JAA Basketball Rules - BOYS

3RD, 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH GRADE RULES

1. Each game shall consist of eight periods or nine periods. Fifth/sixth grade periods are five minutes and third/fourth grade periods are four minutes in duration. The first period of each game will be started with a jump ball. All other periods will begin with alternate possessions. (The referee will advise the scorer at the time of the jump ball to note which team won the jump ball).

2. Team members must play at least on half of the game -- 4 periods except if a player doesn't arrive by halftime, he cannot play. If the game is nine periods, halftime is after five periods. If a player arrives during the 1st half, he must play 50% of the remaining periods and may also play the extra odd period. Once a period beings, it is considered over.

3. At the end of the next to last period of each game, the coaches and officials will confer to check the scorebooks of each team to see that each team member has played the required number of periods. If the coaches are in dispute as to a violation, the league representative shall decide the issue and advise the coaches of their decision before the start of the last period.

4. (a) If a player scores 20 points*: Should a player "score" a basket after his 20th point, the basket will be disallowed and his team shall lose possession of the ball. If a player who has scored 19 points scores a field goal, one (1) point is granted. If that same player is fouled, he shall not shoot the foul shot(s).

(b) If an offensive player is fouled and has made 19 points he may shoot the first shot. If it is made and he reaches 20 points another player already in the game will be designated by the offensive team to shoot the other foul shot.

(c) If an offensive player is fouled and has 20 points he may not shoot any foul shots. Another player already in the game will be designated by the offensive team to shoot the foul shots.

(d) *The 20 point limit will not apply during any overtime period. Thus, a player who has scored 20 points in the regulation time can resume his scoring in the overtime periods.

5. The foul line will be moved closer to the basket for the 3rd and 4th grades at the point where the arc which intersects the foul lane is nearest the basket. In the 5th and 6th grade league regular foul shots will be taken. However, no penalty if the player goes over the line after the release of the ball provided that the player does not follow up to receive his own rebound. If a "junior" foul line has been painted, it shall be utilized. In the event no foul line is painted on the floor, the officials will direct the players as to the line to be observed. All technical fouls due to a rules violation are one shot fouls; all flagrant fouls, intentional fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct fouls are two shot fouls. On all technical fouls the offended team shall retain possession of the ball at mid-court.

6. There shall be a 4 second limit for an offensive player in the free throw lane while his team is in control of the ball. Possession will be lost for each violation.

7. No substitutions will be permitted during a period, except for a player who has been injured. That substitution should be by a player of equal ability to be decided by the coaches. That period will not be counted to the player coming in.

8. Failure to have five (5) players available at game time will result in forfeiture of the game.

9. Man-to-man defense only may be played. The defensive player must be within five (5) feet of the man he is guarding.

(a) The defensive team must fall back and go beyond five feet from the mid-court line following loss of possession. If a defensive player interferes with the ball in the back court, a warning and then a technical foul will be called unless, in the opinion of the referee, the defensive players reasonably believe the ball is still in play (for example: fighting for a rebound).

(b) A defensive team which, in the referee's opinion, is playing a zone defense will be assessed a technical foul.

(c) Double teaming is not permitted (See Rules 12 and 13 for exceptions). However, inadvertent double teaming may occur. An inadvertent double team will not be penalized by a technical foul, but will result in a "play on" situation. Example: On a fast break an offensive player is guarded by a player other than his assigned defender who is back under the basket. The offensive player's assigned defender also comes over to defend thus creating an inadvertent double team. Referee should signal "play on".

(d) Flagrant use of double team is subject to technical foul (one shot).

10. Offensive men cannot be positioned outside of the flow of play. A violation of this rule will result in a technical foul (one shot).

11. If a double teaming or zone defense technical foul is called, and a basket is scored on the same play, the basket will count and the technical foul will be nullified. If no basket is scored, and the offensive man is fouled on the play, the offensive team will shoot a technical foul and retain possession of the ball (one shot) (non-shooting fouls). If no basket is scored and the offensive man is fouled in the act of shooting, foul shots shall be shot and the technical foul is nullified.

12. For all grades: If an offensive player dribbles past a defensive player who is guarding another offensive player, the defensive player may swipe for the ball provided that he doesn't leave his position to get to the ball and is still guarding the player to whom he is assigned. This is not double teaming. The defensive player may take one pivot step from his defensive position.

13. (a) The only other exception to the double teaming rule is when an offensive team utilizes a pick to free a man. In this situation, the defensive player guarding the offensive player doing the pick may leave his assigned man and guard the offensive player for whom the pick was set (5th and 6th grade only). This may result in temporary legal double teaming.

(b) In addition, weakside help is legal. When a man becomes open driving to the basket, another teammate may come over to help in this situation (5th and 6th grade boys only).

(c) In the 3rd and 4th grades, other than the "swipe" rule, no defensive switching is allowed an no weakside help is allowed.

14. The first six personal fouls charged against a team in each half are non-shooting fouls unless the fouls occur in the act of shooting. The offended team retains possession on the side court after the foul occurs. Beginning with the 7th foul charged to a team in each half, non-act-of shooting fouls are treated as one-and-one situations - if the shooter makes the first, he receives a second shot.

15. (a) All offensive fouls are charged as team fouls. Offensive player committing the offensive foul is charged with a personal foul. Offensive fouls are never shot even if offensive team is over the limit.

(b) All technical fouls are also personal fouls and team fouls.

16. On a free throw, if the ball does not enter the basket or touch the rim, it is a violation. The ball becomes dead and is awarded out-of-bounds to the opponent.

17. Five (5) charged times-out may be granted to each team during regular playing time. A maximum of three times-out per half is allowed. One (1) additional time-out may be granted to each team for each extra period of overtime.

18. A player, coach, or team shall not use unsportsmanlike conduct or tactics. A player is subject to suspension or expulsion for action detrimental to the League and a two-shot technical foul will be awarded to the other team. For the players this shall include flagrant fouls. Decisions regarding ejection from a game shall be in the referee's discretion. For repeated offenses the League Directors shall have discretion regarding possible game suspensions and/or expulsion from the League.

19. If a spectator is called for a technical foul, the technical is a two-shot foul. Before a technical is called, the referee will advise the coaches with a warning at which time the coaches will advise the spectator of the warning. If, after the warning, a technical foul is called, the spectator must leave the gym. A second technical foul on a coach results in the coach leaving the gym.

20. If, at the end of regulation time, the score is tied, successive overtime period(s) of two and half minutes each will be played until a winner is determined. Any five (5) players may play in the first overtime period. If a second overtime period is needed, players not in the first overtime period must play in the second overtime period. No player may play in excess of one (1) overtime period more than any other teammate, except as compared to players removed from the game.

21. (a) A player shall be permitted a maximum of six (6) personal fouls. After committing his 6th foul, the player must stay in the game if he has not completed his full minimum periods of play. If he has completed his full minimum periods, he will be removed from the game.

(b) If a player who has committed six (6) fouls stays in the game, he will be permitted to score. If he commits any additional fouls, the opposing team will be awarded a one-shot technical foul in addition to the regular foul and possession shall be given to the offensive team.

(c) A player who fouls out during regulation time may not play during overtime. If a player commits his sixth (6th) foul during overtime, he must be removed from the game at the time of such foul.

22. Prior to the start of the game, each coach shall designate his top players for that game. This will allow the opposing team the opportunity to match players. Unless there is an injury or a lopsided score, there is no switching one player for another player during the game. Prior to the start of each period, the players are to meet at midcourt to be matched.

23. Each coach should have a "grid" schedule prepared prior to the game for both an 8-period and a 9-period game. See Addendum to Rules.

24. A parent or spectator from each team is required to keep score for his team as well as the opposing team. After each period, the results are to be compared for score, team fouls, individual fouls, times-out, and periods played for each player.

25. In the last one (1) minute of the first half, and in the last two (2) minutes of the game, and in the last two (2) minutes of any overtime period, the clock will not start until the ball is "in play". In the last thirty (30) seconds of the game, and in the last thirty (30) seconds of any overtime period, the clock will not start until the offensive team has brought the ball into the front court area where the defensive team is permitted to guard the offensive team.

26. Any rule or situation not specifically set forth above shall be covered by Nassau County School Boy Rules.

Addendum to Rules
Number of Players and Periods

(1) Every player must play at least four (4) periods.

(2) A player may play one extra period more than another player on his team, but may never play two periods more than any other player on his team (except overtimes or removals for excessive fouls). For example: Player A may play 5 periods while player B may play 4 periods, but player A may not play 6 periods while player B only plays 4. It is the coach's decision as to who constitutes the top players for each game. All factors should be taken into consideration, and the coaches shall act reasonably in this regard.

Number of Players and Periods to be used when setting up playing grids:
(players are rated as #1 being the highest)