PARKLAND BASKETBALL CLUB RULES: 

1.0 GOVERNING RULES. Florida High School Athletic Association rules will govern play unless otherwise noted herein. 

2.0 DIVISIONS. The player’s (the “Player”) school grade will determine the division he/she participates in. Divisions may be made up of Players in one or more school grades depending on the number of Players in each school grade. Each division will be governed by a director (the “Division Director”). 

3.0 TEAMS AND COACHES. Each team (the “Team”) will consist of a minimum of 7 Players and a maximum of 8 Players. 8-Player Teams are preferred. The number of Teams will be determined by the number of registered Players. There will be a limit of two coaches per Team, one head coach (the “Head Coach”) and one assistant coach (the “Assistant Coach”). Only one coach is permitted to stand during the game. The other coach must remain seated on the bench. 

4.0 PLAYER EVALUATIONS. Each division will conduct a player evaluation (the “Evaluation”). Each Player will be required to attend the Evaluation to be guaranteed a roster spot on a Team. During the Evaluation, all Players will perform a number of routine skills. Head Coaches will observe and rate the Players based on their ability. Players who miss the Evaluation or register late will not be guaranteed a roster spot, but may be eligible for the Player Draft depending upon the number of participants in their division. The purpose of the Evaluation is to achieve parity amongst the teams within a division. Head coaches, Division Directors and all league members privy to the Players’ ratings shall keep such information confidential. 

5.0 TEAM SELECTIONS. A Player draft to select teams (the "Player Draft") shall be scheduled by the Division Director after the Evaluation. Teams will be chosen by the Head Coaches during the Player Draft. No one other than the Division Director and the Head Coaches shall attend the Player Draft. Each division shall use a “Modified Snake” type draft. Example 1 - the Team having the first selection in the first round of the draft will select first in Rounds 1, 4, and 6, and last in Rounds 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8. Example 2 - the Team having the last selection in the first round of the draft will select first in Rounds 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 and last in Rounds 1, 4 and 6. The order of the Draft will be selected by random draw, however, a Head Coach whose child is rated in the top two rounds of the Player Draft will be slotted based on his/her rating and that Head Coach’s Team will be assigned a selection in the first and second round accordingly. Example 1 - if the Head Coach’s child is the 3rd highest ranked player in an 8-team division, the Head Coach will select his child with the 3rd selection in Round 1 and will then have the 6th selection in the Rounds 2 and 3. Example 2 - if the Head Coach’s child is the 15th highest ranked Player in an 8-team division, the Head Coach will have the second selection in Round 1 and will select his child with the 7th selection in Round 2. If a Head Coach’s child’s skill rating is outside of the first two rounds of the Player Draft, that Head Coach’s child will be slotted in a draft round in accordance with his/her skill rating. Example - if the Head Coach’s child is slotted in the fifth round as a result of his skill rating, the Head Coach must select his child in Round 5 of the Player Draft. All Players must be drafted. A Head Coach may not be assigned a Player prior to the draft. In the event a Head Coach would like to coach with a specific Assistant Coach, the Head Coach must draft the Assistant Coach's child; Exception - in the event all other Head Coaches consent to said request, the Assistant Coach's child will be assigned to the requesting Head Coach one round earlier than the round that Assistant Coach's child is slotted. Players must play for the Team that selects them. Under extreme circumstances, the Division Director has the authority to switch a Player to another Team if it is determined that such a change is critically necessary. Siblings in the same Division will automatically be placed on the same Team. Parents may request however that siblings not be drafted to the same Team. Note: Once the first sibling is drafted, the other sibling will be placed on the same Team in the Draft round they are slotted in according to their Evaluation rating. Once the Draft is concluded and no other special circumstances are acknowledged, there will be no trading of Players for any reason. If a trade is proposed for a special circumstance during the Draft, and the Division Director concurs, the Head Coaches must approve the trade by majority vote. Once a Player is drafted or placed on a Team, the Player will remain on that Team for the duration of the season, unless an unforeseen problem arises that must be resolved by the Division Director. 

6.0 GAME SCHEDULES. Games will be played in accordance with the schedule set by the League Board. All teams will play approximately 12 regular season games followed by a double-elimination playoff with teams being seeded by record for the first round. 

7.0 PRACTICE SCHEDULES. Teams are limited to one 1-hour practice sessions per week prior to the commencement of regular season games and one 1-hour practice session during the regular season and playoffs. Practice times and locations will be made available to the Head Coaches by the League Board. 

8.0 GAME RULES: 

8.1 STARTING TIME. All games will start at the scheduled time, unless a Team cannot field enough players, in which case a 10-minute grace period will be granted. If a Team does not have at least 4 players after the 10-minute grace period, that team will forfeit the game. 

8.2 LENGTH OF GAMES. Games will consist of four 8-minute quarters. There will be a one-minute intermission between the 1st & 2nd and 3rd & 4th quarters, and a two-minute intermission at half-time. During the regular season, one 2-minute overtime period will be played. If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, the game will end in a tie. In a playoff game, additional 2-minute overtime periods will be played until the tie is broken. 

8.3 RUNNING CLOCK. Each quarter will use a running clock, except for the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, all overtime periods, and the last 10 seconds of the first 3 quarters. During running clock time, the clock will only stop for timeouts, free throws, injuries or at a referee’s discretion. Exception: If a Team is ahead by 20 points or more at any time in the 4th quarter or by 15 points or more in the final 2 minutes of the 4th quarter, the clock for the remainder of the 4th quarter will only stop for time-outs or at a referee’s discretion, unless the score differential later drops to 10 points or below. 

8.4. TIMEKEEPERS AND SCOREKEEPERS. Timekeepers and scorekeepers are prohibited from coaching, communicating with, or instructing Players during the game. No one under the age of 16 will be allowed at the scorer's table, unless specifically authorized by a Division Director. 

8.5 MINIMUM PLAYING TIME. Each Player present prior to the start of the 2nd quarter must play two full 8-minute quarters, one in each half. No Player can play in all 4 quarters of a game until all other Players have played in 3 full quarters. A Player arriving after the start of the 2nd quarter shall, at the Head Coach's discretion, play either one or two 8-minute quarters in the second half. A Player arriving after the start of the 3rd quarter is not eligible to play. 

8.6 MAXIMUM PLAYING TIME: 

         A. Teams with 7 or More Players. When a team has 7 or more Players before half-time, NO PLAYER MAY PLAY IN ALL 4 QUARTERS (each Player must sit at least one quarter from start to finish). If it is not possible to have every Player sit due to Players arriving after the start of the 2nd quarter, a coach must have as many Players as possible sit one full quarter, and the opposing Head Coach can choose, prior to the start of the third quarter, one Player, who played the                        entire first half, to sit out one full quarter in the second half. 

         B. Teams with 6 or Less Players vs. Teams with 7 or More Players. If a Team has 6 or less Players at the start of a game, an opposing Team with 7 or more Players may select up to two Players from the Team with 6 or less Players who each must sit 1 full quarter. It is responsibility of the coach with 6 players to inform the opposing coach that they have only 6 players in attendance. If the coach with 6 players fails to inform the opposing coach, then at any time prior to the                     start of the 4th quarter the coach with 7 or more players can designate 2 players on the opposing team that must sit one full quarter each. As a default, the team with 6 players shall sit their 2 highest scoring players. However, if the opposing coach would like different players to sit a full quarter each, the opposing coach can inform the coach of the team with 6 players which 2 players must sit a full quarter. 

         C. Teams with 5 Players vs. Teams with 6 or More Players. If one Team has only 5 players in attendance, the opposing coach can select 1 player on his/her team that is allowed to play all 4 quarters. 

         D. Teams with 6 Players vs. Teams with 6 Players. The only substitution rule that applies is that each player must play 1 full quarter in each half and all players must play at least 3 full quarters in the game. A team can substitute in the 1st or 4th quarter so long as all players play at least 1 full quarter each half and all players play at least 3 full quarters in the game. Both teams can play any players they want so long as all players play 3 full quarters and play 1 full quarter each                  half. 

8.7 SUBSTITUTIONS FOR INJURY/FOULS. A Player forced to leave the game due to injury/illness, fouling out, committing 4 fouls in their first quarter of play, or being charged with a technical foul (a Player receiving a technical foul must sit out the remainder of the quarter and the next quarter, or if after the end of a quarter, then the next two quarters, shall receive credit for playing the entire quarter (and the following quarter in the event of a technical foul). The substituting Player shall not receive credit for playing in that quarter. Upon one of these occurrences, the Player on the bench who has played the least number of minutes in the game shall replace the Player leaving the game. If two or more Players on the bench have played the same amount of minutes in the game, their Head Coach may choose which Player may replace the Player leaving the game. If an injured Player returns to the game in that quarter, the injured Player shall replace the Player who replaced him/her. 

8.8 1st QUARTER SUBSTITUTIONS. If requested by the Head Coach, a referee will call an “Official Time-out” at the first stoppage of play (including made baskets) at or after the 4-minute mark of the 1st quarter, so that Teams having 7 or more Players may make one substitution. Teams with 7 players may substitute only 1 player. Teams with 8 players may substitute 2 players. The Players entering and leaving the game will not receive credit for playing an entire quarter and therefore must both play the entire 2nd quarter. This rule is intended to encourage and enable coaches to divide playing time as equally as possible. Teams with 6 players playing against a team with 6 players can make 1 substitution in the first quarter if desired. 

8.9 4th QUARTER SUBSTITUTIONS. Player substitutions can be made at any time in the 4th quarter as long as the Players entering and leaving the game have both played 2 full quarters. Because every Player must play at least one full quarter in each half, there can be no substitutions in the second and third quarters. EXCEPT FOR INJURY SUBSTITUTIONS, NO PLAYER SUBSTITUTIONS ARE ALLOWED IN EITHER THE 2ND QUARTER OR THE 3RD QUARTER OF ANY GAME. 

8.10 CHECKING IN. All Players must check-in at the Scorer’s Table prior to entering the game. Players checking in in violation of Rules 8.5 through 8.9 will not be permitted to enter the game. 

8.11 TEAM BENCH RULES. The Team, the Head Coach and the Assistant Coach will be the only personnel permitted on the bench. Only the Head Coach is permitted to stand during the game. The first violation shall be a warning followed by a technical foul for each subsequent violation. The Head Coach shall lose his/her privilege to stand during the game if a technical foul, for any reason, is issued to the Head Coach, the Assistant Coach or any Player on the bench. 

8.12 START OF GAME & OVERTIME POSSESSION. A tip-off will determine possession at the start of the game (and any overtime period). 

8.13 DIVISION SPECIFIC RULES. 

           A. In divisions where full court defense is permitted, a Team leading by 15 points or more may not play full court defense. 

           B.  BOYS 4TH, 5TH, 6TH, 7TH, 8TH GRADE, and GIRLS 6-7TH GRADE.  All Club rules apply with the exception of the rules stated herein.

  BACKCOURT DEFENSE.  Backcourt defense is prohibited, except in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter and any overtime period.  Defensive players cannot pressure the offensive players once they have gained possession of the ball in the backcourt (except in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter and any overtime period).  The ball must cross into the front-court before a defensive player can pressure the ball.  If the offensive team loses control of the ball in the backcourt, the defensive team cannot take possession of the ball until it crosses the half-court line.

           C.  BOYS 3RD and GIRLS 4TH and 5TH GRADE

                BACKCOURT DEFENSE. Backcourt defense is prohibited. Defensive players cannot pressure the offensive players once they have gained possession of the ball in the backcourt. The ball must cross into the front-court before a defensive player can pressure the ball. If the offensive team loses control of the ball in the backcourt, the defensive team cannot take possession of the ball until it crosses the halfcourt line. 

                END OF GAME. If, and only if, a team is down by 5 points or less, with under thirty (:30) seconds left in the fourth quarter (or Overtime), the defending team is allowed to play defense in the backcourt. There are no other exceptions.

                FREE-THROWS. Free-throws shall be taken from behind the free-throw line. The shooter may jump over the free-throw line during the follow through of the free-throw attempt.

           D. Kindergarten, BOYS 1ST, BOYS 2ND, GIRLS 1ST, GIRLS 2ND AND GIRLS 3RD GRADE  

                DEFENSE: MAN-TO-MAN ONLY AND INSIDE THE 3-POINT ARC. Defense will be man-to-man ONLY and the defensive players MUST BE WITHIN 3 feet of the offensive player they are covering. Defense outside the 3-point arc is prohibited at all times. Defensive players cannot pressure the offensive player once he/she has gained possession of the ball outside the offensive 3-point arc. If the offensive team loses control of the ball outside the arc, the defensive team                        cannot try to take possession of the ball until it crosses inside the arc. Defensive players may switch on picks, however, only 1 player can guard the offensive player at a time. The only exception is in the paint; there are no double-teaming rules in the paint. If a team is called for double teaming, the opposing team will shoot 2 free-throws on the 3rd time double teaming is called and every time thereafter; any offensive player on the court may take the free-throws. 

                INBOUND PLAYS. All inbound plays in the front court will take place from the sideline above the free-throw line. 

                FREE-THROWS. Free-throws will be taken from a line inside the foul line. 

                GUARD POSITION RULE. All players must play at least 1 full quarter at the guard position. This entails either in-bounding or dribbling/passing the ball over mid-court in all back-court situations. 

                RULE INTERPRETATION. Final decisions of rule interpretations will be made by the referee. 

                OFFENSIVE PLAY - NO ISOLATION. Coaches are encouraged to form offensive strategies that incorporate involvement for all players. The “spread” or “4-corner” offense with the intention of player “isolation”, whether for purposes of helping an offensive player to score or keeping an offensive player away from the basket in order to minimize the number of defensive players near the basket, is illegal. On a violation of Rule 12.9, the referee will stop the game and award the                  ball to the defensive team. A “spread offense” is different from the offensive team “spreading the floor”. Spreading the offensive floor followed by team movement towards the basket is sound basketball strategy and is not a spread offense in terms of “isolation”. Thus, setting up an offense in a spread position in order to begin the offensive play is not illegal. 

                OFFENSIVE PLAY - NO DELAY. Because defense outside the 3-point arc is prohibited at all times, running time off the clock to gain an advantage by keeping the ball outside the 3-point line is also prohibited. Accordingly, the offensive team, while in the front court, must make an effort to advance the ball across the 3-point arc. Failure to do so within 10 seconds or continuously moving the ball back outside the 3-point arc for the purpose of delay shall be a violation, resulting                  in a stoppage of play and the ball being awarded to the defensive team.

8.14 TIME-OUTS. Each Team is permitted 4 time-outs per game, however, only 3 time-outs can be carried over to the second half. Teams will receive one additional time-out in each overtime period. 

8.15 INJURY/ILLNESS. Any Player who suffers a head injury or displays symptoms of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, etc. during the game may continue to play only at the referee’s discretion. The Player’s health and safety will be the sole determining factor. 

8.16 UNIFORMS. Players must wear unaltered league provided uniforms for every game. Any violation for failing to comply will result in a technical foul at the start of the game, or when realized by the official. Jerseys must be tucked in at the start of each quarter and re-tucked during any stoppage of play. If a Player does not have the issued jersey, he/she may wear a substitute shirt, without numbers, that does not conflict with the color of the opposing Team’s jerseys. The referee shall be informed of the substitute shirt prior to the game. 

8.17 PROTESTING A GAME. The Head Coach of a Team may lodge a protest with their Division Director within 4 hours of the conclusion of a game if he/she believes the opposing Team broke a Club rule that gave it an unfair advantage. The Board of Directors will review the protest and issue a determination. 

8.18 INCLEMENT WEATHER. During inclement weather, Teams scheduled to play must come to the park unless the game has been officially canceled by their Division Director or a Board Member. Safety of the players is the primary concern and will be the determining factor in whether a game should be canceled. In the event a game is canceled, each Division Director will contact their Coaches, who in turn should contact their Players. The league will also update its website accordingly. In the event a regular season game is suspended because of conditions which make it impossible to play, the game will be considered a complete game if at least 3 quarters have been completed. In the event a playoff game is suspended because of conditions which make it impossible to continue play, the game will be rescheduled from where it left off. 

8.19 COVID-19 PROTOCOL. The COVID-19 Protocol posted on the League's website shall apply to all Club players, coaches, family members and spectators. In the event of a conflict between the rules herein and the COVID-19 Protocol, the COVID-19 Protocol shall govern. 

8.20 CONDUCT. Any Club Member (includes Players, parents of Players and coaches), who commits any unsportsmanlike act within the confines of the park where league activity occurs, including, but not limited to, disrespectfully addressing a coach, board member or official, use of profanity, or acting in any manner that threatens injury or may result in a Player, coach, official or spectator being injured, will be subject to disciplinary action as the Board deems appropriate and, in the case of a Player or Coach, will receive a double technical foul and be ejected from the game. Any Player or Coach that is ejected from a game will serve a 1-game suspension and sit out the next game. An accumulation of 4 points in the same season will automatically result in the expulsion of the Player or Coach from the league for the remainder of the season and no refund will be given. Each technical foul shall count as 1 point and each double technical foul shall count as 2 points. The Board, at its discretion, may choose to review each case of unsportsmanlike conduct and assess any other additional disciplinary action as it deems appropriate. Two incidences of unsportsmanlike conduct in the same season will automatically result in the expulsion of the Player or Coach from the league for the remainder of the season and no refund will be given. Any Club Member who verbally threatens, physically assaults or intentionally injures anyone while participating in any Club activity will be ejected from the game and immediately suspended from the league. No refund will be given under such circumstance. The Board of Directors reserves the right to suspend any Player or coach whose overall conduct is found to be unacceptable pursuant to the league rules. To prevent anyone other than coaches from coaching the game and interfering with the game and its players, if a parent or spectator interferes with the game, the referee will stop the game until all in violation are removed. If such conduct continues, the referee will issue a technical foul to the offending team, the parent/spectator interfering will be removed, and the parent’s/spectator's child will be ejected and removed from the game. The Head Coach is responsible for the conduct of his assistant coach, players and parents/spectators. If a non-coaching parent's/spectator's actions is deemed unsportsmanlike or interfering with the integrity of the game, the referee will stop the game, discuss the matter with the Head Coach and the Head Coach will talk to the parent/spectator. If such conduct continues, the referee will issue a technical foul to the offending team, the parent/spectator will be removed, and the parent’s/spectator's child will be ejected and removed. The only people permitted inside the fenced area during a game(s) are the Players, Coaches, Referees, Scorekeepers and Timekeepers involved in the game(s). Teams waiting to play must remain outside the fenced area. In the event of a violation of this rule, the referee will stop the game until all in violation are removed. If such conduct continues, the referee will issue a technical foul to the offending team, if applicable, and, the parent/spectator interfering will be removed and the parent’s/spectator's child will also be removed, if applicable.