TOURNAMENT RULES AND ELIGIBILITY
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EQUIPMENT

Rules concerning legal player equipment will be strictly enforced.

  • Teams should provide two sets of jerseys of contrasting color.  Jerseys must have legible numbers.  Taped-on numbers are not permitted. 
  • Jerseys with an arm opening of more than 4 inches below the armpit are illegal.
  • Game basketballs will be provided.  Teams must provide their own basketballs for practice and/or warm-ups.

ELIGIBILITY

All teams may be Intramural Champions or teams designated by the respective institution from any two (2) or four (4) year degree-granting college or university.

  • All participants must be currently enrolled students at least ½ of full-time enrollment as an undergraduate or enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours as a graduate student.  Players must be enrolled for the minimum number of credit hours at least 45 days prior to the tournament.  If a graduating senior is taking less than the minimum required hours to fulfill graduation requirements, he/she must submit a letter from the registrar stating that the player will be graduating in the Spring 2009 term.
  • Faculty/staff are not eligible to participate. 
  • Alumni are not allowed to participate regardless of any institution’s intramural program policies. 
  • All team members must represent the same institution.
  • A participant may not be a current member of a varsity basketball team or have participated on a varsity basketball team for more than three (3) weeks during the 2008-2009 academic year. 
  • Teams are limited to a maximum of one (1) former varsity player on a team.
  • A participant may not have been a professional in the same or a related activity.
  • Players are limited to six (6) years of consecutive participation in the GCBBC.  A player’s first year begins the first year that player’s name appears on a GCBBC roster OR on a varsity squad list.
  • Each participant must present a current valid picture ID prior to each game.
  • Each participant must complete and sign a waiver form prior to participation.

 

TOURNAMENT RULES

Tournament play will be governed by NFHS Basketball rules.  Unless otherwise stated, the 2008-2009 NFHS Basketball Rules Book will be the guidelines for play.

Players & Equipment

  1. Each Men’s and Women’s team shall consist of 5 players.  Each team must have a minimum of 4 players in order to begin a game.  NFHS rules apply regarding the number of players needed to finish a game.
  2. All teams must check in at their scheduled court at least five (5) minutes prior to their scheduled game.   Game time is forfeit time.                                                                                                                         
  3. Men shall use a regulation-sized basketball.  The intermediate (women’s) basketball shall be used for Women’s play.  A game ball will be provided for each game. 
  4. Jerseys:  Each team is required to wear numbered shirts of one distinguishable color.  Numbers must be clearly legible on the front and/or back of each jersey.  No taped-on numbers will be allowed. 
  5. Shoes:  Tennis shoes are the recommended footwear.  No black-soled shoes that may mark the floor are permitted.  Sandals, street shoes, combat boots, or boots are not allowed.  No player will be allowed to participate in bare feet.
  6. Jewelry:  No jewelry or any other item deemed dangerous by the Intramural Staff may be worn during play.  Any player wearing exposed permanent jewelry (i.e. body piercings) will not be permitted to play.
  7. There will be no hats, bandanas, or hard barrettes worn during play.  Cloth (elastic) bands may be used to control the hair.
  8. Players may wear soft, pliable pads or braces on the leg, knee, and/or ankle.  Braces may not have any exposed metal and/or screws.  Braces made of any hard material (including plastic) must be covered with a padded sleeve or at least one-half inch padding for safety reasons.  Under no circumstances will a player wearing a cast or splint be permitted to play.
  9. If eyeglasses are worn, they must be unbreakable.  Each player is responsible for the safety of his/her own glasses.

Game Format

  1. A game will consist of two 20-minute halves with an intermission of three (3) minutes after the conclusion of the first half.  There will be a running clock, except for the last two (2) minutes of each half, when the clock will stop for every dead-ball situation (except in mercy rule situations - see Rule 4). 
  2. Time-outs:  Each team is permitted three (3) time-outs per game and one (1) time-out per overtime period (one minute in duration).  Time-outs DO NOT carry over from regulation to overtime or from overtime to overtime.   Each timeout is one (1) minute in length.  The clock stops during all time-outs.
  3. Overtime:  If the score remains tied at the end of regulation play, an overtime period of three (3) minutes will be played.  A jump ball will be administered at center court to start the overtime period.  The overtime period shall consist of a running clock for the first three minutes and will stop on every dead-ball situation for the last minute.  This procedure will be repeated until a winner is determined.     
  4. Mercy Rule:  The Mercy Rule will be in effect when a team is ahead by 15 or more points with two (2) minutes or less remaining in the game.  During this time, there will be a continuously running clock.  If the margin becomes less than 15 points, the clock will stop for all dead-ball situations.  Officials may end the game if teams are avoiding the mercy rule.
  5. To start the game, a jump ball will be administered at center court.  Alternating possession will be in effect once control is obtained after the jump ball.  The alternating possession arrow will determine possession of the ball at the start the second half.     
  6. Substitutions:  A substitute must report to the scorekeeper and be recognized by a game official before he/she may enter the game.  A substitute can only enter the game during a dead-ball situation.  In a multiple free throw situation, a substitute may only enter immediately before or after the last free throw attempt.  Failure to properly report will result in a technical foul being assessed to that player.
             

Court Policies

  1. Dunking will only be permitted during the game.  However, a circus-type or unsafe atmosphere will not be tolerated.  Hanging on the rim will result in that player receiving a technical foul.  No dunking will be allowed before or after the game or during halftime.  Any violation of this rule will result in a technical foul being charged to the head coach/captain or player.
  2. A team is permitted a maximum of two (2) coaches on its bench during a game.  Each coach must present ID and be listed on the scoresheet prior to the start of the game.  Conduct of team coaches is the responsibility of the team before, during, and after the game.  Any other non-players must be in the designated spectator areas.
  3. Players that are considered bench personnel must remain seated during play and may only stand to spontaneously react to play before immediately being re-seated.  One designated head coach or captain is permitted to stand during play within the confines of the bench area.

Fouls & Penalties

  1. A player will be disqualified (foul out) when he/she has accumulated 5 fouls (any combination of personal or technical).
  2. One free throw will be awarded for a player fouled in the act of shooting and the two or three-point try is successful.
  3. Two free throws will be awarded for a player fouled in the act of shooting whose two-point try is unsuccessful, and three free throws will be awarded for an unsuccessful attempt beyond the three-point line.
  4. Bonus free throws (one-and-one) for each common foul (except player control or team control) will be awarded beginning with the offending team’s 7th personal foul during each half.  Two free throws will be awarded for every foul on or after the 10th team foul of each half.
  5. On all one-shot and one-and-one free throw attempts (not the first of a two-shot sequence), offensive and defensive players may enter the lane when the free throw attempt has contacted either the rim or the backboard.
  6. During a free throw, marked lane spaces may be occupied by a maximum of four (4) defensive and two (2) offensive players.  The bottom spaces below the blocks shall not be occupied.  Any player who does not occupy a marked lane space must be behind the free-throw line extended and behind the three-point line.
  7. No free throws for will be awarded for the following:


    8. A.    Each common foul before the bonus rule is in effect
    B.    A double foul
    C.    A double technical foul
    D.    A player control foul       
    E.    A team control foul

  8. Technical Fouls:  On all technical fouls, two (2) free throws will be awarded to the offended team, plus the ball at the division line for a throw-in.  Technical fouls are counted towards each player disqualification total (five fouls) and the team’s bonus situation. 

    9. A.    Two (2) unsportsmanlike technical fouls charged to any individual (player or coach) will result in his/her ejection from the game and the facility.
    B.    Three (3) unsportsmanlike technical fouls charged to any team will result in forfeiture of the game by that team.
    C.    Any technical foul assessed to the bench, manager, any coach, or an obvious fan of a team will also be charged to the head coach/team captain.

  9. Intentional Fouls: Two (2) free throws and possession of the ball at the spot nearest the foul will be awarded to the offended team for all intentional fouls during an unsuccessful two-point try.  An intentional foul during an unsuccessful three-point try will result in three (3) free throws and possession of the ball.  For a successful two-point or three-point try, the basket will be counted and two (2) free throws and the ball will be awarded.

    10.
  10. Flagrant Fouls:  On all flagrant fouls, the offended team will be awarded two (2) free throws and possession of the ball at the division line for a throw-in.  The offending player will be ejected from the game.  

Conduct of Players, Coaches, & Spectators

1.   Any player or coach who acts in a manner not showing good sportsmanship shall be penalized with a technical foul and possible ejection from the game.  The official(s) shall have the authority to warn, penalize, or disqualify any player(s), substitute, or coach for violations of sportsmanship including, but not limited to the following:

  1. Disrespectfully addressing an official or IM staff member.
  2. Questioning the official’s judgment or decisions.
  3. Showing disgust with official’s decisions.
  4. Using profane or insulting language or gestures toward an official or opponent.
  5. Baiting or taunting players of the opposing team.
  6. Disrupting the game so that it may not be continued in an orderly fashion.

2.   Coaches, captains, or playing captains are responsible for the action of their team members.
3.   At no time may a coach enter the playing area.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • If the clock or game is stopped because of an injury, the injured player must come out of the game until the next available opportunity to substitute.  In accordance with NFHS rules, a team may “buy” a player back in the game by using a time-out, provided that player is ready to play at the end of the time-out.
  • Clothing soiled with blood must be removed and may not be taped over.
  • If a player is deemed ineligible at any time during the tournament, his/her team will forfeit all games in which that ineligible player participated.  In addition, the ineligible player is suspended for the remainder of the tournament.
  • A team winning a game by forfeit will receive a score of 2-0 when determining advancement from pool play.