Vestavia Youth Boys Basketball Rules

General

1. Except where otherwise specifically set forth in these rules, the AHSAA Manual will be used.
2. Rules specific for Vestavia Hills Basketball League are as described below.
3. Anyone participating in organized school basketball sports cannot register or participate in our recreational basketball leagues.  This refers to organized sports in season.
4. In the event of any schedule changes, Parks & Recreation shall inform the league director as soon as possible.
5. The Basketball Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, as well as a 6^th – 12^th Grade Divisional Representative and a 1^st – 5^th Grade Divisional Representative.
6. Generally, the League President and VP will serve a 2 year terms.
7. The Basketball Board will appoint each League Director on an annual basis.
8. Basketball Referees/Officials:  The Basketball Board will determine which association shall be used prior to the season.  

Players/Participation

1. Players will participate in leagues according to the grade they are enrolled in at school.  Younger children may play up (play in older grades) only with prior permission from the Basketball Board and League Director. 
2. Parents can request siblings to be placed on the same team, but the decision is up to the Basketball Board.
3. Insurance:  The Department of Parks and Recreation DOES NOT PROVIDE INSURANCE in case of injuries for the players or coaches.  Coaches, players and other interested/related parties participating in the Recreation Department Leagues should have health/accident insurance coverage.   It is the responsibility of the parties to obtain and cover the costs for insurance.
4. Pool Players:  A pool player list is to be distributed to all coaches by the league director.   These players are to be selected from the same round as the players missing the game or below (i.e. if a team only has 5 players and is missing their 2^nd round pick they can bring in a 2^nd round pick or later as a pool player).  A team may add a player if their roster for that game drops below 6 players.   The pool player added may not play more than ½ of the game unless circumstances occur with foul trouble, injury or illness.  The League Director with approval from his/her Divisional Representative has the authority to be able to add or eliminate a player from pool play based on ability.

Coaches

1. The League Director will select coaches for his/her league/grade in conjunction with their respective Divisional Board Representatives.  Coach selection should occur prior to the end of the registration period and prior to player evaluations.
2. Coaches may select their own assistant coaches, but all assistant coach selections are subject to review/approval from the League Director and Divisional Representatives. 
3. All coaches are required to complete background checks and concussion training every two years.
4. Coaches are expected to conduct themselves as examples for our children.  
5. Coaches are responsible for controlling the behavior of his/her team as well as parents of the players. Failure to do so may result not only with a technical foul, but also suspension of the parents, players, and/or coaches.
6. Coaches are to remain within the designated coach’s box during the course of the game. Officials may issue a technical if he/she doesn’t comply.
7. Any complaints about officials should be taken up with the league director and the Basketball Board.
8. 9th Grade and 10th-12th Grade leagues must have an adult/parent sitting on the bench at all times.
9. No jewelry (including rings, wristbands, bracelets, necklaces, etc.) is to be worn during game time.
10. Insurance:  The Department of Parks and Recreation DOES NOT PROVIDE INSURANCE in case of injuries for the players or coaches.  Coaches, players and other interested/related parties participating in the Recreation Department Leagues should have health/accident insurance coverage.   It is the responsibility of the parties to obtain and cover the costs for insurance.

Player Evaluations

1. Player Evaluations will be held at the beginning of the season according to the rules set forth below.
2. The League President will distribute a list of participants to each League Director immediately upon closing the registration period.
3. The Divisional Representatives will establish/schedule a time and location (coordinated with Parks and Recreation Director) to conduct player evaluations as soon as possible following the end of the registration period.
4. The Basketball Board will determine the means/methods of evaluating players (e.g. determine which drills will be performed at the Player Evaluations).  The evaluations should include ball handling, shooting, passing, and a measure of quickness at a minimum.  Player information such as date of birth, height and a rating for “aggressiveness” may also be included in the evaluation information provided to the coaches.  The League Director should provide identification for each player being evaluated (name tag, number tag..etc.) to facilitate evaluation by the coaches.
5. Each grade typically has an hour and a half (90 minutes) to conduct evaluations.
6. Evaluations should be limited and planned in advance such that they can be completed within the time allowed.  Generally, the players are divided/scheduled in two (2) groups according to last name.  Last name beginning with A-M arrives first, and last names beginning with N-Z arrive approximately 45 minutes later in order to avoid large crowds showing up at the same time.  The League Director for each grade should plan accordingly and communicate it to the players/parents via email prior to evaluations.
7. Volunteers (player parents, friends, etc.) will be needed. Generally, at least one volunteer will be needed for registration/check-in, one for measuring height (if height is being measured), and one for each activity.  It is difficult for coaches to assist with the evaluations as they are also trying to evaluate/score the players.
8. All coaches must attend Player Evaluations to help rate the players.
9. The League Director will distribute a Player Evaluation Form developed by the Basketball Board to the coaches prior to evaluations.
10. The coaches shall rank each skill from 1-10 (10 being the highest).  At the end of evaluations, the League Director shall collect all of the Player Evaluation Forms and shall add the totals and rank each player for draft purposes. 
11. The League Director may, at his or her sole discretion, choose to weight the scores or otherwise revise a player’s score if a coach’s score/evaluation of a player(s) is deemed to be inaccurate.
12. The League Director will return the original form to each coach, and will distribute a Player Evaluation Summary showing the scoring/ranking for each player.
13. Make-up evaluations will not be held/provided for players who miss evaluations.  The League Director should attempt to find out as much information as possible for players who miss evaluations (prior experience, height, general skill level..etc.), and distribute the information to the coaches prior to team selection.

Player/Team Selection

1. Player selection (draft) will be held to determine teams as soon as possible after the tryouts.
2. The goal of the League is to distribute player talent as equally as is practical.
3. The draft will be an open draft, meaning that players may be selected without regard to the team, league or division in which they played during the previous year.
4. Player Rankings will also include the rounds in which players are to be placed.  Coaches’ sons must be picked in the round in which they are ranked.
5. Coaches will draw numbers prior to beginning the selection process.  This will determine the order of the selections.  Selection order will proceed in a serpentine manner (e.g., the coach who draws a "1” will get the first pick in the first round, but will get the last pick in the 2nd round, then the first pick again in the 3rd round...etc.).  If a Coach’s son ranks in the first or second round their draft position will be determined based on where the Coach’s son is placed.  For example, a Coach whose son is ranked #1 gets the first overall pick.  If a Coach’s son is ranked as the first player in the second round that Coach will pick last in the first round. 
6. The order will proceed in a serpentine manner in which the last pick of the first round goes 1st in the second round and so forth.
7. When there are an insufficient number of players to complete the last round, the coaches who selected early in the first round will select the players in the last round.  For example, if the league has 12 teams but only 6 players to draft in the final round the coaches with the first 6 picks will select players in the last round starting with team 6 and going backwards until the coach with the first pick selects the final player.  
8. At the conclusion of the draft, each coach will draw a number to determine the order in which he chooses a team name and/or color of jerseys.
9. The League Director will distribute a roster with player names and contact information to each coach following player/team selection.
10. Coaches should contact players/parents as soon as possible following the draft.
11. The League Director will distribute practice request forms to all coaches.  The League Director will collect the forms and will return them to the League Commissioner.
12. Only head coaches, League Directors and Board Members shall be present at the draft. If the head coach or pre-determined assistant coach cannot attend, his or her spouse may stand in.
13. Assistant coaches can only be pre-determined if the consensus of the League Director and other coaches in the age group is that only one of their sons would be a 1^st or 2^nd round draft pick.  If both the head coach and the assistant coach have a son ranked in the 1^st or 2^nd round the head coach’s son will be pre-determined based on the 1^st or 2^nd round ranking, but the potential assistant coach’s son will be available for any team to draft. 
14. Any other disputes or questions relating to the draft shall be resolved by the League Directors with the advice of the coaches and the approval of the League President or Basketball Board.

Game Specifications

Game time and timeouts

1. Game Length:  Each game will consist of two (2) 16-minute halves. When shooting fouls are called in the first 14 minutes of each half the clock will stop, otherwise it is a running clock until the last two minutes of each half.  The clock will also stop for injuries and any time the referee needs to stop the clock for rules clarification with a coach or player.  The clock will stop on all free throws and all dead ball situations during the last 2 minutes of each half just like it would in any ASHAA high school game. 
   1. ***In Grades 2-3: In the last minute of the game, the clock will not start until the ball crosses into the front court.  This prevents the team winning from running out the clock by keeping the ball in the backcourt.
2. In the 1^st grade league there will be four 8:00 quarters with a running clock that will only stop for time outs, brief substitutions every 4 minutes, injuries, or other referee stoppage.  There will be one minute between each quarter and a five minute half time.  No score will be kept as two 3 on 3 games will be going on simultaneously on the side courts.
3. Timeouts:  Each team will have 4 timeouts per game (a maximum of 3 per half) and one additional timeout in each overtime period.  Any timeouts not used in regulation play will not be added to the additional one timeout in overtime periods.
4. Overtime – Regular Season:  One (1) overtime period will be played for 2 minutes.  The clock will stop just like the last two minutes of each half.  If the score is tied at end of the overtime period, then "Sudden Death” will be played with no clock.  The first team to score wins the game.  Foul shots will be determined by team fouls.
5. Overtime – Playoffs:  Each overtime period will be played for 2 minutes until a winner is decided.
6. Time between overtimes will be 1 minute.  Time between halves will be 3 minutes.  
7. Clock and Scorekeepers:  Each team shall provide a parent to keep the scorebook or run the scoreboard for each game (visitors keep the book, home team runs the scoreboard). 

 1^st Grade 3 on 3 Rules

1. Two games of 3 on 3 will be played full court “side court” simultaneously
2. After half time one team (two 3 on 3 units) stays on the same court and the other team switches courts.  Coaches should do their best to even out each 3 on 3 unit and not have an “A” team and a “B” team.  
3. Non-shooting fouls, out of bounds, jump balls, etc will result in a team taking the ball out at the top of the key and starting on the offensive team’s goal.
4. Fouls will be recorded and each player will be allowed a maximum of 5 fouls.
5. Each team will have 4 time outs and game play on both sides will stop whenever there is a time out. 

Playing time

1. All players are to play at least ½ of a regulation game.  If this rule is broken, coaching status will be in jeopardy and subject to suspension and possibly expulsion from coaching youth basketball.  If a player has an unexcused absence from practice then the following game the coach has the option to play that player less than ½ of the regulation game.  Excused absences include illness, injury, death of friend or family member, family emergencies, etc.  Missing practice in order to practice or play for another team or in another league is not an excused absence.  In the first grade league if a team has 8 players each player should play 3/4 of the game unless a player is injured or fouls out.  If a team has 9 players coaches should do their best to play each player an equal amount since they can’t all play 3/4 of the game.  Particularly in the 1^st grade league coaches should allow different players to handle the ball in order to develop skills.  
2. Free substitution is allowed.
3. All leagues will have a pause in the game where the clock will stop for brief substitutions every 4 minutes.  If necessary, officials will stop play during a natural break or dead ball every 4 minutes to allow for substitutions to occur.

Defensive Rules

6. The 1^st – 3^rd grade leagues will exclusively play half court man to man defense, no zone, perimeter trapping or full court press will be allowed.  The 4^th – 6^th grade leagues will play half court man to man except for the last two minutes of each half when teams will be allowed to play any defense they choose.  The 7^th - 8^th grade league will play man to man in the first half and will have no defensive restrictions in the second half.  The 9^th – 12^th grade league has no defensive restrictions. 
7. The man to man requirement is in place to teach the boys proper defensive techniques and to free up space in the younger age groups for the offensive players.  Man to man defense involves all 5 defensive players (3 players in 1^st grade) being allocated one opposition player who they are accountable for defending.  True man to man defense will involve help side defense so the defender will not always be right next to his man when his man doesn’t have the ball.  In a help side situation after the ball is stopped the player who helped should recover to their original man (assuming they didn’t switch on a screen).  When the ball is in the lane there is no requirement for a defender to recover to his original man until the ball has left the lane.  In man to man defense it will be illegal to trap the pass on the perimeter, but it is legal to step out and help and recover on a ball screen.  Coaches are expected to support this rule as it is defined in the initial coaches meeting and the coaching clinics.  Coaches should not exploit this rule with 4 corners/isolation types of offense.  Part of the reason for requiring man to man is to teach proper spacing and movement on the offensive end of the court and to allow all the players no matter their skill level to have more participation in the offense. 
8. If a team is playing a zone or trapping defense during a time when only man to man is allowed they will be given one warning which will be recorded in the official score book.  The second reoccurring violation will result in a team foul (automatic two points if the offensive team is in the bonus and the ball).  All additional violations will result in a technical foul (automatic two points and the ball). 
9. Full court press violations in the 1st – 8th grade leagues will result in a warning by the official and will be recorded in the official scorebook.  The second and all reoccurring violations will result as a technical foul (automatic 2 points and the ball).  For half-court offense/defense, the defense must stay behind the white volleyball line until the offensive player crosses the half-court line. At that point, the defense may guard the offensive player. This requirement (to stay behind the white volleyball line) will not be enforced during transition (e.g. fast breaks). 
10. Half court trapping, and zone defense is allowed in the last  minute of the second half in the 4^th – 6^th grade leagues.  Full court pressing, trapping and zone defense is allowed in the 2^nd half of the 7^th – 8^th grade leagues.  There are no defensive restrictions in the 9^th – 12th grade leagues.
11. A team may not continue to press, trap or play zone if they are up by 20+ points.  At that time they will need to drop back to a half court man to man defense.  The clock will continue to run and not stop other than for injuries, some other reason a referee deems necessary or time outs if a team is up by 20+ points.  Normal clock rules will resume if the lead decreases to 12 points or less.

Free Throws

1. All grades will shoot free throws if fouled in the act of shooting.
2. Teams will shoot the regular amount of free throws on shooting fouls for the entire game.   
3. Bonus Free Throws – 2nd – 3rd Grade Leagues:  All non-shooting fouls will be result in an inbounds ball until the last 2 minutes of the half, game and overtime periods.  At the 2 minute mark, bonus free throws will be awarded if a team is in the Bonus.  Bonus free throws (1 and 1) will be awarded beginning on the 7th team foul (per half). A double bonus (2 free throws) is awarded on the 10th team foul (per half).
4. Bonus Free Throws – 4th – 12th Grade Leagues: Bonus free throws (1 and 1) will be awarded beginning on the 7th team foul (per half).  A double bonus (2 free throws) is awarded on the 10th team foul (per half), and will continue in overtime.
5. In the 1st – 4th grade divisions, although the free throw line is at 12’, the lane violation shall encompass the regulation 15’ lane.
6. In the 2nd-4th grade divisions (12' free throw line), the lower block will be used when lining up for free throws (player may stand on the block) in order to provide an opportunity to block out the shooter.
7. In the 5th-12th grade divisions (15' free throw line), the players will not use the lower block when lining up for free throws.
8. Players may enter the lane after the shooter releases the ball.  The shooter must stay behind the free throw line until the ball touches the rim. 

Personal Fouls

1. Each player is allowed 5 personal fouls.
2. A technical foul (charged to a player) and a non-shooting intentional foul also results in a personal foul being charged to the player plus two points in lieu of free throws.  The ball is awarded to the offended team at a designated spot closest to where the foul occurred or the point of interruption in the case of a technical foul.
3. Intentional fouls on the shot inside the 3-point line will result in an automatic 2 points for the opposing team (even if the shot is made), and the ball is awarded to the offended team at a designated spot closest to where the foul occurred.
4. Intentional fouls on the shot outside/behind the 3 point line will result in an automatic 3 points for the opposing team if the shot is missed.  If the shot is made an additional two points will be awarded to the shooting team.  In both cases the ball is awarded to the offended team at a designated spot closest to where the foul occurred. 

Technical Fouls

1. All bench technical fouls will be charged to the head coach.   Two technical fouls for a coach or a player will result in ejection from the game and gym.   If a coach or player gets ejected from a game, they will have an automatic 2 game suspension.  Technical fouls on the bench will result in the head coach and assistant coaches sitting for the remainder of the game.  No exceptions.  Ejections should be reported to the League Director and to the Board President.
2. Technical fouls issued to CLOCK/BOOK persons will result in removal from that position and will be charged to the coach.
3. If a coach or player is ejected twice in a season, they will be suspended for the remainder of the season.
4. All Technical fouls will automatically be rewarded with 2 points in lieu of free throws and possession of the ball.

Game Protests

1. A written protest shall be submitted to the League Director within Twenty-four (24) hours after the completion of the game.   Please note all relevant information (time, score, possession etc...).
2. The League Director shall submit the written protest at a specially called meeting of the Basketball Board.   This meeting shall be called as promptly as possible.
3. The League Director and the head coach of the team (or teams) involved shall make a presentation to the Basketball Board.
4. The Basketball Board shall rule on the protest and the decision is then final.

End of Season Playoffs

1. All teams will make the playoffs (1^st grade will not have a league playoff).
2. Game times and locations will be determined by the League President & Parks and Rec., and playoff brackets will be posted on the league website.
3. Seedings will be based on regular season record.
4. Tie breakers will be determined as follows:
5. Head to head competition.
6. Record against common opponents.
7. Record against highest seeded common opponent.
8. Scoring margin against highest seeded common opponent.                                                                                                                    

• If there is tie between 3 or more teams, once a team is eliminated based upon the criteria above, if a tie remains between the remaining teams, we will start back with criteria no. 1 to determine the tie breaker.  For example, if there is a tie between 3 teams that is not decided by criteria 1 (head to head), then when one team is eliminated following the criteria above, then the tie between the remaining 2 teams will be decided by going back to head to head competition and we will go down the list until the tie is broken again. 
• All seeding will be determined by the League President based on the criteria above. Any disputes will be resolved by the Basketball Board.

Selection of All Star Teams and Coaches

1. There will be a maximum of 2 All Star teams per league/division. 
2. All Star coaches will be selected based on the standing after 8 games with the coach of the league’s 1st place team having first right of refusal to coach the first All Star team.  All assistants will be determined by the tournament coach.
3. The League Director of each league will be responsible for the All Star selection process which will be based on the following:  

• Age control date is on or before September 1 of the current school year.
• The coach of each team shall submit, upon completion of the final regular season game, a list of no more than three (3) players from his or her team.  These should be players who have had a high level of play during the season.
• No coach is allowed to pick his child on the first team if they were not in the first 2 rounds of the draft unless that child is ranked in the top 10 of the coaches All Star rankings after the 8^th game.   That coach has the option of coaching the second team if they wish.   If this happens, then the League Director shall pick the first team coach.

1. The coaches in each league will rank the pool of players interested in playing All Stars from 1-10.  The coach of the league’s 1st place team after 8 games in the regular season will be able to pick up to 10 players from the top 14 in cumulative rankings from the coaches in the league. (The coach has the option of having fewer players if he/she so desires).   If there are enough players for a second team, then a coach picked by the league director will pick his/her team from the remaining candidates.
2. The league director will provide all information regarding the selection process to the Basketball Board.
3. If a vacancy occurs, the coach will inform the league director and consult with him or her for a replacement player.
4. These teams will represent Vestavia in all Parks and Recreation league post-season tournament play.   This system is in place to provide Vestavia the best opportunity to advance in the local and state playoffs. 

Parks and Recreation Board Responsibilities

Parks & Recreation shall assume the following responsibilities:

1. Provide facilities for practices and games.
2. Work with League President to coordinate practice schedules and gym availability
3. Provide basketballs for use during practice and games.
4. Develop Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and post at all facilities.
5. Insurance:  The Department of Parks and Recreation DOES NOT PROVIDE INSURANCE in case of injuries for the players or coaches.  Coaches, players and other interested/related parties participating in the Recreation Department Leagues should have health/accident insurance coverage.   It is the responsibility of the parties to obtain and cover the costs for insurance.

Basketball Board Responsibilities

1. The League President will develop practice and game schedules in coordination with the Parks and Recreation Director. 
2. The Basketball Board will recommend as the penalties and suspensions upon orderly conduct of the league.
3. The Basketball Board has the authority to make final decisions on all By-Laws interpretations and any matters concerning the league.
4. The Basketball Board may recommend that a coach be suspended for blatant infraction of the rules of conduct.   Any coach under consideration for suspension shall have the right to a hearing at a special meeting of the Basketball Board.   This meeting shall be called as promptly as possible and the decision of the Basketball Board is final.
5. Insurance:  The League/Basketball Board DOES NOT PROVIDE INSURANCE in case of injuries for the players or coaches.  Coaches, players and other interested/related parties participating in the Recreation Department Leagues should have health/accident insurance coverage.   It is the responsibility of the parties to obtain and cover the costs for insurance.