2016 BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL LEAGUE RULES & REGULATIONS The Boston Neighborhood Basketball League aims to provide youth with a safe and supportive environment to have fun and develop their basketball skills. Boston Parks and Recreation Department 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 www.cityofboston.gov/parks Telephone: 617-635-4505 Fax: 617-635-3173
RESIDENCY 1. Only residents of the City of Boston are eligible to participate in the BNBL. Violation of the residency requirements will result in forfeit of all games played which involved any nonresident player. All participants must be living in Boston as of January 1st of that particular season to be considered a resident. a. Boston residency will be based upon the residency of a child s custodial parent/guardian. In the case of parents with joint custody, residency may be established using the local address of custodial parent/guardian. We may ask to see documents verifying joint custody. 2. All participants will be required to submit ONE (1) of the following documents: - A school report card with home address on it from 3rd or 4th quarter. We will ONLY accept BPS report cards without home addresses on them. - Utility Bill (not water bill or cell phone) dated within the past 30 days - Deed, Mortgage Payment, property tax bill dated within the past 30 days - W2 form dated within the year or a Payroll Stub dated within the past 30 days - Bank or Credit Card Statement dated within the past 30 days - Letter from an Approved Government Agency* dated within the past 30 days *Approved government agencies: Departments of Revenue (DOR) Children and Family Services (DCF) Transitional Assistance (DTA) Youth Services (DYS) Social Security Communications on Commonwealth of Massachusetts Letterhead.
BNBL CODE OF CONDUCT 1. Participation in the BNBL is a privilege. Players, coaches, and spectators can be removed from the program at any time for failure to follow league and/or Boston Parks & Recreation rules. 2. BNBL requires the support of many community sponsors and their facilities. Please respect and follow all BNBL rules as well as those of any facilities where BNBL games are played. 3. Unsportsmanlike behavior, i.e. fighting, abusive language, etc., will not be tolerated. Unsportsmanlike conduct will be cause for the dismissal of an offending coach, player, team, or spectator from the league. 4. Ejection from a game constitutes automatic suspension for that coach or player for the next two games and possible permanent dismissal from the league. 5. Players or coaches who are found in violation of any of these rules will be penalized as follows: - Abusive language is an automatic two-shot technical foul and a minimum two game suspension. - Any player or coach that is involved in fighting will be expelled from the league (fighting players, fans, or each other). 6. Possession or consumption of alcohol/drugs is prohibited during games. Any coach, player, or team in violation of this rule will be expelled from the league. Smoking is not permitted during BNBL games. 7. Penalties unable to be enforced during the current BNBL season can be applied to the following BNBL season. NOTE: Players/Coaches suspended for any period of time cannot participate in any BNBL related activities during the suspension period regardless if they play or coach on more than one team.
TEAM REGISTRATION NEW FOR 2016! Girls AND Boys can now play on two teams: current team plus a team up one (1) additional age division. 1. Each team must have a responsible Head Coach and/or Assistant Coach in order to participate in the BNBL. If neither coach is present for a game, the game will be forfeited. 2. Each team must submit a team name in good taste. References to drugs, alcohol, sex, gangs or violence will not be allowed. All team names are subject to review by the BNBL Director. 3. Coaching Age Requirements - Coaches for the 13 and under division must be 19 years old as of July 1st of the current season. - Coaches for the 15 and under division must be 21 years old as of July 1st of the current season. - Coaches for the 18 and under division must be 25 years old as of July 1st of the current season. 4. A coach cannot be on more than one roster in the same division, but can coach in two different Age Divisions. 5. Teams may register ONLY 12 players. All rosters are final once submitted. NO ROSTER, NO GAMES. 6. A Player cannot switch teams once he/she has played in a game. Special circumstances may be approved by the BNBL Director. 7. No coed teams allowed. Girls and boys cannot play on the same team. 8. All registered players must provide: one (1) copy of their birth certificate, or school record, or doctor s physical, or Massachusetts ID, or passport, etc. for age verification purposes by start of the BNBL league. In addition, all players must submit one (1) proof of Boston residency.
GAME RULES 1. All teams and players must be of amateur standing. Games are to be played using official youth basketball rules. The Pee Wee Developmental Program is for boys and girls ages 6 to 10 years old. Youth ages 10 and older are eligible to participate in the BNBL. 2. Game Times: a. The 13 & Under division - two (15) fifteen minute halves with stop time the last two minutes of each half, b. The 15 & Under division - two (16) sixteen minute halves with stop time the last two minutes of each half, c. The 18 & Under division - two (20) twenty minute halves with stop time the last two minutes of each half. d. Each team has (2) two time-outs per half with none carrying over. The clock stops on all time outs. e. Only officials are allowed to stop the clock at other points during the game, i.e. to consult on a disputed call, etc. 3. Overtime periods will run for (3) three minutes: running time the first (2) two minutes, and stop time the last minute. The clock stops on all time outs and as stated above. 4. Games will start at 5:30pm, but no later than 6:00pm.
5. No scheduled games will begin unless BOTH teams have at least 5 players (a game cannot start with only four players, but a game can end with four players). 6. Site Coordinators must start the clock at the scheduled game time. 7. Once the clock starts a team will have ONLY 15 minutes to begin the game or it becomes a forfeit. 8. Late teams will be assessed 2 technical fouls for each full minute late (according to game clock). 9. All teams must bring their own practice balls; the league will ONLY provide the game ball. 10. Teams are not allowed to apply full - court pressure defense if they are winning by 20 or more points throughout the game. There will be a change in possession if a team is found in violation. 11. ONLY THE TWO COACHES AND PLAYERS ON THE ROSTER ARE ALLOWED IN THE BENCH AREA. 12. The Site Director is required to start the clock at the scheduled game time, but the game cannot begin until all ineligible persons are removed from the bench area. a. The offending team will be assessed a 2 shot technical and instructed to remove any ineligible persons from bench area. b. If the offending team refuses to clear the bench area, the game must be forfeited. c. If at any time during a game, ineligible persons are discovered to be seated in the bench area, the offending team will be assessed two technical shots. On the second offense for that team during that game, the game will be forfeited.
UNIFORM 1. All players must wear rubber-soled shoes, their own BNBL shirt of the present year (no cutting of and/or writing on the BNBL shirts) and shorts. a. If a player is not properly outfitted he or she will not be allowed to participate or sit on the bench. NO EXCEPTIONS. b. If a player is discovered to be playing without the proper uniform, a two-shot technical foul will be assessed AND that player will be ejected from the game. 2. All Coaches must wear a collared shirt to be on the bench. This will be the only acceptable coaches uniform. a. The first offense will result in a two-shot technical and the coach being issued a warning. Each team will receive only one warning. b. The second offense will result in a two-shot technical and the coach being asked to leave the bench area until s/he is in uniform, handing the coaching duties to the assistant coach. In the case that the assistant coach is not in uniform, or there is no assistant coach, the game will be forfeited. The Site Coordinators should note the infraction in the game book for future reference. c. During the Final Four and Championship games, all coaches must wear their BNBL-issued Reebok coach's polo. 3. Teams will play up to two games each week for a maximum of 12 games. All BNBL sites must schedule a minimum of 8 games per team.
FORFEITS 1. A forfeit will be defined as the failure of any team to show up for a scheduled game or be in compliance with BNBL rules during a game. Any team with three forfeits will be dismissed from the league. 2. PROTESTS Any of the following violations may be protested by an opposing coach or player during the regular season: a. a player being a non-resident of the City of Boston b. a player being older than the maximum age for the division he/she is playing in c. a player participating on more than one team (except in the girl s division) d. a player on team that is not listed on the official roster e. a coach that is not listed on roster f. a player not in uniform 3. If the violation(s) are discovered after a game has started, the ineligible player and/or coach must be removed, and the game must continue. 4. A coach may protest a game in the regular season by submitting a written protest setting forth all facts to the Site Director & the BNBL Director within 24 hours of the protested game. Written Protests, regarding violations listed above, will be accepted up until the start of the Play-offs. 5. No protests will be allowed during the PLAYOFFS, unless an extremely egregious violation is discovered to have occurred.
6. Any coach found to have knowingly allowed an ineligible player to participate will be suspended indefinitely from the league (suspension length to be determined by the BNBL Director and the BNBL Commission). 7. During the Playoffs, coaches must certify that all opposing players are eligible to play prior to the game. Ineligible players must be removed from the scorebook and the bench area. a. Once all players have been certified, each coach must sign off on their opponent s roster in the score book certifying that all players have been deemed eligible to play. The Site Director must then sign off to officially certify the book. b. Only in extreme conditions will protests be accepted once games have been played and/or the rosters have been certified.
MISCELLANEOUS 1. Teams will be assigned to the nearest BNBL site, to be determined by where a majority of their players live. The Site Director and the BNBL Commissioner must approve any exceptions. 2. Coaches will be held responsible for their own actions, as well as the actions of their players: a. ONLY the Head Coach and Assistant Coach are allowed to sit on the bench with the players, anyone else will result in a technical foul on the team. b. ONLY one coach can stand at a time during the game, anyone else standing will result in a warning and/or technical foul. c. ONLY the Head Coach can approach the scorer s table. d. ONLY the Head Coach can approach the official (s) during timeouts. 3. Unsportsmanlike behavior i.e., fighting, abusive language, etc. will not be tolerated. Unsportsmanlike conduct will be cause for dismissal of a coach, player or the team from the league. Ejection from a game constitutes automatic suspension for that coach or player for the next two games and possible permanent dismissal from the league. 4. Players or coaches who are found in violation of any of these rules will be penalized as follows: Abusive language is an automatic two-shot technical foul and a two game suspension. Any player or coach that is involved in fighting will be expelled from the league (fighting players, fans, or each other). 5. Possession or consumption of alcohol / drugs is prohibited during games. Any coach, player, or team in violation of this rule will be expelled from the league. Smoking is not permitted during BNBL games.
6. Age Clarifications: (age is determined as of June 1st) 13 and under players cannot reach their 14th birthday before June 1 st 15 and under players cannot reach their 16th birthday before June 1 st 18 and under players cannot reach their 19th birthday before June 1 st 7. Players cannot be on any type of College or Jr. College team
PLAYOFFS 1. Playoffs begin the week immediately after the end of the BNBL season. We are reverting to our original playoff format: Site Championships (TBD) and the Citywide Championships (TBD) 2. The top (4) four teams at each site will compete for the right to compete in the Regional play-offs. In the case where there are an odd number of playoff teams in a Region, the host site will advance two teams to the Regional Playoffs. 3. The top two team from each Age Division in each Region will advance to the B.N.B.L. Championships Week, to be played at the Reggie Lewis Center. 4. Playoff Eligibility: A player must have played in at least 4 league games to be eligible for the playoffs. 5. During the playoffs, coaches must certify that all opposing players are eligible to play prior to the game. Ineligible players must be removed from the score-book and the bench area. Once all players have been certified, each coach must sign off on their opponent s roster in the score-book certifying that all players have been deemed eligible to play.