Amherst/Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball Rules and Guidelines for girls division Amherst County, Lynchburg and other surrounding areas have combined the girls teams in order to have enough teams to create a division. Therefore Amherst County has adopted the same set of game rules for any/all of the girls teams. The rules listed below don t apply to any of the Amherst County boys teams. These rules are in effect regardless of where the games are being played. Please note that this document covers all of the aspects of playing in the Lynchburg Parks & Recreation league, but only the game rules apply to Amherst County participants. The Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Department organizes, plans, supervises and manages all Youth Basketball Leagues. It is the responsibility of the Athletics Division to administer and provide: officials, facility supervisor, safe playing conditions and fair play. We also reserve the right to make any changes necessary to improve the program. Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball enforces Virginia High School League Rules with the following modifications: I. Team Roster A. All participants must be properly registered through Lynchburg Parks and Recreation. Rosters are limited to no more than 10 players per team. B. Participants must be the age of their respective division as of December 31, 2008. The league is open to all youth regardless of age, race, and gender that reside in the City of Lynchburg. C. Each player that is new to the league or a division must be in the draft. D. ALL Participants will be placed in the appropriate age division: Boys 9 10 Girls 9-11 Boys 11 12 Girls 12 14 Boys 13 14 Boys 15 18 Girls 15 18 E. All participants must be currently enrolled in high school or an officially recognized home school program. F. Lynchburg Parks & Recreation reserves the right to allow a participant whom has aged out of a league by no more than 1 year to participate in the lower age bracket as long as the higher age bracket is not conducted. G. If a player drops off of a team, and the coach is aware, the coach needs to let the league commissioner know so another player can be assigned if one is on the waiting list.
H. If a team plays an ineligible player they will have to forfeit the game. An ineligible player is defined as: A player not listed on a team roster A player participating under an incorrect name A player added to a roster without the consent of Lynchburg Parks and Recreation I. A player must play in one half of the regular season games to be eligible for post season play. II. Equipment/Schedule A. Lynchburg Parks and Recreation will provide game and practice balls. B. The game and practice schedules will be provided for each coach. The coach is responsible for seeing that each player receives a schedule. C. Most games will be scheduled on Saturdays. Make-up and tournament games may be played during the week days. Boys 15 18 will play during the week. D. Athletic shoes are required to participate. No other forms of footwear are permitted. E. Jewelry will not be allowed. No earrings, watches, bracelets, rings or necklaces. F. Shorts without pockets are strongly recommended. No jeans will be allowed at practice or games. III. Head Coaches and Assistants A. Every Head Coach and Assistant Coach must have a current coach s application form on file at the Parks and Recreation Center & pass an annual background check to be eligible to coach each year. B. All Head Coaches must complete the ASEP Youth Basketball Coaches Training Course prior to their first practice. The course is available on-line for $19.95 & certification is good for 3 years. Assistant coaches are strongly encouraged to become certified as well. C. There will be one Head Coach and a maximum of two Assistant Coaches per team. D. Each coach is expected to follow the Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball Rules and Guidelines. E. Each coach will be given a coach s badge to identify them as a head or assistant coach. These badges should be worn during practices and games so that you can be identified by parents, officials and the Parks and Rec. staff. F. All coaches must attend a coach s meeting or arrange a time to meet with a Parks and Rec. staff member to go over the rules and expectations.
G. The Head Coach is the only coach that should address an official during a game. If an Assistant Coach has a question about officiating it should go through the Head Coach. H. Point of Emphasis this year: Coach s Box Please stay within it. IV. General Rules for All Leagues A. All games will consist of four (8) eight-minute quarters. The clock will not stop except for the following reasons: Foul Shots and Time Outs The final minute of the first half on all dead balls The final minute of the second half on all dead balls B. Each player is required to play one entire quarter from beginning to end without interruption. It does not mean four minutes in one quarter and four minutes in another quarter. It means one full quarter. All players must play in both halves. This information will be kept by the scorekeepers. Every attempt must be made to play each player an equal amount of time. C. The exception to the above rule is if a player fouls out of the game or has to leave the game due to injury or illness. D. If a team has seven or more players at the game, every player must sit out one full quarter during the game. This information will be kept by the scorekeepers. E. Failure to comply with the participation rule will result in game forfeiture. F. Each team will have two time outs per half. G. All players must wear their Parks & Recreation issued uniform shirt to every game. Any player with an altered shirt, with the exception of those that have had their last name (no first names or nicknames) professionally added, will have to sit out until they purchase a new uniform shirt. Un-approved alterations include but are not limited to cutting, ripping, or tearing off sleeves, neck, or the bottom (to shorten), or adding handwritten words or logos (first names or nicknames). H. If a team is ahead by 10 or more points they can not apply backcourt pressure. I. Any player or coach that uses profanity will receive a technical foul & a team warning. After a team receives a warning, any player who uses profane language will be removed for the remainder of the game; and any coach will receive a technical foul & be restricted to the bench (unless it is his or her 2 nd technical). J. Players are expected to attend both weekly practices & games. A player that repeatedly misses practice without a valid reason (lack of transportation is NOT a valid excuse), may be penalized on game day by having to sit out the entire first half of the game. (See next rule)
K. If a player is unable to play due to illness or discipline but is at the game you need to inform the scorekeeper and opposing coach before the game. L. Practices for all teams will be held at Lynchburg Parks & Recreation approved sites. You will be allowed to practice twice a week in December (for 2 weeks) & once a week beginning in January with a Lynchburg Parks Recreation staff member on hand at the site. In fairness to all teams and for safety & liability reasons, coaches & teams can NOT add additional practices or practice at an alternative site (examples of unapproved sites include but are not limited to the YMCA, church gymnasiums, private schools, colleges, community centers, Jubilee Center, Boys & Girls Club, etc.) Additional practices or use of an unapproved site may result in coaches being removed from the team & or forfeiture of games. V. Divisional Rules Boys 9 10 and Girls 9 11 A. The defense must play a Zone defense and cannot extend beyond the 3 point line. Full Court Press and Man to Man defense will not be allowed; with the exception of the final two minutes of the game as long as they are not up by 10 or more points. B. The first time a defensive player interrupts play outside of the 3-point line it will be a team warning. After the team has received a warning any defensive player interrupting play outside of the 3-point line will receive a personal foul. The final two minutes of the game the defense can extend to full court and play any type of defense without penalty as long as they are not up by 10 or more points. C. Free throws may be shot from the dotted line or approximately 3 feet in front of the foul line. D. The foul shooter can not rebound the ball in front of the shortened foul line. E. A women s regulation ball will be used. Boys 11 12 A. Any defense may be used once the ball crosses half court. B. The first time a defensive player interrupts play in the backcourt it will be a team warning. After the team has received a warning any defensive player interrupting play in the backcourt will receive a personal foul. The final two minutes of the game the defense can extend to full court and play any type of defense without penalty as long as they are not up by 10 or more points. C. The defense can use backcourt pressure during the final two minutes of the game as long as they are not up by 10 or more points. D. A men s regulation size ball will be used for this age group. Boys 13 14 and Girls 12 14 and Boys and Girls 15 18 A. Any defense may be used including backcourt pressure.
B. If you are up by ten or more points you may not use backcourt pressure. C. Dunking is not allowed. Players will be penalized with a technical foul for dunking. D. A women s ball will be used for the girls and a men s regulation ball will be used for the boys. VI. Sportsmanship The Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Department Youth Basketball League strongly encourages sportsmanship. The purpose of the youth league is to inspire youth, encourage diversity, to familiarize all players with the fundamentals of the sport, and to promote ideas of fun, sportsmanship, fellowship and satisfaction in a recreational atmosphere. This includes managers, players, officials and spectators. Altercations with sports officials or other participants will not be tolerated. The following guidelines will be used to support sportsmanship. A. A player/coach/spectator who is ejected will be suspended a minimum of one game. League Officials will decide the length of suspension. B. Players/Coaches/Spectators ejected from the game will leave the gym immediately or automatically forfeit the game and face possible expulsion from the league. C. Players and coaches are responsible for the actions of their spectators. Unsportsman-like conduct by a spectator(s) will result in immediate removal from the property or the team will automatically forfeit the game. D. Two technical fouls in one game, on a player/coach, shall result in an automatic ejection and minimum one game suspension. E. If you receive a technical the official can require you to remain seated for the rest of the game. F. Any player/coach/spectator that is suspended, is not allowed to attend any scheduled games during the suspension. G. For all the above suspensions, individual(s) must have the League Commissioner s permission to be reinstated. VII. Youth Basketball Facility Rules A. Parents are asked to keep children that are not in the program off of the gym floor. The site supervisor has the right to ask parents to enforce this rule. B. There will not be access to any other part of the school other than the gym area. C. Smoking or alcoholic beverages are not allowed on school property.
D. If a door is marked Do Not Enter or Door Alarmed please do not push on or try to open that door. A silent alarm will be triggered and the person responsible for setting off the alarm may face a $500 fine. VIII. Forfeits A. If a team does not have five players at game time there will be a 5 minute grace period before a forfeit will be called. B. The teams can scrimmage against each other. The short handed team can borrow players from the opposing team to create a 5 on 5 game. Officials will be required to work the game. C. A coach or an appropriate substitute must be present for the game. If one is not present the forfeit rule will apply. IX. Cancellations A. Please call 455-5892 for cancellations. If there are cancellations, they will be on the message by 3 pm weekdays and 7:30 am on weekends. B. The gym is not available for practice if games are cancelled due to weather conditions. C. We will make every attempt to make up games, however it is not guaranteed. D. If school is cancelled due to weather, gyms are closed for practices and games. Saturday games are at the discretion of the Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Department Athletic Staff. X. Protests A. If there is a suspected ineligible player, the opposing coach must approach the site supervisor and official to request a protest. B. A protest can also be filed if an opposing team does not meet the must play rule. Joanna Nisbet Assistant Recreation Supervisor in Athletics Office # 455-5884 Cell # 444-4256 Ron Martin Officials Coordinator Office # 455-5873 Updated October 6, 2008