CITY OF HUNTSVILLE
PARKS & RECREATION
2015-2016
BASKETBALL SEASON
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide professional assistance and guidance to our youth participating
in the sport of basketball, in order to promote fair play, fun, and good
wholesome sportsmanship while producing better citizens within our
communities in the City of Huntsville.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the City of Huntsville Park and Recreation Department
Basketball program is to provide a quality youth basketball program for
boys and girls ages 6 through 17. Our program places emphasis on
development of basketball skill, building character, promoting positive selfesteem, participation and sportsmanship.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION
YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUES
ZONE ONE
American, International, Redstone
Paul Jensen Zone 1 Coordinator
Phone: 256-883-3754
ZONE TWO
Continental, Lakewood, Northern
Brian Wilson Zone 2 Coordinator
Phone: 256-883-3290
ZONE THREE
Civic, Eastern, Metro
Tony Hughes Zone 3 Coordinator
Phone: 256-883-3291
ZONE FOUR
National, Patriot
Jay Cloys Zone 4 Coordinator
Phone: 256-883-3292
2015-2016 BASKETBALL INFORMATION
IMPORTANT DATES:
October 12, 2015
6:00 pm Basketball Directors Meeting-Lowe Mill Annex
October 24, 31, 2015
9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Basketball Registration
November 7, 2015
9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Basketball Registration
November 9, 2015
All Volunteer Coaches Applications Due
November 10, 2015
MANDITORY CITY WIDE BASKETBALL
TBA 6:00 p.m.
November 12, 2015
Begin Basketball Practices (with Approved coaches)
November 16, 2015
Rosters due for regular season play
COACHES CLINIC
PICTURE ID BADGES @ BRAHAN SPRING REC. CENTER
(Required for-City-Wide Divisions Only)
December 3, 2015
City-Wide Schedules Distributed
December 7, 2015
Recreation Basketball Season Begins
December 12, 2015
Final Date to add/delete Players
POST-SEASON TOURNAMENTS Start February 13, 2016
*Regular season roster teams only. All players must appear on the roster to
participate.
All Girls Division – TBA
8 Under Boy’s – TBA
10 Under Boy’s – TBA
12 Under Boy’s – TBA
14 Under Boy’s – TBA
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
For a player to be qualified to participate in the City of Huntsville Parks & Recreation
Department’s Basketball Program the following criterion must be met:
AGE GROUPS (Boys and Girls) 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 17U.
CUT OFF AGE CONTROL DATE: Players age prior to September 1st of current calendar year
(2015).
A State Certified or County Certified Birth Certificate must be attached to rosters before the
player is eligible. ONLY IF A PLAYER ID NUMBER IS NOT IN THE CITY’S DATABASE.

A player participating in an interscholastic program (competition between schools) is
not eligible to participate in the City Parks & Recreation Basketball Program. This
applies if this player appears on the roster, has dressed out for any school game, has
resigned and / or is placed off the team.

No player will be allowed to participate on multiple teams sanctioned by ARPA with the
same season. This applies to both the Huntsville area and surrounding affiliates.

Line-up cards will be pre-printed and given to the scorekeeper prior to game time. No
player’s date of birth, valid address and birth certificate number. Player’s whose names
do not appear on the official line-up card will not be permitted to play.

It’s the coaches’ responsibility to view the line-up card, check the starting line-up, and
initial the official line-up card prior to game time. NO WRITE-IN’S ALLOWED!

The Parks & Recreation Department has the authority to refuse participation to any
player who does not meet the above qualifications.
The City of Huntsville Parks and Recreation Department encourages players to participate in the
age appropriate division. However, parents may elect to have their age child play in an older
age group based on ability, maturity and experience. Be advised that once a child plays on a
team in an older division they cannot return to their normal age group. Also, players must
remain in the same age division through all levels of youth basketball completion (as stated in
ARPA guidelines for post-season tournament player eligibility).
COACHES ELIGIBILITY
Head coaches are responsible for conduct of assistant coaches, players and spectators.
All coaches must be approved by the leagues Basketball Director and Board Members,
and approved through the City of Huntsville Parks and Recreation Department
Volunteer application Form, prior to being permitted to work with the players. One (1)
head coach, One (1) assistant, and one (1) bookkeeper are allowed on the bench during
the game
In the 17 and under age group the head coach must be a parent/guardian of one of the
players or he/she must be at least 25 years of age.
CRITERIA FOR VOLUNTEER COACHES BACKGROUND CHECKS
Conviction of any of the following offenses will disqualify applicants from participation as a
volunteer in a City of Huntsville Sponsored league:

Any sex offense.

Any felony involving violence.

Any felony offense, other than one involving sex or violence, adjudicated with the past
seven years.

Any misdemeanor drug or alcohol offense with the past three years or multiple offenses
with the past five years

Any other misdemeanor adjudicated with the past three years involving behavior that
would be considered a potential danger to children

Any pending Charge.
The City of Huntsville further reserve the rights to disqualify any potential volunteer who:

Has a history with another organization (volunteer, employment, etc.) of complaints or
sexual, physical or emotional abuse or minors: or

Has resigned, been terminated or asked to resign from a position, whether paid or
unpaid, due to complaint(s) of sexual, physical or emotional abuse of minors: or

Has a history of another behavior that indicated that he or she may be a danger to
children in the City of Huntsville sponsored league.
TEAM INFORMATION
ROSTERS

The Parks & Recreation Department shall set boundaries for the youth basketball league

Team rosters will consist of no less than seven players and no more than ten players.
A team is required to have four players present at a game to start the game.

Each player must be in a legal numbered uniform. Numbers that include 6, 7, 8 or 9
are Illegal.

League Directors must verify date of birth and proper boundary for all players and turn
in team rosters to their designated Zone Coordinator before November 16, 2015 for
regular season play.

All players registering with a change of address must submit proof of residence (utility
bill, lease, etc.) to your Zone Coordinator.

ALL LEAGUES MUST HOLD A DRAFT EACH YEAR TO FORM TEAMS. Each league will be
able to use their own procedure to form recreational teams as long as the teams are
balanced by age and by player talent. No team will be allowed to move from age group
to age group intact. Each league will be required to submit, ion writing, its team
formation guidelines to be approved by the Zone Coordinator.
EVALUATION SCHEDULE

The evaluations will consist of several drills, (lay-ups, passing, free throws, dribbling, and
speed through cones.

The purpose of the evaluations is to help the coaches with player selections and try to
bring about parity with all teams in respective age groups.

Coaches will observe each player during evaluations to determine draft strategy.
SAMPLE DRAFT PROCEDURES

Each coach (by age group/division) will draw a number from 1 to “N”, where “N” is the
number of coaches.

A coach’s child is an automatic last round pick in the draft. If an assistant coach is
“signed on” with a coach, the assistant child is the third round draft pick.

When drafting players, who have a sibling playing in the age group, the sibling must be
chosen in the next round (next pick)

The coach #1 picks first, followed by #2, and so on. For the second round, the order is
reversed, so that Coach #1 picks last.

Players who do not attend the evaluations will be selected by placing their names in a
“Hat”. Coaches will select from the hat until all names are selected. Coaches can go to
the hat at any time during the draft. Names of players who are known and made
available for the draft.

Players that register late will be placed on teams in draft order.
BASKETBALL GAME REGULATIONS
BENCH PERSONNEL shall consist of no more than – ten (10) players, two (2) coaches and one
(1) bookkeeper. Note: All adult bench personnel must have an approved background check on
file, including bookkeepers.
TIME-OUTS: Three (3) full time outs and two (2) 20-second time outs PER GAME will be in
effect.
AGE GROUP
Boys & Girls – 6U
Boys & Girls – 8U
Girls – 10U
Boys – 10U
Girls – 12U, 14U, 17U
Boys – 12U, 14U, 17U
BALL SIZES / GOAL HEIGHT / FREE THROW LINE
Junior (27/27.5)
8 FT
13FT
Junior (27/27.5)
9 FT
13FT
Intermediate (28.5) 10 FT
13FT
Intermediate (28.5) 10 FT
15FT
Intermediate (28.5) 10 FT
15FT
Official (29.5)
10 FT
15FT
Note: The free throw line will be set at a distance of 13 feet (2 feet less than regulation) in the
boys and girls 6U, 8U and Girls 10U divisions. 6U & 8U divisions will use the junior size ball.
The 10U boys and all girls divisions will use the intermediate or “women’s” ball. All others will
use an “official” or regulation size basketball.
Per AHSAA free throw rule. Players set up around the lane may now leave there boxes upon
release of the ball. The shooter must remain behind the shooting line until contact is made
with the rim/backboard.
PLAYING TIME:
Boys and Girls Divisions:
6U
8-minute quarters on a running clock (substitutions made at the 4 min. mark) Clock stops for
timeouts and injuries only.
8U, 10U, 12U, 14U
6-minute quarters (substitutions made at the 3 min. mark) otherwise the clock operates per
AHSAA basketball rules.
15-17U
2/20-minute halves on a running clock (no minimum play requirement) Clock stops for
timeouts and injuries only. EXCEPTION - The game clock will operate per AHSAA rules for the
LAST MINUTE of the 1st and 2nd halves.
MINIMUM PLAY REQUIREMENT:
During the first three- quarters of the game, substitutions will be made at the midpoint of the
quarter. At exactly the midpoint of the quarter, the horn will sound to stop play at which time
all substitutes must enter the game. This is not a time-out. Any basket made at the
substitution buzzer will be allowed. During the fourth quarter, substitutions may be made at
the discretion of the coach. Any starter (game/quarter) that has fulfilled his minimum play rule
requirement may reenter the game during that quarter for any other “starter” that has fulfilled
their minimum play requirement. A starter may not reenter the game for a substitute that has
not met his minimum play requirement. (Exception, injury to the substitute) The team having
possession of the ball at the substitution break will retain possession when play is resumed with
a free inbound pass at mid -court.
(There is no minimum play requirement for 17U Division).
MERCY RULE:
Mercy rule will be observed for all levels of play. “At any time during the fourth period of any
basketball contest where one team gains a 30-point advantage, the timing rules will be set
aside for the remainder of the contest and a “continuous clock” will be used. When the use of
the “continuous clock” begins, the clock will be stopped for time-outs or injured participants
only. This rule will not be reversed regardless of the point differential.”
UNIFORM DRESS:
No player will be allowed on the playing floor with his/her shirttail out or without socks; he
must be dressed in proper uniform presented to him by his coach. Undershirts must be same
color as jersey. Proper uniform is defined as the shirt and shorts issued by the League. Any
alteration or addition to the proper uniform (warm-ups) must be approved by the gym
manager. Home team will dress white, visitors black.
GAME TIME:
Game time is forfeit time. A team must have a minimum of FOUR eligible players to begin a
game. If additional players arrive after the game has begun, minimum play rules still apply. No
game will start prior to scheduled game time without the consent of both coaches.
SCOREBOARD DISPLAY:
The score portion of the scoreboard will be turned off when one team has a lead of 20 points,
and remain off until the deficit is reduced to 10 points. The official score will be recorded in the
official scorebook for the entire game.
PRESS RULE:
There will be no full-court press in the 8’s division until the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter.
There will be no full-court press in the 10’s and 12’s age groups until the 4th quarter. Teams
will be given two warnings concerning backcourt pressure. After the second warning if a
violation occurs, a team technical foul will be assessed to the coach (technical will not count
toward ejections). No pressing allowed in any age divisions at any time if you are ahead by
15 points.
Referees will ensure that the offense can establish front court position.
OVERTIME RULE:
The length of each extra period shall be three (3) minutes for all ages. As many such periods as
are necessary to break the tie shall be played. Extra periods will not be played for ages six (6)
and under.
PROTEST:
Protest on matters of judgment as rendered by an official will not be considered. Any game
protested because of an ineligible player must be protested before the end of that game in
writing to the Zone Coordinator. Proof of eligibility must be shown to the Zone Coordinator by
the protesting coach and accompanied with a $100.00 non-refundable cash fee within 24 hours
for the protest to be considered.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
Whenever the Huntsville City School system dismisses classes or cancels after school events
due to severe or inclement weather, COH youth basketball games and practices will also be
canceled for that day.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
RULES TAUNTING/SELF PROMOTION:
Players are increasingly directing their celebratory actions toward opponents, which should
be interpreted as taunting and baiting, and penalized accordingly. Further, our
administration is concerned with the trend toward players “playing to the crowd,”
attempting to increase attention and praise for their own individual accomplishments rather
than toward the game itself and team achievements. While many of these actions are not
specifically illegal by rule, extreme behaviors could and should be considered taunting and
baiting of the opponents. Officials should remind captains and coaches at the pre-game
conference that all actions and reactions should demonstrate appropriate sporting behavior.
Players or coaches receiving two technical fouls or an UNSPORTSMANLIKE FLAGRANT
technical foul during a league game shall be ejected from the game. This person(s) will not be
allowed to attend the rest of that game or the next game scheduled for their team.
Players or coaches suspended from a game for any reason shall be placed on probation for
the remainder of the season. Any future acts of unsportsmanlike behavior that results in an
ejection from a game will result in suspension for the season.
Any coach who pulls his/her team off the court will be permanently dismissed from coaching
and forfeit the privilege of coaching another basketball team in the City of Huntsville Parks
and Recreation program.
Any coach proven to have deliberately violated the minimum play rule will be suspended for
the next game. Recurring violations of this rule will result in suspension of the coach for the
season.
Coaches receiving a suspension for any reason may be required to appear at a conference
along with his/her league basketball director at a date, time and place designated by their
Parks and Recreation Coordinator before they may resume coaching. Failure to appear at the
designated meeting will result in a suspension for the remainder of the season.
Head Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, assistant coaches and fans.
The Parks & Recreation department disapproves of unsportsmanlike conduct by team
players, bench personnel or spectators. Such conduct may result in a conference with the
head coach, league basketball director and the Parks & Recreation Coordinator to rectify the
problem.
Coaches who deliberately change player jerseys before or during a game in order to conceal a
player’s identity will automatically be suspended for the remainder of the season.
Demonstrations of unsportsmanlike behavior by coaches returning from a previous
suspension will be dismissed for the remainder of the season (with the right to appeal).
Sanctions may continue into future seasons depending on the time and severity of the
infraction. A protest committee of three (3) league basketball directors will be established to
hear all grievances and appeals.
Harassment of a sports official is a CLASS B misdemeanor.
CODE OF CONDUCT & RULES VERIFICATION
Each league should have some method to document that all coaches are aware
of our Code of Conduct, and have knowledge of the rules governing our
basketball program. Please have each coach read the Unsportsmanlike Conduct
rules and review the playing rules that apply to their age group
Coaches Signatures below
LEAGUE: _____________________________________________
BASKETBALL DIRECTOR: _____________________________
TEAM NAME: __________________________________________
AGE GROUP: ___________________________________________
HEAD COACH: _________________________________________
ASST. COACH: _________________________________________
BOOKKEEPER: ________________________________________
OTHER BASKETBALL RULES/INFORMATION
6U - BASKETBALL TEAMS ONLY
The game will consist of four eight-minute quarters with a continuous running clock that will
only stop for time-outs and injuries. Ball possession at the beginning of the game will be
determined by a coin toss.
Teams must play defense inside the three-point arc with the exception of the last minute of
the 4th quarter. Teams may not cross the half court line. Defensive players may play a loose
ball outside the arc. During this last minute of the game, teams may play defense at the half
court line. Referees will ensure that the offense can establish front court position.
Each available player must play half the game with substitutions being at the four-minute mark
of each quarter. At exactly the four-minute mark of each quarter, the horn will sound at which
time the substitutes will enter the game. This is not a time out. Any basket made at the
substitution buzzer will count. The team having possession of the ball at the substitutions
break will retain possession when play is resumed with a free inbound pass at half court.
OVERTIME RULE:
Extra periods will not be played for ages six (6) and under.
The Alabama High School Basketball Rules (AHSAA) will address any rule or regulation not
covered by this document.