and there is a whistle or any stoppage in play. You may not substitute during a timeout unless it was called at the same time as a substitution stoppage. Both coaches MUST track substitutions, team and individual fouls on the score sheet and settle all disputes. Referees are not responsible to track this. Breaking playing time rules results in a forfeit. Please FOREWARN any coach who is about to break this rule, so as to avoid a forfeit. Playing Time TIPS ONLY: Have a playing time plan prepared beforehand. Use our downloadable score sheet from the website in the coaches box. Consider the following suggestion. Equal playing time is not a league rule. For 6 players - 2 play 3 quarters, 4 play 3.5 quarters For 7 players - 2 play 2.5 quarters, 5 play 3 quarters For 8 players - 4 play 2 quarters, 4 play 3 quarters HANDLING LATE ARRIVING PLAYERS A player arriving late is considered to have sat during those quarters during which were not present and hence did not play.
3 A team is required to meet the playing time rules based on the total number of active, eligible, non-injured players at the game. A team must follow the playing time rule based on this most up to date adjusted player count. Example #1: A team begins the game with 5 players and a 6th player show up late. They are required to follow the 6 player rule if logistically possible. Example #2: A team with 8 players at game time has one get injured, and 1 disqualified early. They are now only required to follow the 6 player rule if logistically possible. Example #3: A team with 6 players has a player has a 7 th player show up in the 3 rd quarter. They have no requirement to sit everyone twice due to the late arrival, since it is now likely logistically impossible. If not logistically possible, then they may decide who will and will not meet the New playing time maximum or minimum. The opponent has no input into this and it is likely their best players will be allowed to play more. SUBSTITUTES Substitute Acquisition Rule No canceled games will be made up, or rescheduled unless the cancelation of the game was weather, or facility related and space is available. All games must be played or recorded as a forfeit. To avoid this, a team may request a legal substitute(s) directly from their commissioner. MEN S 40OV will now use the online acquisition tool. The commissioner will seek to replace the player(s) who is missing with equally or lesser rated player(s). They must use the following procedure to obtain a substitute. The coach must contact their commissioner, and the other team requesting substitute(s) while letting them know who they are missing. Specify if you are looking for a specific position. A team is to have no more than 5 total players at a game when bringing a commissioner approved substitute(s). Exception: Men s 40OV, and Women s OHS may have up to 6 total players including the substitutes. Maximum number of legally obtained outside substitutes allowed at any game is 2 for youth teams, 2 for Men s OHS, and 3 for Men s 40OV, and Women s OHS teams. Teams needing more than three substitutes officially forfeit the game. A friendly may still be played. The substitutes must wear a team jersey in the correct color, or very similar color if possible. Extra jerseys are provided to each team to help facilitate this, and are to be returned afterwards. Commissioner may issue a shirt wavier when necessary. Only registered, paid, Winter League players may substitute. Only players obtained through this system may substitute. You may not coordinate your own substitute(s) at any time. Commissioner must notify both teams as to who the substitute(s) and missing players are. The substitute may not exceed the top rated missing players rating. No substitutes are ever permitted during the March Madness playoffs, except for the Adult Leagues who may obtain players at the 3 rating level, but must not exceed 5 total players. Captains and coaches who use illegal players will be suspended for 2 games, and vanquish any wins from those games. #2. Game Timing Rules & 3 Point Shots 2 nd to 12 th play (4) 8-minute quarters and Adult Leagues play (4) 10-minute quarters. Time between periods: 1 minute between 1 st & 3 rd quarters, and 2 minutes at ½ time. (Please set clock to keep games moving.)
Clock ONLY stops during injuries, foul shots, substitutions, and timeouts and on all whistles during the final 30 seconds of each quarter, and last 1 minute of the 4th quarter. OT: Clock also stops on all whistles and during the final minute of overtime. Regular Season: Each Team has 1 timeouts per half. If not used it carries over to the 2 nd half. OT: Each team has 1 timeout for the entirety of the overtime period(s), regardless of how many occur. 10 second, 5 second, and 3 second rules apply for all age groups. 3 pointers count only where courts have a clearly marked 3 point line. 4 #3. Over Time & Sudden Death Rules Individual and team fouls carry over into OT and do not reset. OT begins with a jump ball and then alternating possession. During Regular Season Tie games will be decided by a full 4:00 minute overtime period, with substitutions at the 2:00 minute mark. Additional Over- Time * Adult Leagues will play continuous 4 minute overtime periods until a winner is decided. * 3 rd -12 th grades will play 1 Single sudden death OT. (1st team to score wins). Playoffs Overtime NO SUDDEN DEATH. Instead play additional 4 minute overtime periods until a winner is decided. #4. RESTRICTED DEFENSE 1 ST to 6 th Grade (ZONE & ILLEGAL) BACK COURT DEFENSE RULE All Players must back up to ½ court on defense. No front court defense. Violation: Illegal Defense 1 st to 6 th MAN TO MAN DEFENSE ONLY All players must play man to man defense in 1 st to 6 th grades. MAN TO MAN DEFINED: Man to Man by rule is staying within 2-3 of your opponent while they are either touching the line, or are within the 3 point arc area. DOUBLE TEAMIING IS NOT ALLOWED Violation Double Team ZONE DEFENSE IS NOT ALLOWED Violation Illegal Defense FLOATING DEFENSE IS NOT ALLOWED - Violation Illegal Defense
5 HELP DEFENSE EXPLAINED: If a player escapes from his defender another defender may leave their man, and switch to this free uncovered player. However the trailing beaten defender must then find and switch to covering the other defender players as well. If both consequently, whether intentionally or not, end up at the ball, then double teaming should be called. Exception: Double teaming is not called on a rebound until the player with the ball either exits the paint, or passes it out of the paint. Even if they are indeed double teamed while in the paint after the rebound, there is no call on this. Exception: Double teaming is not called if someone dribbles willing or accidentally into a 2 nd man or double team unless the defender actively moved and or reached to steal the ball. Violation Double Team Double Teaming Advantage NO CALL: Referees are instructed to attempt to allow advantage as in soccer. This means they may wait to see what happens, or may even blow the whistle late on a potential double team to try and avoid calling it should the player, who, despite being double teams scores. If that player loses their advantage due then play is brought back to the double team call. Illegal defense is called when a defender does not stay within 2-3 of their opponent except, when that player leaves the 3 point arc area. Violation Illegal Defense Illegal Defense is also called when a defender hangs off, or sags away from their opponent more than the required distance to anticipate, and or potentially assist another player who is inside or on the 3 point arc. Violation Illegal Defense 1 st to 6 th - Coaches please do not run clear out, or isolation plays. Involve all players. Referee may penalize violators with an illegal offense call, which adds to the illegal defense totals. 1 st to 6 th - Coaches may not assign one player to always cover the ball but instead must match them up with a partner. Violation is an illegal defense call. FULL COURT MAN TO MAN Press Rule (Simplified & Modified) 3 rd & 4 th Grade During the final 30 seconds of regulation, and final 30 seconds of overtime, teams may choose to play full court man to man rather than back up to half court as long as they comply with the Sportsmanship & Restricted Defense Rule (pg #6 rule 7a. & pg#5 rule 4). They also must observe all other man to man rules including but not limited to no double teaming, etc. Change was made so that the original intent, to prevent teams from holding the ball in the backcourt at the end of the game, was accomplished while decreasing gym chaos in tight gyms. 5th & 6 th Grade During the final 2 minutes of regulation, and final 2 minutes of overtime, teams may choose to play full court man to man rather than back up to half court as long as they comply with the Sportsmanship & Restricted Defense Rule (pg #6 rule 7a. & pg#5 rule 4).They also must observe all other man to man rules including but not limited to no double teaming, etc. Change was made to clarify, and simplify the rule and allow either team to initiate it. #5. Illegal Defense: Zone/Double Team Rule Enforcement 1st offense: warning, & possession to the offense at the spot of the foul 2nd offense: warning, & possession to the offense at the spot of the foul 3rd & future offenses: 2 shot bench technical foul with possession going to the offense. Ball is put in at half court. Technical does not count toward team or individual foul totals. Counter resets at ½ time as with all fouls.
#6. Seventh Grade-Adult League Rules 6 Follow NFHS basketball rules. No restrictions except playing time and sportsmanship rules. All Leagues may leave the lane on the release of the foul shot. Teams now have the option to play 5v4 when their opponent has only 4 players in attendance. (They are no longer forced to play 4v4 as per the previous rule stated.) #7. Sportsmanship & Mercy Rules SPORTSMANSHIP RULE: When leading by 15 points or more, the defense must retreat to their own back court. Front court pressure is not permitted. They may resume full court pressure once the differential is less than 15 points. See some time period restrictions on younger age groups as well. MERCY RULE: Clock runs, and doesn t stop except for injuries, and, timeouts, when a teams is leading by 25 points in the 4 th quarter. #8. Jump Balls & Alternating Possession All age groups start the game with a jump ball followed by alternating possession. #9. Fouls & Disqualification (5, 7, 10) 5 fouls disqualifies a player. The 7th team foul occurs in a half results in the fouled player being awarded a 1-and-1 foul shot. The 10 th team foul in a half results in 2 shots being awarded to the person fouled. Team foul counts reset to zero at ½ time. OT: Team & Individual fouls carry over, and do not reset. #10. Legal Games & Forfeits A minimum of 4 players are required to begin a legal game. Exception: 1 st /2 nd, and 3 rd/ 4 th girls that play 3v3 or 4v4 require 2 and 3 respectively to begin. Grades 3 rd -6 th: If a team only has 4 players, the other team must play 4 on 4 during the regular season. Grades 7 th -adult: If a team only has 4 players, the other team may play 5v4. March Madness: You are not required to play down numbers during March Madness. If a team has less than 4 players, 10 minutes after the scheduled start time they will forfeit the game. If there is a forfeit, a friendly game may still be played and officiated. #11. Playoffs, Eligibility & Trade Rules
All trades are strictly forbidden without prior commissioner approval. 7 Only players assigned to your team may play for you. Use of any other player will result in an automatic forfeit. (See legal substitute acquisition rule.) All teams make the year-end March Madness playoffs. The season determines the seeding of those teams in the playoffs. There is no minimum number of games required for a player to be eligible to play in the playoffs as long as they are registered and have paid in full. #12. Uniforms All players must have registered, paid and be wearing the correct color Winter League jersey to participate. Coaches are not permitted to override this rule. A shirt with no # is a legal 00 and not subject to a technical foul. If a player does not wear the correct team jersey a 2 shot individual, and team technical foul will be charged to the team. There are no exceptions, except legal league substitutes. No jewelry or casts may be worn at any time on the hand, forearm, or elbow as per NFHS rules. Out of uniform player approval rule: Any player who is out of uniform must have the opposing coach, captain, & commissioner s approval, verifying that the player is indeed on that roster, in order for them to be permitted to play. Persistent uniform violations will result in a player being not permitted to play. Cutting the sleeves off must keep in line with the image of the league and be modestly altered. Women s & girls alterations, should not expose undergarments. The league reserves the right to reject any uniform alterations, and require that player to purchase a replacement if it does not meet league standards at the player s expense. #13. ABUSE & BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES Questioning Calls & Foul Language Coaches, players, and spectators are not permitted to question a referee's call. Coaches who wish to discuss something with a referee should be polite and ask the opposing coach to be present during the discussion. This should take place during a timeout, or normal stoppage in play. Swearing, foul or abusive language will not be tolerated. Referees may call technical fouls if this rule is violated. Referees may eject a player, coach, or spectator. Referees and coaches are to report all issues including, technical fouls to the league. LEAGUE DISCIPLINE & BEHAVIOR Spectators & Coaches must stay off the court at all times, unless otherwise beckoned by the referees. Entering the court without approval may result in an ejection and/or suspension.
At no time should spectators harass players on the court. Spectators must not engage in verbal harassment of players, fans, or officials. 8 Any player, coach or spectator who is ejected, must immediately and quickly leave the facility or face further punishment Regular season, 3v3, and March Madness suspensions carry over to the playoffs and into future seasons! All ejections automatically result in a 1 game suspension. In addition, the board will review each case. Two ejections in one season will result in a season long suspension. Serious issues may result in lifetime banishment.