Back to Home page League Guidelines and Rules (revised for 2005

Members

The MetroWest Basketball League consists of teams from 33 communities).The league has 2 or more divisions at each grade level for both boys and girls. The divisions generally break down according to size of the member community. Thus smaller towns generally play other small towns and larger towns generally play other large towns.

League Goals

The goals of the MetroWest Basketball League are to: · Create an environment in which children and adults have fun with basketball  · Teach basketball skills, rules and strategy to our players  · Model and teach competitiveness with an emphasis on good sportsmanship  · Promote increased self-esteem among our children and adults

Eligibility

Boys and girls resident in the member community and currently enrolled in the 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades are eligible. Additionally, students participating in the METCO program will be allowed to participate on a team from the town in which they attend school. Players may “play up” with a higher grade team but are not allowed to play on a lower grade team. Players may NOT participate on more than 1 metrowest team (i.e. a player in the 7^th grade may play up on the 8^th grade team but may NOT also play on the 7^th grade team).(revised 2002-2003 season).

2.0 Team Responsibilities

Home Team

The home team is responsible for providing: · timely access to gym  · game ball  · scorekeeper for official scorebook  · time keeper

Arriving on time

Each team shall be prepared to play at the scheduled start of the game. A grace period of 5 minutes is allowed, after which the delinquent team shall forfeit the game.

Paying Referees

The visiting team is responsible for paying each of the two referees at each game. Referees should be paid prior to the start of each game. Each is paid $40 per game. If only one referee is present for the game, he/she is paid $55. In the event that a team cancels or forfeits a game, that team is responsible for paying for both referees. Referees are paid even if the game is not played!

Sportsmanship

Coaches are responsible for ensuring that all members of the team and their fans practice good sportsmanship before, during and after the game. Coaches should: · support the referees and refrain from making derogatory comments towards them  · refrain from actions or words that undercut the self-esteem of players from other teams  · not allow your players to make derogatory comments towards other players  · not allow “talking trash”  · support post-game “nice game” exchange between players and coaches

Eligibility

Coaches are responsible for ensuring that all members of the team are eligible players.

Uniforms

Each team is strongly encouraged to use reversible jerseys.Home team wears white or light color.The digits 6,7,8 and 9 are not to be used in uniform numbers (e.g., 19 is an illegal number).

3.0 Game Schedules

Game Times

The times listed on the league schedule are the game start times.Teams can expect to have approximately 15 minutes to warm-up prior to the start of the game.Teams should arrive at the game site 20 minutes prior to the start of the game.

Rescheduling

Rescheduling of games is in general not allowed.

Inclement weather

In the event of inclement weather it is up to the coaches to determine whether or not to postpone the game.Driving safety of the visiting team must be the primary consideration.The visiting coach has the final responsibility for making this determination.In the event the game is postponed the following must be done: · Make determination as early as possible  · Cancel referees for the game.Call your town coordinator to find out who to call (Note: different towns use different sources for referees.)  · Reschedule contest for mutually agreeable time  · Reschedule referees  · Home team should cancel and reschedule gym time.

Forfeits/Make-Up Games

FORFEITS/MAKE-UP GAMES Regular Season 1.    The result of any game not reported up by the Sunday of week 11 will not be included in the standings and will be considered a 'no game' or a forfeit, subject to the following guidelines. a.    A 'no game' situation results when a game is not played due to factors not involving one team or another not showing up on time for a game.  Examples of this are: inclement weather, gyms not available (power loss, heat loss, town 'preempts' the use of the gym). b.    A forfeit occurs when one team fails to field a team in time to play a scheduled game at the scheduled site. 2.    In a forfeit situation, the non-offending team may agree to make up the game with the offending team.  In this case the offending team will be responsible for payment of the referees for the originally scheduled game.  The non-offending team must also agree to the financial arrangements for the make-up. (i.e. who pays for the refs, who provides the gym). NEW FOR 2004! 3. Teams are expected to make up games within a three week period. Teams are expected to make up their games.    Playoffs The intent of the playoffs is to play the game, not forfeit.  Circumstances may be such that it is logistically impossible or impractical to make up the game.  Therefore, all decisions on forfeits in the playoffs will be deferred to the league commissioner.

4.0 Game Rules

Basic Rules

The MIAA High School Rules are used except as noted below. In an attempt to clarify the new rule for 2003-2004 regarding lining up for free throws, ...During a free throw when the lane spaces may be occupied: a. A maximum of four (4) defensive and two (2) offensive players may occupy the marked lane spaces. b. The first marked lane spaces (the lane spaces adjacent to the end line) SHALL BE occupied by the defense. (This means the DEFENSE MUST have a player in each of the 1st lane spaces. It also means that under no circumstances can a member of the offensive team-- the team shooting the free throw, have a player in the first lane spaces. If the offensive occupies the 1^st space, then it’s a violation. Likewise, if the defense is not in the 1^st lane space it is a violation). c. The second lane spaces MAY BE occupied by the offense. (IF the offense chooses not to occupy the second lane spaces then the defense CAN occupy the second lane spaces. Notice the rule says "may be" and not "shall be." This wording makes an important distinction in the rule). d. The third lane spaces MAY BE occupied by the defense. (Remember, “May BE” doesn’t mean they “have to” occupy. So anyone could occupy the 3^rd lane space, but the defense is entitled to that lane space, if they so choose). e. The fourth lane spaces (nearest the free throw line) SHALL NOT BE OCCUPIED. So, the important things to remember are: - The defense must always have players in the first lane space! - Anybody can be in the 2^nd & 3^rd lane spaces, however the offense gets “first crack” at the 2^nd lane space and the defense the 3^rd lane space. - Nobody can be in the 4^th lane space - A MAXIMUM of four (4) defensive players can line up along the lane along with a MAXIMUM of two (2) offensive players.  (Or said differently, the least amount of players you could have along the lane is two defensive players, in the 1st lane space and no offensive players. You'd probably have this situation at the very end of the game when the coach of the offensive team, which is winning, tells all its players to get back on defense while the free thrower takes his/her shots. Or, at the end of the game, the defensive team player puts four of it's player in the first two lanes spaces on both side, while the offensive team is has nobody along the lane).

Mouth Guards

The MIAA High School Rules require mouth guards. Metrowest does NOT require them.

Coaches

No more than 2 coaches are allowed on the bench. (Revised for the 2001-2002 season). Only 2 coaches are allowed on the bench.Anyone else must be a player. Scorers, analysts, or whatever must sit in the stands. (rev. 11/29/2001)

Shot Clock

A shot clock is NOT used.Instead, the 10-second back court rule is in effect.A team inbounding in the back court shall have 10 seconds to get the ball into the front court.

Game Length

Games consist of two 16-minute halves.Stop time is used (i.e., clock is stopped on referee’s whistle).Halftime is 5 minutes.

Overtime

Overtimes shall be 3 minutes in length.Each team will receive 1 additional time-out per overtime.

Time-outs

Each team is allowed 5 time-outs per game.Time-outs shall be 1 minute in length.

Fouls

The following rules concerning fouls shall be in effect: · 1-and-1s are shot on the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th foul of each half  · 2 free throws are awarded on the 10^th and succeeding fouls each half  · Second half fouls carry over into overtimes (for the purpose of 1-and-1s)  · Fouls on missed 3 point attempts are awarded 3 free throws  · Player technical fouls are counted as a personal foul and a team foul  · Any player receiving 2 technical fouls in a game or who is ejected from a game shall not participate in the next league game.  · Any coach receiving a technical foul must sit for the remainder of the game  · Any coach receiving 2 technical fouls in a game or who is ejected from a game shall not participate in the next league game.

FoulShooting

In the 4^th grade girls level, the player will start ‘one step’ in from the foul line as determined by the referee. This player may not go for the rebound until the ball hits the rim.

Equipment

Game balls shall be leather or synthetic leather.The following sizes shall be used: · Boys grades 7 & 8 – standard men’s ball 29.5 inches in circumference  · Boys grades 4 - 6 and girls all grades use standard women’s ball 28.5 inches in circumference

Full court pressing	There shall be no full court pressing by a team with a lead of 20 points or more. No pressing is allowed for 4^th and 5^th grade teams except for the last 2 minutes of the first half, the last 4 minutes of the 2^nd half and any subsequent overtime.
NO ZONES IN 4^th and 5^th GRADE	The use of zones of any kind will not be allowed at the 4^th and 5^th grade level. Updated 2/2/06

5.0 Scores, Standings, Tournament

Scores

Each town is responsible to report their teams’ home game scores on a weekly basis. Scores need to be emailed to metroscores@aol.com by Monday at midnight following the Sunday games. In the case of games postponed by inclement weather, that postponement should be indicated in the email to avoid the team being credited with a loss. Scores should be reported to indicate the age group, division, and sex of the team. For example, 8^th boys D3 Walpole 49 KP 45

Standings

Standings will be posted to the web site weekly.

Tournament Pairings

Teams will qualify for the playoffs in the following manner: All teams will be eligible to participate in the post season tournament. Results of week 12 games will be used for seeding purposes only. In the 7^th and 8^th grade, there will be tournament champions in each division. (In other words, there will be no crossover). In the younger age groups, there will be 2 champions establish for each age group. Divisions 1 and 2 will play down to one champion, called Group A, and Divisions 3 and 4 will play down to one champion, called Group B. In the case where there are 3 divisions in the lower grades (i.e. 5^th grade girls for 2003-2004), the Division 3 champion will be the group B champion and Divisions 1 and 2 will play down to one Group A Champion. When there are one or two divisions there will be 1 champion established. In the younger grades where 2 divisions are playing down to one champion, the divisions will play down until 2 teams remain. At this point a ‘crossover’ occurs where teams from one division play the other division, according to the preset tournament bracket pairings. The winners meet for the championship of that Group. Teams are seeded based on won-lost record and any tiebreaker is based on head to head competition. If no clear cut tie breaker exists then the league commissioner will determine seeds by random draw. POINT DIFFERENTIAL WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN SEEDINGS! 11/29/2005

Note: Please submit corrections, comments and suggestions to metrohoop@aol.com.