Basketball Rules

NOTE: A participant may play for only 1 male or 1 female team. Participants may not play for any two male or female teams.

General Rules

Official Team: An official team shall consist of five (5) players on the court with unlimited substitutes. A minimum of four (4) players must be present at the start, and continue the game to avoid a forfeit.

Score Card: Prior to each game, all players must sign in on the official score card. The game officials will then verify each player's identity by checking the player's ID. All participants must display their valid Armstrong Atlantic State University ID in order to participate. NO ID, NO PLAY! (NO EXCEPTIONS) An individual whose name appears on the official score card will be considered as having played in the contest. Late-arriving players must have their name added to the score card upon arrival by an official and/or scorekeeper before they may participate.

Starting the Game: A team must report to the game official and be "ready to play" with the minimum number of players to avoid a forfeit. "Ready to play" means checked in with the proper game equipment and on the court ready to begin play at the scheduled game time. It is advised that teams show up 15 minutes prior to their scheduled start time.

Equipment

Shoes: Each player must wear athletic shoes. They must be made of soft, pliable upper material (molded plastic, canvas, leather, or synthetic), which covers the foot, attached to a composition bottom. No boots, street shoes, or shoes with marking soles will be permitted.

Uniforms: For all Intramural Basketball games players must wear numbered jerseys. For those who do not have their own numbered jerseys, pennies will be provided.

Illegal Equipment: Pants or shorts must be free of pockets, knots, drawstrings, and exposed belt loops. Cut-off shirts shall not be cut with a gap of more than a fist below the arm. All jewelry must be removed before playing. This includes earrings, necklaces, watches, and rings. No hats are to be worn. Any equipment that in the official's judgment would be injurious to participants is illegal to wear.

Ball: Men will use a regulation men's basketball. Women will use a regulation women's (28.5) basketball. Teams will use the game ball that is assigned to the court. Practice balls may be checked out at the Front Desk.

Game Regulations

Game Time: A game shall consist of two 20-minute halves, with a 5-minute half-time intermission. During the first half and the first 18 minutes of the second half, the clock does not stop unless the official's timeout is called (injury, basket malfunction, scoreboard problem, etc.). Once there is 2 minutes remaining in the game, the clock will stop on all dead ball situations, as governed by National Federation rules. No shot clock will be used.

Timeouts: Each team will have two timeouts per game that do not carry over to overtime.

Mercy Rule: When a team is leading by 20 points or more at the two-minute mark of the second half, the game shall be ended. If a team leads by 20 points any time after the two-minute mark of the second half, the game shall be ended.

Substitutions: A substitution may be made only after an official has blown the ball dead. Substitutes may not enter the game after a field goal. Substitutes must enter the game from the scorer's table. The substitutes may enter only upon being waved in by an official.

Overtime Period: If the score is tied at the end of the second half, a two-minute overtime period will be played. If the score is still tied after the first overtime period, the teams will play as many two-minute overtime periods as needed to determine a winner. During all overtime periods, the rules governing free throws, stopping of the clock, time-outs, and the keeping of the time are the same as those followed in the last two minutes of play in the second half. Teams will be given one time-out per overtime. Time-outs will not carry over from regulation or from previous overtimes.

Basic Rules

Jump Ball: To start the game and each extra period, the ball shall be put into play in the center restraining area by a jump ball. All other jump ball situations shall be put in play by a throw-in under the alternating possession procedure.

5 seconds: A player in control of the ball is closely guarded when an opponent is in a guarding stance within six feet. A closely guarded violation occurs if the closely guarded player, while in the frontcourt, holds or dribbles the ball for more than five seconds. The violation is a turnover to the defensive team.

Free Throws: In each half, free throws will be awarded for each common foul (except player control) committed by a player of a team, beginning with that team's seventh personal foul as outlined below.

• Personal fouls not in the act of shooting: 1 free throw plus 1 bonus free throw if the first is made.
• After ten fouls: 2 free throws.
• Personal fouls in the act of shooting:
  • 2 pt. shot missed - 2 free throws
  • 3 pt. shot missed - 3 free throws
  • Shot made - 1 free throw
• Intentional fouls - 2 free throws, plus ball awarded out-of-bounds to offended team at the spot nearest the foul.
• Flagrant fouls - 2 free throws, plus disqualification of offending player.
• Technical fouls - 2 free throws plus shooting team's possession at mid-court.
• Player control fouls - no free throws, ball awarded to offended team out-of-bounds.

Conduct

All participants are expected to play according to the Rules of the Division, Intramural Sports and University Regulations. The staff of the Division of Recreational Sports reserves the right to penalize individual participants and/or teams for fighting or other unsportsmanlike conduct. Any individual or team that has or is consuming alcohol is subject to an automatic forfeiture. Since the use of alcohol is unsportsmanlike conduct, the Intramural Supervisors and Officials have the right to eject the player(s) or team and may forfeit the contest to the opponent.