Grade 3-5

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2003-2002 RULES FOR HOUSE BASKETBALL

3rd - 4th - 5th GRADE LEAGUE

COACHES MUST HAVE A COPY OF THE 2002-2003 RULES AT EACH GAME

The E.G.A.A. house basketball program is meant to be INSTRUCTIONAL and FUN.  The third and fourth grade programs are basically instructional in nature.  Teams will have many levels of ability and experience.  It is important that each girl has ample opportunity to improve her skills by dribbling, passing, and shooting baskets during each game.  This sometimes is difficult when an exceptionally skilled player is capable of controlling the ball by herself, and consequently, could score most of the team's points.  However, it must be remembered that house basketball is a team sport, and every girl should get involved in the effort.  Play will be governed by the basketball rules of the Minnesota State High School League with the following modifications for Grades 3 & 4. 

 

RULE MODIFICATIONS:

  1. BASKETS will be 8-feet for 3rd and 9-feet for 4th grade house league teams.  A junior size ball will be used in this league.  Baskets will be 10 ft. for 5th grade teams and an intermediate size ball will be used. 
  2. HOME TEAM COACHES AND REFEREES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR APPOINTING AN OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER AND TIME KEEPER.  In case of a discrepancy as to number of fouls, time-outs or score, the home team score sheet will be official.  It is recommended that each team keep its own score and verify points, fouls and time-outs at half time.  The official scorekeeper will keep account of substitutions for both teams.
  3. GAMES WILL BEGIN ten minutes after the completion of the ten-minute skills events.  This ten-minute interval allows the teams’ time to Warm-up with their coaches.  LET'S TRY TO START THE GAMES ON TIME. 
  4. FORFEITS: If a team does not have 5 players to field a team 10 minutes after the game is scheduled to begin, the game will be forfeited. If a game starts 5-10 minutes late, the referee may choose to do any of the following to make up the time: shorten each quarter by one minute, omit or shorten the half-time, and/or omit the 30 seconds stop time at substitutions. 
  5. TIMEKEEPING: Game times will consist of 7-minute quarters for the 3rd, 4th & 5th grade league.  THE CLOCK WILL STOP FOR FREE THROWS AND FOR TIME-OUTS.  The clock will not stop on jump balls, out-of-bounds or non-shooting fouls.  One minute will be allowed between quarters and 2-minutes between halves.  The referee will stop the game for 30 seconds near the 3 ½ minute mark of each quarter to allow for substitutions (play will be stopped a~ the first dead ball closest to the 3 ½ minute mark).  If a game is running more than 10 minutes late at the half, the referee may choose to omit or shorten the half-time, shorten the remaining quarters by 1 minute, and/or omit the 30 seconds stop time at substitutions.
  6. TIME-OUTS: Each team may have 2 time-outs per half. 
  7. FULL COURT PRESS: During the last 2 minutes of the game, if point differential is over 6 points, the team behind may employ - person-to-person full court press.  When point spread reaches 6 points, they must call it off.  The clock will stop the last 2 minutes for all dead ball situations (free throw, fouls, etc.) and time-outs.  In overtime, the clock will stop only for free throws and time-outs.  If an electronic clock is not visible, the timekeeper must notify the referee and coaches prior to the last 2 minutes. 
  8. SCOREKEEPING: The scorekeeper records points scored by each team, the fouls committed by each player and team, amount of playing time per player, and the time-outs taken by each coach per half.  Each coach must submit a list of healthy players present to the scorekeeper during the 10-minute warm-up period prior to the game.  When a player commits 5 personal fouls, she is disqualified from the game.   The official scorekeeper should let the referee know when a girl has 5 fouls.  A bonus free throw situation begins with the team's 7th personal foul IN THE HALF.  Technical fouls should not be credited toward team fouls.
  9. SUBSTITUTION AND EQUAL PLAYING TIME.  Coaches MUST rotate players among the different positions.  Each team member present must play half the game.  No player can play the entire game unless the minimum number of players is present.  No player may play more than half the game unless 9 or fewer players are present.  In this situation, players must be rotated in and out-of-the-game at the 3 ½ minute mark so that each player receives EQUAL PLAYING TIME.  Girls not playing in the 1st quarter must play in the 2nd quarter.  Girls not playing the 3rd quarter must play in the 4th quarter.  The game and clock will be stopped 3 ½ minutes into each quarter for 30 seconds to allow for substitution.  Play will be stopped at the first dead ball closest to the 3 ½ minute mark.  The timekeeper should not interrupt the game for substitutions when the ball is in play.  Substitutions may occur only at these times except in an emergency situation, e.g., a player is injured.  During the substitution periods, girls who remain in the game must stay at center court.  THIS IS NOT A TIME-OUT!  THE GAME WILL BE FORFEITED IF THE SUBSTITUTION RULE IS NOT FOLLOWED.  Please try to keep everyone involved in the game. 
  10. NO ZONE DEFENSE ALLOWED. Only PERSON- TO-PERSON DEFENSE IS PERMITTED.  Zone defense or any modifications of such will not be allowed.  A defensive player is NOT allowed to play an area of the court as opposed to a person, e.g., a player MAY NOT be stationed in the key in order to pick up an offensive player who has moved past her defender.  Switching person-to-person is permissible if the defender calls "switch" and immediately leaves the player she is defending and switches to another offensive player.  A defender may only call switching if the offensive player they are guarding is screening or being screened, or if an offensive player "beats" her defender. 
  11. In the lane only double team of person with the ball will be allowed (weak side defense).  All perimeter (non-lane) play must stay person-to-person with switching only as previously stated.  
  12. "CLEARING THE COURT:" Any offensive play intended to "clear the court" for one-on-one play is not allowed.  This type of play is not in the spirit of the House League.  Team play should always be encouraged.  The referee will interpret this rule. 
  13. FALL BACK RULE: After the defense has gained control of the ball, either by a rebound, missed shot or interception, the team losing possession of the ball must fall behind the Half-Court line.  (Except as specifically described in #7 above). 
  14. DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAMING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.  (Except as specifically described in #9 above).  A warning by the referee will be given for the first offense.  Subsequent violations necessitate a technical foul.  (See below)
  15. TECHNICAL FOULS will be called when in the judgment of the referee (1) two defensive players double team an opponent, e.g., a defensive player calls "switch" but does not actually switch opponents, (2) a teammate of a defensive player calling out "switch" does not change her guarding assignment, (3) a defensive player plays an area of the court as opposed to a person, e. g. , a player is stationed in the key.   The referee shall give the offending team TWO warnings.  If this violation occurs a second or subsequent time, a technical foul will be called.  There will be no free throw shooting for the technical foul.  2 PTS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY GIVEN.  
  16. FOUL OUT PROCEDURE FOR A 5 PERSON TEAM: Under normal playing conditions when a player fouls out, the coach will send in a substitute player.  If a team has only 5 players present and one of these players fouls out of the game, she remains in the game but subsequent fouls committed by this player will count as a technical foul, and the opposing team will be awarded 2 automatic points and possession of the ball. 
  17. TIES AND OVERTIME: If a regulation game ends in a tie, one overtime period will be played to break the tie.  This overtime will last 3 MINUTES.  TOTAL SUBSTITUTION MUST OCCUR AT THE 1 ½ MINUTE MARK (the clock will be stopped for 30 seconds to allow for substitutions).  If the score is tied at the end of the overtime, the game will be called a tie.  No timeouts except for free throws and official's time-out.  In playoffs - after overtime - if still tied - sudden death play will commence.  After 1 ½ minutes of sudden death, teams may substitute. 
  18. PLAY-OFFS: There are no play-offs for 3rd, 4th & 5th grades. 
  19. LANE VIOLATION will be called if an OFFENSIVE PLAYER REMAINS IN THE--KEY4 SECONDS.  This results in loss of possession.
  20. FREE THROWS: 3rd and 4th grade league teams will shoot free throws from the taped lines placed 2 feet inside the regulation (15') free throw line.  The free throw line will be moved up one foot from the regulation line for the 5th grade. 

 

PROGRAM GUIDELINES:  

  1. COACHES MUST HAVE COPIES OF THE 2002-2003 RULES AT EACH GAME.  It is your responsibility to help enforce the rules at the time of an infraction, not after the completion of the season. 
  2. To foster TEAM UNITY, a strong COMMITMENT to attend both practices and games is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED for EACH TEAM MEMBER.  Coaches ARE NOT OBLIGATED to give EQUAL PLAYING TIME to team members who LACK THIS COMMITMENT. 
  3. WATER BOTTLES ONLY.  Team members, coaches, parents, and spectators should bring water bottles to games and practices.  There will be NO SODA ROTATION within the teams.
  4. NO SODA, FOOD OR PETS will be allowed in Edina school gyms or hallways.  MONITORS will enforce this guideline. 
  5. CHILDREN MUST BE NEAR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS during practices and games in Edina schools to ensure children's safety. 
  6. EVERYONE MUST STAY OFF ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT STORED IN GYMS to ensure respect for school property. 
  7. NO JEWELRY shall be worn by team players during practices or games to ensure all players safety. 
  8. ELECTRONIC SCOREBOARDS AND FIRST AID KITS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COACHES AND CUSTODIANS.  Coaches should arrive 15 minutes early to make sure the custodian has SET OUT the electronic scoreboard and first aid kit.  After the last game of the evening, the coaches must RETURN the electronic scoreboard and the first aid kit to the custodian who will store them together in a closet to ensure their safety. 
  9. GYMS MUST BE LEFT IN GOOD ORDER.  Use of our school facilities is a PRIVILEGE we must respect.  Gym monitors will enforce this guideline by a final check for trash and paper left behind. 

 

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Last modified: 01/04/08