Basketball Rules
The following basketball rules are governed by the 2014-2015 NFHS Basketball Rules Book.
Court
The basketball court is located in the LSUS Health & Physical Education building.
Procedures
1. Each team should have a captain and a team name.
a. The captain’s responsibilities include: attending all captain’s meetings, making sure each player signs-up on-line
(or signs the team entry form), paying the team’s entry fee, guaranteeing eligibility of the players on their roster,
informing their team of the procedures and rules, being the spokesperson for their team during each game,
providing their team with the schedule or any rescheduled games, and controlling the conduct of their team.
Each member of the team must sign the waiver before participating, including those individuals added to the
roster during regular season play. No more than 20 individuals on a roster. No individual may be added to the
roster after play-offs begin. All players on the team must play in 2 regular season games to be eligible for
play-offs.
2. No jewelry (including rubber band bracelets), hair clips, barrettes, or caps.
3. Any player bleeding must leave the game and is not able to return until the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been
covered. If blood is on the clothes or jersey, the player must change before reentering the game.
4. A maximum of 14 intramural championship t-shirts will be given to the league champions. If teams have less than 14
players, only the players listed on the roster will receive a t-shirt. Players need to have played in at least 50% of the
intramural games to receive a t-shirt.
5. Eligibility:
a. All LSUS undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled in classes. All LSUS faculty and staff members
employed during the current semester. LSUHSC students enrolled in the current semester.
b. A valid LSUS or LSUHSC ID MUST be presented to the Recreational Sports staff at check-in. If you do
not present your ID before each game, you WILL NOT be eligible to participate.
c. A student who has received a scholarship or has participated in intercollegiate competitions shall not be eligible
to compete in that particular sport (or similar sport) for at least one Academic semester.
d. No more than 2 ex-collegiate players of the same or similar sport may participate on each team.
e. Any individual participating in a university club sport is not eligible for that sport during the same year.
f. Athletes who have participated at the professional level in the same sport are not eligible for three years after
his/her professional experience and there may only be 1 ex-professional player per team.
g. Players may only play on one team unless playing in a men’s or women’s league and co-rec league.
h. Players may not switch teams once their name is on a roster.
6. Entry Fees: To help eliminate forfeits and to maintain the quality of the Recreational Sports Program, Recreational
Sports has instituted fees for recreational activities. Fees are due with the entry form and must be received by the entry
deadline. Failure to pay the total fee by the entry deadline will result in the team not being scheduled. Recreational
Sport’s fees vary depending on the sport. The only time a refund may be given is when a team has paid and not enough
teams sign-up to form a league.
7. Forfeits
a. If a participant or team fails to begin five minutes after the scheduled starting time, the Recreational Sports Staff
may declare the contest forfeited to the team ready to play. If neither team is ready to play five minutes after the
scheduled starting time, a double forfeit will be declared.
b. Teams will forfeit any games in which they used an ineligible player.
c. If, in the opinion of the officials or supervisor, a team is not playing the game within the spirit of the rules, or
according to acceptable fair play, the game may be stopped and a forfeit declared against one or both teams.
d. Two forfeits during a given season will result in the team being dropped from the league for the remainder of the
current sport’s season.
e. Any team that forfeits will receive a 1 for sportsmanship and the team forfeited against will receive a 5.
8. Protests
a. Protests regarding rule misinterpretations must be made by the Team Captain before the next live ball. If the
protest is the last play of the game the protest must be made before the teams leave the court. The protest must
be made to a game official who should then explain the rule interpretation. If the game official is unsure of the
rule, the Director of Recreational Sports should be notified.
b. Protests on matters of an official’s judgment will be disregarded.
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All protests regarding eligibility must be made in writing to the Director of Recreational Sports by the next
business day after the infraction occurred. Eligibility protests of a single day event must be made during the
working hours of the business day following the event in question. Eligibility protests during playoffs must be
made by NOON the day following the contest being protested.
d. Regular season eligibility protests may not be filed after postseason has begun.
e. The Director of Recreational Sports, at his/her discretion, may hold one hearing for each protest at which all
parties involved may present their versions of the case before a decision is made.
f. Protests of playoff games must be made in writing within 24 hours or by 12:00 noon on the day of the next
scheduled game, whichever is first.
Reschedules: After the schedule is made, it is the responsibility of the Team Captain to notify the Director of
Recreational Sports ASAP of any days/times his/her team will be unable to play. Games will try to be rescheduled, but
there is no guarantee. If something arises at a later date, the Team Captain must notify the Director of Recreational Sports
of any scheduling conflicts at least 3 business days prior to the game. Postseason games will not be rescheduled.
Defaults: If the Team Captain notifies the Director of Recreational Sports at least 24 hours in advance that their team
will be unable to make their upcoming game, the team will receive a loss, but not be given a forfeit. After 4 defaults, the
team will be taken out of the league.
Alcohol: The use or possession of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited at any Recreational Sports activity. Use of
alcohol by either participants or their fans will result in the ejection of those involved and/or the complete forfeiture of the
game and may result in further disciplinary actions.
Tiebreaker Policy
a. Head to Head
b. Least amount of forfeits
c. Points allowed
d. Points scored
Ejections
a. Any participant or spectator who, at the discretion of the Recreational Sports Staff, does not participate in a
manner suitable to the Recreational Sports competition may be ejected at any time from the game or facility.
b. Consequences for any player suspended from Recreational Sports activities, due to an ejection, will be
determined by the Director of Recreational Sports or authorized designee.
c. In addition to the determined consequence for being ejected, the ejected player(s) will be required to meet with
the Director of Recreational Sports before regaining eligibility. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a
team’s forfeiture of any games in which the player is involved after the suspension. This eligibility will carry
over into the next sport season or academic year.
Sportsmanship Points: The LSUS Recreational Sports program will use a Sportsmanship Point system based on that of
the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). Each team will receive a sportsmanship rating
from the official(s) at the conclusion of the game. The score given will be based on the scale below.
a. 5 pts (Excellent) - given to a team which demonstrates good sportsmanship and maintains an excellent attitude
of complete cooperation. Full and complete support of the officials.
b. 4 pts (Above Average) - given to a team when there is no incident of poor sportsmanship. Respect shown for
opponents and officials.
c. 3 pts (Average) - given to a team when unsportsmanlike conduct is not present in the game except for rare
minor infractions. Poor behavior limited to individual(s), not to the entire team.
d. 2 pts (Below Average) - given to a team if players, other than the captain, persist in questioning officials'
decisions; and/or they repeatedly argue with the officials. For frequent use of profane or vulgar language. If
spectators clearly related to the team fail to cooperate with the officials and the team is not supportive of the
officials' efforts.
e. 1 pts (Poor) - given to a team when a player is ejected and the team does not assist the officials in removing the
player from the area. If players disregard warning of unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, abusive
language or action, etc. If the team refuses to attempt to control their fans after a request to do so from the
Director of Recreational Sports.
Qualifying for Postseason: A team must have a cumulative 3.5 average sportsmanship rating in order to be eligible for
the postseason. A team must have at least a 3.0 rating for each game in the postseason to advance to the next round.
Teams receiving less than a 3.0 will not be eligible to advance to the next round of postseason. Any team that receives a
1 in a playoff game will be disqualified from that playoff tournament and the team and players will be suspended from all
Recreational Sports events for a period of time to be determined by the Director of Recreational Sports. The nature and
severity of the incident will be taken into account.
Miscellaneous: LSUS Recreational Sports is not responsible for any injuries that occur during play. Every participant
should have their own health insurance. Participating in intramurals is voluntary. Individuals injured during play must
have an injury report form on file with Recreational Sports within 48 hours of the injury.
Game Guidelines
1. Players, Substitutes, and Equipment:
a. The Team Captain is the only individual allowed to address the officials.
b. Teams will consist of 5 players. Teams must have at least 4 players to play. Co-rec leagues must have at
least 2 females on the court at all times. If for some reason during your game your team consists of less
than 4 players the game will be forfeited.
c. Substitutes must report to the scorers table, giving his/her number or it is an illegal substitution. Substitutes
must wait to be summoned into the game by an official. No substitutions on the run. Illegal Substitutions:
Result in Technical Foul. Substitutes can be made between halftime, during a time-out, between multiple
free throws (after the first free throw if only shooting 2, or after the second free throw if shooting 3), and
dead balls. A player may re-enter as many times as desired unless removed from the game by the officials
or if he/she fouls out.
d. Gym shoes must be worn. Rubber soled street shoes will not be allowed. No pockets or belt loops are
allowed on either pants or shorts. No tear away pants are allowed. NO hats, NO bandanas and absolutely
NO JEWELRY!!! NO EXCEPTIONS! This rule is in place for your safety and that of others. If you wear
it you WON’T PLAY! It’s your choice. No metal barrettes or bobby pins. Soft scrunches and rubber bands
in your hair (not around your wrist/ ankle) are legal.
e. Guards, casts and braces must not be made of hard and unyielding leather, plaster, pliable plastic, metal or
any other hard substance and worn on the elbow, hand, finger, wrist, or forearm.
2. Definitions:
a. During a dribble from the back court to frontcourt, the ball is in the frontcourt when the ball and both feet
of the dribbler touch the court entirely in the frontcourt.
b. Blocking – illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent with or without the ball.
c. Charging – illegal personal contact caused by pushing or moving into an opponent’s torso.
d. A foul is an infraction of the rules which is charged and penalized.
e. An intentional foul is a personal or technical foul which neutralizes an opponent’s obvious advantageous
position. (Excessive contact and contact away from the ball designed to keep the clock from starting).
f. A flagrant foul is of violent or savage nature or unacceptable conduct.
g. Technical fouls include a foul by a nonplayer, noncontact foul by a player, intentional or flagrant foul while
the ball is dead, head coach using illegal player, dunking in warm-ups, etc.
h. A team foul is any personal foul or technical foul which is charged to either team. All team fouls are
counted to reach the bonus free throw.
i. Goaltending – a player touches the ball during a field-goal try while on its downward flight above the
basket and has the possibility of entering the basket.
3. Game, Scoring and Timing Regulations:
a. A game will consist of two 18 minute halves each (running time) with 2 minutes between halves. The
clock will NOT be stopped for any substitution, foul, or violation except during the last 2 minutes of the
game. The clock will stop for an official’s time-out, team time-outs, technical fouls and injury time-outs
ONLY during running time.
b. STARTING THE GAME: A game will start with a jump ball at half court.
c. Each team is allowed one 60-second and one 30-second time out per half.
d. On the team’s 7th foul the bonus comes into affect. Player fouled shoots 1 and 1. After 10 fouls, player
fouled shoots 2 shots.
e. Free throws are 1 point. Goals within the ARC are 2-points (3-points for females). Goals outside the ARC
are 3-points (4-points for females).
f. If 0.3 seconds remain on the clock only a tap could result in a score.
g. MERCY RULE: The game will be stopped as soon as one team is ahead by 30 points at any time in the
2nd half or if both teams are not playing to full capability.
h. OVERTIME: During league play, if at the end of regulation time the score is tied, there will be one 2minute overtime period. Teams will jump the ball at the start of each overtime. Teams will be allowed one
additional timeout for the overtime period. The clock will run continuously for the first minute and then
will stop on each whistle for the remaining minute. If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period,
there will be a second overtime period, which will be SUDDEN DEATH. The first team that scores, wins.
FOR PLAYOFFS, if a game ends in a tie at the end of regulation time, there will be as many 2-minute
overtimes as necessary to determine a winner. Teams will not change baskets for overtime. In overtime,
the clock will stop for fouls and violations ONLY in the last minute. Fouls will be administered as if during
regulation period.
4. Live Ball and Dead Ball:
a. All jump-ball situations, the teams will alternate taking the ball out of bounds for a throw-in (possession
arrow).
b. Jump balls result when:
i. A held ball occurs.
ii. The ball goes out of bounds simultaneously being touched by players.
iii. A simultaneous free-throw violation occurs.
iv. A live ball lodges between the backboard and ring or comes to rest on the flange, unless a free
throw or throw-in follows.
v. The ball becomes dead when neither team is in control and no goal, infraction nor end of a
quarter/extra period is involved.
vi. Opponents commit simultaneous goaltending or basket-interference violations.
vii. Double personal, technical, or simultaneous fouls occur and the point of interruption is such that
neither team is in control and no goal, infraction, nor end of quarter/extra period is involved.
c. The ball becomes dead when:
i. A goal is scored.
ii. A free throw is not successful and there is another one to follow or there is a throw-in after the free
throw.
iii. A held ball occurs or rests on the flange of the backboard.
iv. A player-control or team-control foul occurs.
v. An official’s whistle is blown.
vi. Time expires.
vii. A foul occurs.
viii. There is a free throw violation by the shooting team.
5. Out of Bounds and the Throw-in:
a. A player is out of bounds when he/she touches the floor; any object other than a player out of bounds or
steps on the boundary line.
b. The ball is out of bounds when it touches or is touched by a player who is out of bounds, another person or
object out of bounds, the supports or back of the backboard, or the ceiling, overhead equipment or supports.
c. Throw-ins must be released within five seconds and touch another player before going out of bounds again.
d. The thrower may not leave the designated spot until the ball has been released (except after made baskets).
e. The opponents of the thrower shall not have any part of his/her body through the inbounds side of the
throw-in boundary plane until the ball has been released on a throw-in pass.
6. Free Throws:
a. When the official administers the ball to the free thrower, the free throw count begins (10-seconds), and
either team may be charged with a violation.
b. Four defensive players and two offensive players shall occupy the lane spaces.
c. Any player not occupying a lane space must be behind the free-throw line extended and behind the threepoint line.
d. Free throws as a result of a personal foul must be administered by the person fouled against unless injured.
A substitute will shoot the free throws. If there are no substitutes a player on the court may shoot them.
e. Free throws awarded for a technical foul may be administered by any player on the offended team.
f. Penalties for fouls are administered in the order in which the fouls occurred.
g. No free throws for common fouls before the bonus rule, player-control or team-control fouls, double
personal or technical fouls, and simultaneous personal or technical fouls.
h. Fouls followed by free throws are:
i. Personal fouls in the act of shooting. If shot is missed then 2 or 3 (depending on the shot) free
throws are awarded. If shot is made 1 free throw is awarded.
ii. Intentional foul - automatic Technical Foul. 2 free throws and the ball.
iii. Flagrant foul - 2 free throws, automatic disqualification of the offending player, and the ball.
iv. Swearing or yelling at an official or opponent is a Technical foul - Automatic Ejection from
contest and must meet with Director of Rec Sports following the incident to discuss further
disciplinary actions. 2 free throws and the ball.
v. Technical foul - 2 free throws and the ball.
7. Violations and Penalties (these are not all inclusive):
a. Free throws – Players my not move from his/her spot until the ball touches the ring or backboard (including
the free thrower). A violation by the offense causes the ball to become dead immediately, no score. A
violation by the defense and the try was successful, the goal counts and the violation is disregarded. If the
try in not successful, another free throw attempt is awarded. A simultaneous violation by both teams, the
ball becomes dead and no point is awarded. A violation by the defense followed by the offense in the lane
spaces (if by the free thrower or players behind the 3-point line, both penalties are penalized), the second
violation is ignored.
b. Throw-ins – The thrower may not touch the ball in the court before it touches or is touched by another
player.
c. First violation of opponent’s breaking the plane on a throw-in is a warning, second and additional
occurrences result in a technical foul. If opponent touches the ball while in possession of the thrower, a
technical foul is awarded, no warning. If opponent fouls the thrower an intentional personal foul is charged
to the offender, no warning.
d. A player (one foot) shall not remain for 3-seconds in his/her lane while his/her team has control of ball in
his/her frontcourt.
e. A team may not be in continuous control of a ball which is in his/her backcourt for more than 10 seconds.
f. A player shall not excessively swing his/her arms or elbows, even without contacting an opponent.
8. Fouls and Penalties (these are not all inclusive):
a. Team technical fouls consists of requesting excess time-outs, having more than 5 players on the court,
failing to occupy bench, delaying the game, illegal substitution, interference or verbal abuse from the team
bench or crowd supporting that team, etc.
b. Player technical fouls consist of intentionally slapping or striking the backboard, delaying the game, using
profane or inappropriate language, taunting opponent, fighting, show of temper/attitude, challenging the
officials, illegal equipment, etc.
i. Swearing: The use of profane language is not necessary and will not be permitted during
Intramural Sports activities at LSUS. Excessive profanity is unacceptable and will be penalized.
A technical foul will also be assessed to any player that displays poor sportsmanship and/or uses
loud, blatant swearing.
ii. **If the swearing is loud enough for the official to hear, it will be called a technical.**
c. Two Technical fouls for behavior and/or unsportsmanlike conduct in 1 game by the same player =
Automatic Ejection from contest, player must meet with Director of Rec Sports following the incident to
discuss further disciplinary actions.
d. If a player receives 3 technical fouls in the season/league (including playoffs) for behavior and/or
unsportsmanlike conduct, that player will be SUSPENDED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THAT
SEASON/LEAGUE! (Suspension is up to the discretion of the Assistant Director Rec Sports)
e. If a team receives 3 technical fouls in 1 game (including playoffs) that game will be automatically
FORFEITED!
f. A player who screens needs to maintain his/her position unless he/she moves in the same direction as the
opponent.
g. Each player may only have five personal fouls per game. A technical foul does count as a personal foul.
CO-REC RULES:
1. Males may NOT steal the ball away from a female; however, males may steal a pass made from a female.
2. Males cannot full-court pressure a female.
3. Female’s 2-point baskets are worth 3-points, 3-pointers are worth 4-points. Free throws are worth 1-point.
4. Males may not jump in attempt to block a female’s shot. If a male jumps and blocks the females shot the female is
awarded two free throws (if the basket was made, one free throw). If a male continually and deliberately jumps to
block the females shot, a personal foul will be awarded to the male. Males may stand with hands straight up in
front of a female shooting in attempt to block, but the hands MUST be straight up and the feet must not leave the
floor to avoid being called for a blocked shot.