DAVIDSON COUNTY YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUE

Game Day Rules (below) - View the Rules & Regulations for any additional coverage of these rules. The league director reserves the right to add and enforce in writing to any additional set rule/regulation not in place. 

Zero Tolerance / Sportsmanship / Ejection Policy
Head Coaches are responsible for his or hers (team), assistant coaches/players/parents/spectators conduct at all times during practices and games. Any coach, player, parent or spectator that approaches any game official with the intent to argue a judgement call during or after a game, they will be warned to return to their bench. If they continue to advance an ejection could be given. Any coach, parent or spectator ejected from a game must leave the vicinity of the playing area immediately. (Out of sight). Any ejection from a game the penalty is a automatic two (2) game suspension. Resusing to leave immediately and peacefully will result in a automatice rest of season suspension including any post-season tournament games and game will be a forfeit. No coach or parent is to come to the scorers table during or after the game to question or harrass the scorekeepers and/or referees. This will result in a automatic ejection from the game and or the next game(s) if taken place at end of the game, this will be stricly enforced. Note: If ejection occurs in that team's last game, the suspension will be for the first two (2) games of the next sport they coach or participate in. 

If any teams having two incidents with coaches/parents/spectators being ejected or removed from the game will be disqualied from participation in post-season tournament.

Players: Any player meeting one of the criteria will be suspended for two (2) games.
*  Profanity - directed towards an opponent or official.
*  Taunting, baiting or spitting towards an opponent.
*  Obscene Gestures - including gesturing in such a manner to intimidate.
*  Disrespectfuuly addresssing or contacting an official.

Fighting: (will not be tolerated in any way) First offense - ejection from the contest, and next four (4) games. Second offense - ejection from contest, and suspended for rest of the season and tournament.

Game Lineup
Teams will need to fill out a score sheet with their lineups at the scorers table prior to the start of the game. List the starting five (5) first. Need first and last names along with players number.

Home & Away
Home team will wear light colored jerseys. Away team will wear dark colored jerseys. Home team bench area will be on the left hand side of the scorers table. Teams are to warm up on the opposite sides of their bench area.

Game Time
Game time is game time. There is no grace period for any games. (All Leagues)
Instructional and Little League games will of consist of four (4) 6-minute quarters.
Junior League will consist of four (4) 7-minute quarters.
Senior League will consist of (4) 8-minute quarters.

The clock will run continuously except for shooting fouls and time-outs, until last two (2) minutes of each half in which the clock will stop as outlined in the NFHS rulebook. 

Game
Teams will supply a game ball. Referee(s) will decide the game ball to use from each teams bench. 

Coaches
Only two coaches and one scorekeeper are allowed on the team bench. Note: A team scorekeeper is not rerquired. (All Leagues) 

Mandatory Playing Time
In Instructional, Little League and Junior League each player must play nine (9) minutes per game. Three (3) consecutive minutes, three (3) times anytime during the game. The responsibility for players meeting the MPT rule lies with the coach. NOT, the official scorekeeper. Coaches need to check with the official scorekeeper to verify that their players are getting their MPT. View the Rules & Regulations under the Forms page for a clearer understanding of the MPT. Playing time is the responsibility of the head coach not the scorekeeper. (All Leagues)

Example: Player 1 starts the game, coach subs in Player 2 for Player 1 before he/she plays their MPT of three (3) consecutive minutes. Player 1's playing time does not count if substituted before MPT of three (3) consecutive minutes played. Player 1's re-enters and minutes will start over until he/she plays the MPT of three (3) consecutive minutes. It's best to not sub until all players have their MPT, once the MPT requirement is met sub, free substitution. 

Substitutions
The clock will will be stopped at or around the mid-point of each quarters to allow substitutions to enter the game. Coaches should have their players at the scores' table before the three (3) minute mark, ready to enter the game. Penalty: The violating team(s) will be charged with one of their four (4) timeouts if referee(s) feel this is a continuing occurrence by holding up the flow of the game. (All Leagues)

Mercy Rule
When a team is ahead by twenty (20) or more points, all players on the defense must stay within 3-point arc until which time the score goes below twenty (20) points. The clock will run continuously (even during free throws) except during timeouts and injuries. Again, if the score differential drops below twenty (20) points, the clock will run according to our normal rules. (All Leagues)

Halftime
Five (5) minute halftime. (All Leagues)

Timeouts
Four (4) thirty (30) second timeouts per game. Teams will recieve one (1) additional timeout for any overtime period. (All Leagues)

Overtime Periods
Two (2) minute for any overtime period. (All Leagues)

Game Ball
Instructional League, Little League (All Leagues) will use the Woman's size ball (28.5) Referee will choose a ball from either team.
Junior & Senior Leagues will use the Men's size ball (29.5) Referee will choose a ball from either team.

Free Throw Line
Instructional League: The free throw line shall be twelve (12) feet from the basket; however, the three (3) second lane violation is counted within the regulation fifteen (15) foot free throw line.
Little League and Junior League will use the NFHS regulation free throw line.

Three point field goal in effect.
Junior & Senior League - Yes
Little League - Yes
Little League Instructional - No

Back Court Defense
Senior & Junior League: NFHS
Instructional League and Little League: Once the defensive team has clearly established possession of the ball and they make no attempt to immdiately advance the ball up court, no pressing defense shall be allowed to allowed in the back court. 

Full Court Press
Junior & Senior League - NFHS
Little League - Last two (2) minutes of the second and fourth quarters and any overtime periods.
Little League Intructional - Last two (2) minutes of the fourth quarter and any overtime periods.

Penalty: Violation of Full Court Press: 1st violation - Team warning, 2nd violation - The technical foul shall be awarded to the bench, not the player committing the violation. 

Sportsmanship/Ejection Policy
1)  Any coach who is ejected shall leave the vicinity of the playing area immediately and is prohibited from further contact, direct or indirect, with the team during the remainder of the game. 

Appeal Process  
A coach, player, parent or fan gets ask to leave a game, there is NO APPEAL. One does not get kicked out of a game for not doing or saying anything.

Postponed Games/Inclement Weather
1) Directors will be responsible for communicating to their coaches if games are canceled or postponed due to weather.
2) Once games have started, Head referee on site and or Director on duty will have sole authority to stop, postpone, or cancel games at their site if they feel conditions warrent.
3) Any games canceled or postponed will be made 

Operations
Davidson County Youth Sports League is operated by a board made up of represenatives/directors from each of the fifteen local Booster Clubs. The Davidson County Parks and Recreation and the Davidson County Commissioners have no say in the day to day operations of the league. They gave up all youth sports in Davidson County to the local Booster Clubs to operate. The league will practice and host games at the area school facilities and abide by the facility usuage rules given to the league by the Davidson County Board of Education. Any complaints or concerns will need to be made to your Booster Club President or the sports director for your booster club. They will then present any complaints or concerns to the League Director if needed. 

November 8, 2023