BASKETBALL RULES
2021 Basketball RULES
For a more in depth look on SOA's referee's : understanding_soas_referees.pdf
BASKETBALL INFORMATION
Our Basketball league is designed to develop fundamental basketball skills while learning teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship. Student Athletes will learn basic strategies and rules of the game, skills including shooting, passing, and dribbling. We are committed to developing the athlete as a whole, increasing self-confidence, balance, and social skills.
Divisions Offered Are: 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, HS.
All divisions are divided into advanced and beginner divisions except 6U, 14U and HS.
AGE CUT OFF DATE IS JANUARY 1ST of each year.
Games are played on Saturdays and Sundays.
Registration includes:
- 7 season games (6 for Spring and Summer Leagues)
- 1 game minimum in the End of season single-elimination tournament
SOA upholds a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for derogatory/vulgar language, and threats/fights of any kind.
The SOA Code of Conduct is to be upheld at all time; no warnings will be issued to offenders and offenders will be removed from the facility.
Smoking is not permitted on any SOA facility.
No gum/outside food/drink on any SOA facility.
Standard of Athletics uses the basketball rules produced by The National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), with the following modifications.
Applicable To All Ages
All Games are full court.
Jersey's must be tucked in at all times.
No jewelry around neck or wrists.
SUBSTITUTION RULES: EACH PLAYER MUST PLAY 10 MINUTES PER GAME.
Players foul out after 5 fouls.
(WE DO NOT TRACK THESE MINUTES, WE RELY ON OUR COACHES TO ABIDE BY THIS RULE}
No Back court defense if a team is ahead by 20+ points.
Back court defense at 20+ points: 1st violation is a warning, 2nd is an administrative technical foul per half.
All games are 5 on 5. Teams may start a game with 4 players, but the opposing team is not required to match the number of players.
Each game will start with a jump ball.
Possession will alternate each quarter/half, jump ball, or double foul.
Teams will take free throw positions as normal block allows.
Free throws will begin play when the basketball is released, except for the free-thrower.
Half time is a maximum of 2 minutes.
Two time outs per half, no carryovers. 30 second each.
ALL JERSEY'S MUST BE EXACTLY THE SAME and must be worn for all games unless approved by a league representative; violation will result in a one technical foul charged directly to the head coach per unauthorized jersey (THIS MANDATORY SHOT MUST BE TAKEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE QUARTER; the opposing team is not required to switch to the opposite color) ie. If your team has their own jersey's and you have two players that do not wish to purchase your team jersey, you must ALL wear the SOA jersey that is part of the registration package.
IF YOU ARE PROVIDING YOUR OWN TEAM JERSEYS, JERSEYS MAY NOT REPRESENT ANY OTHER LEAGUE, MUST NOT BE INAPPROPRIATE, AND HAVE (BOTH LIGHT ( HOME) AND DARK (AWAY) COLOR OPTIONS WITH A CLEAR NUMBER ON THE BACK.
Regulation scoring with three pointers on marked courts. Does not apply to 6U or 8UB divisions, regardless of markings.
Coaches must verify ROSTER on score sheet before each game. If players are added after start of game, a technical foul is given for each player added.
If a team plays an entire game with players NOT on their roster the opposing team will receive the win.
Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a technical foul, and possession of ball to the opposing team.
Unsportsmanlike conduct by a Coach will result in the coach being required to be seated for the remainder of the game; seated Assistant Coach may then stand in as Head Coach for the remainder of the game.
If a player receives TWO TECHNICAL FOULS, that player will be asked to leave the premises with a parent or legal guardian; they will also be issued a ONE GAME SUSPENSION for the following game where they are not allowed to play nor will they be allowed to sit on the bench.
A 3 minute overtime period with a running clock, except timeouts and the last minute of the game, will be played in a case of a tie. One timeout per coach during this period. If a game is not won during the overtime period, a 3 minute sudden death will be played. First team to score wins.
Game time is forfeit time, no grace period allowed unless previously discussed with league/site director. Any team that forfeits two or more games during the season may not be eligible for tournament play.
Undershirts may be worn.
Cloth wristbands may be worn - a single item may be worn on each wrist, and it must be worn below the elbow and not on the legs.
Mercy rule will be implemented when a team leads by more than 20 points; score keeping clock will be turned OFF when a team has a 20 point or more lead over its opponent. However, the team that is down, the coach has the right to keep the score up.
The clock will not stop in the last two minutes of the game if the score margin is 20 points or more.
When mercy rule is implemented, score keeping will continue at the time keeping table on the official score sheet.
If a team starts to comeback within 10 points and within 2 minutes left in the game, teams will be evaluated by SOA Directors to turn score keeping back on. These requirements are a must in all mercy rule evaluations.
Overtime Rules
All overtime games will be played with 3 minute quarters. At the end of three minutes the team with the most points wins.
there will be a running clock until the last 1 minute. In the last 1 minute the clock will stop on all dead balls / whistles.
Foul counts will remain the same.
Teams will be awarded ONLY 1 timeout per overtime game.