Connecticut Basketball Conference

I. CTBBALL’s Mission ↑ contents

II. Our Code — What We Expect of Coaches and Parents ↑ contents

• Directing insults at athletes.
• Offering sideline coaching during games.
• Entering the court during play — which triggers forfeiture under League rules.

• Modelling respect for all participants.
• Valuing effort over outcomes.
• Cheering for all team members equitably.
• Avoiding confrontation with officials.
• Prioritising player safety.

III. Our Program ↑ contents

IV. How to Raise / Escalate an Issue ↑ contents

Raising issues is an important component of our culture to ensure that we are always working collaboratively and that our leadership is aware of key issues.

However, in a League of our size, we must have discipline around our escalation protocols:

• Parents raise issues to Coaches (who try to resolve).
• Coaches raise issues to Club Presidents (who try to resolve).
• Club Presidents, if necessary, raise issues to League Leadership.

Most questions can be answered by reviewing (or searching) our Manual or contacting your Club President, so please follow our protocols so we can keep our laser focus (and time) on ensuring the kids have a great season!

Who your Club President is: Club Presidents & Coaches. To search the Manual, use the search box at the top of any page.

V. How to Use This Website ↑ contents

What follows should help you execute the coach-related tasks you need through the season. Everything here describes this website as it works today. Start at your team page: open Teams & Standings and click your team — almost everything below happens there.

1. How do I sign in?

Sign-in is by email, with no password. Press Sign in at the top of any page, type the email address the League has for you, and a six-digit code is sent to that address. Type the code and you are in — for 90 days, and every visit extends it, so you will rarely be asked again on the same phone or computer.

Codes usually land in your inbox within a minute. If you do not see it, check your spam or junk folder first. If it is not there after a couple of minutes, go back to Sign in and ask for a new code; the old one stops working the moment a new one is sent. If no code ever arrives, the League may hold a different email address for you. Use the one your Club President registered, or ask them to check your details.

Your own details — phone, address, email — are yours to change under Your account.

2. How does registration work?

• New Clubs use Apply to Join. The Commissioner reviews every application personally and, if accepted, you receive a welcome email with a link to the New Club Registration form: your teams, your home gym and its GPS, your gym slots, and a head coach for each team.
• Returning Clubs use Returning Teams Registration to confirm teams, gym and Club President.
• On both, tick each division you are entering, say how many teams, and give each an A, B or C skill level. We power rank every team on this season and last, so your placement may be adjusted.
• The deadline for both is 31 October 2026. The League invoices your Club at $375 a team once your registration is accepted. You get a receipt on screen and by email the moment you press Submit.
• Tournaments have their own forms on the Registrations page. Each team you enter is placed in a four-team bracket by skill level, and the entry is invoiced at $250 a team when the League accepts it.

3. How do I enter my roster?

• Rosters are due Black Friday — 27 November 2026, 12:00.
• Go to your team page and find Playing roster. Open Add or remove a player and enter each player — name, shirt number, and a valid email address and home address for the player — one at a time. Each one is on the roster the moment you save it.
• Please note that in entering your rosters you must provide a valid email address and a home address for every player. This is one of the mechanisms Connecticut Basketball uses to verify a player’s eligibility, so please do not leave either blank or enter a placeholder. A roster entered without them may be queried by the League before the player is cleared to play.
• There is no limit on squad size, but we recommend no more than ten — it is hard to get more than that into a game.
• Players are shown publicly as first name and last initial, e.g. “Nathan C.” Never type a full surname into a public page; the site keeps it to the initial.
• Any coach or the Club President for that team can do this. Sign in first.

4. How do I add or remove a player?

• Same place — your team page, Playing roster, Add or remove a player.
• Until 1 January the change happens straight away, no approval needed.
• From 1 January rosters are locked. The same form becomes a request to the League; the Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner approves it, and the approval makes the change itself — nothing more for you to do.
• Removing a player marks them as no longer playing rather than deleting them, so the record of who played is never lost.
• A player may be dual rostered on a second team in your Club only when playing up. See Season & Eligibility.

5. How do I message the other teams in my division?

Go to your team page and find Message the division. Edit the subject and the message — a draft asking who can fill your date is already there — and press Send. The website sends it from the League’s address to every coach in your division, your own team left out, everyone in Bcc so no address is passed around, with your email as the reply-to, so the answers come straight to you. You get a copy. If you would rather use your own mail app, there is a link for that too.

6. How do I enter my score?

• Go to your team page and find Enter scores. Each game you have played is listed; type the two final scores and press Save. The standings update immediately.
• Any coach, parent or Club President for that team can enter its score. You do not have to be the person who was at the game.
• A blank is never counted as a loss; leave a game blank until it is played.
• A forfeit is entered as 1–0. See Game Day Issues.
• Scores drive the standings, the power rankings and the playoff seeding, so please enter them promptly after each game — and be up to date by the playoff deadlines in Season & Eligibility.

7. How do I change a game?

Step 1. Please do not cancel on your opponent — first try to find some way to play, even with five. Cancellations cause extreme consternation (and kill Leagues). They are also the number one reason teams are not invited back.

Step 2. If there is truly no way to play, contact your opponent and your Club President — who is always managing the Club’s home gym — as soon as possible.

Step 3. Try to agree another date with your opponent. Gym time is our most precious resource, so this is not always possible. Use Message the division on your team page to find a replacement quickly.

Step 4. Change it on the website yourself. On your team page, under Move a game, open the game and change the date, tip-off or gym and save — either team, or either Club President, can do this, and no permission is needed. The other team is emailed at once, and the change is on both team pages and the Schedule page. If the game is off because of weather or a closed gym, set its Status to Cancelled instead. Everything can be put back.

Remember: any cancellation within four days of a game is a forfeit. See Game Day Issues.

8. How do I add or change a team?

Only the League can add or change a team. Contact your Club President, who will in turn contact the League.

Why does my team page show no games?

The schedule for the season is published on or before November 17th at midnight. Until then every team page says “no games scheduled yet.” After November 17th, your games, gyms and tip-off times are on your team page and the Schedule page. Last season’s results stay on your page under last season’s name.

Can I put the schedule on my phone’s calendar, or print it?

Yes to both. On your team page, under Schedule, press Add to my phone’s calendar: your games appear in your phone’s own calendar and keep themselves up to date when a game is moved or cancelled on this website. Download (.ics) saves them once. The Schedule page does the same for a whole division. To print, use the Print button at the top of any page.

VI. Game Day Issues ↑ contents

The questions that come up on the day. Gary’s answers, 4 September 2026, pulling together what the Code, the Game Rules and twenty seasons of practice already say.

Weather, or a locked gym — who do I call, and where does a cancellation get posted?

Inclement weather protocols.

If you’re hosting:

• Contact your Club President to learn the status of your home game.
• Communicate directly with your opponent to ensure that they are apprised of any facilities closures.
• Update the website — because the website always controls — to ensure it reflects the cancellation. Open your team page, find the game under Move a game, set its Status to Cancelled and save. The other team is told, and the game comes off both schedules.

If you’re playing away, please contact your opponent to get the most up-to-date information regarding your game.

If you’re playing at a neutral site (Woodbridge or New Britain), you will receive a communication regarding the facilities’ status, but neutral sites rarely close except in the most severe/dire circumstances.

We don’t have official snow dates for any games (except our Conference Tournament/Playoffs) but will make every effort to reschedule any games cancelled due to the weather.

What happens if a team does not show up?

• Any cancellation for any reason within four days (or less) of a scheduled game is a forfeit.
• This rule applies even if the team that was prepared to play finds another opponent.
• Any team with more than two cancellations/forfeits loses any applicable home court advantage in the playoffs.
• In the event of a forfeit, a score of 1–0 is to be entered on the site — on your team page, under Enter scores.

Who provides referees and the scorer’s table, and what does the home team have to bring?

• The host provides referees, scorer’s table, etc., and the home team is always the official scorekeeper.
• For neutral site games, the League takes care of the referees and other game logistics.

Spectator conduct, and what happens after an ejection

The full Code of Conduct is Appendix A of this Manual. It applies to every coach, parent and spectator at every CTBBALL game.

VII. Eligibility and Competition Issues ↑ contents

Who may play, how rosters work, and how the Conference Tournament runs. Gary’s answers, 4 September 2026.

Who is eligible? Grade, age, town, school teams, playing up

Team eligibility & requirements

• All players from any Club or team must be from the same town. (Any exception to this rule must be expressly approved by Connecticut Basketball’s President.)
• Players are strictly prohibited from “playing down,” but are permitted — and encouraged — to “play up.”
• Clubs and teams must provide proof of insurance and keep said insurance in good standing.
• Clubs and teams must execute a League waiver and release of liability at the beginning of each season.

Please note, each team or Club is responsible for obtaining their own insurance for their team or Club.

Roster limits

• There is no limit on squad size, but we recommend no more than ten — it is hard to get more than that into a game.
• A player can be dual rostered for another team in their Club if that player is “playing up.”
• A player may not be dual rostered for a team of another/second Club.

Rosters lock on 1 January. Before then any coach or Club President adds or removes a player on the team page; after, the same form becomes a request that the League approves. See How to Use This Website.

Legal Jersey Numbers

Under CIAC (Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference) rules, players should only wear digits 0 through 5. (The rationale for the rule is that the official should be able to identify a player for the scorers table with one hand.)

Accordingly, players may only wear numbers that consist of the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in both the tens and units/ones place. Digits 6, 7, 8, and 9 are considered inappropriate/illegal.

The full list of legal numbers permitted on a high school jersey includes:

Note: A team roster cannot include both number 0 and number 00.

How do playoffs work, and who qualifies?

Conference Tournament / Playoffs — overview

• Teams must play a minimum of 10 League games to participate in the playoffs.
• All teams qualify for this single-elimination tournament.
• Teams that finish the regular season with a winning record are placed in an “NCAA Bracket” with all the other teams that finish above .500. (To keep the NCAA happy, we remind that “NCAA” stands for Nutmeg’s Collection of Awesome Athletes.)
• Teams that finish below .500 are placed in an “NIT Bracket” and battle for the NIT crown. (To keep the NIT happy, we remind that “NIT” stands for Nutmeg Invitational Tournament.)

Logistics

Girls teams

• The Girls brackets post on Sunday, February 21, 2027 at midnight and play begins Friday, February 26, 2027 (opening round February 25–28; Final Four & Championship March 4–7).
• The rationale is that it takes 7 days to put together a 300 team bracket and we always post the schedule about a week before the Girls tournament begins so there is no confusion about where people are going.
• Your scores must be up-to-date by Monday, February 15, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. as the matchups are based on your scores as of that date.

Boys teams

• Your scores must be up-to-date by Monday, February 22, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. as the matchups are based on your scores as of that date.
• The rationale is the same as for the girls.
• The Boys brackets post on Sunday, February 28, 2027 and play begins Friday, March 5, 2027 (opening round March 4–7; Final Four & Championship March 11–14).

Seeding methodology

1. The League will generate brackets and seed teams in a manner that is in the best interests of the League, always accounting for team and gym availability.
2. Each team shall be assigned a seed based upon their won/loss record.
3. The first tie-breaker is head-to-head competition. The second tie-breaker is fewest points allowed.
4. The two worst teams in each bracket typically play one another in a “play-in” game.
5. The winner of the “play-in” game will feed into the top half of the bracket, i.e. the side of the bracket that has the number 1 seed.
6. To the extent that a bracket requires first-round byes to issue, said byes shall issue in accordance with the bracket’s seeding, i.e. the No. 1 seed receives the first bye, the No. 2 seed receives the second bye, and so forth.
7. The League reserves the authority to adjust any bracket in a manner that is necessary to account for gym limitations, conflicts or to otherwise promote the best interests of the League.

Playing at home

1. If you are the higher seed, we will accommodate your request to play at home if you have gym slots before the playoffs commence. Please note, this is only for opening round / opening weekend games.
2. All Final Four & Championship games (contests played on the second weekend) will be played at a neutral site. (This change has been made to enable the League to see each bracket.)

Small & large brackets

• The League reserves the authority to separate NCAA brackets into Small (Class S/M) and Large (Class L/LL) brackets.

Appendix A. Code of Conduct ↑ contents

• Be on time. (If you're not five minutes early — you're late!)
• Work hard to improve skills, learn the game, and play by the rules.
• Always respect teammates, opponents, coaches, and referees.
• Support teammates at all times.
• Shake hands with opponents after the game.

• Direct derogatory remarks at a student athlete, or yell instructions onto the court.
• Speak to a coach during the game — and in front of the children.
• Step onto the court at any time during the playing of a game (which, under League rule, will likely result in the forfeit and end of the game).

• Are a positive role model by respecting all players, coaches, referees, parents, and spectators at all times.
• Value skills development, fair competition, and good effort — and recognize that the effort of all children, your own team and opponents, is more important than the outcome of the game.
• Cheer for all children on the team in a positive fashion, not just your own child.
• Refrain from rude or obnoxious behavior or comments toward the opposing team and officials, and never confront referees or other game personnel.
• Discourage any behaviors or tactics that would endanger the health and well-being of anyone.

• Make skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, fun, and learning the game the goals of the team.
• Be a positive role model by respecting all players, coaches, referees, parents, and spectators at all times. Coaches should not direct negative comments at the opposing team.
• Learn and play by the rules of the game.
• Be as respectful and restrained as possible in response to calls by officials.
• Never lose their temper.
• Be generous in their praise, emphasizing the efforts of players over the outcome of the game.
• Be fair, honest, and consistent in coaching philosophies and practices.
• Recognize that children learn differently, and adapt coaching to each child's needs accordingly.
• Communicate clearly to players and parents about goals for the team and what behavior is appropriate.
• Provide a safe environment for the children to play.

• Exercise a high level of self-discipline, independence, and responsibility. Master both the rules of the game and the mechanics necessary to enforce them, and exercise authority in an impartial, firm, and controlled manner.
• Work with each other in a constructive and cooperative manner.
• Uphold the honor and dignity of the profession in all interactions with players, coaches, parents, colleagues, and the public at large.
• Prepare themselves both physically and mentally, dress neatly and appropriately, and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the high standards of the profession.
• Be punctual and professional in the fulfillment of all obligations.
• While enforcing the rules of play, remain aware of the inherent risk of injury that competition poses to players and, where appropriate, inform coaches and the League of situations that appear unreasonably hazardous.

Appendix B. Game Rules ↑ contents

• 1.
  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.
• 2.
  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).
• 3.
  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.
• 4.
  Fouls (2023 Rule Change). Team fouls reset at the beginning of each quarter, as in CIAC play, for all divisions.
• 5.
  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.)
• 6.
  Ball Size. 4th Grade Boys, 5th Grade Boys, and all Girls divisions will use a 28.5″ ball.
• 7.
  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.
• 8.
  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.
• 9.
  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.
• 10.
  Referees. Board-certified referees will officiate each game.
• 11.
  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.
• 12.
  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.
• 13.
  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.
• 14.
  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.
• 15.
  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.
• 16.
  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.
• 17.
  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.
• 18.
  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.
• 19.
  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.