House Rules
The RBA House League Rules, in conjunction with the RBA Code of Conduct, are designed to help promote balanced play, and enjoyment for all involved. It is the responsibility of every coach and official of the RBA to ensure that the intent of these rules is followed and that technicalities are not used to gain advantage. Violations of the letter, or the spirit, of these rules will be reviewed by the RBA and are subject to action.
Basketballs
The home team shall provide a game ball, which must be properly inflated: when the ball is dropped from shoulder height it should bounce waist-high. Coaches may elect to use a ball provided by the visiting team. When the teams cannot agree on a particular basketball, the referee will decide what ball to use.
Ball Sizes:
1st Grade Biddy Ball:
Small Biddy Ball or Junior Ball, whichever works best for that player
2nd Grade Biddy Ball:
Junior ball, 1008
3rd/4th Grade boys & 3rd/4th/5th grade girls
27.5 Inch Ball
5th Grade Boys & 6th/7th/8th grade girls
28.5 Inch Ball
8th Grade Boys
Regulation Men's
Rim Height
3rd Grade Boys and Girls:
9 feet
4/5 Grade Girls:
9 ½ feet (moved up to 10 feet late in the season and playoffs)
All other divisions:
Regulation 10 feet
PLAYERS
In the 3rd Grade Boys and Girls Divisions, teams will play with four players each at a time. For a game to begin each team must have a minimum of three players. If a team has only three players they will play short-handed. If a team has two or fewer players at the start of the game they must forfeit. In such cases, the available players should be divided to form two teams and a practice game played. Officials must remain and work such a game.
For all other Divisions, each team must have a minimum of four players. This is a variation from standard rules that require five players to begin a game. If a team has only four players they will play short-handed. If a team has three or fewer players at the start of the game they must forfeit. In such cases, the available players should be divided to form two teams and a practice game played. Officials must remain and work such a game.
Nothing in this rule requires that a game be forfeited if a team is reduced to three or fewer players (two in the 3rd Grade Divisions) due to disqualification (fouling out) or injury so long as the game was properly commenced. Therefore, a game that starts with four players will continue even if a player becomes injured or disqualified.
Travel Team
No player will be brought up to the Travel Team during the season unless:
- The House season is concluded, or
- The Travel Team cannot field a team of seven or more players
The player move must be approved unanimously by the Travel Director, the affected coaches, the House and Division Directors, and the Vice President for Registration/Personnel.
For players assigned to teams in the House Program, House commitments take precedence over Travel team activities. No player may play on both a travel team and a House team during the season except in the two instances above. No travel player may play on a House team during the same season.
PLAYING TIME
Players must play a full quarter at a time. No substitutions are permitted unless a player is injured, disqualified, or must leave the game for family reasons. If a player is replaced, the player and his replacement will both be credited with playing that quarter.
All players must play a minimum of two full quarters per game: one in the first half and one in the second half. Players arriving after the start of the second quarter of a game must play at least one quarter. No player may appear in a fourth quarter until all teammates have been credited with playing in three quarters. In summary:
9 players:
2 play 3Q, 7 play 2Q
8 players:
4 play 3Q, 4 play 2Q
7 players:
6 play 3Q, 1 play 2Q
6 players:
2 play 4Q, 4 play 3Q
For the 3rd Grade Divisions (4 on 4), playing requirements are as follows:
8 players:
All 8 players play 2Q
7 players:
2 play 3Q, 5 play 2Q
6 players:
4 play 3Q, 2 play 2Q
5 players:
1 play 4Q, 4 play 3Q
Reminder to Coaches: If a player must be removed from the game for any reason, keep in mind that the replacement player will also be credited with a full quarter played, and that no player may play in four quarters unless all teammates have played in three quarters. When there is little time remaining in a quarter, consider your intended lineups for the remainder of the game when making a substitution.
Six Player Rule (for all 4th Grade and Older Divisions)
If, five minutes before game-time, one team (Team A) has only six players, and their opponent (Team B) has seven or more players, then the coach for Team A must inconspicuously confer with the Team B coach and the referee for the game. The Team B coach will designate two Team A players who will not play all four quarters of the game, i.e. which two players must sit out for a quarter.
It is the responsibility of the six-player team to make this notification. A coach that fails in this obligation will face disciplinary action.
Five Player Rule (for 3rd Grade Divisions)
If, five minutes before game-time, one team (Team A) has only five players, and their opponent (Team B) has six or more players, then the coach for Team A must inconspicuously confer with the Team B coach and the referee for the game. The Team B coach will designate two Team A players who will not play all four quarters of the game, i.e. which two players must sit out for a quarter.
It is the responsibility of the five player team to make this notification. A coach that fails in this obligation will face disciplinary action.
Overtime(s)
The Playing Time Rules are suspended - any player may play regardless of prior playing time.
Overtime(s)
If a violation of the Playing Time rules is discovered during game play:
The game and clock are stopped.
The player, or players, in violation are removed from the game and replaced by eligible players.
The offending team is assessed a bench technical foul
The RBA considers violations of the Playing Time Rules to be a serious matter; this league is about participation, camaraderie, and enjoyment of the game. In addition to the game penalties described below, the RBA will review all violations and take whatever action is necessary to ensure compliance with rules.
FOULS
Coaches must ensure that the official scorebook is accurate in tallying team and personal fouls. Encourage your scorekeeper to check with the opposition scorekeeper frequently throughout the game to ensure accuracy in the official scorebook. Scorebooks are to be kept and recorded on the sideline by an assistant coach or family volunteer.
Free throws will be awarded on all shooting fouls and technical fouls. A player who commits five fouls during a game fouls-out and is disqualified.
3rd Grade and 4th/5th Grade Boys and Girls: When a non-shooting foul is called against the defense, the ensuing inbounds pass will always be taken from the side court, in line with the top of the key.
Free Throw Line
These accommodations are for players who may lack the physical strength to shoot free throws without jumping forward. It will be considered a violation if a shooter chases their shot to the basket to gain rebounding advantage.
3rd Grade Boys and Girls
Will shoot from the point on the circle closest to the basket (inside the free throw line). Where there is no line marking this point, the official will designate a spot approximately two full steps in front of the free throw line.
4th/5th Grade Boys
Will shoot from one step in front of the free throw line. This spot is marked at the Parks and Recreation Center gymnasium. Where there is no line marking this point, the official will designate a spot one step in front of the free throw line.
4th/5th Grade Girls
Will shoot from two steps in front of the free throw line. Where there is no line marking this point, the official will designate a spot two steps in front of the free throw line.
6th/7th Boys and 6th/7th/8th Girls
Will shoot from behind the free throw line. The shooter will be allowed to step over the free throw line upon releasing the shot, i.e. they may cross the free throw line before the ball hits the rim.
Multiple Team Fouls/Penalty
During the last two minutes of the game, and throughout overtime, the following rules apply:
Common fouls will result in a throw-in, except when the offending team has committed seven or more fouls since halftime. In this case the fouled player will be awarded one free throw and one more free throw if the first free throw was successful (one-and-one).
If a team has committed ten or more fouls since halftime, all common fouls will be two shots.
For 8th Grade Boys players, high school rules apply for awarding free throws - shoot one plus the bonus on the seventh to ninth team foul of each half, then two free throws on the tenth foul and every foul thereafter.
Technical Fouls/Multiple Technical Fouls/Flagrant Fouls
Upon receiving a second technical or flagrant foul, a player, coach, or parent will be ejected from the game. In addition, a mandatory next game suspension is issued, and a subcommittee of the RBA will convene to determine any other penalties based on the extent of the infraction. The imposition of additional penalty rests within the sound discretion of the organization.
Important Note: The use of the word “mandatory” is intentional and the RBA means what it says here. An ejection in a semifinal game means disqualification from the finals.
Repeated technical fouls in separate games may result in disciplinary action.
The head coach must report all technical fouls as well as any ejections to the division director and must make that report on the day of the ejection. A coach who fails in this obligation may face additional penalties or suspension.