Livonia Junior Athletic League City of Livonia Parks & Recreation Basketball Rules & Regulations

Eligibility

1. Coaches shall be responsible for the conduct of their players, parents, relatives of players and friends in and around the school gym.
2. Each team must have a designated Head Coach, and at least one designated Assistant Coach, with required information on file with the LJAL. Any change in coaches for a team must be filed with the LJAL Basketball Committee, presenting the new coach’s name, address, and phone number before the next scheduled game. All designated coaches must be at least 18 years of age, and must submit a signed form authorizing LJAL to perform a background check. All coaching changes must be approved by the LJAL.
3. In case of inquiry of any members of his/her team, the coach shall be responsible for producing evidence or records requested by the LJAL Basketball Committee.
4. Coaches shall upon request, present any or all members of their team for the purpose of inquiring or identification.
5. Coaches must wear a coach’s shirt for games as supplied by the LJAL.
6. At least one (but not more than three) registered coaches must be present at the team’s bench by game time, and for the duration of the game, or the game will be subject to forfeit.
7. A minor (under 18) may be designated as an assistant coach, but at all times must be supervised by an adult coach.

1. House teams shall be defined as all teams that do not include any Premier or Senior Varsity Girls (SVG) teams.
2. No player shall appear in the line-up of any team in the league unless his/her name is legally affixed to the roster, which is on file with the LJAL Basketball Committee.
3. Player Requirements -
   Premier, Senior Varsity – Each team will have a maximum of 13 players and a minimum of 10 players on its roster, unless designated otherwise by the LJAL Basketball Committee.
   House Teams (exc. Senior Varsity Boys) - Each House team shall have a maximum 15 players and a minimum of 13 players on its roster, unless otherwise designated by the LJAL Basketball Committee.
4. No team shall be allowed to add any players to its roster without the permission of the LJAL Basketball Committee.
5. This league shall be open to youths in grade 3 thru 12 unless designated otherwise by the LJAL Basketball Committee.

1. Any team not ready to start a game at the scheduled starting time shall be subject to the loss of the game by forfeit.
2. Each team will play and practice not more than three times each week unless agreed to by the LJAL Basketball Committee. If gym schedule conflict results in the suspension of a scheduled game or practice, an attempt will be made to reschedule such game or practice by the LJAL.
3. No individual shall solicit or schedule any gym or time for practice other than those provided and approved by LJAL Basketball Committee.

1. Defense -
   Freshman, JV House - A man-to-man defense must be used in the freshman and JV House leagues. Definition of a man-to-man defense is that each player must guard an opposing player within 4 feet and can only leave that player to double-team the person with the ball within the 3-point line. Violation of the rule will result in a warning from the referee for the first offense for each team. The second offense for a given team will result in the opposing team being awarded two free throws and the ball out-of-bounds. Defending the ball-handler with more than 2 defensive players, double-teaming outside the 3-point line, or double-teaming an offensive player not handling the ball is not allowed.
   Senior Varsity, Varsity, JVP -   All leagues other than Freshman and JV House may play either man-to-man or zone defense, and the rules on double-teaming do not apply.
2. Disputes - The referee shall be instructed to require any game interrupted by a dispute to continue until termination of the game. Any team refusing to finish the game shall suffer a forfeit of the game.

3. Forfeits - If neither team shows up for a scheduled game, or neither team has sufficient players as defined in paragraph 4 of this section, then both teams shall forfeit the game.
4. Minimum Participation Rule:
   Premier, Senior Varsity – A team having less than five (5) players dressed and ready to play at game time shall forfeit the game to the opposing team.
   House (exc. SVBoys) - A team having less than eight (8) players dressed and ready to play at game time shall forfeit the game to the opposing team, unless prior approval is granted by the Basketball Commissioner.
5. Official Scorekeepers - Time-keeping shall be handled by an adult (at least 18 years old) from the visiting team, and the official scoring will be kept by an adult from the home team. To avoid distractions, only the timekeeper/scorer should be at the scorer/timing table. It is the coach’s responsibility to ensure that the timekeeper/scorers are available 5 minutes before the game starts.
6. Teams - The home team has the option to select either the first half or the second half for sending its team onto the court first to start each period in a certain half. Once the coach selects the team to play no changes can be made. For example, if the home team selects the first half, the home coach will have its team on the court first, with the second half reversed.
7. Coaches - Only the head coach or the coach designated will be allowed to stand during the game. All other coaches and all players must be seated.
8. Game Length/Periods –
   Premier, Senior Varsity Leagues - Each game shall consist of four periods, two per half, each eight minutes long with a ‘stop clock’. The clock will stop during all free throws, injuries, official time-outs and out-of-bounds plays; there shall be one minute between periods and a five minute half-time.
   House Leagues (exc. SVBoys) - Each game shall consist of six periods, three per half, each five minutes long with a ‘stop clock’. The clock will stop during all free throws, injuries, official time-outs and out-of-bounds plays; there shall be one minute between periods and a five minute half-time.
9. Jump Balls - Jump balls will take place only at the start of each period (House Leagues exc. SV) or each game (Senior Varsity and Premier Leagues). The teams will use the alternate possession rule for any remaining jump-ball situations, and to start the 2^nd , 3^rd and 4^th quarters for Senior Varsity and Premier Leagues.
10. Minimum Play Rule -
    Premier and Senior Varsity - For Premier and Senior Varsity levels each player must play a minimum of 4 minutes per half.
    
    House Leagues (exc. SVBoys) -For House Teams, each player must play one complete period in each half. Barring Injuries, It is intended that each player will play, at a minimum, 2 uninterrupted periods in each game. When ten or more players are present at a game, no player may play more than 3 periods in a complete game. No player may play more than two periods in either half unless 

11. Substitutions -
    Premier, SV Leagues – Substitutions may be made during most stoppages of play, as allowed and directed by the game referees.
    House Leagues (exc. SVBoys)- Substitutions during a period can be made as long as each player on the team has played at least one complete period at one time during the half prior to the substitution. Barring Injuries, it is intended that each player will play, at a minimum, 2 uninterrupted periods in a game. Substitutions will also be allowed when a player fouls out or is injured. If a player is removed due to an injury, the player may return to the game within the same period. If a player subs for another player because of an injury or a player fouls out, it constitutes as one playing period.
12. Timeouts - In all leagues, each team will be allowed 3 time-outs per half to be used at the coach’s discretion. Delays caused by player injury shall stop the clock, chargeable to “officials” time-out.
13. In an effort to reduce the number of “lopsided” scores, the following rule has been adopted by the LJAL Basketball Committee:
    All Leagues - there will be no full court press allowed by any team that is up by 15 points or more
    House Leagues (exc. SVBoys) - When a team reaches a 15 point advantage over the other team, the team that is behind will retain possession after a made field goal or foul shot, as long as they continue to score, until the difference is reduced to 10 points or less. Once the difference returns to 10 points or less, the game will go back to regular rules. It is up to the offensive team to be in position at half court.

14. Overtime - Under no circumstances shall overtime periods be allowed at any level, with the exception of Playoff games.
15. Defensive Press -
    Premier, Senior Varsity, and Varsity Leagues – Full court pressure is allowed except for the 15-point rule.
    Freshman, Junior Varsity House Leagues – A full court press will not be allowed. The defensive team may only half-court press after the ball has moved across the mid-court line. For example, once the defensive team has gained control of the ball (i.e., after a field goal, free throw, rebound, steal, or out-of-bounds), the opposing team must immediately fall back across the mid-court line before applying defensive pressure.
16. 3-Point Rule -
    Senior Varsity, Varsity, JV Premier Leagues - The 3 point rule will be in effect for these leagues only.
17. Team Fouls - On the seventh team foul in a half the one-on-one bonus free throw rule will be in effect; on the tenth team foul in a half the two-bonus free throw rule will be in effect.
18. Personal Fouls
    Premier, SV, and Varsity Leagues – Each player will be allowed 5 personal fouls, and will be removed from the game immediately following a 5^th foul.
     JV House, and Freshman Leagues - Each player will be allowed 4 personal fouls, and will be removed from the game immediately following a 4^th foul.
19. Free Throws -
    Freshman League only – Players will be allowed one momentum step across the foul line when shooting free throws. The coaches and officials should discuss the interpretation of this rule prior to the start of the game.
20. Technical Fouls - Two technical fouls by either a player or coach in any one game will result in expulsion for the remainder of the game. Technical fouls also count as personal fouls in ALL Leagues.
21. The following items apply to all leagues:
    1. Each team member must wear the LJAL supplied uniform.
    2. All jewelry (including the situation where players’ ears have just been pierced) must be removed before the start of the game.
    3. Black-soled basketball shoes must be the non-marking, “out-sole” type.
    4. Defacing or any altering of the LJAL supplied uniform may result in disciplinary action and/or complete reimbursement for the cost of the uniform.

1. Each team will have their complete line-up entered on the official score sheet at least five minutes before game time.
2. Only the coach may discuss a decision with the officials unless the official calls others into the discussion. Officials will be instructed to eject anyone who does not conduct themselves with good sportsmanship behavior.
3. The Department of Parks & Recreation and LJAL reserve the right to exclude any team or player from the league for the abuse of language, courts, school facilities, or continued violations of any rules or regulations governing the leagues.
4. The Department of Parks & Recreation, City of Livonia, or the LJAL will not be liable for injuries of any kind.
5. Home Team shall wear uniforms that are white or “lighter” in color.
6. Only players and designated coaches of the currently competing teams shall be allowed on the team bench.