·    The 6^th grade will be divided into one varsity group, and one JV group.  Both varsity and JV will be divided into divisions as regionally as possible.  There will be a post season tournament for the varsity.  JV will not have a post season tournament. 

·    7^th and 8^th grade will be divided into AAA and AA divisions.  The top teams (number to be determined each season based on the number of teams competing) based on a team’s success both from the regular season and the post season tournament from the year before, will be placed in the AAA division. 

·    In 7^th grade, all varsity teams from the year before, who are not in AAA, and ALL the JV teams from the year before will be combined to make up the AA division. 

·    In 8^th grade the top teams from the year before will play AAA, and remaining teams will play AA.

·    Both AAA and AA divisions, in 7^th and 8^th grade, will compete in post season tournaments.

·    If a school has two teams, one team will automatically be placed in AAA and one will be placed in AA.

·    6^th-8^th grade teams should be divided by skill level.  If a school has three teams in a single grade/gender, in the division that has two teams, the talent should be divided equally.

·    The high school league (boys and girls) will have post-season tournaments.

EQUIPMENT

·    All 4th, 5th, and 6th grade boys divisions will use an intermediate size ball. All girls teams will use an intermediate or women’s regulation size basketball. 7th, 8th, and all high school leagues will use a regulation ball. Each team shall furnish a regulation ball of good quality and condition for each game. In the 6th-8th grade leagues, a leather ball will be used for tournament games.

·    No jewelry, barrettes, beads, or bandanas may be worn while playing. This includes posts for pierced ears. All headwear should be soft, pliable, and functional.

·    All game shoes must be carried, not worn, to games in the gymnasium.

·    The designated visiting team must furnish a scorebook and a competent scorekeeper who will maintain the official score-book for that contest. The home team must furnish a game clock and competent timekeeper who will maintain the official game time. At the game site, coaches may mutually agree to switch scorebook and clock responsibilities.

RULES

All basketball teams in CYO Athletics will play according to the current National Federation of State High School Association rules unless otherwise specified in this manual or the rules herein outlined.

·    Team rosters are limited to 15 players. No exceptions! Please remember the playing time policy when making a decision concerning roster size.

·    Players may be placed and participate on only one team roster for the entire season, including the playoffs (exception: junior varsity player(s) moving up to a varsity team for playoffs with commission approval).

·    In 6th-8th grade, the JV/Varsity split must be based on individual skill levels. Please call CYO with any questions, or for help in assessing individual skill levels.

·    Teams entered in the Sophomore and Senior Divisions must have someone at least 25 years of age in charge of the bench at all league games. Athletes participating on a high school basketball team (any level) are ineligible to play on a CYO Athletics basketball team.

·    All games shall consist of 6 minute (stop clock procedure) quarters with the exception of the 8th grade, which will be 7 minute quarters, and Sophomore and Senior High School divisions, which will be 8 minute quarters. Overtime shall consist of a 3 minute period (stop clock procedure). There shall be a one-minute break between quarters and a 5-minute break at half-time.

·    In the event that a game clock is not available, 6, 7, and 8 minute quarters shall be assigned a running clock of twelve minutes (per quarter) and overtime periods shall be assigned a running clock of three minutes. Teams using a running clock time will be limited to two full time-outs per half, but may not take a time-out during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or in an overtime period.

·    Each team is allowed three full (1 minute) and two 30 second time-outs. In an overtime period, each team is allowed one full time-out regardless of how many were used in the course of the regular game.

·    Coaches must remain seated on the bench at all times while the clock is running or stopped except as stated in NFHS Rule Book. Infractions observed by the designated officials shall result in a warning first and a technical foul (2 shot) thereafter.

·    5th grade games will be assigned one official. 6th, 7th, 8th grade, and high school games will be assigned two officials.

·    In the 4th and 5th grade divisions, free throw shooters must start their shot behind the free throw line, but may cross over the line before the ball hits the rim.

·    In 4th and 5th grade divisions, technical fouls will be an automatic two points and possession.

·    Three point shots will be allowed in all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade divisions.

·    4th and 5th grade teams may use a man-to-man defense or a zone half court zone defense with the understanding that there is no defense played until the 3-point line (an imaginary line starting at the top of the key that runs from sideline to sideline). 4^th and 5^th graders are not allowed to press in back court nor may they employ a 1/2 court trap until the last 10 seconds of the game.  6th graders are not allowed to press in the backcourt with the exception of the last two minutes of the game and during overtime. No junior varsity teams may play any type of backcourt defense until the last 2 minutes of the game. Enforcement of these rules shall be at the discretion of the game officials, members of the CYO Athletics Basketball Commissions and the Associate Director of CYO Athletics. Infractions, as observed by the designated officials, shall result in a warning first, and a technical foul (2 shot) assessed to the bench thereafter.

·    When 7th and 8th grade teams have a 20-point lead and 4th through 6th grade teams have a 15-point lead (regular season), they may not press in the backcourt, they may not employ a 1/2 court trap, and they may not fast break. Infractions observed by the designated officials shall result in a warning first and a change of possession thereafter.

·    Any game that is won by 20 points or more in the 4th through 6th grade divisions and 25 points in the 7th and 8th grade divisions will be investigated and reviewed by the commission. Disciplinary action toward the offending coach may result (suspension of the coach for the next game, or in the case of repeat violations, suspension for the remainder of the season). Scores of all affected games need to be called in by both coaches with losing coach indicating whether a review is requested.  Games in divisions that don’t report scores should indicate the issue by filing an incident report with their athletic director who will forward on to CYO Athletics for investigation.

·    Players are not allowed to chew gum in the gymnasium.

·    For playoffs, 6^th grade junior varsity players may move up to the varsity team based on need and/or merit with a written request. All written requests must be received by the Monday following the final regular season game. All junior varsity players moved up will remain on the team throughout the playoffs, and must play according to playing time rules. The team roster cannot exceed 15 players with the additional junior varsity players.

PLAYING TIME POLICY

In the 4th through 8th grade varsity and junior varsity divisions, each player suited up is expected to play a minimum of 1/4 of the game for both regular season and playoff games (excluding overtime). Infractions of the playing time policy will result in a warning for the 1^st offense and a suspension for the offending coach for the 2^nd (and any subsequent offenses).