Game Rules:

• Each game begins with a prayer at center court.
• Games consist of four 8-minute quarters. The clock will stop for fouls, violations, and out-of-bounds plays during the last 30 seconds of the second and fourth quarters.
• Players play equally. Each player must be allowed to play at least the first or second quarter in its entirety.
• Games that end with a tied score at the end of four quarters are declared “draws”.
• There are different free throw lines, depending on the player’s grade in school.
• Each player will receive two warnings during a game when a “traveling violation” occurs. The referee will blow his whistle, instruct the player on the infraction, and then give the ball back to the same team. On a player’s third traveling violation during a game, the ball will go over to the other team.
• Double-dribble violations will always result in the ball being given to the other team.
• Defense can only be played on the defensive end of the court. There is no pressing.
• For even play, the referee has the authority to make a player substitution in the second quarter. For example, if one team has 10 players, but the other team has only 8, the referee can choose which two players who played in the first quarter will join the other 3 players from that team who didn’t play in the first quarter.
• We request that coaches play their better or older five players in the first quarter, and younger or less-skilled players in the second quarter. Coaches are encouraged to talk to one another before the game about who will play and when. Sometimes, if both coaches agree, the younger players can play the first quarter and the older players the second.
• Substitution in the second half of the game will occur half-way through each quarter. Players are still to play an equal amount of time.
• One-and-one foul shooting situations will begin on the 7th foul of each half.
• Man-to-man defense is played. The defensive player must stay with the person he/she is guarding, unless there is a pick set by an offensive player. In other words, there is no helping out on defense.
• The score is reset to “0” at the end of each quarter in the younger division.
• Ball sizes: 27.5 (grades 1-2), 28.5 (grades 3-4 and girls grades 5-8) 29.5 (boys grades 5-8)
• Rim height: 7 feet (grades 1-2), 9 feet (grades 3-4), 10 feet (grades 5-8)