Basketball Rules - The Woodlands

QUICK OVERVIEW:

  • Two 20-minute halves
  • Each team is allowed 2 time-outs per half – unused TO’s do not carry over to 2nd half
  • Running clock except for final 2 minutes of the 2nd half maintained by the scorekeeper
  • During the final 2 minutes, time will remain running during made field-goals
  • There is NO overtime period during the regular season.  If the game is tied at the end of regulation the game will be recorded as a tie.  During playoffs a 3 minute overtime will be played (each team will be awarded one timeout).
  • If in the first 38 minutes a TO is called prior to a free throw, the time will remained stopped during the free throws until the ball is live again. The clock will not stop in the last two minutes of the second half when one team is ahead by 21 or more points. NOTE: See MERCY RULE section below
  • The clock will stop on all made buckets during the final minute of the game or overtime. The clock will resume once the ball is in-bounded
  • Rosters are due by the 3rd game of league play. Rosters will be turned into the referee placed in the league binder. The rosters can be turned in by email or updated online. All rosters will be checked prior to your playoff games; each player will need a valid ID in order to compete during the playoffs. If a player is not listed on the roster, the player is ineligible to play. A valid ID not present with player at the time roster is checked is the same as not being listed on the roster.
  • 2:00 minute In-Bound Rule: the last 2 minutes of the first half and second half of the game the teams have a choice of in bounding the ball after a time out at half court or full court. This rule mimics that of the NBA and is only allowed when a team is not forced to call the time out to avoid a turnover.
  • The beginning of the game starts with a jump ball. Possession for all following jump balls are alternate possession. The start of overtimes begins with a jump ball.
  • Shorthanded teams may play with at least 3 players.
  • Normal rules and penalties of the UIL apply unless exceptions have been made herein.
  • The 3-point field goal is in effect if the court has a line marked.
  • Backcourt violations will be in effect unless otherwise noted.
  • During free throws, players may enter the lane upon release of the ball by the shooter.
  • Updated standings will be posted weekly.

 

DUNKING RULES:

 

No dunking/hanging on the rims during warm-ups, halftime or after the game

Dunking IS allowed during games but there is NO HANGING ON THE RIM. If you hang on the rim you face the following penalties:

  • 1st offense: Technical
  • 2nd offense: Ejection of player AND coach
  • 3rd offense: Forfeit of game

*Player is responsible for any damage to goal/backboard*

 

PLAYER CONDUCT RULES:

 

  • Players who are ejected from a game after receiving 2 technical fouls will be suspended from their team’s next scheduled game. If the player returns and is ejected from another game, they will be suspended for the remainder of the league with possible suspensions for additional league play that they may want to participate in.
  • Fighting is an automatic 2 game suspension, and could result in a league suspension or total ban from ALL Sportsmonkey leagues depending upon the severity of the incident. Fighting can also result in legal issues for all involved.
  • All incidents involving player conduct rules will be tracked and recorded. A player does not have to be ejected from a game to be suspended for violations. If a player is receiving technical fouls on a regular basis even though he is not ejected from any game; that player could be suspended under the Player Conduct Rule.
  • All player conduct infractions are reviewed by Sportsmonkey’s Head Official and Directors

 

BENCH RULE

 

Players that leave their bench and involve themselves in the incident on the court will face a minimum of a 1 game suspension and possibly more after officials review the incident. Coaches are responsible for their players and could face the same suspensions if they do not control them.

 

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:

 

*BELOW ONLY APPLIES IF ROSTER IS NOT ON SITE*

A formal protest may be filed before a game if an opposing player’s eligibility is in question. The player in question will be required to provide his/her player information (name, address, phone #, signature) in writing to a Sportsmonkey Staff Member prior to the start of the game. This qualifies as an official protest. The game will then be played in its entirety as scheduled. Teams will be notified of all rulings on the identified eligibility discrepancy by the following business day; decisions will not be made on site. If the protest is proven to be legitimate, it will result in the forfeiture of the game in question. Games after the protested game may be rescheduled. The above procedure will also apply for any other protests. All rulings by Sportsmonkey Staff are considered FINAL.

 

MERCY RULE:

 

  • Any team trailing by 30 points or more with 2 minutes or less in the game; the game will be called.
  • If a team is trailing by 20 points or more with 1 minute remaining the game will be called.
  • Any team who has a player ejected from the game and does not have a sub for that player; the team will forfeit the game.

 

OVERTIME (Playoffs only):

 

  • Each overtime period is 3-minutes.
  • The clock runs continuously during the first two minutes and stops DURING THE last minute ON ALL WHISTLES.
  • Each team is awarded 1 additional timeout per overtime period.
  • 1 Time-out carries over from regulation to the overtime period.

 

TYPES OF FOULS:

 

PERSONAL/TEAM FOULS

  • Personal fouls will be recorded for all leagues. Players will foul-out after being awarded their 6th personal foul. All technical fouls will be recorded as personal fouls.
  • A team begins shooting one-and-one on the seventh team foul of each half and continues shooting one-and-one on any following fouls. If a technical foul happens to be the seventh team foul, the team will shoot the two free throws for the technical and receive the ball, however they will not receive the bonus one and one. After ten team fouls, teams will be awarded two free throws. All shooting fouls are 2 shot fouls unless the shooter is attempting a 3-point shot and they will receive 3 shots. If a foul is an intentional foul the shooter gets 2 shots and the ball

TECHNICAL FOULS

  • Technical fouls are counted as personal fouls. Any individual that is awarded two technical fouls will be ejected from the game.
  • Technical fouls result in 2 free throws and ball possession.

 

SPORTSMANSHIP:

 

The idea of Sportsmonkey is to have fun. We hope that all participants keep that in mind when becoming involved. Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from

 

FORFEITS:

 

  • First Offense: Loss of game and warning issued.
  • Second Offense: Loss of game and staff reserves the right to remove team from playoffs.
  • Third Offense: Removal from the league
  • If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to email us at INFO@SPORTSMONKEY.COM to help us schedule your opponent a game.
  • Teams have until 10 minutes past the designated start time to field a full squad (at least minimum players required according to rules). If at that time one team is unable to field a full team, it will be up to the staff and the opposing captain to determine what is allowable.

 

PLAYOFFS:

 

All eligible teams make the playoffs (teams that have not abused the foul or forfeit policies are eligible).
In certain situations, teams at or near the bottom of the standings may not advance to the playoffs. Check with the Sportsmonkey League Coordinator to see if this applies to your league. Playoffs are single elimination.

 

Playoff Seeding:

  • Teams are seeded according to winning percentage and strength of schedule.
    Teams may be dropped from their regular season level based on the above criteria. Teams may be moved to a higher division during the playoffs only if permission is granted.
  • Skill levels may be divided into separate divisions based upon size of level.
  • Teams may play more than one match per day, and/or play matches on days/nights other than your regularly scheduled league day/night. Sportsmonkey reserves the right to schedule playoff games on days other than your regularly scheduled league night.

Any questions regarding rules, policies, or eligibility must be addressed before the start of a game or the league.

 

SPORTSMONKEY STAFF & REFS:

 

  • Sportsmonkey will provide 2 paid referees/scorekeeper for each game. Refs have the power to remove any player(s) from a game or the league if deemed necessary. Sometimes a Sportsmonkey representative may be on-site to help interpret rules, and (together with the refs) will have final say in all rulings made by the on-court officials.
  • If you have questions regarding schedules, policies, rule interpretations, directions to the bar, etc. please ask.

 

LEAGUE CANCELLATION/RAINOUT:

 

  • Leagues may be cancelled due to existing weather conditions, dangerous or unplayable field conditions, facility constraints, etc.
  • Sportsmonkey Staff makes every effort to play all scheduled games, thus we will not cancel games until absolutely necessary. Therefore, if you are calling concerning a decision on a cancellation, remember we will not have an answer until close to the start of the league.
  • If the league is cancelled, Sportsmonkey Staff will change the rain-out voicemail immediately. Sportsmonkey will then e-mail all the captains.
  • If a league is cancelled on site, Sportsmonkey Staff will attempt to contact those teams still scheduled to play the remainder of the league day/night. Depending on the time of cancellation, some teams will have to be notified on site.
  • If we do cancel, follow next week’s schedule (ex. if April 13 is cancelled teams should follow the April 20 schedule for their next game).
  • The games that are cancelled will be made up at the end of the season if time allows.
    In extreme circumstances, Sportsmonkey reserves the right to run a shortened season without a refund of schedule matches on days other than our regularly scheduled league day/night.

*These policies are designed to make the league run as smoothly and safely as possible, and provide continuity for its participants. Each player in the league is responsible for this information: please advise your team of these rules and thanks for playing with Sportsmonkey!*

If you have any further questions please email us at info@sportsmonkey.com