5th-12th Grade Basketball Rules

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5th, 6th, 7th & 8th Grade

Games are played according the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Book (NFHS). Below are modifications and clarifications adopted by Kidsports for teams in the 5 th, 6 th, 7 th & 8 th grade.

  • Baskets: 10′
  • Balls:
    Girls: Intermediate (28.5)
    Boys: Intermediate in 5th, 6th grade
    Regular ball in 7th & 8th grade
  • Free Throw Line:
    12′ in 5th, 15′ in 6th, 7th, 8th

TIMING REGULATIONS AND SUBSTITUTION RULES

  • 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th grade games will consist of two 16-minute stop clock halves. If one team is ahead by 15 or more points in the final 4 minutes of the 2nd half there will be a running clock.
  • Overtime periods are two minutes.
  • Each team gets 3 Full time-outs (60 seconds) per game.
  • Half times are 5 minutes in length.
  • All eligible players must play at least 12 minutes per game with an entry in both the 1 st and 2 nd half.
  • A major goal of Kidsports is to maximize the participation of every player, not just the most skilled. Substitution Rules are an attempt to promote participation and still allow coaches some latitude in substitution.
  • EXCEPTIONS TO ALL SUBSTITUTION RULES: When a player must leave the game due to illness or injury every effort should be made for the player to receive their 12 minutes of playing time if they are able to return to the game.
  • Penalty for illegal substitution: Correction of the substitution violation will be the first remedy for any violation. Repeat or flagrant violations will result in the following: 1) No free throws will be shot, but an automatic 4 points and possession of the ball will be awarded to the non-offending team and 2) a technical foul will be recorded in the score book against the offending coach. The substitution violation(s) should also be corrected at that time. No points will be awarded after a game has officially ended.
  • Regular playing time requirements do not apply to overtime. The coach is allowed free substitution of any player who has not been disqualified from the game.

GENERAL RULES: 5 th, 6 th, 7 th & 8 th GRADES

  • 3-point shots will be counted whenever the court is appropriately marked.
  • Head Coach can stand to communicate with players.
    If a coach receives a technical foul, they must remain seated for the rest of the game.
  • All officials’ decisions are final and protests are not recognized.
  • Undershirts must be white or a color similar to the uniform shirt.
  • Players must wear full uniforms as issued.
  • Absolutely no jewelry or hard hair accessories allowed.

STARTING THE GAME AND SUBSEQUENT POSSESSIONS

  • Jump ball for the first possession. Subsequent periods: team will receive the ball based on the possession arrow. Ball will be in-bounded in the backcourt to begin periods.
  • Overtimes: start with a jump ball.

BACK-COURT

  • 7th-8th grade: Full-court pressing is allowed. Back court guarding is not allowed when the defensive team is ahead by 15 points or more.
  • 5th-6th grade: Full-court pressing is NOT allowed.

ZONE DEFENSE

  • 7th & 8th grade: Half-court zone defenses and full-court zone presses are allowed.
  • 5th-6th grade: Half-court zone defenses and full-court zone presses are NOT ALLOWED. Double teaming is not allowed throughout the competition, unless it occurs through the concepts and principles of help side man to man defense. (Example: offensive Player ‘A’ beats their individual defender and drives to the basket. Defensive help rotates to stop the ball; Player A’s defender follows and a non tactical double team occurs. Coaches should try to teach rotation out of help defense to avoid double teams, however, at this level the concept takes time to teach) Systematic double teaming in the half or full court would be considered a zone defense and not allowed.

9th-12th Grades

Games are played according to the Official Basketball Rulebook of the National Federation of High School Rules. Below are modifications and clarifications adopted by Kidsports.

Anyone who plays on an OSAA High School Basketball team is ineligible to play in the Kidsports basketball program.

TIMING REGULATIONS AND SUBSTITUTION RULES

  • The game will consist of two 22-minute halves, with a running clock. The clock will stop only for time-outs. If the difference in the score between the 2 teams is 8 or less when there are 2 minutes left in the game, then stop clock will be used for the remainder of the game. All overtime periods are 2 minutes long and will use stop clock.
  • Each team gets 2 time-outs per half (no carry over) plus one for each over-time.
  • All eligible players must play at least 14 minutes with an entry in each half.
  • A major goal of Kidsports is to maximize the participation of every player, not just the most skilled. Substitution Rules are an attempt to promote participation and still allow coaches some latitude in substitution.
  • EXCEPTIONS TO ALL SUBSTITUTION RULES: When a player must leave the game due to illness or injury every effort should be made for that player to play their minimum 12 minutes if they are able to return to the game.
  • Penalty for illegal substitution: Correction of the substitution violation will be the first remedy for any violation. Repeat or flagrant violations will result in the following: 1) No free throws will be shot, but an automatic 4 points and possession of the ball will be awarded to the non-offending team and 2) a technical foul will be recorded in the score book against the offending coach. The substitution violation(s) should also be corrected at that time. No points will be awarded after a game has officially ended.
  • Regular playing time requirements do not apply to overtime. The coach is allowed free substitution of any player who has not been disqualified from the game.

GENERAL RULES: 9th — 12th GRADES

  • 3-point shots are counted.
  • Head Coach can stand to communicate with players.
    If a coach receives a technical foul, they must remain seated for the rest of the game.
  • All officials’ decisions are final and protests are not recognized.
  • Undershirts must be white or a color similar to the uniform shirt.
  • Players must wear full uniforms as issued.
  • Absolutely no jewelry or hard hair accessories allowed.

STARTING THE GAME AND SUBSEQUENT POSSESSIONS

  • Jump ball for the first possession. Subsequent periods: team will receive the ball based on the possession arrow. Ball will be in-bounded in the backcourt to begin periods. Overtimes: start with a jump ball.

BACK-COURT

  • Full-court man-to-man or zone pressing is allowed. Backcourt pressing is not allowed when the defensive team is ahead by 20 points or more.

DUNKING

  • Intentional hanging on the rim will result in an unsportsmanlike technical foul.

SPORTSMANSHIP/FORFEIT OF GAME

  • · Technical Fouls: A player who receives a unsportsmanlike technical foul will sit out for the remainder of that half of the game.
  • If any team receives three (3) unsportsmanlike technical fouls (player or coach) in the same game, THE GAME IS IMMEDIATELY OVER! If the unsportsmanlike conduct continues after the game is forfeited, THE PLAYER OR TEAM INVOLVED MAY BE EJECTED FROM OUR LEAGUE. If one team has two games terminated during one season based on this rule, THE TEAM WILL BE EJECTED FROM OUR LEAGUE. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND OF FEES FOR ANY TEAM OR PLAYER EJECTED. It is the duty of every participant in our high school program to insure a safe playing environment.