Greater Phoenix Basketball Rules
2016 Greater Phoenix Basketball League Game Rules
Rules: The Greater Phoenix Basketball Competitive League will use National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) basketball rules except for:
Game Time: Each game consists of four ten-minute, running-clock quarters with the clock stopping on the official’s whistle during the last ten seconds of the first three quarters and the last two minutes of the fourth quarter. If the score differential is 15 or more points, the clock will not stop in the fourth quarter unless a time-out or injury occurs.
Players: Teams must have a minimum of four players to start the game. If a team does not have the minimum four players at the game start time, teams will be allowed five minutes past game time to field the minimum four players before a forfeit will be declared.
Rosters: Each team must fill out a team registration form and only players listed on the roster forms are eligible to play. Players may play in the grade division they are currently in and they may play up a grade division. Players may not play on 2 teams in the same grade division.
Pre-Game Warm-up: There will be a minimum of four minutes to warm-up before games begin. Teams will warm up at the basket opposite their bench.
Time-outs: Each team will have two one-minute time-outs per half. Unused time-outs do not carry over into the second half or overtime. All time-outs are full (one-minute) time-outs.
Halftime: Halftime will consist of three minutes.
Overtime: When a game ends with a tie score, teams will play one two-minute overtime period, with the clock stopping on all dead balls. Each team will have one time-out in the overtime period. If the score is tied after one overtime period, an additional two-minute overtime period will be played with the same rules. If the score is still tied after two overtime periods, the game will go to sudden death with the following guidelines: after a jump ball at center court, the first team to score any combination of two points will be the winner. Each team will have one time-out in the sudden death overtime period. Note: In playoff scenario, there will be no ‘Sudden Death’. All games will continue to play two-minute overtimes until a winner is decided.
Backcourt Press Rule: Teams that are ahead by 20 or more points will not be allowed to press in their opponent’s backcourt. After one warning, additional violations of this rule will result in a technical foul called on the coach.
Personal and Team Fouls: Players will be allowed five personal fouls before they are disqualified from the game (foul out). A “Bonus” situation will occur when a team is charged with their seventh team foul of a half and the opponent will shoot 1 and 1 (unless the foul was a shooting foul). On the tenth team foul or each half, opponents will shoot 2 shots on each team foul for the rest of the half. Fouls reset at halftime.
Scorekeeping: Greater Phoenix Basketball will provide clock and scorekeepers for each game.
Game Ball: The home team will provide game balls for league and tournament games. All boys’ 7th and 8th grade games will use a standard Size 7 ball and all boys’ 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades and all girls’ games will use a Size 6 (28.5) ball. If the home team does not provide a suitable ball, the officials will decide which ball will be used for that game.
Uniforms: If two teams have similar uniform colors, the designated home team will wear white and visiting team will wear their darker color.
Bench Warning: Officials should not permit certain behavior by the head coach or any personnel on the bench who engages in spontaneous reactions to officiating calls and no-calls. At the official’s discretion, repeated spontaneous reactions or unsportsmanlike behavior by the head coach, bench personnel, players on the bench and/or spectators from the stands may result in a warning with subsequent incidents resulting in a technical foul(s).
Bench Decorum: The head coach of each team is responsible for the conduct and behavior of their players, parents and spectators. If any coach, parent, player or spectator is ejected from a game, they MUST sit out of their next game. NO EXCEPTIONS. The person who was ejected from the game will receive written notification from Greater Phoenix Basketball Directors. If any coach, parent, player or spectator is ejected from two games, then they are not allowed to attend any games for the remainder of the season. This applies to both league and tournament play.
Playing Time – Each player that is on the roster and is sitting on the bench, must play in the game, unless he/she is sick or injured. The amount of playing time is up to the coach. The recommended playing time for each player is one quarter minimum.
Rules Knowledge: It is the responsibility of coaches to be familiar with the National Federation of High School Basketball Rule Book. If coaches are not familiar with the rules they can go to www.NFHS.org for review.