Basketball Rules

No team may have more than four players on their team roster. Three players shall constitute a team. No team shall start a game with less than two players

Teams must provide their own ball. If neither team provides a playable basketball, the game shall result in double forfeit.

Each game shall last 40 minutes or until a team reaches 21 points; whichever occurs first. If, at the conclusion of 40 minutes of play the game is tied, the next team to score shall win. No specific margin of victory is required.

All baskets shall be worth one point.

Following a defensive rebound, the ball must be cleared to a distance equivalent to the top of the key in any direction from the basket. A shot taken and converted without proper clearance shall not count, and the offensive team shall retain possession.

After a basket is made, the defensive team shall obtain possession. All in-bounds must be checked by the defensive team.

All violations and fouls will result in the opposition of the team committing the infraction obtaining/retaining possession of the ball. The opposing team shall inbound the ball at any position behind the three-point line. Any ball going out of bounds shall also be inbounded from any position behind the three-point line, regardless of where the ball went out of bounds.

Each team is allowed two time-outs. Each time-out shall last no longer than one minute. Time-outs may only be called during a dead ball situation, or after a made basket. The forty-minute period for the length of game shall continue to run during a time-out.

No participant taller than 72 inches shall be able to participate in a Six (6) Foot and Under League. Participants in Six (6) Foot and Under Leagues may play on no more than one Six (6) Foot and Under League team. Participants may play on a Six (6) Foot and Under team and an Open Competition Team.

Each team is allowed a maximum of twelve (12) players on their Team Roster. Additional spots may be added in the IM Sports Office only after paying an Additional Roster Spot fee.

Players must bring both a white and a dark shirt to each game. In addition, players shall not wear anything that may be dangerous to another player. Players may not wear hats and jewelry.

Each team will be given a score of their sportsmanship after each game. Scores are based on a 1-5 scale, 5 being the best sportsmanship, and are solely determined by the officials working the game. An average sportsmanship rating of 3.5 is required to be eligible for playoffs.

A forfeit is awarded if the opposing team fails to show up at the scheduled game time or fails to produce the minimum number of players 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. Should they not get sufficient players within 15 minutes of game time, or if they notified the IM Sports Office at least 24 hours in advance about an inability to field a team for their game, an automatic-loss shall be awarded. Any team that forfeits during the regular season will be ineligible for playoffs, NO EXCEPTIONS. Any team that forfeits their first regular season game will be removed from the league and no refunds will be issued.

Each game will consist of two, twenty (20) minute halves with a three-minute halftime. Running time is used except for the last minute of the game where the clock will stop for all fouls, violations, jump balls, out-of-bounds, and time-outs unless one team is ahead by ten (10) points or more.

If the teams are tied at the end of regulation time, they will play consecutive three minute overtime periods of running clock until an overtime period ends with an untied score and a winner is decided. During the overtime period, teams continue toward the same goal as they did in the second half. Each team is awarded an additional time-out, in addition to any remaining time-outs they had before time expired.

Each team is allowed three time-outs per game. Any player on the court may request a time- out when their team is in control of the ball or during a dead ball situation; however, a time-out will not be granted when the opposing team has possession of the ball.

A player is disqualified from the game when he/she is assessed their FIFTH personal foul. It is a player’s responsibility to verify his/her foul situation with the officials. On the SEVENTH team foul in each half, the opposing team is awarded a one-and-one free throw situation. On the TENTH team foul of each half, teams will be awarded two foul shots on all personal fouls.

Intentional, flagrant personal, and flagrant technical fouls are penalized with an automatic two points awarded to the offended team and possession of the ball. Flagrant fouls fall into two categories:

• Flagrant 1: a foul that puts an opponent’s safety and health at risk due to excessive contact
• Flagrant 2: a foul with both excessive contact and intent to harm the opponent

Flagrant 2 fouls will result in an automatic ejection from the game, with suspensions to be determined upon review.

Technical fouls are penalized with an automatic two points, with the ball returned to the point of interruption.

A technical foul shall be assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct, too many players on the court, delay of game, and too many time outs. A player may be disqualified for receiving one (1) technical foul and will be disqualified for receiving two (2) direct technical fouls. The team captain is responsible for controlling the conduct of all players on his/her team and may be assessed a technical foul for not controlling the conduct of his/her players. Technical fouls include, but are not limited to:

• Disrespectfully addressing or contacting an official or gesturing in such a manner as to indicate resentment
• Using profanity or vulgarity; taunting, baiting, or ridiculing another player; or pointing a finger at or making obscene gestures toward another player
• Purposely obstructing an opponent’s vision by waving or placing hand(s) near his/her eyes
• Faking being fouled
• Intentionally or flagrantly contacting an opponent when the ball is dead
• Intentionally slapping the backboard. The degree of intent is the sole decision of the Game Officials

Fighting of any kind will not be tolerated by IM Sports. Involvement in a fight includes an automatic, minimum, 365-day suspension. Involvement includes but is not limited to: instigation, retaliation, physical or mental intimidation and being an accessory to a fight. Participants who are not currently in the game can not enter the floor to break up a fight. Participants who leave the bench area during a fight will be ejected from that contest and can face a suspension of up to five years.

Substitutions may be made during any dead ball situation. Substitutes MUST notify officials of their intent to enter the game, and the official must recognize the player by motioning them onto the court. Illegal substitution is a technical foul.

The player in control is closely guarded when a defensive player is in a defensive stance no more than six feet away. A player may not hold or dribble the ball for more than five seconds if he/she is being closely guarded. NOTE: If a player changes his/her possession from hold to dribble or vice versa, he/she is entitled to a new 5 second count.

Players along the free throw lane may enter the key once the shooter releases the ball; however, the shooter and all players behind the free throw line extended may not break that plane until the ball hits the rim.

When players on opposing teams commit lane violations during the same free-throw situation, only the team of the first player who commits a lane violation shall be penalized. Previously, such situations were ruled a double violation and the ball was awarded at a designated spot by use of the alternating-possession arrow. A simultaneous lane violation will continue to be ruled a double violation.

The inbounding team will have five seconds to release the ball into play otherwise they will lose possession to the opposing team.

Games are played 5-on-5. Each team must field a minimum of four (4) players at tip-off, consisting of at least two (2) women and one (1) man in order to avoid a forfeit. Of the five (5) players on the court for a given team, at no point may there be more than three (3) of either gender.

If a Co-Rec team has the minimum four (4) players checked in, but is lacking either two (2) women or one (1) man, then that team will be awarded an auto-loss, but not a forfeit.

For Games in Progress: If, due to either fouls, injury, or departure, a team can no longer field at least two women or one man, then that team may continue playing with four (4) players or less on the court, provided they do not field more than three (3) of either gender on the court at any given time.

Each team is allowed a maximum of twelve (12) players on their team roster.

All baskets will be scored according to NCAA guidelines – regardless of the gender of the scorer.

Normal NCAA foul rules apply, regardless of gender.

Women shall participate in the jump ball at the beginning of the game. The NCAA alternate possession rule will govern all jump balls for the rest of the game. The team that lost the toss at the beginning of the game will inbound the ball at the next jump ball situation.

Male players are not allowed in the free throw lane.

Male players may NOT enter the free-throw lane on their OFFENSIVE court. They also may NOT go out of bounds on their baseline to get to the other side. The free-throw lane extends past the baseline out of bounds.

Exception: A male player on his OFFENSIVE court may land in the free-throw lane ONLY if he shoots prior to landing in the free-throw lane. However, once in the free-throw lane, he may NOT take any action, offensive or defensive, until he has vacated the free-throw lane. This means he may NOT go after his own rebound within the free-throw lane if he missed his shot.

Male players may be in the free-throw lane on their DEFENSIVE court in the isolated instances when the OFFENSIVE MALE player has established position such that the defensive player is in legal guarding position while inside the free-throw lane. Legal guarding position in this case is established when a defensive male player is guarding an offensive MALE player and he is within one arm-length.

A MALE player in his DEFENSIVE court, regardless of whether he is inside or outside the free-throw lane, may NEVER guard or take any defensive action against an offensive FEMALE player who is within the free-throw lane, defined as one foot within the key. Defensive action includes audible distractions, hand gestures, blocking motions, and actions that harass the female player.

Male players in his DEFENSIVE court legally guarding a male opponent in the free-throw lane may rebound the ball if it falls to them directly or passes directly over their head. Similar to the way fouls are called, DEFENSIVE players control the space directly vertical from the spot they are standing, enabling the MALE player to rebound within the key. However any deviation from that cylinder will result in a violation and 2 points awarded to the offense.

Exception: In a fast break situation when there are no females in the play, defined as within the 3 point arc, the defensive male player may cross the lane to defend the offensive male player.

All male players may be in the back-court free-throw lane when a team possessing the ball is in their back-court.

In the event of a turnover in the free-throw lane, the male player gaining possession must immediately vacate the lane area and may not advance to the basket or attempt a shot.

Any male player may line up around the free throw lane. DEFENSIVE male players may box out male OFFENSIVE players in the key provided they are within arms length, however OFFENSIVE male players cannot step into the key.

Clarification: Upon rebounding a missed free throw, a DEFENSIVE female rebounder becomes an OFFENSIVE female in her backcourt. Male players are allowed to guard females in the backcourt, thus they are allowed to step into the key and make a play on the ball.

A male player violating Rule 6C in his DEFENSIVE court will result in two (2) points for the team on offense (treated as goal tending). Once the two points are administered, the ball will go to the violating player’s team.

A male player violating Rule 6C in his OFFENSIVE court will result in a turnover (treated as a lane violation) – the ball will be given out of bounds to the defensive team.