League Rules

FYBA RULE BOOK

as of February 2008

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Section Contents
  
1 Player Eligibility / Rosters / Waivers

2 Equipment / Uniforms

3 Play of Game / Scoring / Time

4 Protests

5 Tournament / Awards

6 Discipline / Supervision / Facility Rules

7 Rule Changes

8 Miscellaneous

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The following rules are the official FYBA Basketball rules. These rules supplement the standard Virginia State High School Basketball (“State”) rules as governed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (“Federation”) and shall govern in the case of an inconsistency with State or Federation rules. The league rules include some excerpts from the FYBA Bylaws. In the event of an inconsistency, the Bylaws take precedence.
 
Membership Policies:
 
By submitting or authorizing an application for membership in the FYBA, the applicant agrees and stipulates to the following terms and conditions:
 
The applicant agrees and consents to receive and accept all written or oral communications, including but not limited to e-mails, facsimiles, mail-outs, advertisements, and telephone calls from the FYBA, its employees, Officers, agents, attorneys, volunteers, members, affiliates, subordinates, host organizations and clubs.
 
Indemnification/Assumption of Risk.
 
1. The member, applicant and/or participant releases and forever discharges, and covenants not to sue the Filipino-American Youth Basketball Association, Inc (“FYBA”), the Host (of the Event), Local Organizing Entity, and if applicable owners and lessors of premises upon which the activity takes place, (the foregoing collectively, including without limitation, the FYBA, hereinafter for convenience referred to as the « Releasees »), together with the respective administrators, members (including all categories), volunteers, participants, sponsors and advertisers, together with the insureds, and the parent related, affiliated, subsidiary companies, and affiliated committees, as well as the officers, directors, agents, attorneys, employees, representatives, successors and assigns of each of the Releasees entities, and any other party indemnified and held harmless by the FYBA (each considered one of the Releasees herein) from all liability, claims, demands, losses, or damages of the Member, Applicant, and/or Participant, caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the action, inaction or negligence of the Releasees or otherwise, including but not limited to negligent rescue operations, negligent security, travel and recreation operations and activities; and further agree that if despite this release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity policy, the Member, Applicant and/or Participant or anyone on behalf of the Member, Applicant and/or Participant, makes a claim against any of the Releasees, the Member, Applicant and/or Participant and/or his/her parent or guardian will indemnify, save and hold harmless each of the Releasees from any litigation expenses, attorney’s fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which may be incurred as the result of such a claim.
 
2. The Member, Applicant and/or Participant understand that : (a) athletic activities involve risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death (« Risks ») ; (b) these Risks and dangers may be caused by the Member, Applicant, and/or Participant’s own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the activity, the condition in which the activity takes place, or the negligence of others ; (c) there may be other risks and social and economic losses either not known to the Member, Applicant, and/or Participant, or not readily foreseeable at this time ; and the Member, Applicant, and/or Participant accepts and assumes all risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages the Member, Applicant, and/or Participant incurs as a result of participation in the activity.
 
FYBA Basketball Policy:
 

  • Each coach must play each child on his/her team a minimum of 10 minutes total playing time per game.
  • If a child is not able to play, the coach is responsible for informing the opposing coach and Officer of the Day that such child will not be playing as well as the reasons. Acceptable reasons are illness, injury or disciplinary.
  • A coach is not required to play a child the required minimum 10 minutes if the child suffers an injury, becomes ill, or is incapable of continuing to play.
  • Any violation of this rule must be brought to the attention of the Officer of the Day.
  • The FYBA Officers, after investigation, will enforce the following penalties:

** 1st infraction – Oral and written warning to the offending coach

** 2nd infraction – Suspension of coach for one game.

** 3rd infraction — Suspension of coach for the rest of the season.
 
SECTION 1 — PLAYER ELIGIBILITY / ROSTERS / WAIVERS
 

  • A properly executed FYBA Waiver Request Form must be submitted to the Division Athletic Director before any action can be done.
  • No child who needs to have an eligibility rule waived in order to participate in FYBA activities, shall not participate in practices, games or other matters, until such waiver is approved. If a coach allows an ineligible player to participate, he/she is subject to suspension.
  • Each player shall have a completed official FYBA Permission and Release Form submitted to the Division Athletic Director before participation. The Permission and Release Form must be submitted together with the Official FYBA Roster.
  • Individual team rosters (on official roster forms) must be submitted to the Division Athletic Director on the date announced at the coaches’ meeting.
  • In addition, each team must have a minimum of 8 players. No exceptions.
  • A player’s eligibility will not be affected by his/her participation in a basketball program sponsored by other organizations. However, games will not be rescheduled or changed due to conflicts with other leagues.

SECTION 2 — EQUIPMENT / UNIFORMS
 
Players will wear appropriate athletic shoes that are in good condition so as to assure the safety of the players and proper protection of the gymnasium floors. No one may wear street/leather shoes while performing on playing surfaces.

  • Game basketballs shall be decided upon by the two opposing coaches and the game officials.
  • Each team should have a good basketball, preferably leather, to submit before each game for consideration to play.

Official ball sizes:
 
Mosquito ,Tykes and Girls = 28.5 INCHES

Peewee, Bantam, Junior and Juvenile = 29.5 INCHES. (regular size)

  • All jerseys must be tucked into uniform pants.
  • There will be no wearing of jewelry by any boy or girl in any FYBA league.

SECTION 3 — PLAY OF GAME / SCORING / TIME
 
Unless specifically addressed in the following sections, the VHS rules apply to game play.

  • Games shall start promptly at their designated time. No cancellations or rescheduling shall be made without the prior approval of Officer of the Day.
  • For each game, the coach of each team shall assign a capable and responsible volunteer official timekeeper and scorer (one from each opposing team) respectively for the duration of the game, using the equipment provided. The official scorer and the timekeeper must be seated together at the scorer’s table and remain neutral. No one else will be seated at the table. The scorekeeper or timekeeper shall not cheer or coach players of teams or make unnecessary comments concerning the officiating, other than those needed in the performance of his job.
  • Each coach shall have his/her team’s players listed by name and number in the official scorebook, at least five minutes prior to the start of the game.
  • A forfeit occurs if a team is not ready to play within fifteen (15) minutes grace period allowed after the scheduled game time. However, the coach has the option of playing the game if his/her team has at least four (4) eligible players. If at any time during the grace period a 5th player arrives, the game will begin immediately. The coach must choose either to wait for the 5th player or start with 4 players. At the end of the 15 minute grace period ans there is still no 5th player, then the game is a forfeit
  • Each game will consist of two (2) twenty (20) minute halves running time. Game clock stops at every timeout called during the game and at the last two (2) minutes of each half at which this time at every dead ball situations.
  • There will be a maximum of two (2) overtime periods, each consisting of three (3) minutes each. If the game is tied at the end of the second overtime period, the game will go to sudden-death, without a clock. The first team to score in the sudden-death will be declared winner.
  • All team fouls at the end of regular playing time will advance into the overtime period(s).
  • All bonus foul shots will be allowed on the 7th team foul per half.
  • All technical fouls will be combined with personal fouls for player disqualification. Technical fouls will be added to personal fouls to reach the bonus situation. All fouls (personal and technical) on a team, including the coach, will count toward the 6 team foul allowed per half, at which time the bonus foul shot will be awarded on the 7th team foul.
  • Four (4) timeouts per game (two (2) per half and one (1) extra timeout per overtime period shall be allotted each team. Only one (1) unused timeout per half can be carried over to the next half.
  • All unused time outs from regular scheduled playing time will be carried over to the overtime period(s). A time out shall not exceed one (1) minute.
  • There will be a three (3) minute break between halves.
  • Two referees shall be arranged for each game. If only one referee is present for a regular season game at its scheduled game time, the game will be played as scheduled and will be considered an official game. If no referees are present, a fifteen (15) minute grace period will take effect. If at least one referee arrives during the grace period, the game will begin immediately and will be considered an official game. If the grace period expires and no referees are present, then the game will not be played.

If only one or no referee is present for a PLAYOFF game, the game may not start unless otherwise directed by the Athletic Director of that particular Division. The fifteen (15) minute grace period from the scheduled game time will then go into effect. If the second referee arrives during the grace period, the game will begin immediately.

  • Coaches shall remain seated while on the bench. If a head coach stands to help direct his/her team, only he/she will be allowed to stand and should then return to the bench and be seated. If a head coach, assistant coach, or bench receives a technical foul, the head coach must then be seated for the entire time during the course of the game. (Coaches should be reminded that by standing it blocks the view of the scorekeeper and timekeeper and could promote mistakes.)

SECTION 4 — PROTESTS
 

  • A game may be protested in cases of rule discrepancies, but not in cases of judgment calls. An official protest shall be made at that point in the game when the discrepancy occurred, not at a later time, and shall be designated clearly in the official scorebook by the scorekeeper and referee. The protesting coach must present his/her protest to the Division Athletic Director or the designated Officer of the Day in a written statement within 24 hours after the game’s end.
  • When officially submitted in writing, the protest must be accompanied by a twenty dollar ($20) protest fee, deposited with the FYBA Treasurer. The protest then will be reviewed by the FYBA League Technical Committee. Its decision shall be final as to the validity of the protest and whether such protest is upheld or denied. If upheld, the protestor will have his/her fee refunded, and forfeited if denied.

SECTION 5 — TOURNAMENT / AWARDS
 
After the regular season is completed, a Division Champion will be determined based on the league tournament structure established by FYBA. The structure and seeding in any post-season tournament will be determined by the respective Division Athletic Director with the approval of the League Athletic Coordinator.
 
The following awards will be given:
 
1. Sportsmanship Award = given to team/s selected by the respective coaches and the Division Athletic Director, which showed the best attitude, teamwork and cooperation in each division.

2. Regular Season Champion and Second Place = team trophy for each division.

3. Tournament Champion and next three finishing teams = team trophy for each division.

4. Individual Trophies – Tournament Champion, Tournament Runner-up (Division I only). Division I Champion is considered the League Champion.
 
SECTION 6 — DISCIPLINE / SUPERVISION / FACILITY RULES
 

  • Coaches, players, cheerleaders, and spectators shall strictly abide by the gym and school rules set forth by FYBA and by officials of the facilities used by the league. This includes the following rule among others: NO FOOD, NO CHEWING GUM, NO COLORED DRINKS, AND NO SMOKING in the gyms. Only bottled water is allowed. Water fountains are outside each gym for everyone’s use.
  • Each coach is expected to ensure that his/her team adheres to the facility rules and to oversee any other aspect of the behavior of his/her team. He is expected to advise the team’s supporters of the rules of the facility and to take an active part in preventing or stopping any misbehavior (including abusive language) and disorderly conduct by the team and/or supporters. Any spectator, participant, or coach exhibiting misbehavior and disorderly conduct shall be subject to suspension and/or expulsion by the designated Officer of the Day, or by any other FYBA official from that particular activity or any future FYBA activity.

Remember: referees, timekeepers, and scorers are only human and can commit mistakes.

  • Sports not only can teach skills, but more importantly teaches self-restraint, discipline and camaraderie in people, most especially the youth.
  • An Officer of the Day (OD) will always be present in any FYBA activity.
  • If a coach or player is ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct, he/she will be suspended for one game. If the player or coach is ejected a second time, he/she will be suspended for 3 games. If the player or coach is ejected a third time, he/she will be suspended for the rest of the season.

SECTION 7 — RULE CHANGES
 
A decision to change, add or delete a rule or procedure must be submitted to the FYBA Board of Directors who will notify all affected coaches as soon as possible.
 
SECTION 8 MISCELLANEOUS
 
DUTIES OF AN OFFICER OF THE DAY

  • In general, an Officer of the Day (OD) is appointed by the President to see that facility and league rules are observed strictly in the course of the games. Much of the work of the OD is to support the decisions of the officials. If necessary, when public safety is compromised, the OD is expected to use his/her own best judgment to delay, interrupt, or terminate a game. If necessary, in situations of misbehavior and disorderly conduct, an OD, at his discretion and best judgment, can eject a spectator, participant, or coach from the gym. The OD must be mature, dependable, coolheaded, and firm. The OD must hear both sides of an issue and exercise discretion with utmost impartiality to resolve any problem that may arise.

Typically, these are the OD’s responsibilities:
 
1. Notifies the Division Athletic Director about game cancellations due to inclement weather.

2. To make sure all necessary game equipment are in the gym when needed (e.g. time clock, horn, scoreboard, scorebook, banners, etc.).

3. Determine that a game timekeeper and scorekeeper from opposing teams have been designated. Coaches must enter their roster into the scorebook before the start of their game or immediately upon the ending of a previous game.

4. Check that the game referees sign the scorebook at the end of each game to validate the score and certify their presence.

5. Using the FYBA PA system, to remind the everyone that they should:

a. remain seated in the stands or appropriate chairs during the course of the game;

b. keep out of the playing area at breaks in the action and between games;

c. not loiter or play in and around the school halls.

6. Assign other people to supervise the gym and surrounding areas if he/she is coaching.

7. Make sure all game equipment are all accounted for at the end of game day or passed on to the next Officer of the Day/Hour.

9. Notifies the Division Athletic Director if:

— a game will not played for any reason;

— a spectator, player, or coach is ejected from a game for misconduct; or

— referees do not show up for a game.

10. Must be a coach or an assistant coach. If someone other than the Coach or assistant coach(s) wishes to perform the duties of the OD, the person must possess knowledge and understanding of the duties of the OD. He must obtain permission from the Division Athletic Director.

11. Should be an official Volunteer Building Director (VBD).
 
CANCELLATIONS
 
Games and practices will be cancelled when schools are closed due to non-availability of the facility or inclement weather. The League Coordinator in coordination with the game scheduler will reschedule cancelled games, if possible. As with school day closings, Fairfax Cable Channel 21 announces countywide school closures. Information on closures and cancellations will also be posted on the FYBA website: www.fybaonline.com
 
COMMUNICATION
 
FYBA relies upon the internet as the primary mode of communication to and from its officers and its members. The FYBA website www.fybaonline.com should be checked regularly during the season for schedule changes, new information and events, or to ask questions or make comments via the email web link. For those participants without internet access, please call a coach or staff member directly to make inquiries.
 
GAME TIME ANNOUNCEMENT: (BY: FYBA Officer of the Day/Hour or Emcee)
 
“WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS IS A NO-SMOKING FACILITY AND THAT NO FOOD, CHEWING GUM OR COLORED DRINKS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE GYM. ONLY BOTTLED WATER IS ALLOWED. WATER FOUNTAINS ARE OUTSIDE THE GYM FOR EVERYONE’S USE.
 
FYBA IS RUN ENTIRELY BY PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS AND FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY AND PROTECTION, MAY WE REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE NO-LITTERING RULE WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED AND THAT WE REQUEST EVERYONE TO HELP IN THE CLEAN UP. THANK YOU”