UH Intramural Sports Rulebook
BASKETBALL
Last Updated: Dec. 2016
Basic Policies
SPORTSMANSHIP: Teams/Participants
must receive an average 2.5 sportsmanship
rating during league play to be eligible for
playoffs. Ratings will be given by officials
for officiated sports and supervisors for selfofficiated sports. Scores are awarded in
increments of 0.5, with 4=highest and
0=lowest.
CONDUCT: All participants are expected
to play according to the rules of the
Division, RecSports, and University
Regulations. Good sportsmanship is vital to
the conduct of every contest. In order to
maintain this philosophy, each participant is
accountable for his/her actions and each
team manager/captain is responsible for the
actions of the team members as well as team
spectators. In order to encourage proper
conduct during games, officials, supervisors
and administrative personnel shall make
decisions on whether to warn, penalize, or
eject players or teams for poor
sportsmanship. These decisions are final.
In addition, cases involving physical abuse
of or between participants and/or spectators
may be referred to the Office of the Dean of
Students for possible action.
UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES:
During league play and/or playoff games, a
game “under play” may be called due to
unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement
weather or mechanical failure of the lights.
The Assistant Director, Graduate Assistant,
or the Intramural Supervisor will have the
responsibility for calling games due to
unforeseen circumstances. Games that are
called prior to starting by the supervisor will
potentially be re-scheduled (if time permits)
by the Intramural Staff. IMLEAGUES.com
will be used to update participants on any
weather issues before the game.
OFFICIAL GAME: In the event of
unforeseen circumstances, if a game has
reached halftime, it is over and the score is
official. If the game has not yet reached
halftime, it is considered a cancelled game.
Only cancelled playoff games will be
made up.
FORFEIT POLICY:
LATE AT GAME TIME: The clock will
begin at game time whether teams are ready
or not. Teams are considered ready to play
when they have the minimum number of
players to start. If at least one player is
checked in, then the late team will receive
a 10-minute grace period. If no players
have checked in, then the late team will
automatically forfeit.
EVERY MINUTE LATE: Every minute a
team isn’t ready to play, the opposing team
will receive 2 points. If both teams aren’t
ready to play, no points will be awarded.
TEN (10) MINUTES LATE: The late team
must forfeit, recorded as 20-0, and the
forfeiting team will receive a 0
sportsmanship rating. If both teams aren’t
ready after the grace period, the game will
be recorded as a double forfeit.
Any team that forfeits a scheduled game
will be issued a forfeit fee of $20. All
payments must be made before the team’s
next scheduled game. Failure to do so will
result in the team captain being suspended
from the CRWC. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Last Updated: Dec. 2016
PROTESTS: Participants cannot protest
official’s judgment, only rule
interpretation or player eligibility.
Protests of rule interpretation must be made
immediately after the play in question.
Protest of an ineligible player must be made
before halftime. In order to protest, team
captains must notify the official or
supervisor. The Intramural Supervisor has
the ability to rule on the protest if they are
able to. Otherwise, a protest form with all
information will be written down. All
written protests will be handled by the
Graduate Assistant and/or Assistant
Director. After receiving the protest,
information of the protest will be clarified
and the protest committee will respond no
later than two weekdays. During playoffs,
the response will be the following day. All
decisions of the Graduate Assistant and/or
Assistant Director are FINAL.
ID POLICY: Prior to each game, all players
must sign in at the court their scheduled to
play at. The scorekeeper will verify each
player’s identity by checking the player’s ID
at the playing site. All participants must
display their Cougar Card or any
government-issued ID in order to
participate. Players who are not on the
official scoresheet may sign in, and will be
added to the team the next business day by
the IM Office Staff (if they have an
IMLeagues account). However, during
playoffs no players will be added to the
scoresheet.
ELIGIBILITY: A participant may only
play for one single gendered team and one
mixed gendered team. Sport Club members
may only participate in the competitive
league (if available) of the related Intramural
sport, with no more than two (2) Sport Club
team members on the same team. There are
no restrictions on Sport Club players playing
on teams outside of their related sport.
Violators will be forced to forfeit any game
that they participated illegally in.
INJURY AND BLOOD RULE: An injured
or apparently injured player who is
discovered by an official while the ball is
dead and the clock is stopped, shall be
replaced for at least 1 down unless the
halftime or overtime intermission occurs. A
player who is bleeding, has an open wound,
or has any amount of blood on his/her
uniform or on the player shall be considered
an injured player. No player will be
permitted to enter or reenter the game as
long as there is blood on his/her jersey or
uniform.
DRUG, ALCOHOL & TOBACCO
POLICY: Participants should not be under
the influence of any drug, alcohol, or
tobacco products while playing in any
Intramural Sports. Teams and fans
(including coaches) are not permitted to
bring alcohol and/or drugs, or come under
the influence of alcohol and/or
drugs. Teams and fans are also not
permitted to use any tobacco products
(which includes chewing tobacco) on the
Intramural fields. Violators will be asked to
leave the facilities with possible forfeiture of
the game, at the discretion of the supervisor.
MORE POLICY INFORMATION: For
additional information please review the
Intramural Sports Handbook.
Equipment
SHOES: Shoes that are closed toe, nonmarking must be worn during the contest.
We recommend that a separate pair of shoes
Last Updated: Dec. 2016
be worn into the building to prevent wet and
dirty shoes on the playing surface.


CLOTHING: Proper athletic attire is
required. No jeans, jean shorts, button shirts
or hard-soled shoes will be permitted.
Headgear is not allowed to be worn by any
participant during an Intramural event,
except for one-piece head/sweat bands that
do not have to be tied or do not have any
form of knot(s).
JERSEYS: Jerseys will be available for
checkout from the scorekeeper at the courts.
Each player must return jersey immediately
following the game and check it back in
with the scorekeeper. Shirts must be worn
under all checked out jerseys. Teams are
permitted to bring their own jerseys,
however, they all must be the same color
and have different numbers.
BALLS: All game basketballs will be
provided by the RecSports department. If
players want to use a ball before the game,
they must check one out from the CRWC
Equipment Desk. Men will play with a 29.5
size ball, while women will play with a 28.5
size ball. For Co-Rec competitions, teams
must agree which size ball to use. Teams
will play with the IM game ball, unless both
teams agree otherwise.
JEWELRY: No Jewelry shall be worn at
any time throughout the game! This includes
but is not limited to: earrings, rubber bands,
hair pins, bracelets, watches, rings, and/or
necklaces. Any jewelry that players need to
wear, for medical or religious reasons, must
be approved by the Assistant Director before
the scheduled game. Failure to remove all
jewelry will result in the following:

First Instance by either team:
Warning for whole court
Second Instance by team:
Technical Foul
Third Instance by team:
Player Ejection
Game Regulations
PLAYERS: A maximum of five (5) players
may play on the court at a time. A team
must have a minimum of four (4) players to
start and continue the game. The maximum
roster size is twelve (12) players.
CAPTAINS: The captains will meet pregame to briefly go over rules with the
officials at center court. The captain is also
responsible for all actions of the team and
its’ fans.
START OF GAME: Both teams must be
ready to play to start a game. A jump ball
will start every game. The clock may or may
not start before the game officially starts.
The possession arrow will be flipped to the
side that lost the jump ball and will alternate
after every jump ball call going forward.
GAME LENGTH: Each game will consist
of two 20-minute halves of running time
with a 3-minute halftime period. The clock
will stop for each whistle in the final minute
of each half.
OVERTIME: There will be no overtime for
regular season games. In the playoffs,
overtime will be two (2) minutes with the
clock stopping in the final minute. Each
team will receive one additional timeout for
ALL overtimes. All fouls will carryover
from the second half.
Last Updated: Dec. 2016
OFFICIALS: There will be Intramural
Sports Officials assigned officials for each
scheduled game. No game shall be played
without the supervision of an Intramural
Supervisor and/ or Official. Scorekeepers
will also be provided to keep track of the
clock and scoresheet.
PLAYING AREA: All games will be
played in the CRWC on the Main Gym
courts.
MERCY RULE: If a team is ahead by 20
points at or any time after the final 2
minutes of the game, the game will be
called. The game will also be called if a
team is ahead 50 points at 5 minutes, 40
points at 4 minutes, or 30 points at 3
minutes.
Sport Specific Rules
TIMEOUTS: Teams are granted three (3)
timeouts per game. All timeouts are 30
seconds in length. Only players on the court
may call a timeout.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Each player may reenter the game at the direction of the
officials. The officials are responsible for
calling in the substitute players.
Substitutions may happen during dead ball
periods. Any illegal substitution will result
in a technical foul
SCORING: In single gender games, two (2)
point field goals and three (3) point field
goals will be used.
VIOLATIONS: Violations include
traveling, double dribble, carrying / palming
the ball, intentionally kicking the ball with
the leg, excessively elbow swinging
(without contact), five-second closely
guarded count in the frontcourt, five-second
out-of-bounds, ten seconds in the backcourt,
three seconds in the lane, basket
interference, and goaltending. After any
violation, the ball is awarded out of bounds
for a throw-in at the spot nearest to where
the violation occurred. For goaltending, two
or three points are also awarded depending
on the position of the shooter at the time of
the shot.
Fouls
PERSONAL FOULS: Each player is
allowed five (5) personal fouls before
disqualification. Technical fouls count
towards the five. A personal foul is a player
foul which involves illegal contact with an
opponent while the ball is live, which
hinders the opponent from performing
normal offensive or defensive movements.
A personal foul also includes contact by or
on an airborne shooter when the ball is dead.
Illegal use of the hands, holding, illegal
blocking, illegal screening, pushing, and
charging are examples of personal fouls.
NON-SHOOTING FOUL: A common foul
before the bonus or any player/team control
foul. After a non-shooting foul, the ball is
awarded out of bounds for a throw-in at the
spot nearest where the foul occurred.
SHOOTING FOUL: A foul against a
player in the act of shooting, which results
in free throws. The clock doesn’t stop for
free throws, except in the final minute of
each half and any overtime period. An
airborne shooter who is fouled by an
opponent while in the air, but after the ball is
released on a try, is considered to be in the
Last Updated: Dec. 2016
act of shooting until both of the airborne
shooter's feet return to the floor.
PLAYER/TEAM CONTROL: A player
control foul occurs when a personal foul is
committed by a player in possession of the
ball or while in flight as an airborne shooter.
A team control foul occurs when a person on
the team in control of the ball commits a
personal foul. There are no free throws for
the offended team following a player or
team control foul. Additionally, no basket
will be scored when an airborne shooter is
charged with a player control foul or if a
team control foul occurs prior to the ball
leaving the shooter’s hands.
TEAM FOULS: Each team is permitted to
have six (6) fouls in each half. On the
seventh (7th) foul, the offended team will
shoot the bonus (one and one). On the tenth
foul and beyond, the offended team will
shoot two free throws. The player fouled
will shoot the free throws.
INTENTIONAL FOULS: Any foul where
no attempt was made to play the basketball
will be considered intentional. An
intentional foul at any time during the game
results in two free throws and possession of
the ball out-of-bounds at the spot nearest to
where the foul occurred. Two free throws
are awarded regardless of if a basket is
scored on the play.
TECHNICAL FOULS: Any profanity or
degrading of the officials or opponent will
result in a technical foul. All technical fouls
will result in the non-offending team
receiving two points and the ball plus
possession at half court. If the play results in
a double technical foul, no points will be
given and the ball will go to the team with
last possession. Any player with two (2)
technical fouls will be ejected. Any team
with (4) technical fouls will automatically
forfeit the game.
FLAGRANT TECHNICAL FOULS:
Anyone who contacts IM personnel and/ or
other participants inappropriately or
excessively will be issued a flagrant
technical foul and expelled from the game.
Any verbal threats will also warrant a
flagrant technical foul. The offending
player(s) will be required to meet with the
Graduate Assistant and/ or Assistant
Director before playing again. Otherwise,
the result will remain the same as a regular
technical foul.
Coed Modifications
PLAYERS: The combination of guys to
girls will be different each half. In the first
half, a combination of three (3) males and
two (2) females must be used. In the second
half, a combination of three (3) females and
two (2) males must be used. *The order in
which half uses which format is up to the
discretion of the captains in the pre-game
meeting. A team may begin with 4 players,
but it must be two males and two females.
SCORING: Female players will score 3
points for a made field goal (regular 2pointer) and 4 points for a made field from
behind the arc (regular 3-pointer). Free
throws will remain 1-point each. However,
females will receive the corresponding
number of free throw attempts (3 or 4).
Bonus free throws (1-and-1 or 2 shots) will
remain the same for both genders.
Last Updated: Dec. 2016
All rules adopted by the National Federation of
State High School (NFHS) Association are in effect
except for the modifications adapted by the
RecSports Office.
Last Updated: Dec. 2016