COMPETITIVE LEAGUE RULES

These rules are intended to help maintain a quality playing environment for players of all abilities.

Although we hope to recognize and encourage outstanding ability, our mission is to include all players as much as possible.  Therefore, FBVA follows Florida High School Activity Association (FHSAA) rules and guidelines, with the following noted exceptions: (FBVA reserves the right to modify any rule(s) as needed to protect the safety of any and all players.)

I. Responsibilities / Eligibility / Dual registration

a) Coaches

· Head coaches are responsible for obtaining and reading a copy of the Coach’s Handbook.

· Head coaches/Asst. Coaches are responsible for signing a Head Coach Pledge Form prior to season start.

· If the Board determines that a coach is not reasonably able to uphold his/her coach’s obligations, any of the following actions will be taken but not limited to 1) Replacement of the coach during the season. 2) Prohibiting the placement of players from the FBVA pool for their season. 3) Any action that the Board deems appropriate.

· Coaches who do not buy out a full team will accept players.

· Coaches may not discourage players added after late registration to their team.

· Any coach discouraging players added after open registration will be required to BUY OUT the full team PRIOR to any subsequent seasons.

· A Coach bringing in his/her own team will pay a team registration fee of $675.00 which buys out 10 slots per team.  The head coach shall be held accountable for playing any illegal players (non registered/non paid) If  a coach has a child playing then you can subtract $50.00 from the total team fee.  The head coach is to supply a team registration form with all the players on the team.  If the team does not have eight players then the players are required to register as individuals and pay for the individual registration fee.  A team can add a player if their roster goes below seven players or if a player gets hurt or is sick and cannot finish the season.  The fee for registering a player after the season start is $80.00 no matter how many games are left.

· Participation of Illegal players could result in forfeiture by the team of illegal games played  If a player is not on the team roster then he is consider and illegal player.  

· A coach playing illegal players is subject to sanctioning and suspensions from future games as well as the league.

b) Players

· Players without at least $10 paid before late registration, will not be guaranteed a jersey at their first game.

· Any unregistered player will be suspended from play until all registration requirements (signed registration, payment, and waiver) have been met by the second Saturday of the season.

· Registration will be deemed valid ONLY with payment in full.

·  Each team shall consist of ten (10) players with a minimum of eight (8) fully paid players. A coach may add an 11th paid player.

· A 12th paid player may be added only with the Board’s approval.

· No players may be added to any coaches roster after the second Saturday of the regular season, only allowed in the following scenario (A team can add a player if their roster goes below seven players or if a player gets hurt or is sick and cannot finish the season.  The fee for registering a player after the season start is $80.00 no matter how many games are left.)  

· ONLY the Registration Chairman, and Director MUST receive any and all registrations, in hand.

· Any player may double register in a higher league age division without restrictions.

· A player may “double register” for 2 (two) teams in his/her league age division provided the player’s parents petition the League Board in writing, at the invitation of the two coaches, and upon approval by the Board.

· A double registered player MUST DESIGNATE a PRIMARY team prior to the start of the season. He/she may play for only the primary team in tournament if both teams are scheduled in the same tournament conference bracket / flight. In the event of any other scheduling conflicts during regular or post-season play, the player must play for the primary team.

· The secondary team registration must be paid in full and not be allowed any league discounts.

· A maximum of 3 (three) players per team permitted to be double registered.

· 12th grade students who are enrolled in a bona fide high school (and are 18 years old) will be permitted to play in the 16/18 division prior to graduation.

II. AGE DIVISION RULES

6/7 DIVISION

a) Junior size ball

b) One (1) referee per game

c) Four (4) six (6) minute quarters continuous running of the clock.

d) All players must sit out one (1) FULL CONTINUOUS Quarter when 8 or more players are dressed to play by the start of the 2^nd quarter.

e) Ball may not be passed over ½ court until the entire defense has crossed ½ court –ball may be dribbled over and then passed if needed.

f) ONLY DOUBLE-teaming at half court is allowed – No triple teaming. (illegal defense)

g) No backcourt pressure is allowed.

8/9/10 DIVISION

a) 28.5 inch “woman’s” ball

b) One (1) referee or (2) referees for higher ranked teams

c) Two halves of twenty (20) minutes a half with a continuous running of the clock with the exception of the last two (2) minutes of the first and second half. 

d) All players must play at least ten and ½ minutes.

e) Ball may not be passed over ½ court until the entire defense has crossed ½ court –ball may be dribbled over and then passed if needed.

f) ONLY DOUBLE-teaming at half court is allowed – No triple teaming. (illegal defense)

g) No back court pressure is allowed.

h) Back Court Press: Continuation of the rebound shall be up to the referee’s

discretion. If press affects motion of offense and is to advantage of defense, then it’s a violation.

PENALTIES:- One warning per team / per half for illegal defense / press/

delay of game. Next offense is a two shot and ball penalty

***** NOT as an indirect against the coach ****

j) Foul line: Player MUST start behind the line but, the player’s natural shooting motion may carry him / her over.

11/12 DIVISION

a) 28.5 inch “woman’s” ball.  May play with regular size ball if both teams agree.

b) Two halves of twenty (20) minutes a half with a continuous running of the clock with the exception of the last two (2) minutes of the first and second half. 

c) All players must play at least ten and ½ minutes

d) Foul line: Player may not go over the foul line.

13/15 and 16/18 DIVISIONS

a) Regulation ball

b) Two halves of twenty (20) minutes a half with a continuous running of the clock with the exception of the last two (2) minutes of the first and second half.   Regular High School Rules.

c) All players must play at least ten (10) minutes.

d) Foul line: Player may not go over the foul line.

ALL DIVISIONS

Game Management

a) Mercy Rule: Whenever a team is ahead by 25 points, the clock shall run (except for time outs) until the difference is within 19 points, and then shall resume to a stop clock.

When team is ahead by 20 or more points, regardless of age division, the leading team may play ONLY ½ court defense

b) Foul shot lineup: has been moved down to the base line block with four (4) defensive and two (2) offensive players lined up

c) Time-outs: (2) two full time outs and (2) two 30 second per game (may be taken by coach or player).

d) Current game players ONLY are permitted on court during time outs OR in between quarters.

e) Overtime: IF “OT” DOES NOT interfere with the next scheduled game time then

overtime is three minutes

f) Bench: Bench personnel only are permitted on the bench.

· Bench personnel consist of a head coach and two assistant coaches. A team member is a member of bench personnel who is in uniform and is eligible to become a player (registered and paid for that team).

· Only two (2) assistants, designated by the coach, may sit on the team bench.

· Coaches should remain in their coaches’ box during the game.

· Only ONE coach / adult is permitted to be standing when their team is playing.

First infraction is a warning by the referee. (all coaches will have to sit if technical is issued) Penalty shall be an Indirect assessed against the coach with two (2) shots and the ball.

· Coaches shall be responsible for their bench, as well as that of their fan’s area.

Coaches need to bring a mop towel to each game to keep their floor area dry as a safety precaution.  It is the parent’s/coach’s/team’s responsibility (not the gym monitor’s) to administer first aid to any injured player of said team.

g) Substitutions: Players will check in with the scorer’s table at the start of each half, as well as before entering a game in progress. Failure to properly check in (uniform tucked in, jewelry, etc.) could result in the following: first offense- warning by official.

Second offense – technical foul

Violations and Penalties

a) Illegal defense / press / delay of game: One warning per team / per half.

Next offense is a two shot and ball penalty.

***** NOT as an indirect against the coach ****

b) Technical Fouls - Dunking/Hanging On Rim: Hanging on the rim or net of the basketball goal is a TECHNICAL foul.

· According to FHSAA rules, dunking or grabbing the rim during pre-game or post game is a technical foul. These fouls can be issued before, during or after a game.

· (A T-Foul given after a game shall be acted upon at the team’s next scheduled game.)

c) Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Whenever a player receives a technical foul, the player shall be benched for a portion of time to teach better sportsmanship.

· A player with 2 technical fouls in a game must sit on the bench for the remainder of the game.

· A second technical foul for any unsportsmanlike conduct during the season for a player of that team shall result in the next game suspension of the player for that team.

· A third technical foul for any unsportsmanlike conduct during the season shall result

in an automatic termination from the league.

d) Ejected player shall not be allowed to play in team’s next game but must attend and sit with players.

e) A coach shall be ejected with three (3) indirect fouls or two (2) direct technical fouls

OR at the referees discretion. 

f) A coach who has been ejected or has two (2) technicals is required to LEAVE THE GYM and the direct eyesight of the game. The coach may not interact IN ANY MANNER with that team’s game, players, or game personnel or he/she will be required to leave all school/city premises.

· Any Coach who receives a technical foul will have to pay a fine of $15.00 per technical before he is allowed to coach their next game.  This fine will be deposit in the league’s scholarship area in order to help under privilege players pay for their registrations.  For every technical foul after the first technical during the league not the game, the fine will go up $5 per each following technical.

g) An ejected or suspended coach will be suspended from coaching the team’s next game. The coach may not enter the gym or interact in any manner with the players or game. He/she must not be in direct eyesight of the game.

h) Every subsequent technical foul against the coach shall result in the next game’s suspension.  Spectators ejected are subject to not being allowed in the gym at the team’s next game.

i) The referees and gym monitor will be notified of suspensions prior to the game.

j) It is the referees’ discretion to either eject an unruly spectator OR place him/her next to the coach if the coach accepts responsibility and penalties for the spectator’s actions.

Injuries:

a) When a referee recognizes an injury, it is an Official Time Out. (player shall not be

penalized playing time if admitted back into game and both coaches have agreed to

playing time)

b) If a coach enters the court during an injury, the player MUST be substituted at least

until the next dead ball. Referee shall determine if the player may be allowed to

continue (physically)

Blood Rule: In accordance with FHSAA Basketball rule 3-3-5 - A player who is

bleeding, or has an open wound, or has an excessive amount of blood on his or

her uniform shall be directed to leave the game.”

IMPLEMENTATION: When any Coach, Game Official, Referee scorer’s table, or Gym Director notices any blood on any players ’clothing; any open wound; or any bleeding, the game is to be STOPPED at the earliest moment and the player shall be directed to leave the game. The player shall be allowed to return to the game during a coach time out if able to do so in the allotted time or any regular substitution if, in the opinion of the referee(s), the bleeding has stopped, any open wound has been properly covered, or any clothing with blood has been replaced. Any affected number change must be duly noted to the scorer’s table and the game book, and shall be permitted without penalty. These guidelines apply to any player contaminated by their own blood or that of another player.

Scoring

a) Each team shall provide a volunteer (age 16 or older) at each game to run the

scoreboard, or to keep the scorer’s book.  If any team cannot find a volunteer for the table, the clock will run for five minutes until a volunteer is found by the coach.  At the end of the five minutes if there is no volunteer then the game will be consider a forfeit and will not be re-schedule.

· The team listed FIRST for the match on the schedule shall be the HOME team and wear the LIGHTER uniform color.

· Home team is responsible for keeping the game book if choice is necessary.

· Coaches must keep their own stats for each game if they so desire. The scorer SHALL NOT be used as a statistician for any team.

· Players, parents, etc. are NOT to approach the table. Coaches only may approach table if asked to do so by the referee and then only between quarters to check on team fouls or correct an error. Referees have the final word regarding problems with the score. The scorebook is the official record of game.

V. Equipment and Uniforms

a) Personal gear

· The referee shall not permit any player to wear equipment, which, in his/her judgment is dangerous or confusing to other players or is not appropriate.

· No jewelry may be worn at any time.

· Players may not play with any form of hard cast or any constraints held with metal, abrasive or materials deemed dangerous by the referees.

· A headband no wider than 2 inches and made of non-abrasive unadorned single-colored cloth, elastic, fiber, soft leather or rubber may be worn.

· Rubber/cloth (elastic) bands may be used to control hair.

b) Uniforms

· Any team electing not to pay for the FBVA jersey must have jerseys of the same color with reversible contrasting colors OR 2 sets of contrasting color jerseys (home and guest).

· The team’s jerseys MUST BE NUMBERED; with the possible exception of one (1) jersey which, if that jersey isn’t numbered, may be designated as zero (0).

· Teams comprised of players with regular FBVA or JUNIOR MAGIC jerseys shall be permitted to wear duplicate numbers without penalty.

· Sponsored teams and/or teams with their own uniforms SHALL NOT be permitted to wear duplicate numbers or mixed jerseys in any game.

· Non FBVA jerseys MAY NOT have the following numbers on their jerseys: (0) and (00) (may have either 0 OR 00 not both) or any combination of # 6, 7, 8, or 9.

· Failure to have the proper uniform may result in technical fouls as stated in FHSAA rules. Referees have the final decision as to jersey numbering.

VI. Game Administration

a) Forfeits:

· A game shall be forfeited 5 minutes after scheduled game time.

· A technical foul will be administered after the first 2 minutes. After the next 3 minutes,

a forfeit will be charged to the late/no show team.

· Determination of forfeit shall be up to the referee.

· The consequences for a team forfeiting ANY scheduled game are as follows:

* The first offense shall result in a recorded loss for that team AND coach

will be suspended for the next game.

* The second offense shall result in a team loss, AND the coach will be suspended for the

next game.

* The third offense shall result in the dismissal of the coach for the

remaining games and the next season.

b) Protest

· Grounds for protest are the ineligibility of a player and disregarding the play guidelines of the game.

· The FBVA office must receive a written protest by the Head Coach immediately following the game. (mail to the office or hand delivered)

· Protest in writing must be given to an FBVA representative if available, along with a $100 fee, before leaving the gym.

· Intent to protest is valid w/ signature in scorebook if no one is available at gym ).

· Coach should contact the League office as soon as possible and leave a message.

· Fee will be refunded if the protest is determined to be valid. (Otherwise it will be regarded as a written complaint and fee will be forfeited).

· The coach will respect the decision and reliability of the JRB to satisfy his protest.

· For liability and privacy reasons, no coach or parent shall be permitted to view the registration OR birth records of the players in the FBVA League.

· No protests based on staffing of the scorer’s table will be accepted AFTER the game is played.

c) Player Placement/League Standing/Tournament

· At the beginning of each season there will be a player placement day for all the division for all those players that register for the league as single players not attached to any team.  Coaches are required to be in attendance in order to rate and evaluate the players in order to complete their team.  After each division player placement there will be a draft conducted by the coaches in order to select their teams.

· There are eight games to each season. There is a seven game regular season and there is an end of the league tournament for every team which will include the team’s eight game.  Teams will be separated by different division during the tournament.  Placement in the division is based on how they did during the regular season.    

· Team scores must be turned will be turn in by the referees via the scorebook to the Director by the end of the weekend.

· Rankings WILL NOT be changed if scores are not turned in.!

· 1st--use straight record, 2nd--in the case of a tie, who beat whom, 3rd--average of offensive points against each tied team, 4th--offensive points averaged in the division, and 5th--the average of allowed defensive points during the regular season.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR FIRST REGARDING ANY MATTERS PERTAINING TO YOUR TEAM IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE YOUR CONCERNS.