Sitka Community Schools City League Basketball Rules and League Guidelines All players are responsible for reading this document before participating in our basketball program. By registering for the league, players and teams accept the rules and guidelines provided below and any additional modifications as needed. These rules and guidelines may be changed or modified if: All team captains of teams that will be effected by the changes consent to the change, and The League Coordinator agrees to the change, and The Referee s Association Manager agrees to the change. Team captains are encouraged to constructively communicate any issues with league rules, game play, officiating, schedules, etc. to the League Coordinator or through email to info@sitkacommunityschools.com. revised August 27, 2018
Facilities and Locations All games are played at the Blatchley Middle School Gym. League Format Divisions: League divisions are formed of teams based on skill level, age, or gender. Divisions are limited to three teams minimum and five teams maximum. Divisions are: Upper Division Middle Division Women s Division Master s Division Season: The City League Basketball season will be broken into two sections: regular season and tournament. Teams play both seasons within their division. Regular Season: Regular season play is within divisions. The number of games played per team is determined by the number of available game days in the season. Tournament: The tournament will begin the week following the regular season. Tournament play is within divisions. Tournament is double elimination, seeded based on regular season standings. There is no If game (an additional game added if the winning bracket team has their first loss during the championship). Schedule It is the responsibility of the team captain to make sure all team members are aware of the schedule and any schedule changes. The regular season schedule will be posted online and at the Community Schools counter as soon as possible after the team registration deadline has passed. The schedule will also be sent via email to all team captains. The tournament schedule will be posted as soon as possible after the final regular season games, in order to seed the tournament based on division rankings. While Sitka Community Schools will do its best to assure that the schedule reflects available gym days, the facilities belong first and foremost to the Sitka School District, which reserve the right to use the facilities at any time. Any schedule changes that are made will be reflected in the posted schedules, and sent to team captains. Teams and Players Team Roster: The team roster is comprised of eligible, registered players. If players are joining mid season they must still meet the eligibility requirements below. Team Eligibility: All City League teams must be registered and have their registration fee paid prior to their first game of the season. Number of Players: Teams shall have a minimum of five players and a maximum of sixteen players on their roster. Players may be added to the roster up to the beginning of the team s third regular season game. No player may be added after that point. A team must have at least four players on the court to play. Any team that drops below four players will forfeit and shall be subject to the forfeit rule. Player Eligibility: All players must be registered and have paid their registration fee by the team s third regular season game. After this point, any new player added to the roster MUST pay their fee prior to playing. Payment may be done online, or by a representative of the team. City League Basketball Rules and Guidelines revised Monday, August 27 Page 2 of 7
Each player on the team must be at least 18 years of age. Younger players may be eligible with a) parent s consent, and b) approval from the division s team captains. If a player has been suspended, they are not considered eligible players until the suspension is lifted, Any team that plays a game with an ineligible player shall forfeit that game and be subject to the forfeit rule. Women s Division: In addition to the above player eligibility rules, players for the Women s Division must be women. Master s Division: In addition to the above player eligibility rules, players for the Master s Division must be age 45 or older. Team Captain: Each team shall designate one team captain for the season. The designated team captain (and only the team captain) shall be responsible for all interaction with game officials and the Community Schools manager. Captains may discuss rule interpretations but may not discuss judgment calls. Only the team captain can confer with officials. Anyone else conferring with officials will constitute a technical foul. Captains are expected to be respectful toward officials the team captain does not have the right to question judgment calls or speak to the official in a rude or disrespectful way. Penalty: technical foul. Team captains are responsible for ensuring that all players and spectators who are with their team behave in an appropriate manner. This includes the off court areas of Blatchley Middle School. Penalty: technical foul. Conduct Sitka Community Schools is a community recreation program that aims to create a welcoming environment for all players. Additionally, the programs are conducted in a public middle school. Each team is responsible for the actions of their fans on and off the court. Players and spectators shall respect the school facilities and property and abide by all federal, state, city, and school rules. Any player or spectator showing signs of intoxication will be asked to leave the premises. Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are not permitted on school property. NOTE: The officials jurisdiction begins from the time a player arrives on Blatchley Middle School property until the player leaves. Actions that occur before, during and after games are all subject to a technical foul, flagrant foul or ejection. Technical Fouls: The following conduct expectations are in place for all adult City League games - players or spectators in offense may receive a technical foul: Disrespect or damage to the school facilities and property, Abusive or profane language, Complaining about or questioning an official s call by a non-team captain, Persistent complaint about judgment calls by any player (including captain). Double Technical (Flagrant) Fouls: The following actions shall result in a technical foul, double technical (ejection) or flagrant foul: Use of profanity toward an official or an opposing player, Making a comment that is personal in nature to or about an official or opposing player, Any attempt to bait, taunt or otherwise instigate an opponent, An attempt to physically intimidate an opponent or official, Fighting. Community Schools will use a strict definition of fighting, and shall impose the fighting penalty for any of the following actions: Throwing a punch (regardless of whether or not it is landed) Slapping or pushing a player s face of head area City League Basketball Rules and Guidelines revised Monday, August 27 Page 3 of 7
Grabbing or pushing a player during an altercation (exception, trying to restrain a player from your own team) Any violent, physical act on another player outside of the actions allowed in basketball Any player who leaves the bench while an altercation is happening shall be considered to be fighting (exception: if an official specifically asks players to help to restore order). Halting a game: The officials have the right to halt and discontinue any game if it is believed that allowing a game to continue may result in a fight or an out of control situation. The officials will make a determination whether the game is a forfeit, double forfeit, or cancelled. Team Conduct: Any team which consistently exhibits poor sportsmanship may be eliminated from the league with a forfeiture of all fees. Technical Fouls Carryover: Individual technical fouls will be carried over from game to game. If a team has three technical fouls called in one game, they must forfeit the game. Suspensions: Any player or team captain who has two technical fouls called on him in one game, or is ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct, will automatically draw a two game suspension. Each additional technical foul past three in a season will result in an additional two game suspension. If the foul is flagrant enough to cause bodily harm, the player or captain will be suspended for one year from the date of the foul. The person will have to apply to Sitka Community Schools to be eligible to play one year from that date. Ejection: Any player or team captain who has two (2) technical fouls called on him in one (1) game, or is ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct, is automatically ejected from the gym immediately for that night. If an ejected player refuses to leave or re-enters the gym on that same night, the team he or she plays for will automatically forfeit their game. In the event such action does occur, that individual is automatically suspended from further league play until reinstated by Sitka Community Schools. Any player or captain ejected for the second time during the season must be reinstated by Sitka Community Schools. Refunds are not given to expelled players. Any player, captain or team, who in the opinion of the League Director is detrimental to the function of the league, may be permanently barred from league play by the Sitka Community Schools. Refunds are not given to expelled teams. Extreme profanity toward or the laying of hands upon an official will result in an automatic suspension of one year. After the one suspension period is over, the player must be reinstated by the Parks and Recreation Commission prior to being eligible to play. Scorekeepers and clock operators are considered officials. Officials The referees for City League Basketball are contracted from an outside officials organization and are not employees of Sitka Community Schools. All officials are expected to treat players in a professional and respectful manner, and uphold all of the rules and policies in this manual. Scorekeepers and clock operators are considered officials. Sitka Community Schools contracts for at least one referee per game and intends to play each game with at least one official. In the event that no official is present, teams may decide to proceed in one of the following ways: 1. Solicit a volunteer(s) to officiate the game. The volunteer officials will be paid the officials fee. 2. Play a self-officiated game (teams will split the officials fee). City League Basketball Rules and Guidelines revised Monday, August 27 Page 4 of 7
3. Declare the game a no-contest, so neither team s standings are affected. The game will not be rescheduled (teams will split the officials fee). 4. Consult with the Community Schools manager to see if rescheduling the game is possible (teams will not split the officials fee). 5. If option 1 or 2 are agreed upon, the game must be played to completion, unless an official arrives to complete the game (the game shall not be restarted). 6. Once a game has begun, it is considered an official game and cannot be replayed. Forfeits It is the responsibility of every team to play their scheduled games. The cost of staffing referees, timekeepers, and the gym space is significant. Also, the opposing team should have every expectation that they will get the scheduled games that they have paid for. Forfeits count as a loss in regular season and tournament play. Rescheduling Games: If a team will be unable to play a game and gives at least two weeks notice to the League Manager prior to the game day, every attempt will be made to reschedule the game and avoid the forfeit penalty. Notification: If a team must forfeit, please call the opposing team captain and the League Coordinator as soon as possible. Use of court: On a forfeit, the opposing team that was scheduled for the game has free use of the court during regular game time. The opposing team may use their court time for a pick-up game or use the time for team practice. City League Basketball Rules and Guidelines revised Monday, August 27 Page 5 of 7
Game Play General: City League will use NFHS (High School) rules except where noted below. Team Roster: Captains or a team representative must fill out the roster at the score table prior to each game. Players first and last name along with the jersey number shall be entered into the roster. Only players who are present shall be listed in the roster at the beginning of regulation play. Players arriving late may be added to the scorebook without penalty. Players may not enter the game until they ve been entered into the scorebook. Game Start: Games will begin promptly at the scheduled start time unless overtimes or other unforeseen circumstances interfere. Teams are provided with a 15 minute warm-up period. In the event that a game is taking place during the warm-up time, teams may use the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) facility. If a team only has four players present at game time, they must play with four. If a team does not have four players present at ten minutes past the scheduled game time, they will forfeit the game and be subject to the forfeit rules. Game Time: For Upper Division, games will consist of two 25 minute halves. For Masters, Middle and Women Divisions games will consist of two of two 20 minute halves. The clock will be running time except: The final 2 minutes of the second half (unless a team is ahead by 20 points or more), An injury occurs that requires stoppage of the game for longer than a normal stoppage (this is up to the officials judgment), A time out is called. Overtime: If teams are tied at the end of regulation, a three minute overtime period will be played. In overtime, the clock stops during the final 30 seconds. If teams are tied at the end of the first overtime, they shall play a sudden death (first point wins) overtime period. Time Outs: Each team will be allowed two one-minute timeouts per half. Unused timeouts do not carry over between periods. Corrections: Officials may correct a mistake by scorekeepers. If a team requests a scoreboard correction, and no mistake is found, that team will be charged with a time out. Putting the Ball in Play: Jump balls will only be used to begin the game and to begin all overtime periods. All other jump ball situations (including half time) will be determined by alternating possessions. The officials shall handle the ball after every whistle Free Throws: Players may enter the lane once the ball leaves the shooter s hand (on the release). Slow Break: Master s Division play will be governed by Slow Break Rules. Slow break rules are in effect at all times except the last five minutes of the second half, and during overtime periods. Passing: When the slow-break rule is in affect, the ball cannot be passed forward in the backcourt. It must travel either laterally or backwards. If the ball is passed forward or shot in the backcourt, it will go over to the other team. Backcourt sideline in-bounds passes must be made laterally or behind receiving players. Backcourt end line in-bounds passes cannot be forwarded beyond the 15-foot mark. No passing the ball over the half court line. Each team will be given one warning. The next violation will result in the defensive team being given the ball. Shots: Shots can be taken in the backcourt. City League Basketball Rules and Guidelines revised Monday, August 27 Page 6 of 7
Court Positioning: The defense must retreat to 5 feet beyond the half court line and remain until the player controlling the ball crosses the half court line. After that time the defense may play full court. If a defensive player gets a rebound, he automatically gains possession of the ball and no opponent can slap at the ball or tie him up. If this rule is violated, a technical foul may be called. Ball in Front Court: Regulation basketball rules will be used when the ball is in the front court. Dunking: Dunking is allowed in games, however, players may not hold onto the rim. Players holding onto the rim (even briefly) will be assessed a technical foul. Dunking is not allowed outside of regulation game time. Any player caught dunking during warmups or in any other non-live situation will be assessed a technical foul. This includes dunking after a whistle, or during a stoppage in the game. Fouls: Any participant who is assessed five personal fouls will be removed from the game (fouled out). A technical foul is considered a personal foul. A player shooting a three point shot when fouled shall receive three free throws. Technical Fouls: All technical fouls are two shot fouls plus the ball at mid-court. Please see the section under Conduct for details of penalties for technical fouls. Rules Not Listed: Any rule not listed in this manual will be governed by NFHS (High School) rules. City League Basketball Rules and Guidelines revised Monday, August 27 Page 7 of 7