AYB Rules

Current official rules and regulations are defined by the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Book except where amended and superseded by the following AYB standing rules. Go to www.nfhs.org for National Federation of State High School Associations information.

• 3rd-6th grade divisions: 28.5”  
• 7th-8th grade division: 29.5”

• Games will start at the scheduled time and are 40 minutes long, comprised of four 10 minute quarters. 
• If a team does not show up within 5 minutes of their scheduled game time, that team will forfeit the game. A team is allowed to play a game with as few as four players. In the case of a forfeit, the court may be used for practice by the two scheduled teams. The forfeited game will not be rescheduled.
• There is no penalty if a player shows up late to a game that is already in session. That player will still be allowed to play in the game.  
• Games tied at the end of regulation will go into a 2 minute overtime period with stopping clock. One timeout is allowed per team. No timeouts will carry over! Should it go into 3 OTs, the first team to score wins.

• Games are played with a running clock. 
• The final 2 minutes of the game is played with a stopping clock only if the score differential is 15 points or less. A stopping clock is when the clock stops with each whistle blow. The clock will resume once the ball is inbounded and touched by a player.
• The scoreboard will be turned off if there is a difference of 25 or more points between the two teams.

• Each team is allowed TWO (2) timeouts per half. 
• Each team is allowed ONE (1) timeout per overtime period.

• Each player must play at least 5 minutes in each quarter for the first 3 quarters. A player may only be subbed out if he/she is injured during the 5 minute required playing time.  If a player is late  or injured, there is no make-up of time in later quarters.
• Officials will stop the clock around the 5 minute mark for the first 3 quarters to allow for substitutions. Players who are going into the game should kneel down near the scorekeeper’s table, ready to go in, knowing which player they are subbing for. 
• The 4th quarter will be coaches' option. Coaches will be able to substitute at their leisure.

• Teams may utilize man-to-man or zone defense. 
• Teams are allowed to apply a Full Court Press unless they are ahead by 15 or more points.

• Once a player commits 5 personal fouls, that player can no longer play in the game and must sit out for the remainder of the game. 
• Once a team reaches 7 fouls, then the player who was fouled is awarded 1 free throw. If that player makes his/her 1st shot, then he/she is awarded another free throw. 
• Once a team commits 10 fouls, 2 free throws will be awarded to the fouled player.
• Team fouls reset at the half. On intentional fouls (where you don’t play the ball or where you hug the player or pull on the player’s jersey or shorts), the offending team loses possession of the ball in addition to the free throws being awarded.

• 3rd-4th grade division: the shooter’s feet must be behind the free throw line before shooting, but may cross the line after shooting.
• 5th-8th grade division: the shooter’s feet must remain behind the free throw line until the ball hits the rim.
• The players lined up around the key may not enter the lane until the ball is released. The shooter cannot enter until the ball hits the rim.  All players behind the 3-point line may not cross the line until the ball has hit the rim. 
• If a player is fouled and is injured and unable to shoot free throws, the coach may sub that player out with another player on the bench to shoot the free throws. That injured player will be allowed back into the game if well enough to play again.

5 Second Throw-In:

A team attempting to throw a ball in-bounds has five seconds to release the ball towards the court. The five second clock starts when the team throwing it in has possession of the ball (usually bounced or handed to a player while out of bounds by the official). 

10 Second Violation:

A player must cross half court in 10 seconds after their team inbounds the ball. If they do not cross half court in 10 seconds, possession is awarded to the other team.  

Backcourt:

The dribbler is not considered to be in the front court until both feet and the basketball are in the front court. Once the dribbler has both feet and the ball in the front court, the ball must remain in the front court from that point forward. If the dribbler in the front court passes the ball to a player who catches the ball while crossing the half court line from the back court, that is a backcourt violation because the ball attains backcourt status as soon as that player catches the ball, then front court status again when he/she lands.

Offensive 3 Second Rule:

An offensive player cannot be in their team's foul lane for more than three seconds while his team has control of the ball. The count starts when the offensive player enters the lane and his team has control of the ball in the frontcourt (if a player is in the lane and his team has control of the ball in the backcourt, there is no count).  The count stops when a shot is taken, the player exits the lane or there is a loss of team control/possession.

• Coaches, players, and parents should use appropriate language at all times, during practices and games. 
• Parents should not come onto the court to question the scorekeepers. 
• If a player is injured, all other players are to return to their bench. The parent of the injured player may go to the bench, but may not go onto the court. 
• At the end of the game, players should huddle and call out the other team's name.
• Line up to commend the other team for a game well played.  
• Please also thank the officials. 
• Proceed out of the gym for your post game huddle to talk about the positives of the game and what can be worked on at the next practice. 

All players will wear the uniforms provided by the league. Jewelry will not be permitted at any time during a game and should be discouraged in practice. All coaches will be responsible for seeing that their players are not wearing watches, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, or hair clips. These items pose a threat to the safety of the players wearing them and to the other players as well.