Rules and Regulations

BRADLEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION
YOUTH BASKETBALL AND CHEERLEADING
RULES AND REGULATIONS


ARTICLE I – SPONSPORING ORGANIZATION

Bradley County Parks and Recreation (hereafter “the Recreation Department”) is the sponsoring organization for the Bradley County Youth Basketball League (hereafter “the league”). The Recreation Department will not tolerate any form of taunting or any conduct which is intended to embarrass, ridicule or demean others. The league will not tolerate any conduct that discriminates against any child or participant on the basis or race, religion, gender or national origin. The Director of the Recreation Department (hereafter “the director”) is responsible for the day to day operations of the league, and the director may remove any person from the program who violates these principles.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

To operate a well-organized youth basketball program for Bradley County children in grades 2 through 5 where good sportsmanship and fairy play are stressed at all times.

ARTICLE III – SEASON

Tryouts and practices are not permitted at any time before October 1 for cheerleading, October 16 for Girls, and October 28 for Boys. The season will end with the last day of the tournament. Teams will not be organized or allowed to hold “open gyms” or any other similar group activities prior to the above said dates. If a team violates this rule, the team will lose two home games. The director shall strictly enforce this rule.


ARTICLE IV – COACHES

1. Coaches must be eighteen (18) years old as of September 1. All coaches (including any assistants) must apply to and be approved by the department by completing a written application. After approval, the coach and all other league personnel will be responsible to the department. The director may immediately remove a coach from the program for not following league rules or policies or for any conduct unbecoming of a coach.

2. Coaches are responsible for their own conduct, their players’ conduct, and the conduct of the fans at their school.

3. Only two (2) coaches per team are allowed, one head coach and one assistant. Two coaches plus one team scorekeeper/statistician are permitted on the team bench during a game. No other persons are allowed on the team bench, including but not limited to, mascots, cheerleaders, babies, or any other person. Referees shall strictly enforce this rule.

4. Home team coaches are responsible for providing a scorekeeper and a timekeeper. Scorekeepers and timekeepers will be mature and responsible individuals and must be at least eighteen (18) years old.

5. Coaches must possess leadership ability and know how to work with children, developing teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline, and teaching the fundamental and basic skills of basketball. All coaches must complete the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA) certification training program. Coaches must adhere to the standards established by the NYSCA and adopted by the league.

6. Coaches receiving a technical foul in a game for un-sportsmanlike conduct shall be penalized as follows:

1st technical foul – coach shall self-report the technical to the recreation department, and the director shall log technical foul into the director’s records.
2nd technical foul – 1 game suspension (to be served following game, regardless of whether the game is a regular season game tournament game, or a make-up game).
3rd technical foul – coach shall be suspended from the league for the remainder of the season, including any post-season tournament(s).

ARTICLE V – PLAYERS

1. Number of divisions: The league will consist of two divisions – a 3rd grade division and a 4th & 5th grade division.

2. Age limitations: A child may not turn 10 years old before August 1st to participate in the 3rd grade division. Any child that becomes 10 years old on or before August
1st is not eligible to play in the 3rd grade division, but may “play up” in the 4th & 5th grade division. A child may not turn 12 years old before August 1st to participate in the 4th & 5th grade division. Any child that becomes 12 years old on or before August 1st is not eligible to play in the league. This later rule applies regardless of the child’s grade in school.

3. No “playing down”: Children in the 4th grade or higher may not participate in the 3rd grade league regardless of their age.

4. "Playing up”: Children in the 3rd grade and below are encouraged to play in the 3rd grade division. However, they may “play up” in the 4th and 5th grade league even if they are eligible to play in the 3rd grade division. Coaches are cautioned about this decision, because once a child is placed on a roster for a 4th and 5th grade team, a child may not return to a 3rd grade team for the remainder of the season (including tournaments).

5. Number of teams per school: Each school may have four teams:
*3rd grade boys
*3rd grade girls
*4th and 5th grade boys
*4th and 5th grade girls

6. Team Rosters: Prior to the first game of the season, the “Official Waiver & Release of Liability & Indemnification Form” and copies of all birth certificates must be filed with the department. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for signing the waiver and release form and providing birth certificates. Failure to sign the waiver and release form or providing a birth certificate will make a child ineligible to participate. The player roster must have a minimum of 12 players listed. The director strongly suggests that each team carry more than twelve (12) players in cases of injury, illness or eligibility requirements.

Once a team roster is filed with the department, a roster shall be made available to any coach in the program who requests a copy. This will allow coaches of opposing teams to verify, prior to a game, that their opponent is using only rostered players.

FAILURE TO SUBMIT ROSTER AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES BEFORE SEASON BEGINS:
NO TEAM SHALL PARTICIPATE IN A REGULAR SEASON OR TOURNAMENT GAME WITHOUT SUBMITTING A ROSTER AND ALL BIRTH CERTIFICATES TO THE DEPARTMENT.

IF A TEAM PLAYS A REGULAR SEASON GAME BEFORE SUBMITTING A COMPLETED ROSTER AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES TO THE DEPARTMENT, THE TEAM SHALL FORFEIT SAID GAME. FORFEITS SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL THE COMPLETE ROSTER AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES ARE SUMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT.

THE DIRECTOR SHALL STRICTLY ENFORCE THIS RULE.

7. Forfeit Rule – Number of Players: Each team must have ten (10) players present before the third (3rd) quarter begins. If ten (10) players are not present before 3rd quarter begins, referees shall declare a forfeit and record the forfeit on the game scorebook.

8. Tournament Rule – Number of Players: Teams that are not made up of 10 or more players will not be allowed to participate in the end of the season tournament.

9. Players’ Eligibility Policy
All players must register and play at the school they attend, subject to the following exceptions:

• Home School: A home-schooled child may only play at the school where the child’s residence is currently zoned. (For example, if a child lives in the EL Ross school zone, but is home-schooled, the child may only play at EL Ross.) For home-schooled children, a parent must present proof of the child’s residence address and grade to the coach. The coach will then notify the director in writing, and the director will verify that the child is eligible to play for the school. Failure to secure the director’s approval of a home-schooled child shall result in a forfeiture of each game in which the child plays.

• Cross-zoned children: Cross-zoned children must play for the school they attend, not where they are zoned.

• Birth certificates: Players must present proof of age by a certified birth certificate prior to participation in any league game.

• Academic Eligibility: To be eligible to participate in the program the student must receive passing grades in the reporting period prior to and during the basketball season. Players who are failing in 2 or more subjects will be ineligible until grades improve. A player will be placed on probation if he or she receives a D, F or Unsatisfactory in more than one subject. If there is a repeat D, F or Unsatisfactory in the two or more subjects the player will be suspended from participating. Players shall be in regular attendance and must not be absent on the day of the game nor absent the following game.

• Changing Teams: Players must play on the school team to which they are assigned until the child becomes ineligible, quits or is released. A child released from one school’s team will not be allowed to play for another school’s team.

• Additions to Roster: Coaches will not be permitted to add players to the roster after December 1st each year.

• Suspensions/Probation: If a coach decides that because of a discipline problem, a child cannot play, the Recreation Department will be notified of this action. Coaches must notify the department immediately of player(s) placed on probation or suspended for any reason.

• Player behavior/technical fouls: Players should seriously accept the responsibility and privilege of representing the school by displaying good sportsmanship at all times. Failure to abide by the rules and displaying un-sportsman like behavior is not acceptable. If a child receives a technical foul for un-sportsman like behavior or conduct during a game, the penalties will be as follows:

1st technical foul of the season – Suspension from remainder of the game
2nd technical foul of the season – Suspension for remainder of the game and for the entire game following the game in which the child receives a technical foul for un-sportsman like conduct or behavior. The following game means just that, the next game played by the team, regardless of whether the game is a make-up, regular season game, tournament game or any other game.
3rd technical foul of the season – suspension for the remainder of the season and all tournaments.

Coaches are responsible for enforcing this penalty and they shall immediately notify the director of players receiving technical fouls for un-sportsman like conduct.

Failure of a coach to follow and/or enforce these rules will result in the forfeiture of all games in which a child suspended under this rule participates, plus the removal of the child from the program.

The technical foul rule shall apply to all games including, but not limited to, regular season games, “play days”, pre-season tournaments, holiday tournaments, and make up games. The only games that the technical foul rule may not apply to are games during the year-end recreation tournament. The director shall decide on the technical foul rule for those tournament games.

The technical foul rule does not apply to technical fouls for back court guarding, or other technical fouls which do not involve a player’s un-sportsman like behavior or conduct.

10. Participation in other programs/leagues: Players assigned to a team and playing in this league cannot participate in the Community Center league, Upwards Basketball, YBA or any other basketball program or team. If a player violates this rule by playing for another team outside the league (even for a second), they shall be ineligible for the remainder of the season and tournament. Coaches are responsible for notifying the parents/guardians of this rule.

ARTICLE VI – GAMES IN GENERAL

1. The first game will start promptly as scheduled. No Grace Period! Teams that play the second game should be at the gym, ready to play at least thirty (30) minutes before their scheduled game. If time allows, seven (7) minutes between games and five (5) minutes between halves. If preceding game is a forfeit, the next game will begin at the regular time scheduled.

2. Players waiting to play the second game are to be seated in the bleachers until time for their game. Stay off the floor!

3. Bouncing of balls while other team is playing is not permitted.

4. All players must wear gym shoes.

5. No turf shoes allowed.

6. Court, Goal, Free Throw Line, and Ball size:

7. The size of the court may vary depending on the facility.
The goal:
4th and 5th grade: 10 feet
3rd grade: 9 feet
Balls: All players will play with a Women’s Basketball

Home team will provide the game ball. Visiting team should have own warm up balls.

ARTICLE VII – GAME RULES

High school rules will apply except for the following rules:

1. Uniforms: Each team participant should wear jerseys identical in color and trim with a minimum of four (4) inch numbers on the front and back of uniform color to aid in player identification. No game will be considered a forfeit for failure to wear their uniform.

2. Period Length: League games, play-offs and tournaments will consist of four (4) periods lasting six (6) minutes each for 4th and 5th grade and five (5) minutes each for 3rd grade.

3. Overtime: In case of a tie at the end of regulation play, two (2) minute overtime will be played. If still tied, two (2) minute overtime will be played. There will be no sudden death. Two (2) minute overtime will be played until there is a winner. Jump ball starts over all overtimes.

4. Number of fouls allowed: Five (5) fouls disqualifies a player from a game.

5. Free throw lane: Each lane space for the 3rd grade league may be occupied during the free throw attempts. The free thrower and players are frozen until the ball touches the rim or the backboard.

6. Coaching Box: All coaches must remain seated on the bench at all times while the clock is running or is stopped except to:

• Rise and stand in front of their seat to signal the referee to request a time-out or to signal players to request a time out.

• Confer with personnel at the scorers’ table to request a full-length time-out for a correctable error.

• Confer with the scorers’ table to request a full time-out to prevent or rectify timing or scoring mistake or an alternating possession mistake.

• Replace or remove a disqualified/injured player, or player directed to leave the game within 30 seconds when a substitute is available, while within the confines of his/her bench.

The head coach and assistant coaches should remain seated on the bench at all times while the clock is running or is stopped except to:

• Confer with bench personnel and players within the confines of the bench area during a charged time-out or the intermission between quarters and extra periods.

• Attend to an injured player when beckoned onto the court by an official.

• Rise in front of their seats to spontaneously react to an outstanding play by a member of their team or to acknowledge a replaced player(s), but must immediately return to their seat.

Note 1: The bench rule shall be strictly enforced by game officials. The first violation of this rule will result in a warning to the head coach by the game official. All subsequent violations will result in a technical foul being assessed against the head coach.

Note 2: The head coach may be off the bench in front of his/her seat within the confines of the designated coaching box to give instructions to his/her players and/or substitutes but must return to their seat once instructions are given.

7. Protest Rule: Protests must be made to the game officials when the incident occurs. Protests must be submitted in writing to the director within 24 hours after the protest is announced. When a protest is filed, it must be accompanied by a $25.00 cash fee for league games and a $50.00 cash fee for all tournament games. If a protest is upheld, the fee will be refunded. BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THE ACCUSER. A protest committee appointed by the director will decide all matters of protest or incidents that may be out of the officials’ decisions or rules on player violations not covered in these rules or the general rules.

8. Time Outs: Four (4) time outs allowed per game. Time outs can accumulate and can be used at any time. One (1) extra time out is allowed for each overtime. Two consecutive time outs cannot be called unless some time has elapsed off the clock.

9. Cancellation of Games: The decision to cancel games will be the responsibility of the Recreation Department. This decision is normally made by 4:00 pm, week days and early on Saturday mornings. Coaches will be called so they may call their players. If schools are closed due to weather conditions, all basketball games will be cancelled.

10. Backcourt Guarding: No backcourt guarding allowed except as set forth in the “pressing rule” in Paragraph VII (11) below. The defensive player in the front court must remain behind the mid-court line. However, defensive pressure may be applied at this line. A ball passed from backcourt to the front court is considered a free ball.

11. Full Court Press Rule: Both teams may press the last 2 minutes of a game if the teams are within ten points of each other. If a team is ahead by ten points or more with two minutes or less to go in the last period, they may not press. The team that is trailing by ten or more may still press.

• Coaches should use discretion and refrain from running the score up. There are numerous ways to accomplish this task and coaches must be familiar with them.

• THE FULL-UNINTERRUPTED QUARTER RULE: All players must play a full-uninterrupted quarter when they first enter the game. There are no substitutions allowed in the first quarter unless a player is injured, sick, fouls out, or is ejected.

Certain circumstances may preclude a player from playing a full quarter, e.g. an injury or emergency, fouling out or being ejected from the game.

Failure to play each player a full uninterrupted quarter when they first enter the game will result in a forfeiture of the game, unless the player is injured, sick, fouls out, or is ejected from the game.

• Impact of the Full Uninterrupted Quarter Rule on Substitutions: There are no substitutions allowed in the first quarter unless a player is injured, sick, fouls out or is ejected.

A coach may wish to make a substitution for a player during any period after the first period. A coach may substitute freely, but must comply with the following rules:

• A coach is only allowed to substitute for a player that has already played a full quarter. The only exception to this rule is if a player is injured, sick, fouls out or is ejected from the game. A coach may not substitute for a player who has not played a full uninterrupted quarter just because the player is in “foul trouble”.

• Except in the rare circumstances where a substitution is allowed in the first quarter (injury, sick, fouled-out or ejected), a coach must use a substitute that has played a full quarter. Otherwise, the substitute would not be playing a full uninterrupted quarter from the time they first enter a game.

12. Blood Spill or Bleeding Player: If or when an official observes a player is bleeding, or has an open wound, or has an excessive amount of blood on his or her uniform, the official will precede exactly the same as for an injured player, except the player must leave the game. The player involved is not to return until the bleeding is stopped, an open wound is covered or an excessively bloody uniform is changed. Coaches should have sufficient uniforms with them for such an occasion. Each head coach should keep in the traveling first aid kit a Blood Safety Kit and be prepared to handle a blood spill in your gymnasium. OSHA Regulations apply.

13. Review Committee: The Recreation Department will establish a Review Committee. This committee will be randomly selected by the recreation department and will be comprised of coaches from both leagues. The committee will convene at the discretion of the recreation department to hear complaints regarding coaches, parents and players.

14. Gate Fees: Gate fees for games will be standard across the league with regular adult fees being $1.00 and .50 for Middle School students and above. The end of the year tournament fees will be $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for Middle School students and above. Weekend passes or tournament passes should be available. There will not be a charge for elementary children and younger.

ARTICLE VIII – CHEERLEADERS

Cheerleading sponsors who wish to coach a cheerleading squad in this league must be at least seventeen (17) years of age as of September 1st of the current year, and must apply to and be approved by the Bradley County Parks and Recreation Department. The sponsor must be a full time coach, attend all games, comply with all directives and be responsible to the program director of head coach of the basketball team and the Recreation Department. All cheerleading coaches/sponsors must complete the National Youth Sports Coaches Association certification training program. Coaches must adhere to the standards established by NYSCA and adopted by this league. The cheerleading sponsor is required to attend the first coaches meeting and the first tournament meeting and all other meetings as required by the Recreation Department.

It must be understood that to have a cheerleading squad you must first have a basketball team. Schools without large numbers of students will have problems forming both. Cheerleading squads should be formed as follows: 3rd grade squads and 4th and 5th grade squads. The number of the cheerleaders is limited to eight (8) for each squad. You are allowed to have as many as four (4) different squads of eight (8). Each squad would then cheer 1 day each week. There should NEVER be more than eight (8) cheerleaders each game day.

Cheerleaders should have a designated space in the bleachers where they can sit and cheer during the game. While a game is being played, cheerleaders are not allowed on the floor at any location to cheer. No cheering on the court during time-outs. Other than being able to cheer in the bleachers, the cheerleaders can only cheer before the game, first four minutes of half time (2 minutes for each school) and between the girls and boys games. With proper coordination with the head basketball coach, additional time may be available. No stunts are to be performed over 1 ½ high.

Sponsors may not require cheerleaders to attend any outside gymnastics, tumbling, or cheerleading classes. This is a personal decision to be made by the parents or guardians.

Cheerleading tryouts are not to be held before October 1 of the current year.

ARTICLE IX – FUNDRAISERS
Fundraisers must be approved by the Bradley County Parks and Recreation. No ball team or cheerleading squad should collect money at a stop sign or traffic light for means of raising funds. There are many other fundraising events that should be used that do not jeopardize the safety of the children as well as adults.

ARTICLE X – REFEREES

Referees are responsible for knowing the contents of these rules and enforcing them fairly and consistently.

ARTICLE XI – LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Bradley County, the City of Cleveland, and their agents, servants, and employees (including, but not limited to, the Bradley County Superintendent of Education, the City of Cleveland Director of Schools, the Bradley County Board of Education, the City of Cleveland Board of Education, the Bradley County Parks and Recreation Department and its Advisory Board, the City of Cleveland Parks and Recreation Department, all City and County Maintenance Personnel, Coaches, Schools and Principals) are not responsible for any accident or personal injury or for damaged, lost or stolen property.