Home Court Rules

Fairfax Fletcher Youth Basketball

Home Court Rules Grades 3^rd – 6^th

Current High School Federation Rules apply except for the following modifications:

1. PARTICIPATION: There are two key components to player participation: minimum play time and maximum play time. No player is allowed to play more than any other player.

2. THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Each team is allowed five players on the court at a time; however 3^rd/4^th Grade teams may play with only four players with agreement from the opposing team’s coach(es).

3. UNIFORMS: Players must wear the FFYB provided uniform. Coaches are encouraged to wear a Maroon colored shirt so they can be identified as a coach.

4. FORFEITURE: Failure to have 4 players present within five (5) minutes of the scheduled start time results in forfeiture. After the referee declares forfeiture a game can still be played as practice, by dividing up the players from both teams that are present.

5. GAME BALL: The official Women’s or Intermediate ball (28.5”) will be used.

6. BLOW-OUT SCORING: It is the coach’s responsibility to know their team’s score at all times, and to use discretion and sportsmanship when it is apparent that one team has an advantage over the other. It should be discussed before the game whether the clock will be cleared at a 20 point advantage, or if the coach will go to other measures, such as shifting of player positions, requiring 3+ passes before a shot can be taken, etc.

7. LENGTH OF GAME: All games will consist of two, 20 minute halves. The clock will continue to run, except for timeouts/injuries, and the final 2 minutes of the game (when the clock will stop on all dead balls and free throws). There will be a 5 minute warm-up and a 5 minute half-time. Games should finish about 50 minutes after their scheduled start time. It is important that games start on time.

8. TIME-OUTS: Each team is allowed a maximum of two (2) time-outs per half and one time-out per overtime period. Time-outs are one (1) minute. Time-outs may be called by the team in possession of the ball or by either team during a dead ball or free throw situation. Coaches or players may call time-outs. Time-outs are not carried over into overtime.

9. SUBSTITUTIONS: Substitutions can be made on any dead ball. All players must check in and out of the game, at the scoring table, or at the half-court mark.

10. SCORING: All baskets made from the field shall score two (2) points. A free throw is worth 1 point.

11. OVERTIME: An overtime period of 3 minutes (running clock) is started with a jump ball. If the score is still tied after the first overtime period, the game goes into a “sudden death overtime period of 3 additional minutes (running clock). The first team to score in sudden death overtime wins the game and the game is over at that point. If at the end of the “sudden death” 3-minute period neither team has scored, the game is over and is recorded as a tie.

12. STARTING PLAY AND JUMP BALLS: The jump ball will be used to start each game and any overtime period. The winner of the first jump ball establishes the initial possession and from then on, possession for in-bounding the ball alternates. The possession arrow located at the scorekeeper’s table is reversed immediately after the throw-in. To start the second, third and fourth quarters, and the ball is in-bounded at the division line opposite the table.

13. VIOLATIONS: The following list of violations result in the ball being awarded to the opponent out-of-bounds at the nearest spot where the violation occurred:

Ø Double dribble

Ø Traveling

Ø Excessively swinging arms or elbows

Ø Palming the ball (permitting the ball to come to rest in one hand while dribbling)

Ø Kicking the ball

Ø Stepping out of bounds

Ø Causing the ball to go out of bounds

Ø 5 seconds

Ø 10 seconds

Ø Remaining in the key more than 5 seconds for 3^rd/4^th grade age groups; or 3 seconds in the key for 5^th/6^th grade age groups.

The violations governing the throw-in (other than off of a scored basket) will also result in the ball being turned over to the opposite team. The thrower shall not:

A. Leave the designated throw-in-spot, although he/she may back away.

B. Fail to pass the ball directly into the court so it touches or is touched by another player on the court before going out-of-bounds.

C. Consume 5 seconds from the time the throw-in starts until the ball is released on a pass directly onto the court.

D. Carry the ball onto the court.

E. Throw the ball so it enters the basket before it touches another player.

F. Replace the thrower or be out-of-bounds after a designated spot throw-in begins.

G. Be out-of-bounds when he or she touches or is touched by another player.

H. The opponents(s) of the thrower shall not have any part of his/her person over the inside plane of the boundary line until the ball has been released on a throw-in-pass.

14. FOUL RULES:

All personal fouls, such as reaching, blocking, charging, hacking, holding, pushing or tripping results in one foul being charged to the offender.

A. All fouls including a technical foul will be counted as team fouls.

B. Any player committing five personal fouls must leave the game.

C. Technical fouls can be assessed against players, coaches and spectators. A technical foul will result in an automatic two (2) points for the opposing team and possession of the ball. If a player or parent receives a second technical foul during the game, that individual must leave the gym or the game is forfeited. If the coaching staff receives two technicals, the game is automatically forfeited. Coaches and players receiving 2 technical fouls during the season may be suspended from further participation at the discretion of the FFYB President.

15. SHOOTING FOULS:

No foul shots (except shooting fouls) will be shot until the 7^th team foul in a half. The fouled player will shoot a one-and-one or appropriate shooting foul. At the 10^th team foul the fouled player will take two shots.

16. FREETHROWS: The distance will be shortened by three (3) feet for the 3/4^th Grade divisions. 5^{th /}6^th grade age groups must start their free throw behind the free throw line, with exceptions. An infraction will not be called in 3^rd or 4^th grade age groups if the shooter’s momentum carries him or her over the line before the ball hits the rim. In all other age groups, the shooter must wait until the ball hits the rim and/or backboard before entering the key. In all divisions the players standing on either side of the key may not cross the line until the ball hits the rim or backboard. If the ball fails to strike the rim or backboard it is turned over to the opposing team for an in-bounds pass.

17. FULLCOURT PRESS: Full court press is not allowed. All defensive players must return to a position at ¼ court upon change of possession. Once the opposing team has brought the ball over the half-court line, the defensive team may advance.

18. TEN (10) POINT LEAD RULE: If a team is down by 10 points or more, with no more than 2 minutes left in the game, they may full-court press.

19. OVER-AND-BACK VIOLATIONS: Taking more than 10 seconds to cross the center line from the back to the front court is a violation that results in the ball being awarded to the opponent, out-of-bounds, at the spot nearest where the violation occurred. Once in the frontcourt, the ball may not be returned to the backcourt of the team in control. This violation results in the ball being awarded to the opponent, out-of-bounds, at the spot nearest where the violation occurred.

20. FAST BREAK LAY-UP FOULS: In order to discourage a potentially dangerous intentional foul situation and to provide a safer playing environment for all age groups, any defensive player who initiates contact (defined as a shove, hold or trip) with an opposing player attempting a fast break lay-up will be charged with a technical foul. A defensive player may grab or knock the ball away as long as contact is with the ball and not the opposing player.

21. DEFENSES: Man-to-man defense grades 3^rd-6^th. For safety reasons, especially in 3^rd/4^th grade games, quick whistles will follow all dual possession situations.

22. SAFETY ISSUES: No player may participate in any game while wearing jewelry or a hard or soft cast. Any bleeding must be stopped, any open wound must be covered. If there is excessive amounts of blood on the uniform it must be changed.

23. OFFICIALS: The officials have full responsibility for the game. They decide whether the ball is in play or dead. They blow the whistle when any of the following occurs: held ball, violation, foul, time-out or suspension of play for any reason. They have the power to order time-out or time-in and give players permission to leave or enter the court. Officials may also suspend/forfeit a game based on an inappropriate behavior on the part of players, coaches, parents, and spectators deemed a possible threat to the safety of all participants.

24. HAVE FUN!