5^th-6^th Grade Girls’ Basketball Rules

Playing time

1. Games will be played on Saturdays between 8:30 am and 12:00 pm in the primary school (and sometimes middle school) gym.
2. Season runs from March 1 – May 22, 2004.
3. Every player should receive a fair amount of playing time.
4. If a team does not have 5 players they may borrow players from the other team. (Team that does not have enough players forfeits the game.)
5. Win/loss record will be kept for playoff purposes.

Game time

1. Time allotted for games is 1 hour (up to 10 minutes extra if needed).
2. Four 10 minute quarters.
3. An automatic 1 minute time out on the first dead ball around 5 minutes into each quarter (to substitute players as necessary).
4. 2 minute break between quarters (between qtrs 1 and 2 and qtrs 3 and 4)
5. 5 minute break at half time.
6. Each team gets 1 time out per half.
7. Clock stops only on free throws and time outs.

Defense

1. Half court defense only, no back court defense allowed
2. Man-to-man defense only (to be evaluated as season progresses).
3. Fast breaks will be allowed only when the ball is stolen. Not on rebounds.
4. No double teaming. If a double team violation is called there will be a two shot technical foul and the team keeps possession of the ball.
5. Players stepping in to help defend a shot close to the basket is not considered as double teaming.

Fouls

1. Free throws to be shot somewhere between the free throw line and the semi-circle inside the free throw line.
2. All players must wait until the ball hits the rim or the backboard before entering into the lane.
3. If a player is fouled in the act of shooting, that player will shoot two free throws. If the shot goes in after the player is fouled, that player will shoot one free throw.
4. For fouls occurring not in the act of shooting the team that is fouled will get possession of the ball. After the 5^th team foul of each half, one-and-one free throws will be shot.
5. No player will be allowed to “foul out” of a game. If fouling becomes excessive by an individual the coaches should let the referees know that the game is getting too rough and the individual should be removed from the game. (If this becomes a problem during the season, we will need to reassess the rule.)
6. No hacking, no pushing, no scratching, no grabbing of arms, no tackling, no holding – these will all be called as fouls.

Miscellaneous

1. Jump ball at the start of the game only. All other jump ball situations will be determined by the alternate possession rule.
2. The team with possession at the end of the 1^st and 3^rd quarters will start the next quarter with possession.
3. Three seconds in the lane should be called out by the referee first as a warning. If the player continues to stay in the lane then it should be called as a violation and the ball will be given to the other team.
4. Coaches should discuss with the referees before each game how tight to call traveling and double dribble. As the season progresses the rules should be more strictly enforced. Referees should also use their discretion to call some players tighter than other depending upon their ability.
5. Referees should try to explain to the player what they did wrong when calling an infraction.
6. No jewelry should be worn!