BASKETBALL RULES
Standard of Athletics 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 as well as different defensive concepts. We are committed to developing the athlete as a whole, increasing self-confidence, balance, and social skills. Therefore, All players can only play on one team per age division unless granted special permission by the league.
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 September 1ST of each year.
Games are played on Saturdays and Sundays.
Registration includes:
- 7 total 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 times; 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.
Only cloth headbands are to be worn on the head of the player. No hanging pieces
NOTE: we ask that for any players with hanging long hair and or beads to tie them together to prevent injury to all other athletes.
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. (Does not apply to HS)
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.
NOTE: A team cannot play with 3 players either starting or through the course of the game.
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 3 minutes.
Two-time outs per half, no carryovers. 30 second each.
EVERY PLAYER ON THE COURT MUST BE IN A JERSEY!
ALL JERSEY'S MUST BE EXACTLY THE SAME and must be worn for all games unless approved by a league representative. 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.
NOTE: Teams that receive the SOA discount for having your own jerseys and then must switch to the SOA jersey due to not having every player in the same uniform, are then required to pay the $15 jersey fee per player.
IF YOU ARE PROVIDING YOUR OWN TEAM JERSEYS, JERSEYS MAY NOT REPRESENT ANY OTHER LEAGUE, MUST NOT BE INAPPROPRIATE, AND HAVE (BOTH LIGHT /WHITE (HOME) AND DARK (AWAY) COLOR OPTIONS WITH A CLEAR NUMBER ON THE BACK.
Coaches must verify ROSTER on score sheet before each game.
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.
An indirect technical (too many players on the court) will be assessed to the Head Coach resulting in the 1st Technical foul. coach must sit the remainder of the game.
All INDIRECT TECHNICALS WILL BE ASSESSED TO THE ACTIVE STANDING COACH. IF A TEAM HAS ONE COACH WHO RECEIVES 2 TECHNICAL FOULS DURING THE SPAN OF THE CURRENT GAME, THEN THAT COACH AND TEAM FORFEIT THE GAME. Unless a parent is willing to step in temporarily.
If a player receives TWO TECHNICAL FOULS, that player will be asked to leave the premises with a parent or legal guardian; Should a player receive multiple Technical Fouls in multiple games (2 per game in multiple games) that player will be asked to leave the league with no refunds.
Should a player receive multiple technicals in one game and no guardian is present, the head coach of the player will assume guardianship and the player must go to the end of the bench until the remainder of the game.
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, for 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 2 minute quarters. At the end of 2 minutes the team with the most points wins.
there will be a running clock all the way through. clock does not stop on deadballs or whistles.
Foul counts will remain the same.
Teams will be awarded ONLY 1 timeout per overtime game.
Second overtime will be played with the first overtime rules.
During the regular season if there is no clear winner after the second overtime, the game will be scored as a tie.
During the playoffs the first overtime will be 3 minutes with a running clock until 1 minute left. The clock will then stop on all whistles and dead balls.
The second overtime will be 2 minutes running clock all the way through with the first team scoring wins.