Get the lowdown on the way we officiate our basketball leagues in London.
TEAM SIZE
Each team shall field no more than 5 players on the court at one time. There is no limit on squad size. If playing in a mixed sex league, your team must have a minimum of two females playing at all times.
Teams will have until 5 minutes past the designated start time to field a legal team. Shorthanded teams may play a legal game with a minimum of 3 players.
For every minute a team is late past the designated start time, the opposing team will be awarded one basket (2 points). This is providing a team has the required number of players on the court and ready to play.
Team substitutions are ‘rolling,’ meaning they can be made at any point in the game.
There is no limit on the amount of substitutions per team/per game. The substituted player must be off the court before a new player comes on.
If a team has at least 3 rostered players, they are legally allowed to pick up ringers to make a team of 5, however they may not pick up any players to exceed a team of 5 (no substitutes). If your team is short you cannot pick up subs, unless it is agreed with the opposition and the refs BEFORE THE GAME BEGINS.
Ringers are not allowed at all in the Play Offs and Finals unless they have played 2 games for your team in the regular season, and have signed on your team waiver.
Play is divided into (2) 17 or 18 minute halves, or (4) 8 minute quarters (depending on time). There will be a running clock throughout the game. If a game is closer than 10 points, the clock will stop in the last 2 minutes of the game. If games have to be shortened (for injuries, incidents etc.) the time will not be added on and the result will stand.
Each team will be rewarded 1 time out per game.
Ties in the regular season will be decided by a 1 minute overtime period. If teams are still tied after the overtime period, the game will remain a tie.
Playoff ties will be decided by 1 minute overtime periods until a winning team is produced, up to 3 overtime periods. If after 3 overtime periods there is still no winner, a “golden basket” 1 minute overtime period will occur (next basket wins!)
When two or more teams have equal points after playing the same amount of games, table positions are calculated using head-to-head results between the teams rather than overall points difference for the league. For a more detailed breakdown see the below download link to the FIBA basketball rules document.
Play will abide by FIBA European rules and players should ask the referee for any clarifications.
Get the most up-to-date rules guide here
Personal and Team fouls will be recorded for all leagues. Players will “foul-out” after being awarded their fifth personal foul. All technical fouls will be recorded as personal fouls. If a player fouls out and the team has no replacements/subs, the team cannot just pick up a spare player from another team. The team have to play a man down (unless the opposing team agree). A team will be awarded two free throws on the eighth team foul of each half and on any following fouls in the remainder of the half. If playing quarters, two free throws will be rewarded on the 5th team foul for the remainder of the quarter. All shooting fouls are 2 shot fouls unless the shooter is attempting a 3 point shot, where they will receive 3 shots.
Technical fouls are counted as personal fouls. Any individual that is assessed two technical fouls will be sin-binned for 2 minutes. Depending on the severity of the technical foul a player can be sin-binned for 2 minutes after being assessed 1 technical foul.
If a player is sin-binned then the team will play with 4 players during the period.
All technical fouls result in 2 free throws and ball possession.
Any and all dangerous jewellery worn by players must be removed before tip-off. The referees have final say on what constitutes dangerous, and have the power to remove any players from the game who do not comply with this rule.
Playoffs will follow the last week of the regular season and will be single elimination.
Seeding – Teams will be seeded based upon a points system. Teams will be awarded 3 points for a win, 2 points for a tie, 1 point for a loss and 0 for a forfeit.
Ringers – Ringers can be used during normal season play in order to field a full team (5), but are NOT allowed during the playoffs/finals unless have played 2 games for your team in the regular season and have signed on your team’s waiver.
Playoff Games – Playoff games will follow the same format during regulation as the regular season. If teams are tied at the end of time in a playoff game then 1 minute overtime periods will be played until a winner is decided (see above).
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