1st-6th Grade Developmental
Basketball League Rules
Updated 12/20/13
1. Length of Game
Games will consist of two 20 minute halves with running clock. The clock will stop the last minute
of the game on all normal stoppages for 3rd & 4th grade and 5th & 6th grade. There will be a three
minute halftime. There will be no overtime. If a game is tied at the end of regulation it will end in a
tie.
2. Scoring
Score will not be kept in the 1st and 2nd grade league. Score will be kept in the 3rd and 4th grade
and 5th and 6th grade league. If a team is up by 20 points or more the scorekeeper will not
continue to award points.
3. Time
Time--Outs
Each team will have 2 time-outs per game. Time-outs will last 1 minute. Coaches should have their
players ready to go when the minute is up.
4. Defense
In 3rd and 4th grade, defenses will not come past the top of the key. There is a line across the top
of the key. In 1st and 2nd grade, defenses will not come past the three point line. This rule allows
for players of different skill levels to bring the ball up without having it immediately stolen and
also helps less skilled teams against higher skilled teams. In 5th and 6th grade, defenses can come
to half court.
5. Zone Defense
No zone defenses will be allowed. At all times players will be guarding a person and not a spot on
the floor. If a coach believes that the opposing team is playing a zone defense they should bring
it to the attention of Jen Barber or Coleman Breunig. It will not be the responsibility of the official
to prevent the zone defense from taking place. It will be the responsibility of the coach to make
sure their team is playing person-to-person defense.
6. Pressing
Pressing will NOT be allowed at any time in the 1st and 2nd grade league. In the 3rd and 4th grade
league, defenses can come to the half-court line in the final minute of the game. In the 5th and 6th
grade league, defenses can press the full court in the final minute of the game.
7. Fouls
Individual fouls and team fouls will not be recorded in 1st and 2nd grade or 3rd and 4th grade.
Coaches are responsible for letting players know that they can not foul all the time and should try
to play good sound defense. Coaches are the best defense against over aggressive play. Please
keep your teams under control and teach them to not reach. We WILL record individual fouls and
team fouls in 5th and 6th grade. If a player commits five individual fouls over the course of the
game, they will foul-out of play. If a team commits 10 (or more) team fouls in a half, the opposing
team will shoot two bonus free throws after each foul. Team fouls reset at halftime.
8. Technical Fouls
There should be absolutely no reason for technical fouls in this league. However in the event that
a coach is out of hand enough to receive a technical foul, there will be a conversation between the
offending coach and Jen Barber and Coleman Breunig about the situation and the status of the
coach with the league.
9. Free Throws
Throws
We will not shoot any free throws in the 1st and 2nd or 3rd and 4th grade league. In the 3rd and 4th
grade league, two points will be awarded on a shooting foul. On all other fouls the ball will be
taken out of bounds. It does not matter where on the court the shooting foul takes place, two
points will be awarded. If the shooting attempt goes in, there will be no additional points awarded.
The ball will just go to the other team. In 1st and 2nd grade, shooting fouls will be treated just as
non-shooting fouls. Free throws will be shot in the 5th and 6th grade league at a modified
distance (a step in from original free throw line). Coaches should practice lining up for free
throws with their team as the clock will continue to run during free throws.
10. Substitutions
Substitutions will occur every 5 minutes in the 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th grade league. The clock
will stop during this time. Players will line up at half court and stand across from the person that
they are going to guard. When lining players up across from each other, it does not always have
to be purely on height level but that is a good basis. They will then shake hands before play
resumes. This helps in sportsmanship but also is a good way for the players to realize who they
are guarding. In the 5th and 6th grade league, there will be regular substitutions. Players should
come to half court so the referee can see that they are subbing in and they will be waved in at the
next dead ball.
11. Three
Three--second Violations
Three-second violations will not be called in the 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th grade leagues but
referees will remind players to get out of the lane. Three-second violations will be called in the
5th and 6th grade league.
12. Five
Five--second Violations
Five-second violations will not be called in 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th grade, but players will be
told to throw the ball in at the five-second count. Five-second violations will be called in 5th and
6th grade.
13. TenTen-second Back Court Violations
Ten-second back court violations will not be called in 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th grade. Tensecond back court violations will be called in 5th and 6th grade. In the final minute of the game,
ten-second back court violations will be called in 3rd and 4th grade.
14. Over and Back Violations
Over and back violations will not be called in 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th grade. In 5th and 6th
grade, over and back will be called if the offense brings the ball back behind the top of the key line
on the opposite side of the court (not the half court line, due to the short courts). At Sand Lake
Elementary, the half court line will be used for the over and back violation.
15. Jump Balls
Alternating possession will be kept by the referee and scorekeeper. If it is unknown who had the
last possession it will go to the defense.