Northern Burlington Instructional Basketball League

Major League (7th, 8th, & 9th Grade) Rules

Playing Rules: As adopted by the National Federation Rules Committee and amended by agreement of participating Township Representatives.

Rule 1:            Players

            a.  Eligibility

            Comprised of girls or boys (separate leagues) in the 7th, 8th and 9th grades who have not reached their fifteenth birthday before October 1, 2002.

Exceptions regarding a player's eligibility for a specific league will be considered on an individual basis.

Note:   Players on a high school team roster ARE NOT ELIGIBLE, unless agreed to by league vote, on an individual basis. Players on Junior High team rosters are eligible.

b.  Substitutions

                        i.          Coaches must play each individual one half of every game. The league has determined that no roster shall contain more than 10 players, and the “ideal’ roster size is 8. The intent of the rule is to play each player as much as possible. Coaches are encouraged to substitute one or two players at a time.  This procedure will help provide continuity and allow players to participate with/against all other players.

ii.                   A 30 second timeout will be called at the midpoint of each quarter (4:45 to

5:15 mark) to allow for the substitution of players.  Substitutions will be allowed only at the midpoint of the quarter, except in the case of injury, medical condition, emergency, or other unforeseen situation.

iii.                Substitutes must report to the midcourt area, and the opposing coach and/or official scorer notified.

iv.                 To avoid forfeits, teams not having enough players to start the game will be

permitted to use:  a) an extra player from the opposing team;

b) in emergency situations, players from a younger school year bracket/league may “play up” at the next league level.

              c.  Conduct

                        i.  Inappropriate conduct by players, coaches, officials or spectators will not be tolerated at any level.  Cheering for players or a team is strongly encouraged.  Berating officials, players, coaches or other spectators will absolutely not be tolerated.  The league reserves the right to remove player, coach or spectator from the game and/or site—and team or league (pending a scheduled hearing)—for conduct deemed excessively inappropriate.  Game officials have full control once the games begin.  Officials have been made aware of the league policies, and are also subject to the intent of those policies.

                        ii.  Profanity (by player or coach): 

                                    1st offense:       Warning

                                    2nd offense:      Technical, and thereafter at official's discretion.

                        iii. Fighting:      

                                    1st offense:       Ejection and automatic one game suspension

                                    2nd offense:      Removal from league

2003 Major League Basketball Rules

Note:    The use of alcohol before and during the game, and the use of tobacco during the game, is strictly prohibited by any player, coach, official or spectator.  Additionally, drinking, eating or gum chewing in any league gymnasium is prohibited.

Rule 2:            Equipment

            a. Ball

                        Boys:   Size 7 (Regulation Men’s) 29-30 inches.

                        Girls:   Size 6 (Regulation Women’s) 28.5 inches.

            b.  Uniforms

            An effort has been made to equip all teams with uniform shirts that are different in color to any opponent they may play.  Players should be in proper uniform for all games, including uniform shirt, shorts and sneakers.

Rule 3:            Officials

a.       Game officials are assigned through the League using the 6’2” & Under assignor.  All Officials must be certified through the National Federation of High School Officials Association, or through the National Youth Sports Coaches Association or through the Rutgers Sports Awareness of Educating Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Clinic.

b.      Two officials will be assigned to these games.  On rare occasions due to scheduling issues, games may be officiated by just one official.  Patience and courtesy is asked for and expected in these situations. 

Rule 4:            Timing of Games

            a.   10 minute per quarter running clock until the last two minutes of the game.  Then

standard timing.  Note:  This is a change as required by Federation rules which states that games at this level must be no longer than six minute regular clock (or ten minute running).

            b.   The home team should provide a timekeeper.  If not available, time will be kept on the court

by the officials.

Rule 4A:  Time-outs and Half-time

a.       There will be two time-outs per half, at one minute per time-out.

b.      A 30 second timeout will be called by the coaches and/or officials at the midpoint of each quarter (4:45 to 5:15 mark) to allow for the substitution of players. Preferably at a dead ball whistle or after a score, coaches will call out “SUBS” and play will stop.

            c.   Half time will last three minutes.

Rule 4B:   Overtime

            a.  There will be one, three-minute overtime period with a running clock for games tied

after regulation.

            b.  One time-out per team per overtime.  No carry-overs from regulation time.

2003 Major League Basketball Rules

Rule 5:  Scoring

            a.   The score should be kept by both teams for the purposes of game completion only.

NO FORMAL LEAGUE STANDINGS WILL BE KEPT FOR THE NBIBL.

THERE WILL BE NO FORMAL REGULAR SEASON LEAGUE CHAMPION NAMED.

c.       If the court being played on has a three-point line, three points will be awarded for shots made from beyond that line.  If the facility has no line, the game will be played without the opportunity to make a three point shot.

d.      NOTE:  As per coach’s vote on December 19, 2001, NO PRESSING wil be allowed if the leading team is ahead by fifteen points or more.  Once the score goes below a difference of 15, then the backcourt press may be implemented again.

Rule 6: Alternating Possession

            In all jump ball situations other than the start of the game and the start of an overtime period,

teams will alternate taking the ball out of bounds for a throw-in.  The team not obtaining control of the jump ball will begin the alternating procedure.  The officials will be responsible of subsequent awarding of possession.

Rule 7:  Defense

            High school basketball rules apply.

NOTE:  As per coach’s vote on December 19, 2001, NO PRESSING wil be allowed if the

Leading team is ahead by fifteen points or more.  Once the score goes below a difference of

15, then the backcourt press may be implemented again.

Rule 8:  Fouls

a.       After seven team fouls, one foul shot and one bonus after making first.

Players will foul out of the game after five personal fouls.

b.      The clock will be stopped during foul shots in the last two minutes of the game.

Rule 9:  Travel Teams

            In an effort to challenge more gifted players, “Travel Teams” may be established from each Township for the Major Leagues.  In order to play Township and NBIBL sponsored “Travel Basketball,” a player must be rostered on a NBIBL team.

12/09/02 NBIBL