2 nd /3 rd basketball rules page 1 of 6 Central Florida Youth Basketball Rules Summary 2 nd /3 rd Division Central Florida YMCA Sports utilizes the National Federation of High Schools Rulebook, actually a collection of three books, with over 300 pages of rules and procedures. Visit www.nfhs.org for more information. The following is only a summary of the basic rules plus any YMCA amendments. I. Players, substitutes, and bench personnel: A. Games are played with a maximum of four players for each team. 1. Every effort must be made to ensure all players play at least half of the total game time as best as possible. 2. Teams may start the game with less than four players if necessary. 3. If a team must start the game with less than four players, that team may borrow a player(s) from the opponent and the opponent must lend any available player(s) so that a game can take place with four players on the court for each team. 4. After starting, a game may continue with less than four players for either or both teams if the game continues to be a healthy and fun challenge. B. Teams may request to the official their intention to substitute after the official has signaled that play has stopped but before the ball becomes live. 1. The substitution must wait until the official grants the request. 2. When players are available, a team must make every effort to play all available players up to the maximum of four on the court. 3. A team may not purposely play fewer players unless directed to do so by the official. C. Coaches must remain out of bounds but may stand along the side lines 1. To encourage and instruct players. 2. To respectfully request information from an official. 3. While staying clear of play and the official s duties. D. All bench personnel must remain off the court including coaches, team representatives, spectators, etc., and substitutes must be reasonably supervised. II. Equipment and uniforms: A. The 2 nd /3 rd division will use 1. A junior size basketball provided by the YMCA. 2. A 8.5 to 9ft high goal provided by the YMCA. 1
2 nd /3 rd basketball rules page 2 of 6 3. An approximately 60ft long by 30ft wide court provided by the YMCA. 4. A game shirt provided by the YMCA. B. It is highly recommended that players wear 1. Shoes and shorts appropriately designed for basketball. 2. Soft knee and/or soft elbow pads. 3. A mouth guard/tooth protection appropriate for basketball. C. If the official determines a player is wearing illegal equipment, the item(s) must be removed in order for that player to be allowed to participate such as 1. Items that are hard or sharp that could cut or scratch (examples are jewelry, ear rings, rings, watches, barrettes, belt buckles, etc.) 2. Items that are hard or do not give that could collide with another player (examples are casts, slow recovery padding, caps, knotted clothing or bandanas, hair clips, etc.). 3. Items that are loose fitting or hanging loosely off the body in a gap that could catch another player (examples are bracelets, necklaces, looped ear rings, cloth jewelry, large pockets, belt loops, hoods, etc.). 4. Items that are hanging loosely off the body that could swing or strike another player (examples are hair ties or adornments, clothing with strings or ties, etc.). III. Scoring and timing: A. Players are encouraged to shoot for baskets; however, no score is officially kept. The concept is to develop coordination and skill, to have fun and gain confidence. B. Games are played in four 8 minute quarters. 1. The clock does not stop unless the official determines it is necessary to do so due to an unusual delay. 2. There are no team timeouts. 3. There is a 1 minute timeout after the first and third quarters. 4. There is a 2 minute timeout at half-time. C. The resumption of play rule will be in effect for all awarded throw ins. 1. If necessary, the official will notify teams the throw in will take place, as with the beginning of the period. 2. If there is a delay in doing so, the official will notify teams that play must now resume. 3. If the team receiving the out of bounds throw in is not available, the official will simply give the ball to the opponent and play resumes. 4. The concept is to encourage player hustle and focus, and to prevent the game from becoming undesirably stagnant. IV. Offense and defense: A. Generally, teams may apply any type of legal strategy in its attempt to score except 1. No screens may be intentionally utilized. 2. A player shall not commit traveling. a. In this division, a player has committed traveling by moving a distance of more than 3 ft while holding the ball without making an attempt to release the ball to begin or maintain a dribble. b. This will be the only version of traveling enforced. 3. A player shall not commit double dribble. 2
3 2 nd /3 rd basketball rules page 3 of 6 a. In this division, a player has committed double dribble by intentionally and obviously ending a dribble and, in the judgment of the official, delaying to continue the dribble or otherwise start a new dribble. b. This will be the only version of double dribble enforced. B. Players on defense have committed illegal defense by 1. Defending the opponent while within the opponent s back court. 2. Preventing the opponent from entering its front court. 3. Stealing the ball from the dribbler and/or causing a held ball. a. The defensive team has illegally stolen the ball if, in the judgment of the official, a defender i. Reaches, lunges, intentionally contacts the ball, and/or feigns action toward the dribbler and/or the ball while in possession. ii. Otherwise causes the dribbler to unintentionally lose possession of the ball through non-basic, non-fundamental actions. iii. Attempts to gain possession of the ball and/or causes a held ball after the opponent has first gained possession. b. All passes and other loose balls are available for any player to take possession. i. If the dribbler loses possession without illegal defense, the ball may be possessed by any player. ii. A pass does not become a pass, and remains in possession of the dribbler, and therefore is subject to the illegal defense rules, until it has clearly left the hand(s) of the passer. 4. Blocking a shot unless the blocking player does so with vertical positioning. a. Jumping and/or raising arms straight up into the air is legal. b. Swatting, flailing, and slapping are examples of, although not fouls, illegally blocked scoring attempts. 5. Double teaming, trapping, or applying a zone strategy. a. The defense must apply a man-to-man strategy. b. Players may switch match ups during live play if man-to-man coverage remains constant. c. However, any defensive player(s) may guard the player in possession of the ball when that offensive opponent is within the lane area. i. When the player in possession of the ball enters the lane, or when a player catches or rebounds the ball while standing in the lane, the defense may guard that player regardless of their normal single player match ups. ii. At the moment a player in possession of the ball leaves the lane, or when the player passes the ball out of the lane, the defense must recognize and re-adjust to its normal single player match up. C. Both teams may rebound and take possession of any missed shot attempt. 1. If the attempt is made, the opponent must take the ball out of bounds to begin its offensive possession.
4 2 nd /3 rd basketball rules page 4 of 6 2. If opponents simultaneously gain possession of a rebound from a missed scoring attempt, the defensive team is awarded possession inbounds and play continues. D. The official shall give the ball back inbounds to the player previously in possession and play continues if 1. The player loses possession due to illegal defense or the opponent causes a held ball. 2. Opponents simultaneously gain possession of a loose ball except during rebounding action resulting from a missed scoring attempt. E. If the official judges a team is obviously dominating another or that a player is in need of extra encouragement 1. The official may direct the defense to a. Allow a player to get closer to the basket and/or b. Not to attempt to block a shot and/or c. Give their rebound back to the offense for another attempt. d. Give their throw in opportunity to the offense for another possession. 2. The official may direct the offense to pass to the particular player and/or generate fun opportunities for that player. V. Live ball and dead ball: A. Prior to each game, players and coaches line up along the sideline for a prayer and program information. B. Teams will play in the direction they warmed up. 1. The home team begins the first and third quarters. 2. The away team begins the second and fourth quarters. 3. Teams will switch direction of play for the second half of the game. C. There is no jump ball or alternating procedure due to a held ball. D. The ball is live at the moment an official... 1. Makes the ball available for an out of bounds throw in 2. Gives the ball back to a player while inbounds, as in for illegal defense. E. The ball is dead when 1. A goal is scored. 2. Time expires for the period except during a try for goal that is in flight prior to expiration. 3. The official signals it is necessary to stop play. VI. Out of bounds and the throw in: A. A player is out of bounds when 1. The player is in contact with the ball, or is dribbling the ball, and touches the boundary line or the floor beyond the line. 2. The player touches anything that is already out of bounds, such as the ball. B. The ball is out of bounds when it touches 1. A boundary line or the floor beyond the line. 2. Anything that is already out of bounds, such as a player. 3. Any of the goal support structures. 4. The back-face of the backboard. C. A team will receive an out of bounds throw in when 1. The team receives the alternating possession to start the game or the next period. 2. The opponent scores a goal or a team scores into its own goal.
5 2 nd /3 rd basketball rules page 5 of 6 3. The opponent, or the ball last touched by the opponent, is out of bounds. 4. The offensive or throw in opponent commits an infraction of the rules judged necessary to stop play. D. A player on the offensive team will simply receive the ball inbounds from the official and play will continue immediately when 1. The defensive opponent commits an infraction of the rules judged necessary to stop play. 2. The ball lodges inbounds within the basket or backboard. E. The spot of the out of bounds throw in shall be nearest the spot where the ball became dead except 1. To start the game or the next period. 2. After a scored goal. a. The throw in after a goal shall be anywhere along the end line for the opponent of the scoring team. b. However, the spot will never originate from behind or underneath the goal. 3. If the throw in does not touch another player prior to going back out of bounds, the throw in is at the original spot. F. The player making the throw in must 1. Remain out of bounds prior to the throw. 2. Remain near the throw in spot prior to the throw except a. During throw ins following a goal. b. The thrower may step backwards away from the boundary line. 3. Pass the ball inbounds. a. The thrower shall not handoff the ball to a teammate. b. After the ball is thrown, it must not next touch out of bounds. c. After the ball is thrown, the throwing player must not be the next player to touch it. G. All players other than the thrower must 1. Remain inbounds during the throw in. 2. Not reach through the boundary line s imaginary vertical plane. 3. Not touch the ball until the ball has cleared the boundary line s imaginary vertical plane. H. If the throwing team commits a throw in violation, the official may 1. Halt play to encourage proper throw in technique. 2. Direct that same player to try a re-throw. 3. Award possession and a throw in to the opponent if the violation occurs during the re-throw. I. If the opponent commits a throw in violation, the official may 1. Halt play to encourage proper throw in defense and then direct that player to move back a distance of at least 1 ft away from the thrower. 2. Direct the throwing team to try a re-throw. 3. Provide the ball inbounds to the throwing team and direct play to continue if the opponent repeats the violation. VII. Free throws, violations, and fouls: A. Free throws involve complicated procedures and concepts; and so there are none. B. If a player is fouled in the act of shooting, that player receives the ball again, as in illegal defense, and play continues regardless of whether the attempt was successful or not.
2 nd /3 rd basketball rules page 6 of 6 C. Generally, there are no detailed provisions for violations except for those previously described. D. Generally, there are no detailed provisions for fouls; however, the official will stop play if judged necessary to do so. 1. If play is stopped, the official will encourage the offending player by providing information about the foul. 2. The opponent is awarded the ball dependent upon the offensive or defensive status of the offended team. 3. For the defense, the concept is to teach and develop fundamental defense by being positioned in a vertical position when the opponent shoots and pursuing any missed shot attempts. 4. For the offense, the concept is to teach and develop fundamental skills by dribbling, keeping the eyes up, and maintaining a reasonable amount of bodily control. E. Generally, there are no detailed provisions regarding technical fouls and misconduct. 1. However, if a coach, spectator, or player should lose their way and behave in a manner determined to be profane, taunting, vulgar, abusive, obscene, inciting, persistent, demonstrative, or otherwise disrespectful or inappropriate, the official or coordinator will encourage the offender to stop the behavior. 2. The act(s) do not need to be directed to any specific individual to be accountable. 3. If the player s conduct does not cease a. The official will direct that player to the sideline. b. The player shall not participate for the remainder of the period. c. Or continues further, the official may disqualify the player for the remainder of the game. d. Or in some unfortunate, severely inappropriate or potentially violent situations, the player may be disqualified without prior encouragement. 4. If a coach s or spectator s conduct does not cease a. The coordinator will direct that coach or spectator to leave the facility. b. In some unfortunate, severely inappropriate or potentially violent situations, a coach or spectator may be directed to leave the facility without prior encouragement. The referees and coordinators of the YMCA are actually YMCA Employees. They work here because they enjoy working with children and sports and the opportunities of being positive role models with other adults to encourage both teams to try their best, gain friendships, learn and develop skill, and grow as healthy, gracious competitors. Winning externally, as in winning by score, is secondary. 6