Men's Basketball League Rules
Introduction
The Pell City Church Basketball league is designed to provide a basketball program that will Glorify God with
actions, deeds and play.
It is an opportunity for involved churches to reach out to families in the community as well as for a partnership for
our church families to work with one another.
As a part of that purpose, our league allows players of all skill levels to participate and enjoy themselves. While we
do keep score and standings, our priorities are honoring the Lord, having fun, and then enjoying healthy
competition, in that order.
Team Formation
At least 60-70% of each team must consist of men who are actively involved in a church, small group, or ministry.
The remaining members of a team can be filled in with free agents.
Team registration is $400 and registered by a team captain.
A minimum of 4 teams must register for the division to occur.
Team Captain Responsibilities
- Register the team
- Must be sponsored (in good standing and active) by a host church
- Serve as spiritual and organizational leader
- Confirm players meet eligibility expectations
- Communicate league values and schedules
- Coordinate ordering of team jerseys
- Responsible to ensuring team aligns with the league’s values
Free Agent Guidelines
Signing up as a free agent does NOT register a player for the league, but exists to help teams reach roster minimums.
- Must meet league age requirements
- Must agree to league’s faith-based expectations
- Must be open to placement on any team needing players
- Must respect team leadership
- Must participate in prayer/devotion moments
- Must uphold sportsmanship and church values
If there hasn’t been a team minimum reached for the league to happen, the league director will contact free agents who have opted into being a team captain, and will assist in the creation of free agent teams.
Division Specific Rules
2 divisions are offered. The divisions are as follows:
- Age 16+ Division
- Playing time: Two, 20-minute halves. Running clock will be used only stopping for shooting fouls and timeouts until the final 2 minutes of the game. In the final 2 minutes of the game, clock will be a working clock. Clock will continue to run if a team is ahead by 20 points.
- If a team is ahead by 10 points, defense must begin at half court.
- Each team member must be at least age 16.
- Team members who are at least age 30 may play in both the 16+ and 30+ division.
- Age 30+ Division
- Playing time: Two, 20-minute halves. Running clock with working clock in last 2 minutes of each game. Running clock only stops for shooting fouls and time-outs. Clock will continue to run if a team is ahead by 20 points.
- If a team is ahead by 10 points, defense must begin at half court.
- Each team member must be at least age 30.
Game Details
- Before each game, a prayer will be led by designated coach or participant from the home team or by church leaders at the host gym.
- Players must be in matching reversible uniforms to play with the number being clearly visible on front and back of the jersey.
Home teams will wear the white side (or light color side if jersey doesn’t have white) and the away team will wear colored side (away team may wear white if home team doesn’t have a white side). Players cannot wear jewelry during games. - All games will start on time if each team has five players in uniform. There is a 5-minute grace period for teams not having 5 players to start the game. After the grace period, the game will be forfeited. Forfeits will not be rescheduled. Players may scrimmage for the remainder of the time allotted for the scheduled game. Home team bench is the bench seated closest to the entrance of the gym.
- If the end of regulation time ends in a tie, a three-minute overtime period will be played with a working clock. If the game is still tied after the end of the overtime period, each team will choose 3 shooters to shoot one free throw. The team that makes more free throws will be decided as the winner.
Timeouts
Teams are allowed two timeouts for regulation play. One timeout will be allowed in overtime.
Game Cancelations
The League Director will determine if games need to be canceled. If a game is canceled due to inclement weather,
we will contact the coaches and church coordinators to notify of cancelation and will attempt to reschedule the
game at a later date.
Referees
One of the most thankless jobs and yet one of the most important positions in the game is that of a referee. All referees are also our brothers and sisters in Christ. Any display of offense toward a referee is unacceptable and will result in either a warning or a technical foul. Continued abuse will result in removal from the church premises with the possibility of being banned from future basketball events.
There will be two referees paid $40/each per game.
Conduct and Fouls
It is intended that all involved display Christian attitudes in everything. Good conduct by players and spectators is always mandatory while on premises (including the parking lot). If anyone becomes unruly, that person will be asked to leave the premises. Failure to comply will terminate the game and lead to the possibility of security being called upon to remove the unruly person from the church’s premises. Each team / church will be responsible for all fans and players. Technical fouls can be called on a team for unsportsmanlike fan behavior.
For Players
- Any player that receives 5 personal fouls in a game, must be removed from the game
- A technical foul can be issued to one or more players attempt to gain possession of a jump ball after the
whistle is blown and a jump ball is called - Fighting will not be tolerated and will result in a technical foul, ejection from the game, and possibly
suspension for the season - If a player receives 2 unsportsmanlike technical fouls in one game, the player will be ejected from the game.
- If a player has 3 technical fouls in a season, they will serve a one-game suspension and is required to attend at least one game as a non-player to show
support for his/her team before he or she can resume playing.
For Teams
- If a team receives 3 technical fouls in a game, the team must forfeit
- Bonus is given to the opposing team after a team receives 7 fouls per half and resets every half