Champs League Rules – Updated for Playoffs

*Division Specific Exceptions (subject to adjustment):

Girls Varsity: 8 foot rims, 27.5 size ball. 8 foot free throw line.
Boys Varsity Orange: 8 foot rims, 27.5 ball. 8 foot free throw line
Boys Varsity Blue: 9 foot rims, 28.5 size ball. 12 foot free throw line.
Boys NCAA: 10 foot rims, 28.5 size ball. Boys – 15 foot free throw line.
Girls EuroLeague: 10 foot rims, 28.5 size ball, 12 foot free throw line.
Boys EuroLeague: 10 foot rims, 28.5 size ball, 15 foot free throw line.
NBA and WNBA: 10 foot rims, 28.5 size ball, 15 foot free throw line.

All Divisions except NBA and WNBA: Provided they start behind the free throw line, free throw shooters will be allowed to have their momentum take them across the free throw line without violation. The exception is if they “chase” their shot after crossing the line prior to ball touching the rim. This will be whistled.

Pressing:
Boys Euro and WNBA: Man to Man full court allowed in last 5 minutes of game
NBA: Man to Man full court allowed in last 5 minutes of each half

Steals. Not allowed in Girls Varsity and Boys Varsity Orange. Allowed in Girls EuroLeague Boys Varsity Blue and Boys NCAA with Exception of when the ball is being ‘taken back’ or attempting to clear the arc. All steals allowed in Boys EuroLeague and NBA/WNBA.

Games are 3×3 for Boys and Girls Varsity, Boys NCAA, and Girls EuroLeague. Games are 4×4 for Boys EuroLeague, NBA and WNBA

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4×4 Game Format
Playing Time Guarantee: ALL players must play a minimum of 50% of the minutes of the first half of game. In the second half, the only requirement is that each player play a minimum of 4 consecutive minutes (running or stopped clock).
*Exception* Playing Time guarantee is suspended for players who do not regularly attend practice. Coaches must communicate this possibility to parents prior to enforcing, and alert league GM.
Individual fouls are tracked w/ DQ @ 5 Fouls

A team is in the Bonus during either half if the opposing team has committed 5 Fouls or more. A team in the bonus shoots a one-and-one until the 10th foul on the opposing team. Double Bonus is achieved at 10th foul and only achievable in 2nd Half

17 Minute Halves (18 Minute 3rd Grade and Up)

First Half:
Running Clock First 12 Minutes (or First 13 for 3rd Grade and Up) – Stop Clock on:

• Shooting Fouls
• Time Outs

Last 5 Minutes of First Half: Both Teams automatically in Single Bonus (For scorekeepers, maintain foul count. Example: Team A may only have committed 3 team fouls when hitting last 5 minutes. In order to get to Double Bonus, they still must commit 7 more team fouls).

• Common Foul: 1-and-1
• Shooting Foul: 2 Shots
• Stop Clock on
  • Any Free Throws
  • Time Outs
  • (No stop clock on standard violations, out of bounds, etc)

Technical Fouls: 2 Shots and ball. All other officiating policy will generally be governed by NFHS rules.

Second Half:
Running Clock First 12 Minutes (or First 13 for 3rd Grade and Up) – Stop Clock on:

• Shooting Fouls
• Time Outs

Last 5 Minutes of Second Half: Both Teams automatically in Single Bonus (For scorekeepers, maintain foul count. Example: Team A may only have committed 3 team fouls when hitting last 5 minutes. In order to get to Double Bonus, they still must commit 7 more team fouls).

• Common Foul: 1-and-1 (until opposition reaches 10 fouls)
• Shooting Foul: 2 shots (unless shooter is fouled beyond 3 point line)
• Stop Clock on
  • Every Whistle

Man to man defense is required – referees will enforce, up to and including a ruling of a turnover. Officials will work with players to ensure that defenders are guarding individual players.
Help side defense is allowed. Fundamental positioning away from the ball is allowed. Coaches are required to actively ensure his/her players are attempting to maintain man-to-man principles (though we know that’s not always easy!)
No Pressing/Trapping. In last 5 minutes of game, teams may extend man to man defense to full court (see division exceptions above)
Stealing is allowed/not allowed according to division.
2 timeouts per half, 45 seconds, use or lose
Substitutions will receive a 20 second stopped clock to get players in and new defensive assignments established

Violations

1. Court dimensions are slightly narrow – therefore officials are less likely to call minor boundary violations (a toe across a baseline/sideline) if these occur within the normal course of player movement. The exception is if a defender’s legal guarding position forces an offensive player to alter direction which takes them out of bounds. League rules are intended to reward sound defensive or offensive play.
2. Blocked shots are allowed.
3. Officials will work with younger division players to remind them of basics – initial warnings will be given for minor infractions during first 3 games of the year. All significant common violations (running with the ball – multiple double-dribble, carrying, etc) will be called. Officials will be active in helping players adjust. Over the course of the year, games will be called tighter as players develop. *Boys/Girls 3rd-6th grade – all violations will be called from start of season – players will adjust.

Fouls

• Games will be routinely officiated “tight,” meaning we want to encourage free offensive movement while teaching defenders how to move their feet. Coaches must teach players to adjust to officials rather than expecting officials to adjust to players.
• Referees do reserve the right at their discretion to make corrective decisions in the event of unsportsmanlike play but will work closely with coaches and players to avoid.

Overtime

• First overtime is 90 seconds and is stopped clock for all whistles. Successive overtimes are 60 seconds with stopped clock for all whistles
• Each team receives a single, heavily enforced 30 second timeout per overtime, to be used within the awarded period or lost (TOs do not carry over)

Disputes/Clarifications w/ Game Officials

• Questions and clarifications about rules, calls, no-calls can and should be raised from time to time with officials. This helps coaches and players adjust to how a game is administrated. Only the Acting Head Coach may discuss calls or rule issues with game officials. Assistant coaches must limit their communication to players and parents.

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3×3 Game Format

1. Playing Time Guarantee: ALL players must play a minimum of 8 of the minutes of each game. Coaches will manage substitution patterns to ensure players meet playing minimums.
2. *Exception* Playing Time guarantee is suspended for players who do not regularly attend practice. Coaches must communicate this possibility to parents prior to enforcing, and alert league GM.
3. All teams play TWO 20 minute games each night against the SAME opponent. There will be a 3-5 break between games.
4. Substitutions: The clock will stop briefly at the 16, 12, and 8 minute mark to allow for scheduled substitutions. During the last 8 minutes, coaches can openly substitute during any dead ball situation (foul, out of bounds, violation, made basket).
5. Games are running clock. Each team receives one timeout per game. If the timeout is called during the first 19 minutes of the game, the clock will continue to run until the end of the 30 second time out period or until the running clock reaches one minute. Timeouts called in the last minute will stop the clock for that game.
6. Home team will shoot for ball at the start of each game.
7. Each game will be 24 points or 20 minutes long. A team only needs to win by 1 point.
8. If regulation play ends in a tie, there will be successive 1-minute overtime periods until the game is decided. Possession in the first overtime will be determined by the home team shooting for the ball. First possession will subsequently alternate in additional overtime periods.
9. Teams score by either regular two-point baskets, or by three-point shots taken from outside the three-point arc.
10. After a basket has been scored, the team scored upon will put the ball in play.
11. After a basket has been scored, a foul or violation called, or a ball goes out of bounds, a player must put the ball in play from a line behind the three-point line at the top of the key. (The ball is never administered out of bounds to be thrown inbounds to start play).
12. All held balls will be put into play at the top of the key with possession given alternately to each team. On defensive rebounds or steals, players must return the ball by dribble or pass behind the three point arc before a field goal try may be attempted. Once both feet are across the line, a player can start his offensive possession. In any event where a player is ready to start his/her teams offensive possession, he/she can either pass OR dribble to put the ball in play. [Note – failure to take the ball ‘back’ after a possession change is not penalized with loss of possession. Official will whistle and reset the offending team at the top of the key]
13. Fouls will be called by the referee. A foul called in the act of shooting will result in either two or three points being awarded to the team which was fouled, depending on where the player was fouled and a change of possession. In the event of a non-shooting foul, the offended team will be awarded one point and will retain possession.**
14. **However, once a team reaches 15 points, that team will be in the bonus. Every foul committed against the offense will result in free throws. Once at 15 points, a team fouled in the act of shooting will shoot two or three free throws, depending on where the player was fouled. Non-shooting fouls will result in the offended team shooting a one-and-one free throw opportunity. All free throws will have players lined up along lane lines and playing the corresponding live release.
15. The three-second rule will apply, however officials will work to keep kids out of the lane and use this call sparingly.