BASKETBALL UPDATE -- Rules and Points of Clarification

Week 1 (Preseason) is complete and we seem to have worked out the kinks. Below are some rule clarifications and points of emphasis we would like to stress.

1. Rules:
a. Regarding free throws, if team A is shooting free-throws, Team B must have two players lined up in the positions closest to the basket. Team A may (not required) have two players lined up in the next positions. Team B may have up to four players lined up in their respective positions. If Team B chooses not to occupy their respective positions, Team A may NOT move to the position closer to the basket.
b. Regarding substations, players must wait for the referee’s signal to enter the court. Substations may be made at most dead ball situation including after any made free throw. Substations may NOT occur BEFORE the first free-throw of a shooting foul situation.
c. Regarding clock stoppages, the clock will stop for any dead ball situation in the final 30 seconds of quarters 1, 2, and 3 and the final 2 minutes of quarter 4.
d. The home and away teams are to sit at their respective bench which corresponds to the scoreboard. Each team is to warm up at the basket opposite to their bench.

2. Points of Emphasis:
a. Regarding time management, the games will begin on time. Timeouts will be no longer than 60 seconds of which each team has 2 per game. Intermission between quarters 1 and 2 and between 3 and 4 will be no longer than 60 seconds. Half-time will be no longer than 3 minutes.
b. Regarding set-up and clean-up, the home team of the 7:00pm game is responsible for set-up. The home team of the 10:00pm game is responsible for clean-up.
c. Regarding referee assignments, the rule basically goes like this … each team is responsible for providing one official for the game immediately following their own game. Of course, the 10:00pm game will not have an officiating assignment. Instead, the teams playing the 8:00pm game are also responsible for providing officials for the 7:00pm game.
d. Regarding sportsmanship, since we now have an even number of teams, we are electing to include all teams in the playoffs (previously we were not going to include the team with the lowest sportsmanship total). However, by playing in the BH Stake Basketball League, you agree to (and we expect) the highest degree of sportsmanship on the court. We are discontinuing the practice of teams giving a sportsmanship rating to their opponents as well the points awarded by the officials. Instead, Fred Clawson, our official scorer and sideline official will rate the teams based on sportsmanship. Brother Clawson may take into consideration the input of the officials.