SOUTH BUFFALO CHURCH BASKETBALL LEAGUE RULES AND REGULATIONS

SECTION 1:  PURPOSE

The South Buffalo Church Basketball League is composed of church teams from the Southtowns area to

provide a recreational and fellowship opportunity for young men.

The League's goals are to:

         ‑ Witness and introduce people to Jesus and Christianity,

         ‑ Promote fellowship and fun between players,

         ‑ Practice and demonstrate Christ likeness in leaders, and

         ‑ Play healthy, fun, competitive basketball.

SECTION 2:  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE / OFFICERS

a.      The Executive Committee consists of one coach per team who each has one vote on the committee. Coaches, players, and ministers of any church in the league are welcome to attend any meeting, but each team is allowed only one vote.

  b. The duties of the Executive Committee shall be:

            1. The right to review rules and regulations.

2. The right to admit or remove teams by a majority vote of a quorum of coaches at a meeting called for such a purpose.

Note:  At a meeting called to remove an officer neither that officer nor his team shall have a vote on the Executive Committee.

  c. League Officers (Director, Secretary and Treasurer):

            1. Are elected by the Executive Committee for 1-year terms.

            2. Cannot be removed except by a quorum of coaches at a meeting called for such a purpose unanimously.

  d. The League Director (or two co‑directors):

            1. Chairs the Executive committee.

            2. Casts the vote to break tie votes of the Executive Committee.

            3. Has no vote at a protest meeting except to break a tie vote.

          4. Relinquishes the chair at a protest meeting if his team is directly involved in the protest. The League Secretary, the League Treasurer #1, or the League Treasurer #2, in that order, then assumes the chair. If all of the above cannot serve due to direct involvement or absence, a non‑involved coach chosen by the committee members present then assumes the chair.

                Note: League officers, when disqualified to serve as chairman of the protest committee; assume a regular seat on the committee with one vote.

            5. May call any and all meetings with a minimum of two days notice.

 6. Has the authority to interpret all rules and regulations.

            7. Must on written notice from any two teams call a meeting for any purpose they outline.

  e. The League Secretary:

          1. Is responsible for keeping the minutes of all meetings and is responsible for mailing of all correspondence.

            2. Chairs meetings in the absence of the League Director.

  f. There are two League Treasurers who:

            1. Receive and record all franchise fees and other income.

            2. Are designated as Treasurer #1 and #2 and in that order chair meetings in the absence of the Director and Secretary.

SECTION 3:  QUORUM

A quorum shall consist of at least 1/2 the teams being represented by a coach (or substitute) at any

meeting.

SECTION 4:  ELIGIBILITY/ROSTERS

  a. No person who reaches the age of 19 prior to January 1 of the current season is eligible to play.

  b. No new names may be added to the roster after the second game of the regular season.

  c. A player must be a member in good standing (i.e. active participant, defined as "involved on a regular basis") of the church he represents.  The Minister and Coach will designate the "status" of each player and will do so when signing the official team roster.

       The following is an exception:

1. Any player legitimately and legally participating in the league prior to the current season may continue to participate with the same team until his age eligibility expires.

  d. The official league roster must be signed by the Minister and Coach of that church.

  e. Complete rosters must be submitted to the League Director before the FIRST game, including the following information:

-        Players' names

-        Status of each player (See Section 4c)

-        Date of birth

-        Address

-        Telephone # and person to reach in case of an emergency

f.       When the roster is submitted the following information should be completed and attached:

-        Copies of Birth Certificate

-        Medical Release Forms

-        Signed Pledges of Cooperation

g.      If appropriately completed rosters are not submitted timely, that team will begin each half of every scheduled game with a Double Technical Foul until the roster is submitted.

h.      The League Director has the right to declare a forfeit if a team does not submit their complete roster in proper form.

i.       The League Director and/or Executive Committee have the right to review all rosters. If they declare a player ineligible, all the games that the boy(s) has (have) participated in will be declared forfeits.

SECTION 5:  GAME RULES

Games will be played using current High School Rules amended by the following "house" rules:

a.      A team may begin a game with four (4) players.  The team roster, however, must contain five (5) legitimate names.

b.      There will be no dunking before, during or after games.  All violations will result in a technical foul.

c.      Time outs ‑ Each team has four time outs per game. No more than one time out may be carried over to overtime. An additional time out is awarded for each overtime.

d.  Game Clock: Games will consist of two fifteen-minute halves. There will be three minutes between the halves.  The clock is stopped for each whistle and restarted when play again begins. In the event of a tie in regulation time, as many as needed three minute overtime periods will be played.

e.   Protests: All protests must be made to the game officials and opposing coach at the time of the incident. A written report must be given or sent (postmarked no later than 5 pm on Monday following the incident) to the League Director. The Executive Committee shall rule on the protest.

SECTION 6:  SPORTSMANSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AND REGULATIONS

  a.       There will be NO cursing or swearing. ALL violations will result in a technical foul.

  b.       If players receive two technical fouls, they are automatically removed from the game. They should only return to the locker room under escort of a coach or assistant coach.

  c.       Coaches and players are expected to act in a sportsmanlike manner while in the gymnasium, and ALSO away from the gym when interacting with each other.

            The Director has responsibility to investigate any and all instances where a player or coach acts in an unsportsmanlike manner which is considered inconsistent with the league purposes.  Investigations may be precipitated by technical fouls, reports (from officials, coaches, scorers, fans, etc.), or personal observation.

            Investigations will include discussions with witnesses (if available) and written reports, which will be required from coaches of players involved.

            The Director has responsibility for determining appropriate disciplinary actions based on investigations. Discipline will be firm, and may include suspension for a designated number of games.  Suspension requires a player to not play for a designated week; however, the player must attend for those designated weeks, sit on the team's bench, and act in a sportsmanlike manner.

  d.       An Adult manager or coach is required to be with his team at all times.  A team may not play without an adult present.

  e.       Only team members and coaches are admitted to the locker room.

  f.        While the League Director's team is on the floor, the League Secretary will be in charge of all procedural decisions. If both teams are on the floor, or if one party is not present, the League Treasurer will be in charge.  If no officer is present, the officials are in charge.

  g.       No one is to be admitted to the building prior to 30 minutes before the beginning of the first game.

  h.       There is the possibility that a spectator will disrupt the game or present a danger to players, spectators, coaches, officials or the property. All such incidents, or threats of such incidents, should immediately be brought to the attention of the League Director or substitute who shall use their discretion in the matter.

            The Director shall have the right to remove any spectator or player as he sees fit for the safe conduct of the league.  Additionally, the Director shall have the right to ban that person or persons from future games as he sees necessary for the safe conduct of the league.

  i.        Running up scores is considered unsportsmanlike and inconsistent with our purpose. Once a team has a 20-point lead, no pressing is allowed. If a team violates the spirit of this rule, the officials will give the team one warning, followed by a technical foul for each violation.

SECTION 7:  POST SEASON 

General Guidelines:  Head to head competition can determine trophies and seedings.

Drawing straws can determine only seedings (trophies to be determined by playoff winners).

Point scoring and/or point differential plays NO factor / role in playoffs.

a.     TIES:

             1.  If two teams are tied for any position, placing (for trophies and seedings for postseason play) will be decided based on head‑to‑head competition between the teams during the regular season.

2.     If three teams are tied for first place, seedings will be determined first by head to head competition and if necessary by “drawing straws”. The playoff champion will be deemed the regular season champion.  Regular season second place trophies will be given to both other teams.

3.     If three teams are tied for second place, seedings will be determined first by head to head competition and if necessary by “drawing straws".

            4.   If three teams are tied for third place, seedings are determined by head to head competition. If this still results in a tie, one team will be randomly selected for fourth place. The other two teams will play a special playoff (the winner will be seeded in third place, the loser will be seeded in fifth place).

             5.   If three teams are tied for fourth place, placings will be determined by head-to-head competition. If this still results in a tie, there will be two playoff games, with a drawing by straws to determine who gets a bye.

             6.   If four teams tie for first place, placings will be determined based on head to head competition.  If this still results in a tie, teams will “draw straws”. The playoff champion will be deemed the regular season champion. Regular season second place trophies will be given to all other teams.

            7.  If four teams tie for second, third or fourth place, seedings will be based on head to head                             competition. If this still results in a tie, there will be two playoff games (placing based on drawing of straws). The two winners advance and any further ties (i.e. for fourth place) will be based on head-to-head competition, with the playoff game superseding the regular season game, if the two teams played twice.

  b.  All Star Games, Trophies, Banquet and other matters for the operations of the league shall be the

       responsibility of a Sub‑Committee with a Chairperson assigned by the Director.

SECTION 8:  FINANCES

 a.  Teams must pay franchise fees according to an annual approved plan. If fees are not timely paid, the offending team will be charged with a Double Technical each half of each game until the fee is paid.

      The Director shall have the right to grant a grace period regarding payment of the fee only if he feels there are extenuating circumstances that warrant it.

  b. Donations ‑ Following are recommended donation rates:

            Under  13:          Free

            Teens:                $ 1.00

             20 and over:       $ 2.00

             PATRONS are sold and allow admission for all games for the person whose name is on the patron.

             Players must have a Patron card. 

 c.  If the team assigned to collect money at the door fails to appear or is late, they shall be fined as follows:       

            4:30 ‑ 5:00  ‑  $ 20

            5:00 ‑ 5:30  ‑  $ 30

            5:30 ‑ 6:30  ‑  $ 50

            After 6:30   ‑  $ 100

SECTION 9:  OFFICIALS

  a. The Executive Director shall appoint a Coordinator of Officials and Rules.

  b. Failure of Officials to Appear for a Game:

                   1. If one or both referees do not appear for a game, the two coaches will mutually agree on                             substitutions as needed.

                   2. If the two coaches cannot agree, the Director will appoint referees as needed.

                   3. Any referee working alone will be paid twice the normal rate of pay.

SECTION 10: SCORING

     The Executive Committee appoints an official league statistician and a scoreboard operator. They maintain the official scoring, fouls, and time‑outs.  If they do not appear, a volunteer from a non‑participating team or another individual agreeable to both participating teams should perform these functions.

     If a difference in score exists between the scoreboard and scorebook, the scorebook shall be the official score.

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