BASKETBALL RULES & REGULATIONS

We are the guests of the Riverview School District and should treat their buildings, personnel, and equipment with proper regard.

Spectators should not bring food or drinks into the gym.

Players may bring water and sport drinks into the gym provided they don’t leave them behind as garbage. There should be no garbage in the gym after a game. Parents, coaches and players should clean up the bench area and the stands after every game. Coaches should encourage their players and parents to clean up after themselves so that the burden of cleaning up the gym does not fall on the last coach in the gym.

A. Coach/Team Selection

1. Coaches shall be selected by the Director of Basketball subject to approval by the R.A.A. Board of Directors.
2. Coaches must comply with all RAA background check requirements. If a coach is unable to make a game, the coach is responsible for arranging for an assistant coach who also has completed the same requirements.
3. Teams shall be selected by a draft of coaches conducted by the Director of Basketball. The primary goal of the draft shall be to select teams having equal ability.
4. Coaching associations are not permitted. In other words, no coach is entitled to have a particular player on his/her team because the parent of that coach will serve as an assistant coach.
5. Trades of players are not permitted after the draft. All such trades are null and void except as approved by the Director of Basketball.

B. Game Preliminaries

1. No player will take the court for pre-game practice without a coach or appointed adult being present.
2. Players and spectators are not permitted in the bench and score keeping areas.
3. Spectators are not permitted on the court at any time.
4. Players and spectators while in attendance for activities will be subject to R.A.A. regulations as enforced by the Basketball Director, League Commissioners, Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Referees, and Directors and Officers of the R.A.A.
5. No smoking is permitted in the Tenth Street gym or school building.
6. No player or spectator is permitted in the halls outside the gym or lobby.

C. Player Equipment

1. Players should not bring basketballs to a game.
2. No player will be permitted to play without a complete uniform (shirt provided by RAA) and acceptable soft soled shoes. Players will be responsible for the condition of their uniforms at all times.
3. Players wearing eyeglasses must wear acceptable strap type protector to secure their eyeglasses.
4. Players will not wear rings, watches, metal bracelets, earrings and other jewelry which may, in the referee’s opinion, cause injury or be broken in play.
5. Players may use mouthpieces. The R.A.A. does not require a mouthpiece for basketball but mouthpieces are strongly encouraged.
6. R.A.A. cannot be responsible for valuables and urges players to leave all monies and other valuables, etc. at home.

D. Officials, Clock, Line-ups and Scoring Rules

1. Scoreboards and clocks, provided at each court will be considered official at all times and may be corrected only by a referee in charge of the game.
2. The winning coach will be responsible for sending the results of the game to the Basketball Director.
3. Coaches must record in an acceptable manner the periods played by each player in a game. The Basketball Director and/or League Commissioner shall have the right to request the coach’s record of periods played by each player in a game. Failure to produce a record may result in the Basketball Director declaring the game a forfeit for the non-complying coach. (See rule III, B. 1. – Equal Playing Time)
4. Three point scoring will occur only during full court games.
5. Coaches are not permitted to question calls made by referees (except to clarify a rule). Coaches are prohibited from criticizing referees during or after a game while at the gym. A coach violating this rule may be ejected from the game and repeated offenses may be cause for suspension or removal of the coach.
6. Parents and spectators may not question calls or criticize referees, coaches, players or scorekeepers at any time. A parent or spectator violating this rule shall be immediately ejected from the gym. Repeated offenses may be cause for permanent removal from the gym. A 2-shot technical foul may also be awarded. If an ejected parent or spectator does not comply with the ejection, a disqualification or forfeit of the game may be awarded.

A. Playing Time

1. Games will consist of eight (8) periods lasting four (4) minutes each. A one (1) minute rest break between periods and a four (4) minute rest break at half time will be allowed during each game.
2. Except for the last 2 minutes of each game, the clock will stop only for time-outs and foul shots, unless otherwise requested by a referee in charge (player injury for example).  During the last 2 minutes of the final period (and last 1 minute of any overtime period) the clock will stop at each whistle provided the leading team is winning by less than 10 points when the time remaining reaches 2 minutes.  For example, team A is leading by 11 points when the clock hits 2 minutes.  Team B then cuts the lead to 9 points, the clock will continue to run.
3. Each team is permitted two (2) time-outs per half. Unused first half time outs will not carry over into the second half. Each team is allowed one additional time out in each overtime period. Unused time outs from the second half may be carried over into the first overtime. After the first overtime period each coach will have only one time out per remaining overtime period (in other words, the first period overtime timeouts will not carry over into the next overtime).
4. Overtime periods will consist of three (3) minutes, then two (2) minutes, and an additional two (2) minutes until the tie is broken. A one (1) minute rest period between each overtime period is also to be provided.
5. Except as otherwise established by the Basketball Director and/or a League Commissioner, games will be played five (5) on five (5). If one team only has four (4) players, the game may start as a four (4) on four (4) game until both teams have five. If a team does not have four (4) players within fifteen minutes of the starting time of the game, the game will be declared a forfeit in favor of the team that has at least four (4) players. If both teams start with four (4) players due to absences, subject to the discretion of the coaches and referees, the game may be played all the way through at four (4) on four (4) even if players arrive late.

B. Equal Playing Time – Team Discipline

1. Each player must play an equal number of periods unless the coach has an uneven number of players and cannot do so. In that event, the coach may play some players one period more than the other players. For examples: (1) a coach with 9 players may play 5 players 4 periods and 4 players 5 periods; (2) a coach with 8 players must play each player 5 periods; (3) a coach with 7 players must play 5 players 6 periods and 2 players 5 periods; and (4) a coach with 6 players must play 4 players 7 periods and 2 players 6 periods. A game in which a coach fails to comply with this rule may be forfeited at the discretion of the Basketball Director.
2. A player starting a period must finish the period unless ejected, suspended, fouled out or injured. In the event a player is ejected, suspended, fouled out or injured, that player must be replaced by the player on the bench who has played the fewest number of periods. If all players have played the same number of periods at that time, the coach may substitute with any player.
3. Players may be suspended from play by the Basketball Director or League Commissioners after notification from a coach or assistant coach that the player has missed three (3) games or practices without proper notification and/or a good excuse.
4. Players may be disciplined or suspended from play by the Basketball Director, League Commissioners or the referees for unsportsmanlike conduct while participating as a player or spectator.
5. A player arriving after the first period of a game is completed must play at least half of the full periods remaining after the period in which that player arrives (e.g. if the player arrives in the middle of the 3rd period, that player must play in half the remaining periods beginning with the 4th period – in that case 2 periods). A player arriving before the end of the first period shall be considered present for the entire game and the equal playing time rule will apply as if that player had been present the entire game.
6. Each coach is on the honor system with respect to the equal playing time rule. Referees will not be responsible for monitoring the playing time of any player on a team during a game. Any issues with playing time should be documented by the coach/team that has a complaint and brought to the attention of the Basketball Commissioner, the League President and/or the RAA Board during or after the game. A game may be forfeited for failure to comply with the equal playing time rule.
7. A player who intentionally fouls another player, intentionally strikes another player during a game or flagrantly fouls another player during a game may be ejected from the game and/or may be suspended from future games and/or the remainder of the season and playoffs, as determined by the Director of Basketball.
8. A player who is involved in a fight with (or punches) another player before, during or after a game while on the premises of the Riverview School District may be ejected from any game and/or may be suspended from future games and/or the remainder of the season and playoffs, as determined by the Director of Basketball.
9. A player who is bleeding shall be removed from play until the bleeding stops.

C. Fifth/Sixth Grade League Rules

1. In general, rules of play will conform to current WPIAL High School Rules unless otherwise altered herein or properly changed by the RAA at a later date. Games will begin with a jump ball followed by alternate possession. Each overtime period will begin with a jump ball followed by alternate possession.
2. The three (3) second violation will be enforced. That is, a player may not occupy any part of the key area for longer than 3 seconds while his/her team has possession of the ball. (Penalty: Loss of Possession).
3. The five (5) second violation is enforced. That is, a player is permitted only five (5) seconds to inbound the ball once it is received from the referee on any change of possession or after a made basket or foul shot. (Penalty: Loss of Possession).
4. The inbounding team will be allowed a “free out” after a made basket, a made foul shot, turnover, defensive rebound or a time out in the area between the inbounds line and mid-court. As soon as the ball and or player cross mid-court the defensive team may guard the offensive players.
5. The ten (10) second violation is enforced. That is, the team in possession of the ball must cross the midcourt line with the ball within 10 seconds of inbounding the ball. The count is to begin when the inbounding team touches the ball inbounds. (Penalty: Loss of Possession at mid-court).
6. A “Full Court Press” can be used during the last period of the game, as long as the team engaging in the Full Court Press is not leading by more than 10 points.
7. Violations for “traveling” “over and back” and “steps” will be enforced. Over and back will be enforced at midcourt just as in rule 5. (Penalty: Loss of Possession).
8. Ball handling violations including “palming” and “double dribble” will be enforced. (Penalty: Loss of Possession).
9. Players will be ejected with the 5th personal foul of the game.
10. Teams will be awarded a “one and one” foul shooting opportunity with the seventh foul of each half on nonshooting fouls. Two shots will be awarded for the 10th foul of the half. Two shots and possession of the ball will be awarded for an intentional or flagrant foul.
11. Referees will be free to award technical fouls. Two (2) shots for technical fouls on players and two (2) shots for technical fouls on coaches, bench or fans in the stands. The team awarded the technical foul shots also retains possession of the ball after the penalty shots are taken.
12. Any player, coach or assistant coach who in one game is charged with two (2) technical fouls will be required to leave the bench area before play continues.
13. Any fan that is ejected from the game, must leave the gym area before play may be continued.

D. Third/Fourth League Rules

1. In general, rules of play will conform to current WPIAL High School Rules unless otherwise altered herein or properly changed by the RAA at a later date.
2. The three (3) second violation will be enforced after a team is given two warnings. A three (3) second violation occurs when a player occupies any part of the key area for longer than 3 seconds while his/her team has possession of the ball. (Penalty: Loss of Possession after the second warning).
3. The five (5) second violation is enforced. That is, a player is permitted only five (5) seconds to inbound the ball once it is received from the referee on any change of possession or after a made basket or foul shot. (Penalty: Loss of Possession).
4. The inbounding team will be allowed a “free out” after a made basket, a made foul shot, turnover, defensive rebound or a time out in the area between the inbounds line and mid-court. As soon as the ball and or player cross mid-court the defensive team may guard the offensive players. Except in the last period, a ball passed by the offensive team from inside the free out line to outside the free out line is not a free ball as long as either:
   1. there is an offensive player behind the free out line; or
   2. the defensive team touches the ball before it crosses the free out line. Otherwise, it is a free ball.
5. In the last period, a ten (10) second rule will be utilized. That is, the team in possession of the ball must cross the mid-court line with the ball within 10 seconds of inbounding the ball. The count is to begin when the inbounding team touches the ball inbounds. If the team in possession of the ball does not cross the midcourt line within 10 seconds the defending team may cross the mid-court line to play defense. For each possession, once 10 seconds passes or the inbounding team crosses the mid-court line, the defending team may play full court defense.
6. Violations for “traveling” and “steps” will be enforced. (Penalty: Loss of Possession).
7. Over and back will not be called during games played "side-to-side" but will be called during full court games.
8. Ball handling violations including “palming” and “double dribble” will be enforced. (Penalty: Loss of Possession).
9. Referees will be free to award technical fouls. Two (2) shots for technical fouls on players and two (2) shots for technical fouls on coaches, bench or fans in the stands. The team awarded the technical foul shots also retains possession of the ball after the penalty shots are taken.
10. Crossing the foul line before a foul shot hits the rim is generally not permitted but discretion should be shown by the Referees for players who have difficulty reaching the rim from the standard foul line. (Penalty: Loss of Possession).
11. Any player, coach or assistant coach who in one game is charged with two (2) technical fouls will be required to leave the bench area before play continues.
12. A basket made in the wrong basket will not count as points. Instead, a basket made in the wrong basket will be a turn over and the team that made the basket will lose possession of the ball.
13. Any fan that is ejected from the game must leave the gym area before play may be continued.
14. During playoffs, players will be ejected with the 5th personal foul of the game.
15. During playoffs, teams will be awarded a “one and one” foul shooting opportunity with the seventh foul of each half on non-shooting fouls. Two shots will be awarded for the 10th foul of the half. Two shots and possession of the ball will be awarded for an intentional or flagrant foul.

1. Playoff games will be held in the 3rd/4th and 5th/6th grade leagues.
2. Each round of the playoffs shall be based on seeding with the highest seeded team playing the lowest seeded team. For example, in the first round, the first place team will play the lowest seeded team, the second place team will play the second lowest seeded team, etc.
3. Seeding will be based (in order) on won/loss record in league play and tie breakers will be head-to-head play between teams, point differential between teams and/or a coin flip or one game playoff in the discretion of the Basketball Director.

1. Travel teams for fifth and sixth grade boys and girls may be permitted
2. The coach of a travel team shall be approved by the R.A.A. Board of Directors.
3. Travel teams shall consist of players from a particular grade, e.g. sixth grade teams should consist of sixth grade players except as otherwise approved by the R.A.A. Board of Directors.
4. Players on travel teams must be participants in the R.A.A. basketball league and must have paid all fees (except in hardship cases approved by the R.A.A. Board of Directors).
5. Players on travel teams must be residents of the Riverview School District.
6. Players on travel teams must give R.A.A. in-house games priority. In other words, in the event of a conflict between a travel game and an in-house game, the players should attend the in-house game.
7. Players on travel teams shall be selected based on a tryout and/or by the coaches of the 5th/6th grade boys and girls league.