WHITMAN GIRLS BASKETBLL ASSOCIATION

IN-TOWN LEAGUE RULES

(updated 10/16/02)

1. Each player on the team will play an approximately equal portion of time.

The practice of playing stronger players a disproportionate amount of time is not permitted. Distribution of the player’s time within the game will be left to the coach’s discretion. An exception to this rule applies if a player has not participated in practices, is not properly equipped to play, or if there is a team disciplinary problem.

2. No gum, jewelry or hard hair clips are allowed during the game.

3. Coaches and referees shall report ten minutes prior to the start of the game.

4. The home team scorebook shall be considered the official book for the game. The home team scorebook shall keep track of the score, player fouls, team fouls per half and alternating possession. In case of dispute, the referee’s decision shall be final.

5. Game time shall be two 20-minute halves running time, except that the last two minutes of any Senior Division and Junior Division game with a point spread of 10 or under shall be stop time.

6. The break between halves shall be limited to 4 minutes.

7. Overtime shall consist of two minutes, stop time. See Special Rules for Junior Division.

8. Games will start on time. Any team unable to start 5 players is assessed a technical foul to start the game. A team is permitted to start and/or continue play with a minimum of 4 players (the opposing team is under no obligation to play with less than 5 players); a forfeit will result if there are less than 4 eligible players.

9. A jump ball shall be used to start the game and at the beginning of each overtime period. Subsequent jump balls shall be handled by alternating possession.

10. Each team is permitted 2 time outs per half and 1 time out in each overtime period. Time outs are use or lose and may not be carried over into the next period. Each time out shall be 30 seconds in length.

11. Time outs can only be called when your team has possession of the ball or when play is stopped by the referee for any reason. The time out may be called by any player on the floor or by the head coach.

12. Substitutions shall not enter the game until waived in by the referee.

13. Person-to-person or zone defense is permitted. See Special Rules for Junior Division.

14. A player who receives a 5th personal foul shall be fouled out and removed from the game.

15. Team fouls per half: starting with the seventh team foul, a player fouled will shoot one-and-one for a non-shooting foul; starting with the tenth team foul, the player will shoot two free throws. Team fouls in the second half carryover into overtime.

16. A team shall lose possession if the ball is not inbounded within 5 seconds.

17. Three second lane violation will be enforced.

18. If play is stopped for an injured player, the player must be removed from the game, but may re-enter later. Any player who is bleeding must be removed from the game until the bleeding is stopped. No blood stained clothing may be worn.

19. Special Rules for Junior Division:

a. The ball and player must cross half court before defense begins.

b. Double teaming by the defense is permitted only within the foul lane. This rule is waived during the final two minutes of a game and in overtime.

c. The offense has 10 seconds to bring the ball across half court or else they lose possession.

d. For foul shooting, the player must stand behind the foul line when starting the shot. The player may cross the line as part of the shot, but cannot continue forward to rebound until the ball has hit the rim.

e. In the final two minutes of a close game (10 points or under) and in any overtime, full court defense is permitted and rules (a) and (b) above do not apply. Full court defense may used by both teams in a non-close game (over 10 points) if the full court defense is first initiated by the losing team; rules (a) and (b) above would not apply.

f. Person-to-person defense must be played in the first half (all eligible players shall play at least 10 minutes in the first half, unless there are extenuating circumstances).

g. For regular season games, overtime will be limited to one overtime period and the game will end in a tie if the score is still tied after the first overtime.

20. Special Rules for Senior Division:

a. The offense has 10 seconds to bring the ball across half court or else they lose possession.

b. Full court defense is permitted. When a team has a lead of more than 10 points it must pull back to a half court defense (no full court defense with a lead of more than 10 points). The losing team may continue with a full court defense.