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General Rules and Policies

1. No jewelry may be worn at practices or games.

  1. Please remove an earring if at all possible.
  2. If an earring cannot be removed, it must be covered with a band aid, period.
  3. If an earring cannot be removed and is not covered with a band aid, then the child may not participate, be it a practice or a game.

2. The home team must wear white jerseys & shorts, while the visiting/guest team must wear dark jerseys & shorts.

3. Rules interpretation and decisions are at the discretion of the referees.

4. Two (2) timeouts per team per half.

5. No overtime during the regular season – games can end in a tie.

6. A player fouls out on the fifth foul.

  1. When a player fouls out or is disqualified, a replacement is chosen of comparable ability for the remainder of that period by the coach of the team who had the player foul out.
  2. This limited-time replacement player has no effect on the AYB Playing Rotation (substitutions).
  3. During the regular season, if a team has only 5 eligible players and one of them fouls out, that player will remain in the game and subsequent fouls on that player bear the consequences and possession of the ball.
  4. During the playoffs, if a team has no more eligible players, and one fouls out, the team continues with one less player if, in the judgement of the official, they are able to remain competitive.

7. If a player who is on the court leaves the game for medical or any other reason during a period, a replacement is chosen of comparable ability for the remainder of that period by the coach of the team with the player who has the medical issue.  The AYB Playing Rotation (substitutions) remain in effect.

8. On all behavioral technical fouls and intentional fouls, 2 points and possession of ball will be awarded to the opposing team.

9. On administrative technical fouls, two fouls shots will be taken and possession of the ball will be awarded to the opposing team (e.g., requesting a time out when none remain).

10. Assistant coaches: There is to be only one (1) assistant per team and s/he must remain seated on the bench and s/he may not have any interaction with the referees.

Game Clock

Games consist of four 8-minute quarters. Except as noted below, the clock should be running.

1. The timekeeper will stop the clock at the 4:00 mark of every quarter.

  1. At the first natural break after 4:00, the referee will stop play in order to allow for substitutions.
  2. This is NOT a timeout.
  3. It is a very brief delay in play to allow for substitutions.
  4. The buzzer must NOT be sounded.

2. The clock stops during foul shots.

3. The clock stops during time outs.

4. The clock stops during the last 2 minutes of each half on all whistles.

5. The clock stops during a significant delay in play (injury, etc.).

Playing Rotation (Subs)

Playing Rotation: The AYB Playing Rotation form must be used for determining the playing rotation.  Each coach lists their players in whatever order they see fit.  Players are on the floor in the order listed using a circular rotation of the list (around and around).

1. Before the opening tip-off, coaches will exchange the enumerated (i.e., numbered) listing of their players on the official league's substitution form so that both coaches have access to both teams playing rotations, which may not be changed.

2. Example: Given 8 players, with player #1 fouling out at the start of the 2nd half followed immediately by the arrival of your star player, your rotation is as follows:

Q1: [1,2,3,4,5] [6,7,8,1,2]

Q2: [3,4,5,6,7] [8,1,2,3,4]

Q3: [5,6,7,8,1] [2,3,4,5,6]

Q4: [7,8,9,2,3] [4,5,6,7,8]

Note that your “star” player who arrived just after halftime plays exactly 1 of the 8 periods, while the player who fouled out right at the start of the second half plays for 3 full periods.

Division-Specific Rules

GENERAL

  1. High School Rules are followed unless otherwise noted.
  2. If a game is played on a court that has a 3-point arc marked, then a shot taken from beyond the arc will count as 3 points and appropriate adjustments are made to shooting fouls from beyond the arc. 
  3. If a game is played on a court without a 3-point arc, then the game will be played without allowing for beyond-the-arc-3-point-shots.

1. FREE THROWS

1.1. 3rd Grade Boys, 4th Grade Boys, and 3rd-4th Grade Girls

1.1.1.On shooting fouls (shot missed): 1 point and possession

1.1.2.On shooting fouls (shot made): 2/3 points (for made shot) plus 1 point (for made free throw) and change of possession

1.1.3.On the 10th and subsequent non-shooting fouls of each half: 1 point and possession

1.2. 5th Grade Boys, 6th Grade Boys, 7th Grade Boys, 8th Grade Boys, and 5th-6th Grade Girls

1.2.1. Non-Shooting Foul: 1-and-1 on the 7th, 8th, and 9th foul of each half

1.2.2. Non-Shooting Foul: 2 shots on the 10th and subsequent foul of each half

1.2.3. Shooting Foul (shot missed): 2/3 shots

1.2.4. Shooting Foul (shot made – goal counts): 1 shot

1.2.5. No penalty for the shooter going over the foul line on follow through in the 5th Grade Boys.

1.2.6. No penalty for the shooter going over the foul line on follow through in the 5th-6th Grade Girls.

2. DEFENSE [^* If a game is being played on a court that does not have a 3-point arc, then defense may be played anywhere within 24 feet of the baseline (i.e., under the top of the key extended).]

2.1.1. 3rd Grade Boys: During the first and third quarters, teams must play a 2-2 zone defense with all defenders keeping 1 foot within the "paint" (i.e., three second area).  During the second and fourth quarters, teams must play a man-to-man defense.  With the exception of the last 2 minutes of the game, defense may only be played within the 3-point arc^*.  Whenever a team is playing man-to-man defense, the following hold:

  • A defensive player must be within 6 feet of the player he is guarding. 
  • If an offensive player is outside of the extended top of the key, the defensive player must be no more than 6 feet from the extended top of the key and be between the player he is guarding and the basket. 
  • No double teaming is permitted.

During the last 2 minutes of the game, teams must play man-to-man defense and are permitted to pickup full court.  Players must be within 6 feet of their man or guarding the ball.  That is, multiple players may be guarding the player with the ball during the last 2 minutes of a game.

Officials are empowered to prevent teams from "freezing" the ball.

Writstbands: The team with possession of the ball to start the 2nd quarter is designated as Team A and the team starting the second quarter on defense is Team B.  To start the 2nd quarter, the coach places wristbands on Team A and sends the players to half-court.  The coach of Team B can then match up and place wristbands on their players.  To start the final 4 minutes of the first half, Team B places wristbands on their players and Team A matches up.  To start the final quarter of the game, Team B places wristbands on their players and Team A matches up. To start the final 4 minutes of the game, Team A places wristbands on their players and Team B matches up.  There is no changing of wristbands during any of these 4 minute periods.

2.1.2. 4th Grade Boys: During the first and third quarters, teams must play a 2-1-2 zone defense with all defenders keeping 1 foot within the "paint" (i.e., three second area).  During the second and fourth quarters, teams must play a man-to-man defense.  With the exception of the last 2 minutes of the game, defense may only be played within  the 3-point arc^*.  Whenever a team is playing man-to-man defense, the following hold:

  • A defensive player must be within 6 feet of the player he is guarding. 
  • If an offensive player is outside of the extended top of the key, the defensive player must be no more than 6 feet from the extended top of the key and be between the player he is guarding and the basket.
  • No double teaming is permitted.

During the last 2 minutes of the game, teams must play man-to-man defense and are permitted to pickup full court.  Players must be within 6 feet of their man or guarding the ball.  That is, multiple players may be guarding the player with the ball during the last 2 minutes of a game.

Officials are empowered to prevent teams from "freezing" the ball.

2.1.3. 5th Grade Boys: During the first and third quarters, teams must play a 2-1-2 zone defense, which may only be played within the 3-point arc^*.  During the second and fourth quarters, teams must play a man-to-man defense.  With the exception of the last 2 minutes of the game, the man-to-man defense may, but need not, be extended to the entire defensive half court.  During the last two minutes of the game, teams must continue to play a man-to-man defense, but may pick up their men full court.  Whenever a team is playing man-to-man defense, the following hold:

  • A defensive player must be within 6 feet of the player he is guarding. 
  • If an offensive player is outside of the extended top of the key, the defensive player must be no more than 6 feet from the extended top of the key and be between the player he is guarding and the basket.
  • No double teaming is permitted.

2.1.4. 6th Grade Boys: During any given 4-minute period, a team must play either a 2-1-2 zone defense during the entire period or a man-to-man defense during the entire period.  A team is not permitted to change defenses during any given 4-minute period.  Defense is restricted to the defensive half-court except for the last 2 minutes of the game.  During the last 2 minutes of a game, if a team is playing man-to-man during that final 4-minute period, they may deploy a full-court man-to-man defense.  (If a team is playing a 2-1-2 zone during the final 4-minute period, they are not permitted to press during the final 2 minutes of the game.)  Further, whenever a team is playing man-to-man defense, the following hold:

  • A defensive player must be within 6 feet of the player he is guarding, unless he is in the process of "double teaming the ball." 
  • If an offensive player is outside of the extended top of the key, the defensive player must be no more than 6 feet from the extended top of the key and be between the player he is guarding and the basket, unless he is in the process of "double teaming the ball."
  • Multiple players may "double team" only the player in possession of the ball.

2.1.5. 7th Grade Boys: There are no restrictions on the defense that is played.  Teams may play zone, man-to-man, or any combination thereof at any time during the game.  Defense must be played in the defensive half court during the first three quarters of the game and may be played in the the full court during the fourth quarter.

2.1.6. 8th Grade Boys: There are no restrictions on the defense that is played.  Teams may play zone, man-to-man, or any combination thereof at any time during the game.  Defense may be played through the full court at any time during the game.

2.1.7. 3rd-4th Grade Girls: During the first and third quarters, teams must play a 2-2 zone defense with all defenders keeping 1 foot within the "paint" (i.e., three second area).  During the second and fourth quarters, teams must play a player-to-player defense.  With the exception of the last 2 minutes of the game, defense may only be played within the 3-point arc^*.  Whenever a team is playing player-to-player defense, the following hold:

  • A defensive player must be within 6 feet of the player she is guarding. 
  • If an offensive player is outside of the extended top of the key, the defensive player must be no more than 6 feet from the extended top of the key and be between the player she is guarding and the basket.
  • No double teaming is permitted.

During the last 2 minutes of the game, teams must play player-to-player defense and are permitted to pickup full court.  Players must be within 6 feet of their player or guarding the ball.  That is, multiple players may be guarding the player with the ball during the last 2 minutes of a game.

Officials are empowered to prevent teams from "freezing" the ball.

Writstbands: The team with possession of the ball to start the 2nd quarter is designated as Team A and the team starting the second quarter on defense is Team B.  To start the 2nd quarter, the coach places wristbands on Team A and sends the players to half-court.  The coach of Team B can then match up and place wristbands on their players.  To start the final 4 minutes of the first half, Team B places wristbands on their players and Team A matches up.  To start the final quarter of the game, Team B places wristbands on their players and Team A matches up. To start the final 4 minutes of the game, Team A places wristbands on their players and Team B matches up.  There is no changing of wristbands during any of these 4 minute periods.

2.1.8. 5th -6th Grade Girls: During the first and third quarters, teams must play a 2-1-2 zone defense, which may only be played within the 3-point arc^*.  During the second and fourth quarters, both teams must play a player-to-player defense, which may only be played within the 3-point arc^*.   During the last two minutes of the game, teams must continue to play a player-to-player defense, but may pick up their player over the full court.  Whenever a team is playing player-to-player defense, the following hold:

  • A defensive player must be within 6 feet of the player she is guarding. 
  • If an offensive player is outside of the extended top of the key, the defensive player must be no more than 6 feet from the extended top of the key and be between the player she is guarding and the basket.
  • No double teaming is permitted except during the last 2 minutes of play, where multiple players may "double team" only the player in possession of the ball.

Officials are empowered to prevent teams from "freezing" the ball.