WEST ESSEX YOUTH SPORTS ALLIANCE BASKETBALL LEAGUE (S)
POLICIES, RULES & REGULATIONS
3RD/4TH/5TH-6TH/7TH-8TH/GRADE BOYS
3RD/4TH/5TH-6TH/7TH-8TH/GRADE GIRLS
LEAGUE POLICIES – 2010/2011 – Revised on 12/3/10 (All Revisions in Bold)
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Each community will have one voting Committee Member when it sponsors a team. Each community must
have a representative present a every pre-season and post-season meeting or that community jeopardizes there
spot in the league(s). The W.E.Y.S.A. Board will elect a Commissioner for each League.
The Committee Members will govern each League. Except in an emergency situation, a quorum of three
Committee Members (including the Commissioner) will be required to decide any issue, which comes before
the entire committee.
The Commissioner has the authority to speak and act for the League, in accordance with the policies established
by the W.E.Y.S.A. Board.
The League will not provide Liability or Accident Insurance.
Each League will use league-approved officials. Officials will have full responsibility for the control of the
game. There will be two officials (7th- 8th grade) and one official (3rd through 6th grades). However, in the
case of the 5th-6th Grade Leagues, there will be 2 officials at the playoff games. In the 7th – 8th grade
league if only one official shows, the game will still be played. If no official shows for a scheduled game,
the game must be re-scheduled.
Each community will provide an official Scorekeeper/Timekeeper, properly instructed in all aspects of Rules,
and who must be at least a freshman in High School.
The Official(s) must either sign the Officials’ Scorebook or a Log Sheet provided by the home team, in an effort
to identify the officials that receive legitimate complaints. A file will be held by Roseland, in addition to the
Incident File for Coaches, Players, and Spectators.
The home team must have a responsible adult/monitor present at each game.
If the scoreboard does not have a possession arrow, the Score/Timekeeper must have a method of letting both
teams know. In the event that there is a discrepancy, the Referee’s decision is final.
Each community must issue a First Aid Kit to each coach, who must bring it to each game and practice.
Coaches - please report injuries to their own town coordinator.
Each community must submit a typed copy of each Team’s Roster to their respective League Commissioner
prior to the start of the season. Each League Commissioner will verify by e-mail to each Community Rep. that
all rosters for their League have been submitted.
All expenses will be apportioned on an equitable basis among the communities in each league.
Playoffs: All 5th-8th Grade Boys and Girls Leagues will have a Post-Season Single Elimination Tournament.
Cancellation of a Game – If a school is closed due to inclement weather, any games scheduled to be played
there will also be cancelled, even if weather conditions improve during the course of the day.
48-Hour Cancellation: A team will receive a forfeit, regardless of the reason, if they need to cancel a game less
than 48 hours from the scheduled game time.
All teams must e-mail, fax or call their scores into the following League Commissioners:
Bill Maranz – North Caldwell Recreation - 3rd Grade Boys & Girls - 973/228-6432
Rob Lombardy – Essex Fells Recreation – 4th Grade Boys & Girls - 973/768-2705
Michael Colitti – Roseland Recreation – 5th-6th Grade Boys - 973/403-6822
Tony Pompei – Fairfield Recreation – 7th-8th Grade Boys & Girls - 973/882-2745
All Incident Reports should be filled out by the coach or referee and submitted to Rob Lombardy,
W.E.Y.S.A., President within 24 hours. Please send the report by e-mail or fax to the above address/ number,
or deliver/mail it to Essex Fells Recreation Department, 255 Roseland Avenue, Essex Fells, NJ 07021.
TEAM/PARTICIPATION RULES
A player must live in the community he/she represents, except by consent of the “Board” applied for in advance
of the first League game for special consideration. (Note: The schools, which have already been allowed in the
League, are considered to be communities).
2. A player may play in a higher level, but never in a lower level. This has to be established before the season
starts, and must be permanent. A player cannot play in both Leagues or on more than one team.
3. No team may play without at least five players in attendance. A team will forfeit if it does not have at least five
players ready to play ten minutes after scheduled game time.
4. Each player (All Leagues) must play at least 12 minutes in three (3) four-(consecutive) minute intervals and
must-sit out 8 minutes per game and the minutes must be in two (2) four-(consecutive) minute intervals. The
intervals do not need to be consecutive, just the minutes. The aforementioned applies unless the player is
injured, ill, fouled out, or benched for disciplinary reasons. If the player is injured, ill or benched for
disciplinary reasons, the opposing coach must be made aware of this situation before the game begins. This
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W.E.Y.S.A. 2010/2011 Basketball League(s) (Grade 3-8) Policies, Rules & Regulations
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Rule is in effect throughout the entire season, including Playoffs. A violation of this Rule will cause a team to
forfeit the game.
6. Substitutions only at beginning or halfway point of the quarter (All Leagues), except in the case of an injury or
fouling out.
7. Free substitution during 4th quarter (3rd-8th Grade Leagues), providing all playing time requirements will or have
been met.
7. Uniforms must consist of at least the same color jerseys and have numerals on the front and/or back (preferably
both). In the event that two teams have the same color jerseys, the Home Team must wear pinnys.
8. If a town sponsors more than one team, in any League, the teams must be equally balanced, e.g., ability and
grade. Players may not be switched from one team to another at any time during the season or the Playoffs.
9. In order to be eligible to play in the Playoffs, a player must have played in at least one half of the regular season
games.
10. Coaches are responsible for controlling and disciplining their players and fans before, during and after the game.
This Rule also applies during all Playoff Games.
11. Standings and Playoffs (if applicable):
a. Regular Season - Point system to be used, three (3) points for each win, (2) points for each tie,
and one (1) point for each loss. A tie may occur even after (overtime) extended play.
There are no playoffs for the 3rd grade or 4th grade levels.
b. Number of Games Played to Qualify for the Playoffs - At the 5th / 6th grade level and the
7th / 8th grade level, a team must play at least 70% of their scheduled games to qualify for
the playoffs. League approved forfeits will count as a game played only to the team that has
been declared the winner by forfeit. The losing team will not be credited with having played a
game for the purpose of determining the number of games played to qualify for the playoffs.
c. Standings and Tie Breakers 1. Point system.
2. How did the teams do head-to-head?
3. How did the teams do head-to-head vs. playoff teams?
4. How did the teams do head-to-head vs. non-playoff teams?
5. Least amount of points given up.
6. Elimination playoff as set up by the majority of the Town Coordinators.
d. Playoff teams will be the top four (4) teams who qualify in the standings for each league. If the
league is broken into divisions, the division winners and the next two (2) best records will make
the playoffs.
e. Gyms to be used for the playoffs and the championship games can be pre- determined by the
League Commissioner irrespective of the standings and seedings.
GAME/LEAGUE RULES
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Except as stated herein, New Jersey Interscholastic Rules will apply.
Balls: The 3rd Grade Boys and Girls and the 4th Grade Girls Leagues will use a Junior Size 27” ball; The 4th
Grade Boys, 5th- 6th Grade Boys and Girls and the 7th- 8th Grade Girls Leagues will use the official high school
girl’s intermediate ball (28.5) and the 7th- 8th Grade Boys League will use the men’s official high school ball.
The 3rd Grade Boys and 3rd Grade Girls Leagues will use the 9’ baskets.
Foul Shots – the 5th –8th Grade Boys and girls Leagues will shoot from the regulation foul line. The 4 th Grade
Boys League can move one foot in (closer to the basket) and heels should touch the foul line. The 4 th Grade
Girls League and the 3rd Grade Boys and Girls Leagues can move up to 3 feet closer.
The 3rd, 4th, and 5th- 6th Grade Boys and Girls Leagues will play four quarters of eight minutes each. The first,
second and third quarters will consist of running time. The fourth quarter will be stopped time. The clock will
stop for all timeouts, injuries, and foul shots throughout the entire game. In the 3rd, 4th, and the 5th - 6th Grade
Leagues, the clock will stop at the halfway mark of each quarter for substitutions only. This is not a coach’s
time out!
The 7th-8th Grade Boys and Girls will also play four quarters of eight minutes each. The first and third quarters
will consist of running time while the second and fourth quarter will be stopped time. The clock will stop for all
timeouts, injuries, and foul shots throughout the entire game. In the 7th - 8th Grade Leagues, the clock will stop
at the halfway mark of each quarter for substitutions only. This is not a coach’s time out!
Overtime periods – in all of the 4th- 8th Grade Leagues a game may still end in a tie score. Each overtime period
will be four (4) minutes long and will be stopped time. The 4th Grade Leagues will play a three-minute
overtime period. The 3rd Grade Leagues may end in a tie (no overtime periods).
W.E.Y.S.A. 2010/2011 Basketball League(s) (Grade 3-8) Policies, Rules & Regulations
Page Three
In the last 30 seconds of play, the clock will not start until the ball reaches mid-court (3rd, 4th, and 5th-6th Grade
Leagues only).
9. There will be two (2) minutes between each quarter and five (5) minutes between the half.
10. Time-outs: 7th-8th Grade Leagues – 3 full (60 seconds), plus 2 (30 second) time outs per game. 4th, and 5th -6th
Grade Leagues – 3 full (60 seconds) per half (not cumulative). 3rd Grade Leagues – 2 full (60 seconds) per
half (not cumulative).
11. No zone defense is allowed, man on man defense only. Double teaming is also not
allowed. (3rd - 8th grade leagues). A warning will be given for a zone defense or double teaming and then a
technical foul may be called. If an offensive player has the ball or has clearly established position inside the 3point line, then a defensive player must be approximately within six feet. If an offensive player is outside the 3point line, a defensive player can play “help” defense, but must remain outside the key. If an offensive player
with the ball beats his/her opponent, then a defensive player can help or switch. Double-teaming is allowed
inside the key. Double team violations will be called at the official’s discretion. Example: If a player beats
his/her opponent then a double team briefly occurs, but the defensive player currently has the advantage.
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PLEASE NOTE: 7th-8th Grade Leagues – The above rule also applies; however teams are allowed to play
a Zone Defense in the 3rd quarter only double teaming is allowed in the 3rd quarter as well.
12. PRESSING: The 7th- 8th Grade Teams may only press during the fourth quarter (man-to-man press only),
however, if a team is up by 15 or more points at any time during the quarter they cannot press. If a team should
drop below a 15-point lead, they may press again. The team that is losing by 15 or more points may press.
throughout the quarter. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th- 6th Grade Teams may not full court press at any time. The defense
must drop back if the opposing team gets the defensive rebound; if there is a change of possession; in the case
of dead ball call; or on a basket scored.
13. NO STEALING: Boys and Girls 3rd Grade Leagues and Girls 4th Grade League only – No Stealing on the
dribble outside the three point line.
14. Fouling Out: All 3rd, 4th, and 5th- 6th graders will foul out upon committing a sixth (6) personal foul. All 7 th- 8th
graders will foul out upon committing a fifth (5) personal foul. If as a result of a player fouling out, their team
would have fewer than five (5) players, they may continue to play in the game, provided that on each
subsequent foul he/she commits, the opposing team will, in addition to shooting their foul shots, be awarded
technical foul shots and receive the ball at mid-court.
15. One and one is in effect on the seventh team foul per half. Two free throws are awarded on the tenth foul.
16. Zero Tolerance: If a coach or player is asked to leave the game due to poor sportsmanship, he or she will
receive a Two-Game Suspension (this does not include the game being played).
HANOVER ONLY:
All team players must play an equal amount of time, as numbers permit. A player should never
play more than 1 half quarter more than any other player. Substitutions during a half quarter are
not permitted except for injury or other medical condition. Playing time should be fair over the
course of the season and extra playing time should be allocated proportional to attendance at
practices.
COACHES/PARENTS:
Recreation Basketball provides youth with the opportunity to learn sportsmanship and basketball skills, while
playing in a fun atmosphere. All spectators should refrain from criticism of coaches, referees and/or players.
Participation and enjoyment of the activity are our primary goals!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!