Connecticut Basketball Conference

Game Logistics. Each game will be scheduled for 70 to 75 minute time slots. A 3–5 minute warm-up period will be allowed prior to each game. Teams are encouraged to stretch outside the gym before their game, if permitted by your host. You are likewise to start early whenever possible.

Length of Game/Quarters. We do not play running time. You will play four 8-minute quarters. Halftime shall be no longer than 3 minutes (and is otherwise a long time-out).

Ties. There are no ties.

• a.If the score is tied at the end of regulation, two minutes shall be placed on the clock. The team ahead at the end of the two minutes is the winner.
• b.Overtime will commence with a jump ball.
• c.There are no timeouts in overtime — just play.
• d.If still tied at the end of the two minutes, place another two minutes on the clock and repeat the process until a winner is declared.

Fouls (2023 Rule Change). Team fouls reset at the beginning of each quarter, as in CIAC play, for all divisions.

Foul Shots.

• a.4th–5th Grade Boys and 5th Grade Girls may shoot fouls 1 foot inside of the foul line (or jump over the line). Referees are encouraged to call only blatant violations on the foul shooter at these ages.
• b.Teams now shoot two free throws for each foul committed after the opponent reaches five fouls in each quarter. Fouls reset back to zero at the beginning of each quarter. (2023 Rule Change.)

Ball Size. 4th Grade Boys, 5th Grade Boys, and all Girls divisions will use a 28.5″ ball.

No Pressing Rules in the 4G and 4B Divisions (2022 Rule Change). There is no pressing in the 4G and 4B Divisions. Specifically, this means:

• •Following a defensive rebound or a steal resulting in the creation of an offensive possession, the opposing team must retreat beyond half court and play standard defense.
• •There is no double-teaming allowed outside the 3-point area.
• •If two or more players are swarming or playing pressure defense on a given player outside the 3-point line, the referee will issue a warning, then a technical foul.
• •In the last two minutes of each half, full-court defense is allowed as long as a team is not ahead by more than 10 points.

Time-Outs. Each team shall be allotted one full (60-second) and two 30-second time-outs per half. (No timeouts carry over.) There are no timeouts in overtime, even if you have timeouts left over. Either coaches or players may call a time-out.

Mercy Rule. There is a mercy rule when a team is up by 20 points or more — meaning all pressing must cease. Further, good sportsmanship is appreciated.

Referees. Board-certified referees will officiate each game.

Player & Coaches Conduct.

• a.Three coaches are permitted to be on the team bench (or behind the bench).
• b.Only one coach may stand and communicate with the referees.
• c.The bookkeeper and/or clock keeper must sit at the scorer's table and do not count as coaches.
• d.If a technical foul is issued to a coach, the coach must immediately sit down and remain seated for the remainder of the contest. A player who receives a technical foul must leave the game and may not return until the game clock has started again after a substitute has entered. A time-out, free throws, or the break between quarters does not count — the clock must run before the player may return.
• e.If a coach is ejected, they must immediately exit the facility.
• f.If a player or coach is ejected from a game, the ejected player or coach shall not play or coach any further in the tournament and serve a three-game suspension. Further, any coach ejected from a game will have their conduct reviewed by the League President and Executive Committee and may be subject to discipline in addition to any discipline meted out by their Club.
• g.When a coach is ejected, play may not resume until another adult takes over as the team's coach. If no adult coach is present within 15 minutes of the ejection, the referee shall declare a forfeit win for the opposing team.
• h.Only players in uniform and the team's coaches (up to three, Rule 11a) may sit on or behind the team bench. Parents, siblings and other spectators may not. Everyone on the bench stays in the bench area, and the one coach permitted to stand (Rule 11b) does so in front of the team's own bench, within the coaching box where one is marked.

Parents & Spectators Conduct.

• a.Any parent who enters the court during the playing of the game — including a stoppage of play — shall, at the referee's discretion, cause a forfeit of the game.
• b.Spectators cheer for their own team, never against the other: No Negatives, No Names, No Numbers.
• c.Spectators respect the referees and their calls. Only the team's designated coach speaks to a referee.
• d.No noisemakers — air horns, whistles, cowbells and the like — are permitted indoors.
• e.A spectator asked to leave by the referee, the host site director or a League official must leave the gym at once. Play may be stopped until they do.

Uniforms.

• a.All players on a team wear jerseys of the same, single, solid color, with numbers in a contrasting color.
• b.The home team always wears white jerseys; the visiting team wears dark jerseys. If the visiting team’s jerseys are too light to contrast, the visiting team changes (reversible jerseys or pinnies).
• c.Jersey numbers must be legal numbers — digits 0 through 5 only (see the CTBBALL Manual, Section VII, “Legal Jersey Numbers”). A team roster may not include both 0 and 00.

Concussion.

• a.A player who shows signs or symptoms of a concussion — such as headache, dizziness, confusion, loss of balance, or being dazed after a blow to the head — shall be removed from the game immediately.
• b.That player may not return to play or practice that day. When in doubt, sit them out.

Blood. A player who is bleeding, has an open wound, or has blood on the uniform must leave the game. The player may return once the bleeding has stopped, the wound is covered, and any blood on the uniform has been cleaned or the uniform changed.

No Jewelry. Players may not wear jewelry during play — including earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and watches. A medical-alert or religious item must be taped to the body. The referee will not start or continue play while a player is wearing jewelry.

No Tobacco, Vaping or Alcohol. Tobacco, vaping products and alcohol are not permitted in the gym or anywhere on the host’s premises during League games, by anyone — coaches, players, officials or spectators. The host site director or a League official may ask anyone who does not comply to leave.

The Referee’s Judgment Is Final.

• a.A referee’s judgment call — a foul, a violation, whether a basket counts, time on the clock — is final and may not be protested.
• b.If a head coach believes a rule has been misapplied, the coach may raise it calmly with the referee at the next dead ball, and only then. The game continues as the referee rules.
• c.A coach may report a misapplied rule to the League within 24 hours. The League’s decision is final. A game will not be replayed for a judgment call.

Players Needed to Play.

• a.A team must have at least four players present to start a game. A team that still has fewer than four players ten (10) minutes after the scheduled start time forfeits.
• b.Once a game has started, a team may continue with fewer players if players foul out or are injured.
• c.A team playing short-handed plays against a full team; the opponent is not required to reduce its players on the floor, though doing so is a welcome act of sportsmanship.