Metro Basketball Association Rules of Play
***These rules are not for the official to apply or sanction on, but are here so you have a basic knowledge of the rule variations which are used in MBA games.
All MBA games are to be played under the current “FIBA Official Basketball Rules”, except for the variations approved by the MBA and recorded in this document.
The ball sizes to be used for
each division are as follows:
Jr. Mini and Mini
Girls and Boys - Size 5
Bantam, Midget and Juvenile Girls - Size 6
Bantam
Boys - Size 6 (phased in
during 2008-2009 season)
Midget and Juvenile Boys - Size 7
4.1 Teams are to show respect for their opponents at all times. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary actions.
4.2 In Jr. Mini and Mini when a team is ahead by 30 points or more the display scores shall be set to 0 for the remainder of the game.
4.3 In Mini Division if a team is ahead by 20+ points, the leading team shall no longer be permitted to employ a pressure defense either full or half court.
4.4 In Bantam if a team is ahead by 20+ points in the 2nd half, the leading team shall no longer be permitted to employ full or half court pressure defense of any kind.
4.5 No mercy rule is in effect for Midget and Juvenile however teams are cautioned to respect their opponents and show sportsmanship when leading by a substantial margin.
5.1 Mini and Jr. Minis will play eight 4 minute stop time shifts, with equal play required.
5.2 Over-time in Mini will consist of one only 4 minute shift, and any player, who has not fouled out, is permitted to play regardless of the number of shifts played to this point. An additional time out will be granted in OT period. No OT in Jr. Mini, games are counted as a tie.
5.3
Bantams will play 4 quarters of 8 minutes
each with a 1 minute
break between quarters.
Midgets and Juveniles will play 4 quarters of 10 minutes
each with a 1 minute break between quarters.
5.4 One (1) only five (5) minute over-time period will be played if required in bantam, midget and juvenile with fouls carried over. An additional time out will be granted in OT period.
5.5 Half-time will be 5 minutes when and where possible. Half-time may be shortened if games are behind schedule.
The shot clock in MBA games will be of 30 seconds duration regulated by the game officials.
A team will be permitted to have possession of the ball in their back court for 10 seconds prior to crossing midcourt.
Each team shall be permitted a total of 5 time outs, 2 in the first half and 3 in the second half.
9.1 Players shall only be called up when a coach knows or suspects that they may be in a forfeiture position for an upcoming game. In the case where players are called up, they can only play, if in fact the team initiating the call up is going to default.
9.2 A player may be called up from any team within the same club and in a lower division or level of play. Lateral call ups are not permitted with exception of the lower levels (4, 5 and 6) of the Junior Mini and Mini divisions and only if the opposing coach is informed before the game begins and agrees to such a lateral move.
9.3 Note that any one player can only be called up twice (2) to a specific team which upon the third call up, he/she will have to stay on that particular team.
9.4 In the Bantam, Midget and Juvenile divisions only enough players can be called up to make a legal team which is 5. (If you have 4 rostered players, you can only call up one.)
9.5 In both Junior Mini and Mini the coach can call up enough players to bring the team total for that game to a maximum of 10. Eight players will suffice to make the game official.
9.6 The procedure to add as call-up at game time is as follows:
· Advise the scorekeeper that you have a player from a lower level within your club as a "Call-up";
· Present name(s) and number(s);
· Advise other coach.
The scorer will record as call-up and when entering game statistics record as an addition(s).
9.7 If a call-up player is found to be not registered players with your club or even worse not registered players in the league, the coach will be SUSPENDED FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON.
9.8 If a player is found to be a "Call-down" (Player from a higher division), the game will be forfeited and coach will receive a warning and/or face disciplinary action.
10.1 Man
to man defense must be played at all times. There shall be no full or
half court zone / trapping presses.
10.2 While we will not mandate / for player development we strongly suggest
all players receive minimum 25% playing time per game.
11.
Mini & Jr Mini Variations
11.1 Equal Play - In all levels of Mini and Jr. Mini no one player shall play more than a one shift difference than any other team mate. If 8 or more players have not been used in accordance with “Equal Playing Time” by games end, the scorer shall record clearly on the score sheet that the game is a default against the violating team. The coach of the violating team will be issued an automatic one game suspension to be served in the next scheduled game. On a subsequent violation the coach will be ejected from the league for the remainder of the season.
11.2 Substitutions during a shift - If a player fouls out, becomes injured or is unable to play their shift, they must be replaced by a player who has not played for more than 20 minutes (5 shifts X 4 minutes). The player replacing this player will be charged with the full shift and the injured or unable to play player will also be charged for the full shift. The coach may if he or she so chooses to not substitute a player and play with only 4 for the remainder of the shift.
11.3 Minimum number of players - A team shall consist of not less than eight (8) players five of whom must be present to start a game. In the event of a default due to a shortage of players within the MBA's standards (8 players by half time), the game shall still be officiated and scored. (This is in an agreement with MABO made at the start of the 2003-4 season.) A team must have used a minimum of eight (8) players to complete an official game. If a player becomes injured or fouls out and you only have 8 players, you must play the remainder of the game with one less player.
11.4 Basket Height – The height of the basket shall be 8.5 feet.
11.5 Free Throw Line - The free throw line will be shortened by 3 feet to a 12 foot length.
11.6 No Full Court Defense - After a made basket, or dead ball in the front court, the team now going on defense must retreat back to the 3 point line area in their own back court until the opposing team crosses half court. In the case where there is no 3 point line, the top of the key area should be used.
10.6.1 Full Court Defense Exception - In Mini divisions 1 and 1A a man to man only, full court press will be permitted.
11.7 Man to Man Defense - Defense must be man to man. A player with or wothout out the ball cannot be double, tripled, etc. teamed.
11.8 Last 30 Seconds Timing – In order to allow the defense to attempt to gain possession of the ball without the clock expiring, the clock shall not start until the ball crosses half court when:
· The offensive team has a 3 point lead or less;
· There is 30 seconds or less remaining in the game;
This rule does not apply to Mini Division 1 and 1A where full court pressure is permitted.
11.9.1 Foul Shots – In Mini and Junior Mini, because we have 8 shifts, 2 shifts will count as 1 quarter. (Shifts 1 and 2 – 1st quarter; shifts 3 and 4 – 2nd quarter; etc.) A team accumulating a total of 5 team fouls in a quarter, would allow the opposing team to reach a bonus situation where they would shoot 2 free throws for every foul thereafter in the quarter. The foul count is reset to 0 at the start of each subsequent quarter.
11.9.2 Please be advised when cross-over games within the first 3 weeks of play, between a Division 1 team and a lower division team (div. 2). The lower level division rules will apply. In cases where lower level coaches prefer to play Division 1 rules (to see if they can match-up etc.) so be it, as long as both coaches agree before the start of the game and advise the referee and score keeper of such.
11.11
Junior Mini 4 on 4 (9 on or before Oct 1/08)
Game Time- 10 x 3 minute 20 second shifts, with 5 minute half time after 5th shift.
No overtime.
Team- 4 on 4, no minimum or maximum for amount of players on team. No shift charts, managed by coaches.
Running Score- back to zero-zero at the end of each Shift. Running score may be kept by League’s to determine parity of divisions.
Basketball- size 5/27.5