League Rules

Development Aims

The Solent Area Youth League is intended to provide a means of promoting the game to young people.  It forms the first step towards playing for National League club teams, County teams and further representative levels.  We also seek to use the league as an opportunity to develop our officials and coaches and will thus be using some young officials at the tournaments. 

Eligibility

·         Under 16s              Born on or after 31/08/93 (School Year 11 and below)

·         Under 14s              Born on or after 31/08/95 (School Year 9 and below)

·         Under 12s              Born on or after 31/08/97 (School Year 7 and below)

General Rules

1. All teams may be mixed sexed.

2. National League Players are permitted, but the organisers ask that coaches remember that this is a development league, not a “glory” hunting exercise.  For example a coach may choose to play some players in a higher age group if they believe that it will be beneficial to the player involved.

3. A team must be fully registered with the SABA before the start of the season.  Any team playing a player not registered will forfeit the game.  Team sheets will be looked after each team’s second game.

4. All players must have a number on their jersey.  If this is not possible, players will be expected to wear numbered bibs (these can be provided).

5. If a team forfeits two tournaments without good reason as considered by the SABA Youth Committee, they will be dropped from the league.  The match fee must still be played.

6. Team sheets must be completed and turned in to the relevant tournament organiser 15 minutes before the start of a team’s first match, allowing score sheets to be prepared in advance.

7. For all games the clock will run continuously for three quarters, without stopping.  The exception being during timeouts when the clock will be stopped.  In the last two minutes of the fourth quarter the clock will stop as in a standard game.

·         Each quarter of play will last for seven minutes.

·         There will be 3 minutes between each half.

·         There will be 2 minutes between each quarter.

8. Teams are allowed two 30 second timeouts per half. Timeouts cannot be carried over to overtime. Teams will be issued one 30 second timeout in each overtime period.

9. When shooting free throws please make sure players hustle to their rebounding spots, if players are not ready when the officials are, players will have to wait outside the three point line rather than filling in the rebounding spots

·         Reason for rule: to keep the important aspect of free-throw shooting involved in the game, but to save time as the clock is running!

10. If a player receives a disqualifying foul in one game, the player will not be allowed to play the remainder of the tournament.  They may be present on the bench for the remainder of the game. 

·         Note: Coaches should be responsible enough not to get technical / disqualifying fouls

11. It is expected that each player on the score sheet should play at least ¼ of the game. The match officials will attempt to enforce this rule, but in reality it is down to the coaches.

·         Please coaches, team managers etc. it is your responsibility – remember why we are doing this.

12. All protests must be submitted in writing, to the SABA Youth Committee Secretary, within forty-eight hours of the violation.  All violations will be ruled upon and a final decision made at the discretion of the SABA Youth Committee.

13. Teams will be awarded 3 points for a win and 1 points for a loss.  A team receives - 1 point if they forfeit the match.

14.             Games must start on time. All teams must be on court and ready to play at the stipulated time. Any delay at the start of the game will mean that a shorter game is played and the possibility that the game points may need to be awarded to the opposition.

Age Group Specific Rules

Overtime

·         All games ending in a tie will have a two minute overtime period.

Defence / Pressing

·         In all leagues, traditional 'man-to-man' defence must be played

·         There will be no pressing at anytime in Under 12s league.

·         Under 14s and Under 16s teams are allowed to press at all times except when leading by 15 or more points.

Size of Ball

·         Games for Under 12s will use a size five (mini) basketball

·         Games for Under 14s will use a size six (women’s) basketball

·         Games for Under 16s will use a size seven (regulation) basketball

Fouls

·       Team will have a maximum of four team fouls per quarter before being in the penalty and five personal fouls before fouling out.