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Rules of Intramural Basketball will be governed by the NCAA rules with the following modifications.

All games will be played in the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion lower level basketball courts.

Game time is forfeit time. Teams must be on their assigned courts and ready to play at the scheduled game time.

Table of Contents

  1. PLAYERS AND EQUIPMENT
  2. THE GAME
  3. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES
  4. PERSONAL FOULS AND PENALTIES
  5. CO-REC RULES

I. PLAYERS AND EQUIPMENT

  1. Teams shall consist of (5) players. A minimum of (3) players are needed to start the game and (2) players are needed to finish the game. A maximum of (24) players can be on the roster.
  2. Substitutions: Substitutions may occur when the ball is dead or during a time-out. Substitutions must report to the scorer's table and remain on the sideline until the official calls him/her in. A substitution may not replace a player who is attempting a free throw.
  3. Intramural Sports will provide jerseys. Teams may provide their own matching shirts as long as they are a solid color and have different numbers on the back.
  4. All players must wear some type of rubber-soled basketball or tennis shoes. No street shoes or any shoes that mark the floor will be permitted.
  5. Intramural Sports will provide a game ball. However, teams must provide their own warm-up basketballs.

II. THE GAME

  1. Games shall consist of two 18-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime. There will be a running clock except for time-outs, the last  minute of the second half, and overtime periods. During the last minute of the game and the last minute of overtime periods, the clock will stop when an official blows their whistle and signals a foul, a violation, an out-of-bounds, or stops play because of an injury, to confer with the scorer or other official, or because of an emergency. If either team has a 15-point lead, the clock will not stop during the last minute.
  2. Overtime periods will be 2-minutes in length. The clock will stop in the last minute of overtime.
  3. Each team shall be allowed (3) full time-outs per game. One full time-out is granted for an overtime period. Unused time-outs during the game cannot be used in over-time.
  4. The start of the game and each over-time period shall be initiated by a jump ball. The second half starts with the team, who is entitled to possession of the ball, at the division line (half-court line) opposite the scorer's table.
  5. When to Start the Clock: The clock shall be started when the official signals time in.
    1. If a play is started by a jump ball, the clock starts when the tossed ball is legally tapped.
    2. If a free throw is not successful and the ball is to remain live, the clock starts when the ball touches a player on the court.
    3. If a play is resumed by a throw-in, the clock starts when the ball touches any player on the court.
  6. Scoring:
    1. Each basket made within the 3-point line is worth 2 points.
    2. Each free throw made is worth 1 point.
    3. Each basket made behind the 3-point line is worth 3 points. The player must have both feet behind the 3-point line when the shot is attempted. Neither foot may be touching the 3-point line. After the release, the shooter may land on the line or in any part of the 2-point area.
  7. Jump Ball: At the start of the game, the jump ball shall be at the center circle.
    1. Each jumper shall have one or both feet on or inside that half of the center circle facing their own basket. An official shall then toss the ball upward between the jumpers. One or both of the jumpers may tap the ball after it reaches its highest point.
    2. Neither jumper may leave the circle until the ball has been tapped, nor catch the jump ball, nor touch it more than twice until the ball touched one of the other 8 players.
    3. When the official is ready to make the toss, a non-jumper shall not move into the circle or change positions until the ball has left the official's hand.
  8. The ball shall be put into play by the team entitled to the throw-in at the out of bounds spot nearest to where:
    1. a held ball occurs
    2. the ball goes out of bounds
  9. During a throw-in, the player has 5 seconds to throw the ball in to another player. The official shall stop counting after the player releases the ball.
  10. The ball becomes dead or remains dead when:
    1. an officials whistle is blown
    2. time expires for a half or extra period
    3. a foul occurs
    4. any floor violation occurs
  11. Ball Out of Bounds:
    1. The ball is out of bounds when it touches a player, any other person, any object, or the floor outside the boundary lines, when it touches the supports or back of the backboard, the ceiling or any overhead equipment, or if the ball passes over the backboard.
    2. A throw-in is awarded after:
      1. a violation
      2. a free throw for a technical foul, (throw-in shall take place at center court)
      3. a field goal, a successful free throw, basket interference, or goaltending
      4. a player control foul
      5. a common foul before the bonus rule goes into effect
      6. a held ball
      7. the ball goes out of bounds.
  12. Free Throws:
    1. The offended player shall attempt the free throw(s) awarded, because of a personal foul. If such a player must withdraw because of injury or disqualification, his/her substitute shall attempt the free throw(s).
    2. The free throw(s) awarded because of a technical foul may be attempted by any player presently on the court.
    3. The free thrower has ten seconds to release the ball from the time it was given by the official.
    4. The free thrower shall not purposely fake an attempt.
    5. No player shall enter or leave any of the marked lane spaces on each side of the lane until the ball leaves the free thrower's hands.
    6. All other players not occupying a lane space must stand outside of the 3-point arc, and behind the free throw line extended.
    7. Penalties:
      1. If the violation is by the free thrower or his/her teammate only or first, no point can be scored by the throw. The ball becomes dead when the violation occurs. The ball is awarded out of bounds on the sideline at either end of the free throw line extended.
      2. If the violation is by the free thrower's opponent only or first: if the attempt is successful, the goal counts and the violation is disregarded, if the goal is unsuccessful, the ball becomes dead when the free throw ends, and the same thrower is awarded an additional attempt.
      3. If there is a violation by each team simultaneously, it is a jump ball.

III. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

  1. Throw-in
    1. The player throwing the ball in shall not:
      1. leave the designated throw-in spot
      2. consume more than 5 seconds to release the ball
      3. carry the ball onto the court
      4. touch the ball in the court before it has touched another player
      5. throw the ball so that it enters the basket before it touches another player
    2. No player shall:
      1. have their body beyond the vertical inside plane of any end-line or sideline before the ball has crossed the line
      2. be out of bounds when they touch the ball after it has been thrown in
  2. Double Dribble: A player shall not dribble with two hands simultaneously. A player may only dribble again after a field goal attempt or a pass or fumble that has been touched by another person.
  3. A player shall not travel, kick (intentionally), or run with the ball to cause the ball to enter the basket or go to a teammate.
  4. 3-Second Rule: A player shall not remain for more than 3 seconds in that part of the player's free throw lane while the ball is in control of the player's team in their front court. An allowance shall be made for a player who, having been in the lane for less than 3 seconds, dribbles or attempts a shot towards the goal.
  5. 10-Second Rule: A team shall not be in continuous control of the ball that is in his/her backcourt for more than 10 consecutive seconds. The team must cross half court within 10 seconds. The player will be considered in the frontcourt when the entire player and the ball are in the frontcourt.
  6. Closely Guarded: This situation occurs when a closely guarded player anywhere in the frontcourt holds the ball for 5 seconds.
  7. Basket Interference and Goaltending:
    1. A player shall not touch the ball or basket when the ball is on or within the basket.
    2. A player shall not touch the net or backboard when the ball is on or within the cylinder.
    3. A player shall not touch the ball on its downward flight if the ball is above the rim and has the possibility of entering the basket.
  8. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Players shall not disrespect officials, use profanity, incite undesirable crowd reactions, start or join in on a fight, or engage in any other actions as seen unsportsmanlike to the Intramural Program.

IV. PERSONAL FOULS AND PENALTIES

  1. Types: A player shall not:
    1. hold, push, charge, or trip
    2. impede the progress of an opponent by extending one's arm, shoulder, hip, or knee, or by bending the body into other than normal positions.
    3. contact an opponent from behind while on defense (pushing).
  2. A dribbler shall not charge into nor contact an opponent in the dribbler's path nor attempt to dribble between two opponents or between an opponent and a boundary line, unless the space is such as to provide a reasonable chance for the player to go through without contact. If the defender is legally established in any defensive position, the dribbler must avoid contact by changing direction or ending the dribble.
  3. Screens: A player who screens shall not:
    1. take a position closer than a normal step from the opponent when behind a stationary opponent
    2. after assuming a legal stationary position move to maintain it
    3. take a position so close to the opponent that the opponent cannot avoid contact with the screener.
  4. Personal Fouls: The offender is charged with one personal foul and if it is the offender's fifth foul, or if it is flagrant, the offender is disqualified. The offended player will be awarded free throws as follows:
    1. One free throw for:
      1. a foul against a field goal shooter whose attempt is successful.
    2. Two free throws for:
      1. a foul against a field goal shooter whose attempt was unsuccessful
      2. an intentional foul and the ball is awarded out of bounds to the offended team at the spot nearest to where the intentional foul occurred
      3. any flagrant or technical foul and the ball is awarded out of bounds to the offended team at the half court line opposite the table
      4. each common foul beginning with a team's tenth personal foul during that half.
    3. Three free throws for:
      1. a foul against a field goal shooter behind the three-point line whose attempt was unsuccessful.
    4. Bonus free throw (one and one) for:
      1. each common foul (except player control) beginning with a team's seventh personal foul during that half.
    5. No free throws for:
      1. each common foul before the bonus rule is in effect
      2. a double foul
      3. a player control foul

V. CO-REC RULES

  1. Each team shall consist of (5) players on the court at the same time. There must be a ratio of two men and three women on the court at all times. A minimum of (3) players are needed to start a game (two women and one man). Substitutions are allowed on a male-to-male basis and female-to-female basis. At no time can there be more men than women on the court for a team.
  2. Scoring: There is no difference in scoring than regular basketball.
  3. Special Regulations: The game shall begin with a jump ball between two female players from each team. Male players are not allowed to defend female players within the three-point arc (on the offensive side of the court). Defending includes guarding, attempting to guard, trying to steal, blocking a shot, or hampering with a female's movement within the three-point arc. Male players are allowed to steal a pass once the ball has left a female player's hand. If an infraction occurs, the offensive team will be awarded 2 points. Outside of the arc, all other basketball rules apply.
  4. Rebounding does not fall into this rule since no team is in possession of the ball.
  5. Female players are allowed to defend male players if they choose.

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