Youth 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.

Division Specific Rules

3 co-ed divisions are offered. The divisions are as follows:

  • 1st-2nd Grade Division
    • Basket height: 8ft
    • Basketball Size: 27.5
    • Playing time: Four, 6-minute quarters. Running clock will be used only stopping for shooting fouls until the final 2 minutes of the game. In the final 2 minutes of each half, clock will stop on dead-ball and made baskets until the ball crosses half court.
    • Initial possession determined by free-throw shootout. The team with the least number of shots
    • made will be given the initial possession. In the event of a tie or overtime, possession will be determined by coin flip or rock, paper, scissors.
      • Each team member will shoot a free throw before each game under the referee’s observation. One point will be awarded to the team for each free throw made. Both teams will be allowed the same number of shots. If one team has 7 players and one has 10, the team with 7 will be awarded 3 extra shots. The extra shots must be taken by a player that missed his/her original free throw attempt. If no one missed, any 3 team members may be selected to take the free throw.
    • Free throw will be shot 3 ft in front of the standard free-throw line
    • There will be no penalty for lane violations
    • There will be no full-court press and no fast breaks. When a defense gets a rebound or turnover, they cannot advance the ball past mid-court until the defense is set up.
    • Defensive play may start at half court. If a team is ahead by 10 points, defense must stay within the arc of the 3-point line.
    • As this is a younger league, a ref may allow 3 steps before calling a travel or 1 double dribble before calling a double dribble.  We do not want to create an environment where a team can play good defense but not be able to stop an offense.
  • 3rd/4th Grade Division
    • Basket height: 9ft
    • Basketball Size: 28.5
    • Playing time: Four, 7-minute quarters. Running clock with working clock in last 2 minutes of each half. Running clock only stops for shooting fouls. Clock will continue to run if a team is ahead by 20 points.
    • Initial possession is determined by jump ball.
    • Free throws will be shot 1.5 ft in front of standard free-throw line
    • Lane violations will be 3 seconds. Each team may get a warning before it is called.
    • Fast breaks are allowed for the full game.
    • Full court pressing is not allowed for the first 3 quarters but will be allowed to full-court press in the 4th quarter. If a team is ahead by 10 points, defense must begin at half court. If a team is ahead by 20 points, the defense must play inside of the arc of the 3-point line.
  • 5th/6th Grade Division
    • Basket height: 10ft
    • Basketball Size: 28.5
    • Playing time: Four, 7-minute quarters. Running clock with working clock in last 2 minutes of each half. Running clock only stops for shooting fouls. Clock will continue to run if a team is ahead by 20 points.
    • Initial possession is determined by jump ball.
    • Free throws will be shot from standard free-throw line. Violations will be called for stepping on or over the line.
    • Lane violations will be 3 seconds
    • Fast breaks are allowed for the full game
    • Full court pressing is not allowed for the first 3 quarters but will be allowed to full-court press in the 4th quarter. If a team is ahead by 10 points, defense must begin at half court. If a team is ahead by 20 points, the defense must play inside of the arc of the 3-point line.

Game Details

  1. 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.
  2. Players must be in uniform 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). If worn, undershirts should match the jersey color. Players cannot wear jewelry during games.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 four 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.

Playing Time

The Pell City Church League is a teaching league. Therefore, each and every player should play in each half if they are not injured and are present for the half. A technical foul will be issued to the team for each person that didn’t play in a half.

Parents and Guardians

As parents/guardians are to be present with their children at the game, they retain responsibility for their children during the game. Therefore, they are also responsible for attending to their child once the child is removed from the court should an injury occur. However, coaches and refs reserve the right to remove a child from a game if they feel the child has sustained an injury requiring medical attention or are otherwise unfit to play. Caution should be always used, especially if the child has an apparent head injury or signs and symptoms consistent with a concussion. A child will under no circumstances be allowed to play with a concussion or apparent concussion. Parents/guardians should not go on the court for any reason unless invited on by a ref/coach to attend to an injured child. Failure to comply may result in ejection.

For everyone’s safety, no one should come to basketball if they have a fever, cough, runny nose, are vomiting, or have any other sickness. This applies to all players, parents/guardians, and spectators. Please stay home if sickness is actively spreading through your house, even if you yourself feel fine.

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 volunteers who 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. Coaches should be proactive in making sure that their players and spectators are compliant with respecting the officials.

There will be one referee for the 1st/2nd grade division, and two referees will be used for 3rd/4th and 5th/6th grade divisions provided two are available. Each referee will be paid $15 from each team in case for each game they call for a total of $30/game.

Conduct and Fouls

This league is for the children. It is intended that all involved display Christian attitudes in everything. Good conduct by players, spectators, and coaches 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

  1. Any player that receives 5 personal fouls in a game, must be removed from the game
  2. 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
  3. Fighting will not be tolerated and will result in a technical foul, ejection from the game, and possibly
    suspension for the season
  4. If a player receives 2 unsportsmanlike technical fouls in one game, the player will be ejected from the game
    and 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

  1. If a team receives 3 technical fouls in a game, the team must forfeit
  2. Bonus is given to the opposing team after a team receives 5 fouls in a quarter and resets every quarter
  3. 2 Free throws are given on all common fouls while a team is in bonus

For Coaches

  1. Technical fouls
    1. One warning given before a technical foul
    2. If continuing to exhibit unsportsmanlike behavior following the warning, a technical foul will be
      issued and sit the bench for the remainder of the game.
      Technical fouls are given for the following:

      • Disrespectfully addressing or contacting official, clock runner or bookkeeper
      • Using profanity, abusive, or vulgar or obscene language
      • Taunting coaches, players, or fans of the opposing team
      • Any other behavior deemed unsportsmanlike or un-Christlike by the official
    3. If a coach receives a 2nd technical foul, a coach will be ejected and be required to leave the gym for
      the remainder of the game.
  2. Ejections
    • Any coach who receives an ejection will be reviewed by the Athletic Director and Representative
      Church coordinator to determine if the coach will need to be removed from their position as coach.
  3. Conduct
    • Each church is responsible for the behavior of their coaches
    • Each coach is expected to set a high standard of Christ-like conduct and character on and off the
      court. First and foremost, this league is a ministry. Celebrate Godly character more than athletic
      ability or wins/losses