DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND

GRADE SCHOOL BASKETBALL RULES 2011/2012

www.dioceseofclevelandcyo.org

BASKETBALL
Charter bylaws cover eligibility, coachs responsibilities and other regulations for CYO Basketball. Additional information will be available at the pre-season coaches meeting. The National Federation Rules will govern all games. The following rules and regulations cover exceptions and special rule interpretations. RULE 1 - ELIGIBILITY Section 1: COACHES - A. All coaches must attend a CYO approved coaches training program every year. No Exceptions! (See Charter & By-laws for Coaches Development). Only coaches with designated coaching credentials will be permitted onto the court. Credentials must be worn for all CYO games or coaches will be asked to locate to the spectator area. B. Coaches must comply with diocesan and parish requirements of Virtus Training and criminal background checks. C. In all CYO leagues, teams may be coached by either a male or female. If a male coaches a girls team, he must have a female assistant. If a female coaches a boys team she must have a male assistant. Male coaches are not permitted in the womens restroom/locker rooms. Females are not permitted in the mens restroom/locker rooms. Section 2: PLAYERS Anyone playing CYO basketball may not play basketball for any other team or in any other league except parish/school intramurals of the school or parish they are registered. No player may play on more than one team including All Star, tournaments, etc. No team may participate in any tournament with players from other teams. Penalty: Suspension of the player and all CYO games he/she played will be forfeited. Section 3:Teams may not participate in any tournaments are not sanctioned by CYO Athletics. Teams are allowed to participate up to 20 games maximum in a season. Tournament games are excluded from the number. Any violation will disqualify that team from the CYO tournament. RULE 2 - UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT Section 1: No players shall be allowed on the playing floor unless they are wearing gym shoes and regulation basketball uniforms. No player is allowed to wear playing shoes to the game. Penalty: Suspension of player for the game. Uniforms shall consist of a same color shirt and same color shorts, with numbers on two (2) side of the shirt according to Federation rules, socks and gym shoes. If two (2) teams have the same color jersey, the home team listed on the schedule will have the option to wear their jerseys. Uniforms that Section 2: Cutoffs, jams, sweatpants, etc. will not be permitted. All other National Federation uniform rules apply. Players may not wear their shorts below the waist. This is cause for ejection. Section 3: Absolutely no jewelry, beads, hair/face paint or glitter, etc. is permitted. Please refer to General Rule 4, Section 5 for additional information. There is no exception for newly pierced body parts. Officials are not permitted to allow players to place tape over pierced areas. Section 4: Basketball Size: See Divisional Rules. CYO will provide all game balls. RULE 3 - GAME Section 1: Teams: Teams will play no more than 20 regular season games. Section 2: All teams must be present 20 minutes before the scheduled time.

are inappropriately labeled are prohibited.

Half-time may be shortened at the discretion of the site director at the option of the two participating teams. Game time can begin 10 minutes before game time. In case of a forfeit, the following games will start 10 minutes earlier than originally scheduled if both teams have five players. Section 3: Coaches may not reschedule games. Any game not approved by the CYO athletic staff will be considered an unofficial game. Section 4: All scheduling requests must be turned in to your Pastoral Designee before the season begins this includes tournaments and by the deadline. No requests will be taken from coaches. Requests will only be approved for school & parish functions. Section 5: Court Protocol: During the warm-up each head coach from each team and the CYO Site Director will meet at the scorers table for introductions. The game will start at center court with the CYO pre-game prayer. In the center of the circle, the home team coach will lead the prayer. Immediately after the game, teams will again gather at center court for the post game prayer. In the center of the circle, the visiting team coach will lead the post game prayer. Teams will shake hands after at the end of the closing prayer. The next two teams may begin warm-up. Section 6: Game Length: See Divisional Rules. Section 7: Parishes will assign scorers & timers. CYO will assign all officials. Harassment by coaches or spectators toward scorers, timers or officials will not be tolerated. Penalty: Suspension of one game. The CYO Athletic Staff has the discretion to impose the additional penalties. Section 8: Team must have five players to begin a game. You may finish with less but you need five to start a game. If you do not have five players to begin the game, the team will have a fifteen minute grace period before the game will be declared a forfeit. RULE 4 - GAME TIME The clock will stop for timeouts, foul shots, the last minute of the first three quarters, the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and all over time periods for all violations. The clock does not stop on alternating possessions or substitutions. In case the score is tied at the end of regulation play, the teams will have a one minute official timeout and then engage in a two minute overtime period starting with a jump ball at center court. Overtime periods continue until a winner is determined. There is no sudden death. RULE 5 - PARTICIPATION: Also See Divisional Rules. A. Each player must be treated with dignity regardless of their ability. B. The first violation of the participation rule will result in a forfeit of the game by the team not in compliance. The second violation will result in the suspension of the head coach for the remainder of the season. A forfeiture will not be called at the gym site. Site directors will report suspected violations to CYO. The Area Athletic Director will declare the appropriate penalty. C. If a coach will not play a player because of missed practice, unsportsmanlike conduct, or injury, the coach must inform the Site Director and the opposing coach before the game begins. This player must be listed on the score sheet.

RULE 6 - SUBSTITUTION Section 1: All Divisions: The substitution rule is permitted under the following circumstances: A. three or more fouls per player in his/her first quarter of playing time B. to start a new quarter C. after a flagrant/unsportsmanlike foul D. due to an injury or illness E. When a player arrives late, he/she must be entered into the game immediately without penalty in compliance with the participation requirement (1st quarter/2nd quarter). If a player arrives anytime after the half and the participation requirement is fulfilled, the player can enter at the coachs discretion. Section 2: FIRST QUARTER OF PLAY OF EACH PLAYER: All Divisions - Any player with three (3) fouls in his/her first quarter of play may be substituted immediately, but may not return to the game for the remainder of their quarter or before the like number substitution is completed. Playing time for substitutes, who enter the game for any player under these circumstances, are not included as part of their playing time but additional playing time for the substitute. RULE 7 - SPECIAL RULES Section 1: The coach or a responsible adult of the team must be in the locker room while his team is dressing and undressing. There is no smoking in either the gym or restrooms/locker rooms. Any player caught in the restroom/locker rooms without an adult will be unable to participate for one (1) game. This includes players in uniform who are spectators at any gym. Any incident is left up to the discretion of the site director and/or the CYO Director of Athletics. All coaches must conduct themselves in an appropriate behavior manner. Proper bench decorum is expected of all coaches. All coaches, assistant coaches, players, scorekeepers and statisticians with credentials are expected to be in appropriate attire. ONLY THE HEAD COACH MAY ADDRESS THE OFFICIAL. THERE IS A MAXIMUM OF THREE COACHES WITH VALID CREDENTIALS PERMITTED ON THE BENCH. Section 2: The Head Coach is responsible for his or her spectators. Section 3: Press Rules - See Divisional Rules. Section 4: All coaches should list on the score sheets the players injured, sick or present but not participating in the game. The coach should also notify their opponents and site director which player's are not participating. Section 5: Running Up the Score: No full court press by any team that has a 15 point lead, at any time during the game. A defensive player may not impede, challenge or apply pressure on the ball until the ball progresses beyond the top of the circle (extended from side line to side line). Inadvertent and non-deliberate attempts to grab a loose ball or rebound in the backcourt should not be considered defensive pressure by the referees. The offense must advance the ball toward the basket and cannot use the area outside the line at the top of the circle as a haven. The referees will warn teams failing to advance the ball. Defenders can pressure the ball once it has passed the line at the top of the circle. Penalty - first/second offense - technical; any offense thereafter in the same game could result in a forfeit. Technical fouls will be awarded and the game will continue with determination to be made later by CYO.

Section 5: Technicals: A. Any player or coach, who receives an unsportsmanlike or flagrant technical during the game, will be automatically ejected from the remainder of the game. Any such technical foul received during the last two minutes of the game, that player/coach will be ejected from the next game. Coaches must leave the facility. Anyone who receives a flagrant technical will also sit out the next game. Players who are ejected and suspended will be allowed to attend their suspended game. They must sit on the bench and must be in street clothes. Any two or more inappropriate behavior or flagrant technical received during the course of the year by the team or player are just cause for removal from the program. Ejection by any two or more members on the same team during the course of the season is just cause for removal of the entire team for the remainder of the season. All technicals are reviewed by the Director of Athletics and may be cause for more severe penalties. Any team who receives three unsportsmanlike technicals will have their tournament privileges revoked. If a coach is an assistant or head coach of a second team and is ejected for the next game he/she is also ejected from the second team they coach. B. Any player or coach, who receives an unsportsmanlike or flagrant technical during the tournament will be ejected from the game and his/her coaching and player participation privileges will be revoked for the remainder of the tournament. The player or coach ejected from the tournament will not be allowed to attend any other games for the remainder of tournament. Section 6: Slamming the Ball: Any player who slams the ball will be given 1 warning. If it occurs a second time the player will be automatically be ejected from the game. If a player who slams the ball and it makes contact with the official or another player, the offender will be automatically ejected on the first offense. Section 7: Bench Rule: The coaching box shall be outlined outside the side of the court on which the scorer and timers table and team benches are located. The area shall be bounded by a line 28 feet from the end line, the sideline, a line no more than 14 feet from the 28 - foot line toward the end line, and the team bench. These lines shall be located off the court, be two inches wide. The head coach only may be off the bench in front of his or her seat within the confines of the designated coaching box to give instruction to his/her players and/or substitutes. When the coaching box is being utilized, the first technical foul charged directly or indirectly to the head coach results in the loss of coaching box privileges and the coach shall comply with the provisions for the remainder of the game. No assistant coaches may stand.

RULE 8 - PROTEST AND GRIEVANCE PROCESS 1. Within three (3) days of the incident or before the next scheduled game in the athletic schedule, the initiator of the grievance or protest must submit the issue in writing to the Area Athletic Director along with a $50.00 filing fee. The document must be signed by the Pastoral Designee and Member Administrator. 2. The Area Athletic Director will notify all parties that are deemed to have an interest in the grievance or protest. 3. The Area Athletic Director will determine pertinent facts through the use of phone interviews, in-person conferences, written reports or other means. 4. The Area Athletic Director will issue a written decision resolving the issue. 5. If the Area Athletic Director is involved in the grievance or protest, the item will be reviewed by the Athletic Administrator. RULE 9 - TOURNAMENTS Section 1: Tournaments will be sponsored in the following divisions intermediate, Youth and Cadet only. Section 2: Tournament pairings will be decided by final team standings. Section 3: Tournament brackets will be available online. Section 4: To be eligible for the tournament games, a player must participate in at least 50% of all regular season games, unless restricted by physical injury, status of any player is verified by previous score sheets. The coach must provide a medical release to CYO before the first tournament game. The coach must provide a doctors release to re-instate any injured player for the tournament to each game and provide a copy to the site director. Section 5: The upper bracket will be designated as the home team for jersey purposes. Section 6: All rules will be in effect for all games including the tournament games. RULE 10 - AWARDS Section 1: All awards will be distributed at the championship game of that division. Section 2: James E. Sovacool championship trophy to the championship team. Section 3: Runner-up trophy or plaque of the championship game. Section 4: Team trophy to the regular season champion. Section 5: CYO Championship Certificates to all players on the championship team, upon request. Section 6: CYO Participation Certificates to all participants in the program, upon request.

Intermediate and Youth

EQUIPMENT - Basketball Size: All Division - Womens size basketball (28.5 to 29 inches maximum in circumference). GAME LENGTH - Youth Four six (6) minute quarters, with a five (5) minute rest at half-time. Intermediate Four seven (7) minute quarters, with a five (5) minute rest at half-time. Intermediate SCORING - The 3 Point shot is permitted. PARTICIPATION - By the end of the game, all players on the team must have played. A. Like number players must play one complete quarter (six (6) or seven (7)minutes). All players must start at the beginning of a quarter to monitor playing time. B. The team who has extra players beyond the like number of both teams must play his/her additional players a minimum of three (3) consecutive minutes. Players must start at the beginning of a quarter to monitor playing time. first six or seven consecutive minutes for all Intermediate/Youth beginning with the second quarter will be designated to put in an equal number of substitutes into the game to comply with the participation rule. The rule was intended to require each team to substitute at the same time so new players would have an opportunity to enter the game. A. Example: If Team A has 12 players and Team B has 16 players, the number of substitutes that must play for each team is seven(7) players. The rule requires that the following substitutes be made: Team A and Team B must substitute five (5) new players for the six minutes of the second quarter. Team A and Team B must also substitute two new players for the first six (6) minutes of the third quarter. Continuing with the example above, Team B must play his/her additional players a minimum of three (3)consecutive minutes beginning at the start of a quarter. B. The purpose of this type of substitution at a specific time is to ensure team A's second team will be playing Team B's second team. The subs are playing at a level in which neither team is put at an advantage. Therefore, CYO will enforce the participation rule as delineated below: If the team with the smallest roster has ten or less players the substitution for each team must be completed in the first six (6) minutes of the second quarter. Please note the extra player's, beyond the like number of both teams, must play a minimum of three (3) consecutive minutes. B. Legal substitution at any other time during the game is up to the discretion of the coach. PRESS RULE - Full court pressure is allowed. Exception - see Running Up the Score Rule 7, Section 4. TOURNAMENT AND TOURNAMENT GAMES - All Intermediate and Youth will participate in a single elimination tournament within their divisional levels.

Cadet & Developmental

ELIGIBILITY All teams who submit more than one team per grade level in grades 5-6 must balance the skill level of their teams among the players in that grade level. Teams may only have 50% returning players from the previous years roster (see your Pastoral Designee). The Pastoral Designee / Commissioner is responsible for assuring each team is in compliance with the Team Balance and Parity Rule (Section 6 Team & League formation). EQUIPMENT Basketball Size: Womens size basketball (28.5 to 29 inches maximum in circumference). GAME LENGTH Four six (6) minute quarters with a maximum five (5) minute rest at the half. SCORING The 3-point shot is permitted in all Cadet (6th grade and 5/6 grades). The 3-point shot is not permitted for Developmental (5th grade only). FREE THROW LINE All Cadets (6th grade and 5/6 grades), the free throw line shall be 15 feet from the basket. All Developmental (5th grade), the free throw line shall be 12 feet from the basket. PARTICIPATION All players must play nine minutes. All players must play one full quarter in the first half and three consecutive minutes in the third quarter. The clock will stop as close to the 3-minute mark as possible of the third quarter for substitution. The clock does not stop for all other substitutions. A team with more than ten players will play every player eight (8) minutes. The Pastoral Designee/Commissioner will provide a special chart for teams exceeding ten players. PRESS RULES: A. On an inbound pass in the back court, defensive rebound in the back court, or change of possession in the back court there shall be no full court press. This includes loose balls and bad passes. A defensive player may not impede, challenge or apply pressure until the ball crosses the three-quarter court line (top of the circle extended from side line to side line) of the offensive team. After the ball passes the three-quarter court line (top of the circle extended from side line to side line) of offensive team, defense may be applied. Penalty - First violation, warning. Subsequent violations, technical foul. B. The last two (2) minutes of the fourth quarter and all overtimes a team may apply a full court press. Teams may use player to player or zone defense during the last two minutes of the game and over times.

PLAYER TO PLAYER DEFENSE All Cadet & Developmental (6th, 5th and 5/6 grades) Each team must play player to player defense. (See B in the press rules) Absolutely no trapping, no double and triple teaming (out of the paint). If an offensive player beats his/her defender, a teammate may move into position to help. Once the defender recovers then the help player must drop back to his/her person. Absolutely no zone defenses. (See B in the press rules) Double teaming is allowed within the paint. Switching, helping out or picking up a loose player on a breakaway, when there is a clear threat to score is good player to player defense and is allowed. Players do not have to be within 5 feet of their man but within a reasonable distance. Offense should be designed to develop passing, give and go, pick and roll and movement from away from the ball. The offense should afford to each player an experience in as many positions on the court as possible. Isolation plays are illegal. These are plays designed when a offensive player challenges a defensive player and no other offensive players are involved in the play. TOURNAMENT AND TOURNAMENT GAMES - Cadet only All teams will participate in an inter-league tournament. The Gold, silver, bronze, format will be used. Teams in a mixed grade leagues may participate in a single-elimination tournament within their league.

Elemental & Minor

ELIGIBILITY - All teams who submit more than one (1) team per grade level in grade four (4) must balance the skill level of their teams among the players in that grade level. Teams may only have 50% returning players from the previous years roster (see your Pastoral Designee for clarification.) The Pastoral Designee/Commissioner is responsible in assuring each team is in compliance with the Team Balance and Parity Rule (Section 6 Team & League formation). This does not apply to Minor Division teams. EQUIPMENT - Basketball size - Junior basketball (27.5 inches maximum). GAME LENGTH - Four (4) six (6) minute quarters, with a five (5) minute rest at half. SCORING - The three 3-point shot is not permitted. There will be no score kept in the Minor (3rd Grade). Scores will not be put on the scoreboard/or on score sheet. Score will be kept in Elemental (4th grade & Mixed Grades). FREE THROW LINE - The foul line shall be 12 feet from the basket. PARTICIPATION(All divisions, all grades) All players must play two quarters, one quarter in the first half and one quarter in the second half. This means no substitutions in the first & third quarter. Players must play the full quarter. Exceptions: See Basketball Rule 6 - Substitution. If a team has less than ten players you can sub in the second and fourth quarters only for those players you have played in the first and third quarters. If a team has more than ten players, each player must play 50% of the game. The Pastoral Designee/Commissioner will provide a special chart for teams exceeding ten players). PRESS RULES A. Elemental (4th Grade & Mixed Grades) 1. On an inbound pass in the back court, defensive rebound in the back court, or change of possession in the back court there shall be no full court press. This includes loose balls and bad passes. A defensive player may not impede, challenge or apply pressure until the ball crosses the three-quarter court line (top of the circle extended from side line to side line) of the offensive team. After the ball passes the three-quarter court line (top of the circle extended from side line to side line) of offensive team, defense may be applied. Penalty - First violation, warning. Subsequent violations, technical foul. 2. The last two minutes of the fourth quarter and all overtimes a team may apply a full court press. Teams may use player to player or zone

B Minor (3rd Grade) 1.On an inbound pass in the back court, defensive rebound in the back court, or change of possession in the back court there shall be no full court press. This includes loose balls and bad passes. A defensive player may not impede, challenge or apply pressure until the ball crosses the one (1) quarter court line (top of the circle extended from side line to side line) of the defensive team. After the ball passes the one-quarter court line (top of the circle extended from side line to side line) of defensive team, defense may be applied. Penalty - First violation, warning. Subsequent violations, technical foul. 2. No press is permitted at any time.

PLAYER TO PLAYER DEFENSE All Elemental & Minor Teams (4th, 3rd and 3/4 grades) Each team must play player to player defense. Absolutely no trapping, no double and triple teaming (out of the paint). If an offensive player beats his/her defender, a teammate may move into position to help. Once the defender recovers then the help player must drop back to his/her person. Absolutely no zone defenses. Double teaming is allowed within the paint. Switching, helping out or picking up a loose player on a breakaway, when there is a clear threat to score is good player to player defense and is allowed. Players do not have to be within 5 feet of their man but within a reasonable distance. Offense should be designed to develop passing, give and go, pick and roll and movement from away from the ball. The offense should afford to each player an experience in as many positions on the court as possible.

Isolation plays are illegal. These are plays designed when a

offensive player challenges a defensive player and no other offensive players are involved in the play. The offensive team cannot use the front court as haven to delay the offense. The player must advance the ball past the top of the key line extended within 5 seconds. If the player does not; the referee will instruct the defense to come-out and play.

Fun Day ALL Minor (3rd Grade): All teams will participate in a fun day with the parochial high school basketball players.

NOTES

Zero Tolerance Spectators As spectators, your attendance at any athletic event does not entitle you to: berate officials, question the coach, make negative comments toward either team or display any inappropriate behavior. PLEASE lead by example.

Zero Tolerance Coaches & Players Your participation as a coach or player in any athletic event does not entitle you to: berate officials, question the coach, make negative comments toward either team or display any inappropriate behavior.

CYO ATHLETIC PRAYERS

Pre-Game Prayer Lord God, thank You for bringing us together in Your name. We know You are with us now as You promised. Please help the players, coaches, and officials to play and be fair. Keep us all safe from injury. Thank You for giving us the chance to teach our Faith to other by our actions. Amen

Post Game Prayer Lord, we thank You for the opportunity and challenge of this game. You call us to compete well, finish the race, and grow in our Faith! Help us to remember we can do all things through You, who gives us strength. Amen