Lake Region Youth Basketball League
Mission and Rules
2006-2007
As adopted October 11, 2006
LRYB’s MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER FUN AND FAMILY ORIENTATED BASKETBALL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN RESIDING WITHIN THE TOWNS OF SAD 61, GRADES 1-6. EVERYONE PLAYS, ON BALANCED TEAMS, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF POSITIVE COACHES. LRYB IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO; TEAMWORK, SPORTSMANSHIP, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. PROFANITY AND OTHER ACTS OF POOR SPORTSMANSHIP WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
The activities and affairs of LRYB are managed by a District Committee, made up of representatives of the four SAD 61 towns.
We are here for the children! Sportsmanship, teamwork and fun come before winning. There is no championship formatted tournament play. The kids want to play and compete without overemphasis on winning. Success and the satisfaction that comes with success should be felt when kids give 100%, stay positive with themselves and with their teammates, displayed good sportsmanship and had fun.
The Challenge for all adults involved (parents, coaches, referees, league representatives, and fans) is to preserve the enjoyment of play while teaching the structure of skill development, teamwork, sport and basketball situations, and the game within.
To promote LRYB’s mission:
Cheering, from coaches and fans alike, shall be POSITIVE in nature only.
Coaches or fans displaying unacceptable behavior or conduct detrimental to LRYB, to include but is not limited to abuse of referees, usage of profanity, or cheering negative in nature, WILL BE ejected from the game and ordered off the premises by league administrators.
Any disputes over rules or disciplinary actions resulting from violation of rules or behavior not in keeping with the MISSION STATEMENT of the League will be dealt with by the District Committee.
Administrative (all teams and players)
1. Team Practices may start Monday, November 27, 2006.
2. For safety reasons, players MAY NOT wear jewelry during play, including, but not limited to, rings, etc., earrings or studs (may tape over), metal or plastic hairclips or barrettes, necklaces of any kind, non-athletic wristbands. Scrunchies and hair ties (including coated rubber bands with small metal piece) or soft hair bands or head bands are permitted.
3. Basketball appropriate clothing is strongly encouraged for all participants.
4. Players shall play for the town in which they reside. Players must reside in SAD 61. Any exceptions (children with parents residing in different towns or children moving into the district)
will be decided by the impacted town’s recreation director(s)
5. Max numbers of players. There are a maximum number of 13 kids per team. With the exception of a child moving into the district after teams have been formed, any town with at least 14 kids registered to play will make two teams.
6. Rosters with numbers must be submitted for ID purposes.
Game rules (all teams and players)
1. Maine High school basketball rules apply, though, it is not the league’s intent to monitor and govern a high school rule book, with clarifications and modifications as listed below:
2. A jump ball will start the game. The possession arrow goes to the team that does not get possession of jump. Possession alternates for the remainder of the game. A jump ball will occur for the overtime period.
3. 5 players per team are required to begin a game. Play may continue with a minimum of 2 on a team. The opposing team may keep playing with the normal 5 players. Failure to have 5 players to start a game will result in a forfeit. Teams are encouraged to mix players and scrimmage if a forfeit is declared.
4. Coaches should play each child approximately equal time, regardless of the number of players on each team. This rule may be modified prior to the start of each game for disciplinary reasons and following notification to the referees, league representatives, and the opposition’s coach.
5. Scorebooks (or a score sheet) must be kept at all games.
6. Time-outs are limited to 3 full (1 minute) and 2 ‘30-second’ per game and can be taken at anytime. 1 extra time-out in any overtime period is allowed.
7. Differences over calls and rules may be discussed briefly and with civility among coaches and referees. Referees may limit questioning of calls or rulings if questions are adversely affecting the pace or length of a game. Coaches are not to “work” or “play” the referees! This is REC. Coaches and referees are expected to work together to provide the best program we can for the children.
Game rules - 5th and 6th grade Play
For girls and boys grade 6 and under (primarily 5th & 6th graders). Children may “play up” one grade level if space is available on an upper team. Children may play at one level only in rec basketball. Exceptions to the ‘playing up’ rule will be at the discretion of each town’s recreation director.
1. Defenses shall be player-to-player (man-to-man). No zone defenses over the midcourt line are allowed.
If a coach or referee believes a zone defense is being used, the referee may whistle play to stop, freeze players and check to see if defensive players are guarding an offensive player (they do not have to be within a specific distance) or whether they are defending an area (zone) of the court. After one warning for what the referee decides is too close to a zone defense, a technical foul may be called.
2. Double teaming and trapping is allowed but only on the player with the ball. There will be no double teaming a player who doesn't have the basketball.
3. There will be NO pressing in the backcourt if the defensive team is ahead by 10 or more points.
4. Three seconds in the offensive lane, ten seconds across mid-court line and five seconds closely guarded is a violation and will result in a loss of possession. “Closely guarded” is defined as within 6’, squared up to an offensive player. If an offensive player begins a dribble, a new 5 second count begins; when the player stops dribbling, a new 5 second count begins again. Referees may be somewhat liberal enforcing these rules at the start of the season. By the end of the season they will be more strictly enforced.
5. Time stops on every whistle. The clock restarts when the ball is touched inbounds.
6. Four Six minute quarters; 3 minute overtime (1 only).
7. Fouls/Foul shots: 2 on shooting fouls; 1 and 1 on the seventh team foul committed in a half; 2 on the 10th team foul per half; 2 and possession on a technical or flagrant foul. A player fouls out on fifth personal foul. Personal and team fouls carry over into all overtime periods.
8. Free throw rebounding. There is no violation if the foul shooter touches or crosses the foul line while shooting. Players crossing over the free throw line on their shot attempt may rebound their missed shot so long as in crossing the line, the shooter does not gain undue advantage for the rebound and may only pursue the rebound after the shot hits the rim. Rebounders may enter the lane upon ball hitting the rim.
9. Substitutions may enter the game only at normal breaks in play and must report to scorer’s table. Referees will wave in subs.
10. Franchise players. Late season, travel league player additions are prohibited. Rosters will be set 2 days prior to the start of the season.
Game rules - 3rd and 4th grade Play
For girls and boys grade 4 and under (primarily 3rd & 4th graders). Children may “play up” one grade level if space is available on an upper team. Children may play at one level only in rec basketball. Exceptions to the ‘playing up’ rule will be at the discretion of each town’s recreation director.
1. Defenses shall be player-to-player (man-to-man) and half court only.
No zone defenses. Weak-side help is allowed and encouraged. However, if a coach or referee believes a zone defense is being used, the referee may whistle play to stop, freeze players and check to see if defensive players are guarding an offensive player (they do not have to be within a specific distance) or whether they are defending an area (zone) of the court. After one warning for what the referee decides is too close to a zone defense, a technical foul may be called.
No double-teaming. Help is allowed only if a player breaks free to the basket.
No pressing. The offensive team is allowed to bring the ball to midcourt after possession is established without hindrance.
2. Five seconds in the offensive lane, ten seconds across mid-court line and five seconds closely guarded is a violation and will result in a loss of possession. “Closely guarded” is defined as within 6’, squared up to an offensive player. If an offensive player begins a dribble, a new 5 second count begins; when the player stops dribbling, a new 5 second count begins again. Referees may be somewhat liberal enforcing these rules at the start of the season. By the end of the season they will be more strictly enforced.
3. Time stops on foul shots, time outs, substitutions and injuries and on all whistles in the last minute of each quarter. The clock restarts when the ball is touched inbounds.
4. Four Eight minute quarters. Running time.
5. Fouls/Foul shots: 2 on shooting fouls; 1 and 1 on the seventh team foul committed in a half; 2 on the 10th team foul per half; 2 and possession on a technical or flagrant foul. There is no fouling out of players. However, upon each player's 5th and all subsequent fouls those players will be required to take a 2 minute "penalty" before re-entering the game.
The foul line may be moved forward to accommodate a fair free throw opportunity upon agreement of coaches and refs.
6. Free throw rebounding. There is no violation if the foul shooter touches or crosses the foul line (or modified foul line) while shooting. Players crossing over the free throw line on their shot attempt may rebound their missed shot so long as in crossing the line, the shooter does not gain undue advantage for the rebound and may only pursue the rebound after the shot hits the rim. Rebounders may enter the lane upon ball hitting the rim.
7. Scoring reset. All visual scoring tallies, mechanical or manual, will be reset at the end of each quarter.
8. Programmed substitutions will take place at or around the four minute mark of each period. Coaches are required to sub kids at this stoppage and encouraged to sub only at this stoppage. Other substitutions, when necessary, may enter the game only at normal breaks in play.