HYAL Special Rules 9/10 Year Old Basketball Division THIS IS A RECREATIONAL LEAGUE!!! Winning is NOT a priority! Your only objective as coaches is to teach the children basketball skills and good sportsmanship. Learning how to lose is a very important lesson that all children should learn. You are to set an example for the children. This is a very important responsibility. Play will be governed by the Rule Book of the National Federation of State High School Associations, except for the following specific rules adopted by the HYAL for this division: FALL BACK: There is a fall back for the entire game except as noted below. To initiate fall back, the player must: Be located in his/her back court and call out “Fall Back” Have definite sole possession of the ball, with the ball located at chest/chin. Bring the ball up at a normal pace. At this point the, the referee will also call out “Fall Back” The opposing team must retreat to their side of the court and allow the ball to be freely advanced over the half-court line. FULL COURT PRESS: Full court press may be used in the last two (2) minutes of each half, or when a team waives its “fall back” option by fast breaking. There can be no full court pressing if your team is leading by 10 or more points. HALF COURT: Half court is the standard half court. TIME: 8 Minute Quarters – Running clock except for timeouts, foul shots and the last two minutes of each half (Unless a team is winning by 10 points or more, In which case it will continue to be a running clock). The referee may stop the clock at any time at his/her discretion. TIME OUTS: Time outs are to be no more than one (1) minute in length. There are four (4) time outs allowed in the game, two (2) per half. Time outs not used in the first half DO NOT carry over to the second half. Three (3) minutes will be allowed between each quarter and five (5) minutes will be allowed between halves. FOULS: A flagrant foul will be a technical foul plus two foul shots and possession of the ball. One-andOne will take place on the seventh foul committed by the opposing team in any half and two shots on the tenth foul in any half. The fifth foul committed by one player will result in his/her ejection for the remainder of the game. A player with two technical fouls will be ejected from the game with the possibility of a suspension. All foul shots may be taken from a spot 18 inches in front of the regular foul line. KEY VIOLATION: Key violation is three (3) seconds. DEFENSE: Teach your team a zone defense – How to move with the ball instead of everyone chasing the ball. Man-To-Man defense allowed but not encouraged.
Revised – November 2013
OFFENSE: The emphasis here is to learn the game of basketball and to have fun. Work basic skills with the players. Teach passing and dribbling skills. SUBSTITUTIONS: There are no substitutions in the first three (3) quarters unless a player is injured or sick. Under no circumstances can a player play four (4) quarters unless every other player has played three (3) quarters. See the attached mandatory playing time sheet. Coaches that want to keep an accurate score should exchange stats with the opposing team at the end of each quarter. If school is cancelled for the day or there is an early dismissal for any reason, games for that day are cancelled. If schools have a delayed opening games are to be played as scheduled. All teams will make the playoffs no matter what your team record is during the regular season.