Believe and Achieve Sports

LEAGUE-WIDE GUIDELINES AND RULES


LEAGUE GOAL

The goals of BABA is to 

  • Create a recreational and competitively friendly environment in which children of varying skill levels have fun with basketball
  • Teach basketball skills, rules and strategy to our player
  • Model and teach competitiveness with an emphasis on good sportsmanship
  • Promote increased self-esteem among our children
  • Provide equal playing time for all participating players; this is discussed more thoroughly in Game Rules section
  • Safety is of utmost concern to the BABA. Coordinators, coaches, and referees should strive to avoid injury whenever possible.SPORTSMANSHIP

Coaches are responsible for ensuring that all members of the team and their fans practice good sportsmanship before, during and after the game. Coaches should

  • Support the referees and refrain from making derogatory comments towards or about them
  • Refrain from actions or words that undercut the self-esteem of players on other teams or their own team
  • Not allow your players to make derogatory comments towards other players, coaches or referee
  • Not allow “talking trash”
  • Support post-game “nice game” exchange between players and coaches
  • Good sportsmanship includes avoidance of unnecessary rough and ‘dirty’ play. Players, coaches, and referees should all strive in this regard.
  • Good sportsmanship also includes not running up the score. A team that is ahead by 20 points or more must pull its defense back to the 3 point line, not run fast breaks, and no full court defense


    GAME RULES:

    • HIGH SCHOOL RULES:Except where modified below, our games shall be conducted according to Maryland public high school rules in effect at the time of a game. In all disputes, a referee’s decision is final.
    • HEAD COVERINGS All players must wear head coverings at all times. We have provided bobby pins for each gym with the scorekeepers.  If a cap with a brim is worn, the brim must be facing backwards.  If a head covering falls incidentally during a play, play does not stop.  If play must be stopped so that a head covering needs to be found for a player, that team will be assessed a time out.
    • JUMP BALLS:  There will be an actual jump ball only at the beginning of the game (and overtime during a playoffs game).  After that jump ball, the alternate possession rule will apply, which will also determine who gets the ball at halftime. 
    • Amount of Players on the Court at One Time: ​​​​​​ Games are to be played generally as 5 players vs. 5 players.  Teams that don’t have 5 players show up on a given day can play with the number of players that are there at the time.  If only 4 players are present for a team, the other team should only play 4 players.  If 3 or fewer players are present, the other team should still play with 4 players (unless the commissioners deem there to be an exception)
    • START TIME AND GAME LENGTH
      • First Grade Division: Practice is from 2:15-2:25. The game will be two 15-minute halves (running clock except for subbing) with subs every 5 minutes. At the end of the game each player shoots two free shots. Games are 6 on 6.
      • Second Grade Division: Practice is from 3:15-3:25. The game will be two 15-minute halves (running clock) with subs every 5 minutes. At the end of the game each player shoots two free shots. Courts need to be cleared by 4:15. Games are 6 on 6.
      • Third Grade Division: Practice begins at 4:15, games should begin at 4:30.  Emphasis should be on practice and teaching basic skills. The games will include two 20-minute halves, with 3-minute half time.  Court needs to be cleared by 5:30. Games are 5 on 5.
      • Fourth Grade Division: Practice begins at 5:45, game begins at 6:00. During practice focus should be on skills. The games will include two 20-minute halves, with 3-minute half time. There is no overtime games can end in a tie. Courts need be cleared by 7:00. Games are 5 on 5.
      • Fifth: Practice begins at 2:15, game begins at 2:25.   The games will include two 20-minute halves, with 3-minute half time. Clock stops every 5 minutes for subs. Court needs to be cleared by 3:30.
      • Sixth Grade Division: Practice begins at 3:30, and the game begins at 3:40. The games will include two 20-minute halves, with 3-minute half time. . Clock stops every 5 minutes for subs. Court needs to be cleared by 4:45.
      • Seventh Grade Division:  Practice begins at 4:45, game begins at 4:55.   The games will include two 20-minute halves, with 3-minute half time. Clock stops every 5 minutes for subs. Court needs to be cleared by 6:00.
      • Eighth Grade Division:  Practice begins at 6:00, game begins at 6:10. The games will include two 20-minute halves. Clock stops every 5 minutes for subs with 3-minute half time.  Court needs to be cleared by 7:15.
      • During the game there is a running clock except for 5 minute shifts,TO’S, and for the final two minutes of the second half when the clock stops for all referee whistles and out of bounds. 
      • The clock stops for time-outs. Time-outs are for 40 seconds. Each team is allowed 2 time-outs per half.
      • Regular season games that have a tied score at the end of regulation are treated as a tie. For playoff games, overtime periods will be played. Overtimes are 3 minutes in length, with a running clock for the first 2 minutes and with the clock stopping for all referee whistles during the final minute of the overtime. Halftimes are 3 minutes
    • BALL SIZE
      • 1st/2nd Grade- a smaller size 27.5 inch ball is used., 3/4 Grade: A junior-sized 28.5-inch ball is used, 5/6/7/8 grade: A 29.5-inch ball is used
    • EQUAL PLAYING TIME
      • Third/Fourth Grade Divisions:  “Five minute shifts” (games have 20 minute halves/40 minutes total):  Approximately every five minutes of game time, the ref will stop play (clock will  stop) and all players currently on the bench must be placed in the game, with the coach deciding which players should sit next.  Coaches are expected to provide similar playing times for all players (total playing time should be within 5 minutes (e.g 3 players 35 min. 4 players 30 min.), and to be aware of the playing time they have provided for each player.
      • Fifth/Sixth/Seventh/Eighth Grade Divisions.  “Five minute shifts” in (games have 20 minute halves/40 minutes total): Approximately every five minutes of game time, the ref will stop play (clock does  stop) and substitutions take place, with the coach deciding which players should sit next.  No player should sit for more than 2 consecutive shifts.  Coaches should be aware of the playing time they have provided for each player., and are expected to provide similar playing times for all players, the total playing time of each player should be within 5 minutes for each player.
      • These rules apply to all games, including close games and the playoffs, and apply to all players regardless of age or ability.
    • FOULS/FOUL SHOTS
      • Referees use common sense on violations. They should allow the kids to play. No advantage, no call.
      • If in the judgment of the referee a player goes over the line on a foul shot because of his strength, and clearly is not attempting to get an offensive rebound, no violation is called. Running in early by the shooter should always be called.
      • 5th- 8th divisions shoot 1 and 1 beginning with the 7th foul of a half. There is no double-bonus.
      • A player does not foul out of a game.
      • Any player or coach who is assessed two technical fouls is disqualified for the remainder of the game.  The referee has the discretion to disqualify a player or coach from the game upon a first technical foul, based on severity of the infraction.
    • PRESSING
      • 5th-8th grade-Pressing past the half court line is allowed ONLY during the final 2 minutes of both the first and second halves
      • Third and Fourth Grades – Pressing is only allowed in the last minute of the game.
    • THREE POINTERS
      • There are no three-pointers.
    • FIVE SECONDS IN THE LANE
      • 5th-8th grade, the rule commonly known as the ‘three second rule’ (violation for being in the lane too long) will be enforceable after 5 seconds instead of 3 seconds.
    •  TEN SECONDS IN THE BACKCOURT & Backcourt: The standard 10 second in the backcourt rule will be applied in 5/6/7/8 grade divisions, but not in 3/4 grade divisions. Backcourt will be marked by the side basket. The standard backcourt rule will be applied in 5/6/7/8 grade divisions, but not in 3/4 grade divisions. Backcourt is the other basket's free throw line extended once the ball is brought over the half court line.
    • Third/Fourth Grades- Five players play at a time with there being substitutions every five minutes. Kids should be able to not double dribble and keep travels and carries to a minimum. All out of bounds shooting fouls, obvious fouls and jump balls will be called. Kids must take the ball from out of bounds and pass the ball in on out of bounds plays. There is no backcourt defense. There is no grabbing the ball or knocking the ball out of the offensive player's hand, and there is no double teams or zone defense. Games that are tied in regulation end in a tie. Game is two 20 min running clock halves, except for the final two minutes of the second half when the clock stops for all referee whistles and out of bounds. The clock stops for time-outs. Time-outs are for 40 seconds. Each team is allowed 2 time-outs per half. Practice should be focused on team offense and team defense. How to get open, score, pass, rebound, and shoot.