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Green Hornets Boys' Basketball
G.S.P.A.A. League Playing Rules

  1. SAFETY FIRST - The referees may blow the whistle and stop the game to investigate the condition of a player who might be hurt, at any time, and resume play as soon as reasonable. The safety and well being of our players is always our main concern.
  2. Five minutes after the scheduled start time is forfeit time. Teams must have five players to start the game.
  3. Rosters and Playing Time
    a. The league will be made up of teams with a maximum of 10 players.
    b. It is required that each team member play at least one full quarter per half, per game.
    c. NO substitutions will be allowed during a quarter, except for injuries or in the event a player fouls out.
    d. If a team has fewer than 10 players in attendance at a game, the opposing coach will randomly choose numbered chips out of a container to identify the players who will play the additional quarters. Accordingly, If a team has 9 players, the opposing coach will choose two numbered chips (containing the 9 players numbers present that day) from the container to ID those players that will play the extra quarters (other players will play 2 quarters) If a team has 8 players, the opposing coach will choose four numbers chips (containing the 8 players numbers present that day) from the container to ID those players that will play the extra quarters (other players will play 2 quarters) If a team has 7 players, the opposing coach will choose one numbered chip (containing the 7 players numbers present that day) from the container to ID the player that will only play two quarters (other players will play 3 quarters) If a team has 6 players, the opposing coach will choose two number chips (containing the 6 players present that day) from the container to ID those players who will play the whole game (other players will play 3 quarters). Each league is free to adopt other means of fair play with fewer than 10 player.
  4. All age groups will play 8 minute quarters. Games must be completed in under an hour so half-times and quarter breaks should be kept to a reasonable amount of time to accommodate this (two minutes between quarters; three to five minutes for halftime). Clocks will only be stopped for timeouts, injuries, and shooting fouls EXCEPT in the last minute of the second and fourth quarters where regular rules apply (e.g., the clock stops for all "dead ball" situations).
  5. Each team is allowed two timeouts per half, with an additional timeout allowed for each overtime period. Timeouts do not carry over to halves or overtime periods. Timeouts should last for 45 seconds.
  6. All age groups will shoot free throws on the seventh team foul of a half. For the 8/9 year old league, foul shots will be taken from 10 feet.
  7. In the case of a tie, there will be a 3-minute overtime period. Coaches may choose any five players for the first overtime period. If the score remains tied, there will be a series of 1-minute overtime periods (up to a maximum of three). For each of these additional overtime periods, all players that were on the bench for the preceding overtime period must play in the new period. If the tie remains after the three 1-minute periods, there will be a 5-player foul shoot off, one shot per player.
  8. In the 8/9 and 10/11 age groups, emphasis is placed on the development of skills. In view of this, special rules apply in the 8/9 Age Group; each team must play man-to-man defense. In the 10/11 age group, limits are placed on the amount of time a team can be in a zone defense. Neither full court pressure nor guarding in the backcourt is allowed. Double teaming of the ball will not be allowed at the expense of normal man-to-man, with the exception of when the offensive team has the ball in the foul lane. The defense cannot pickup their man before he crosses half court, but MUST pick him up by the time he reaches the top of the key and must remain in close proximity until the ball reaches the foul lane. Violations of these rules will result in a warning; repeated violations will result in a technical foul being called.
  9. In other age groups, zone defenses and full court pressure are permitted; however, once a team gains a lead of 10 points or more, it will not be allowed to apply defensive pressure until the offenses crosses mid-court.
  10. In the 12/13 and 14/18 leagues, the three point shot will be in effect.
  11. In the event a player or a coach is ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct, the player or coach will automatically receive a one game suspension, which can only be appealed to the League Director and Boys Basketball Commissioner.
  12. The team bench is limited to rostered players and up to a maximum of one head coach and two assistants.
  13. Minor modifications can be made to these rules through a consensus agreement of a league's coaches and the League Director prior to or during the season.

    Last updated September 14, 2011.

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