Melton Basketball Association
Domestic Competition
By-Laws
July 2009
Edition 1.4
Approval:
Amendments to MBA By-Laws 12th July 2009.
Summary of the Changes:
Amendment to:
1.2 Junior team registration six (6) players minimum
1.3 Senior team registration six (6) players minimum
1.7 Team delegate 18 years of age minimum
3.3.2 Renumbered to 3.4
3.5 New bylaw - player registration requirement
3.6 Register new players after season starts
4.1 Minimum of 5 years of age for player registration
4.6 All players must sign rear of the scoresheet
5.6 Competent scorer must be at least 14 years of age
5.7 Late start will incur two point penalty per minute
6.3 Walkover by both teams incur walkover fines
6.4 A bye is awarded three (3) premiership points
7.3 New bylaw - Uniform consistency requirements
7.5 All shorts must be the same uniform colour
7.8 If neither team are willing to change singlets
7.11 T-shirts no longer permitted
7.12 Bike shorts or Skins must not protrude uniform
7.13 Bylaw deleted – thermo-skins
8.8 New bylaw – League competition timing rules
9.2 Mercy rule now applies to U16 competition
11.15 Deleted bylaw – Senior Rep Squad players
12.1 A player must sign the rear of the scoresheet in
at least 7 games to qualify for finals
12.4 Failure to sign rear of scoresheet will not count
12.5 A bye is not counted as a game played
17.15 A sin bin player can be substituted - Amended
17.16 New bylaw – senior player 1 week suspensions
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Registration of Teams .................................. 2
Competition Structure ................................... 2
Registration of Players ................................. 2
Player Eligibility ............................................ 2
Game Administration .................................... 3
Points Allocation ........................................... 3
Uniforms ....................................................... 4
Timing Rules ................................................. 4
Mercy Rule.................................................... 5
Heat Policy ................................................... 5
Clearances / Transfers / Permits .................. 5
Finals Qualification ....................................... 6
Committees .................................................. 7
Reports ......................................................... 7
Protests......................................................... 7
Walkovers ..................................................... 7
General ......................................................... 7
Page 1 of 8
1.
REGISTRATION OF TEAMS
1.1
Teams may seek entry to competitions by
lodging the prescribed form and fees as
determined by the Melton Basketball
Association (MBA), by the stipulated date.
1.2
Junior Registration forms must be lodged with
the Competition Supervisor before the start of
each new season with a minimum of six (6)
player’s names including full details.
1.3
Senior Registration forms must be lodged with
the Competition Supervisor before the start of
each new season with a minimum of six (6)
names including full details and a deposit
equal to half the team registration fee for the
entry to be accepted.
1.4
The MBA Committee reserves the right to place
a financial bond on a team/club or individual
or refuse entry to the competition as it sees fit.
1.5
As a condition of entry, each Team or Club
agrees to abide by the By-Laws as written and
as interpreted by the MBA Committee.
1.6
Junior domestic teams are not permitted to add
Junior Representative Squad players (Played
VC or Metro Division during last 6 months) to
their team at any time if there are already at
least three (3) Junior Representative Players
(All Divisions) within the team of the same
age division.
1.7
All teams must have a team delegate/manager
who is at least 18 years of age
2.
COMPETITION STRUCTURE
2.1
The MBA Committee shall determine the
structure of the competition, based on the
quality of the teams entered.
2.2
The MBA Committee shall determine the
duration of the seasons.
3.
REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS
3.1
Players must be registered by the beginning of
each season on the Team Registration Forms.
3.2
Team registration forms must be lodged with the
Competition Supervisor at the Stadium by the
nominated date. Late registrations will be
considered on a case by case basis.
3.3
Players must have paid their registration by
round 4 or must not take the court for their
team until such money has been paid. If an
unregistered player takes the court after this
time a forfeit is declared.
3.4
New players starting after Round 4 must
have paid their registration by the 2nd game
from when they have started playing. If an
unregistered player takes the court after this
time a forfeit is declared.
3.5
Players in any competition will not be
permitted to take the court if they have not
registered according to bylaws 3.3 & 3.4
The game will be stopped and the player
will be required to leave the court for the
game to resume.
3.6
To register a new player after team
registration forms have been lodged a
player must complete a New Player
Registration Form prior to playing their
second game. A Proof of Age document
(birth certificate, passport, drivers licence
or photo identification) needs to be
presented to the Competition Supervisor.
3.7
Players unregistered after the fourth round of
a new season will not have those games
which were played whilst unregistered,
counted towards qualifications for finals.
3.8
Players must be registered in order to qualify
for finals.
4.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
4.1
To be eligible to participate in a junior age
competition, a player must be at least 5
years of age & under the competition age as
at the 31st December of the year the season
ends.
4.2
Players or their Parents/Guardians must
produce original documents as proof of age
promptly on receiving such a request from
the Competition Supervisor.
4.3
An ineligible player will result in the forfeit
of all games in which the infringing player
participated. For percentage purposes, the
score will stand if the offending team lost
the game, otherwise the score will be
recorded as a 20-0 win to the opponents.
4.4
Junior players may only play in the next age
group above their own, providing it is with
either their existing team or club or on
Permit to another team or Club. Players
must be registered in each age group they
are playing subject to reference in these
MBA By-Laws on Clearances/Transfers
/Permits.
4.5
Junior players must be 14 years or older to be
eligible to play in senior competition or at
Page 2 of 8
the discretion of the MBA Committee on a
case by case basis.
4.6
In all competitions, all players must record their
legible signature on the back of the score sheet
on the day the game was played. Any player
whose legible signature does not appear on the
back of the score sheet will be deemed to have
not played in that game. Note that Under 10
players are not required to sign the sheet.
starting time. After a ten (10) minute delay
a walkover will be awarded.
5.8
Teams must have at least four (4) players on
the court before a game can commence.
5.9
A junior player cannot play for more than
one team in the same age group without a
clearance.
4.7
No Senior player may play more than one game
per night in any Senior MBA competition.
5.10 A five (5) second in the KEY rule will apply
for Under 10 and 12 age groups and a three
(3) second in the KEY rule will apply for
Under 14 age group and above.
4.8
All players who represent Melton in Junior or
Senior squad teams must play within the
domestic competition operated by the MBA
committee. The MBA Committee may grant
exemptions.
5.11 Under 10 age groups will shoot free throws
from the edge of the circle closest to the
basket.
4.9
The U12 Competitions and above are played as
same sex competitions only.
5.
GAME ADMINISTRATION
5.1
The matches will be conducted under the official
basketball rules of Basketball Victoria (BV).
The MBA Committee may approve changes to
rules governing conduct of basketball where
deemed to be in the interests of the game.
5.2
5.3
Each team is responsible for payment and
completion of the scoresheet by printing any
new player’s names and all players’ numbers
for their respective teams before the
commencement of the designated start time.
Late Start penalties will apply as per By Law
5.7.
Player’s names must be on the score sheet
before the commencement of the second half
of the game. Names may not be added to the
score sheet after this time.
5.4
If the names of players have been omitted or
incorrect to an unreasonable degree then the
offending teams players will not have those
games recognised as qualifying for the finals.
5.5
Only ten (10) player’s names per team are
allowed on the scoresheet.
5.6
Each team is responsible for providing a
competent person at least 14 years of age to
operate as the score-bench official who does
not participate in the game. A game cannot
commence until each team has provided a
scorer. Late start penalty will apply as per
bylaw 5.7.
5.7
A late starting team will be penalised two (2)
game points per minute or part thereof after the
5.12 Under 12 age groups will shoot free throws
from a mid point between the normal
throwing line and the edge of the circle
closest to the basket.
5.13 A Size 6 ball will be used for the Under 10,
12 and 14 age groups and all
Girls/Women’s competitions. A size 7 ball
will be used for all other Boys/Men’s
competitions.
5.14 In the event of a match being unable to
commence at the scheduled time through
no fault of either team, the referee may
commence the game when play is possible.
If after 10 minutes the game still cannot
commence, it shall be declared a drawn
game.
5.15 Games may not be played at any other venue
or time to that specified by the fixture
unless approved by the MBA Committee.
6.
POINTS ALLOCATION
6.1
The winning team will be awarded three (3)
premiership points and the losing team one
(1) premiership point. Two (2) premiership
points will be awarded to each team in the
event of a draw.
6.2
In the case of a walkover the non-offending
team will be awarded three (3) premiership
points with the score of 20-0 for percentage
purposes. The offending team will not
receive any points.
6.3
If both teams fail to appear then neither team
will receive any points and both teams will
incur a walkover fine.
6.4
A bye shall be awarded three (3) premiership
points.
Page 3 of 8
6.5
If a team forfeits during a game and is currently
leading on points then the opposing team is
awarded three (3) premiership points with a
score of 20-0 for percentage purposes.
6.6
If a team forfeits during a game and is currently
behind on points the winning team's score at
that time will stand and the winning team will
be awarded three (3) premiership points.
6.7
Where games are cancelled due to extenuating
circumstances (eg. power failure etc), the
complete round will be cancelled if all teams
in the said grade are affected. Those teams
which have had their games cancelled will be
awarded 2 premiership points each (including
the bye team which will receive 2 premiership
points). All players registered at that date will
be deemed as having played.
spare set of singlets from the Competition
Supervisor.
7.9
Taped fingernails are not permitted. Players
must remove such tape and if any
fingernails are of such a length that might
be considered likely to cause injury they
must be trimmed below the top of the
fingers or covered with sports gloves
otherwise the player must not take part in
the game.
7.10 Only sport footwear with non-marking soles
may be worn on the courts. Players with
incorrect footwear will not be permitted to
take the court.
7.
UNIFORMS
7.11 A Player is not permitted to wear a T-shirt
under their uniform singlet unless it is
covered by the singlet (ie sleeveless) and is
consistent with the team colour.
7.1
Five (5) game points per player for incorrect
shorts will be awarded to the opposing team
effective from the first game of the season. For
new Teams or new Players refer to 7.2.
7.12 Players are permitted to wear bike shorts or
thermo-skins under their uniform provided
they are of the same team colour & shorter
in length than their own singlet/shorts.
7.2
New teams, or new players in established teams,
must play in their correct uniform by the 4th
round of the current competition. However, if
extenuating circumstances require an extension
of time, permission must be obtained from the
MBA Committee.
7.3
Each team must have a set of Uniforms which is
consistent in style, colour, lettering & FIBA
approved numbers.
7.13 No player will be permitted to take part in
any match whilst wearing neck chains,
rings, other ornaments or jewellery, or any
surgical appliance which may in any way
be considered as dangerous or likely to
cause injury. These items must be removed
from the person. Earrings and facial
piercing must be completely taped over if
unable to be removed.
7.4
A player may not take part in any match with an
incorrect uniform singlet, subject to section 7.1
and 7.2 of these bylaws.
8.
TIMING RULES
8.1
Games will be of two halves of twenty (20)
minutes with the clock stopping for all
whistles during the last one (1) minute of
the first half and the last three (3) minutes
of the second half. Where a time-out is in
progress prior to either of these points in
time the clock will stop when it reaches
these marks.
7.5
A player may not wear shorts that have pockets;
all shorts must be the same uniform colour
7.6
Singlets or tops must be uniform and of the
same colour (i.e. dark blue and light blue are
considered different colours). All numbers
must be the same colour and size contrasting to
the singlets or tops. No player can take the
court without a number. Taped numbers are
not permitted.
8.2
In the event of a singlet colour clash, if neither
team is willing to change to an alternate
singlet, a toss of the coin will decide which
team is to wear alternative tops. These are
available from the Competition Supervisor free
of charge.
Timing for the finals will be two twenty (20)
minute halves with the clock stopping for
all time-outs throughout the game and for
all whistles in the last one (1) minute of the
first half, and for all whistles in the last
three (3) minutes of the second half.
8.3
Two time-outs per team per half are allowed.
8.4
The referee will start the clock two (2)
minutes before the starting time and give
both coaches a one (1) minute warning.
7.7
7.8
In the event of a team having insufficient correct
uniform singlets for a game, they must hire a
Page 4 of 8
8.5
Timing rules will be posted on each score-bench
of each court.
11.
8.6
Extra Time for drawn finals games will be
played over a period of three (3) minutes. Each
team will be permitted one (1) time out per
Extra period.
8.7
At the discretion of the MBA the 24 second Shot
Clock can be implemented for Junior or Senior
competition.
8.8
The League competition timing rules may be
varied only by approval of the MBA
Committee
11.1 To be complete, a Clearance must be
approved by the player's current club and
be submitted to the Competition Supervisor
on the MBA Clearance form. The
Clearance request will be checked by the
MBA Administrator to verify it complies
with these By-laws. The Transfer will be
assumed to be approved after 7 days from
submission unless the Competition
Administrator advises the player otherwise.
9.
MERCY RULE
9.1
In Junior Boys and Girls basketball for teams
playing in the under 12 age groups. Once a
team is leading by 20 points or more, the
leading team is required, on all of their made
baskets and on all of their opponent’s side line
and end line situations, to drop back in defence
and not exceed the ¼ court. The penalty for
non-compliance is a violation and the trailing
team is to in-bound the ball.
9.2
9.3
10.
In Junior Boys and Girls basketball for teams
playing in the under 14 & 16 age groups. Once
a team is leading by 20 points or more, the
leading team may be required at the request of
the trailing team’s coach, on all of their made
baskets and on all of their opponent’s side line
and end line situations, to drop back in defence
and not exceed the ¼ court. The penalty for
non-compliance is a violation and the trailing
team is to in-bound the ball.
For all teams playing in Under 10 competition,
once a team is leading by 10 points or more,
the leading team is required, on all of their
made baskets and on all of their opponent’s
side line and end line situations, to drop back
in defence and not exceed the ¼ court. The
penalty for non-compliance is a violation and
the trailing team is to in-bound the ball.
HEAT POLICY
10.1 For implementation when the courtside
temperature on any court exceeds 35oC the
following time rules will apply 4 x 9 min
quarters will be run. A one (1) minute break
after the 1st and 3rd quarters will be taken. A
two (2) min break after the 2nd quarter will be
taken.
10.2 If the courtside temperature exceeds 39oC on
any court games will be cancelled. Full policy
will be displayed on each score table.
CLEARANCES / TRANSFERS /
PERMITS
11.2 Junior Teams or Clubs are only allowed two
clearance’s between two teams per age
group or competition per season unless
exceptional circumstances can be proved to
the MBA Committee.
11.3 No Clearances will be approved after round 7
of the season unless exceptional
circumstances can be proved to the MBA
Committee.
11.4 If a player is cleared to another team or club,
he or she must qualify for the finals from
the date of clearance.
11.5 Where a club has more than one (1) team in
an age group, a player cannot transfer
between teams without a clearance within
the season.
11.6 All clearances must be processed by the
clearing club within seven (7) days of the
receipt of application for clearance. Only
the authorised official whose signature is
on the team registration form will be
accepted. The MBA Administrator must be
notified in writing of any change of
officials authorised to sign.
11.7 If the Clearance application is denied by the
player’s team or club, full reasons for such
refusal must be stated on the form.
11.8 Clearance disputes must be finalised by the
MBA Committee within two weeks of the
date of application of clearance.
11.9 A player refused a clearance by the MBA
Committee may appeal in writing to the
MBA Secretary within seven (7) days of
such refusal.
11.10 The Committee will deal with all protests,
disputes, appeals and investigations, and
the decision of this committee will be final
and binding with no further appeal to the
MBA Committee.
Page 5 of 8
11.11 Upon receipt of such written appeal the
Committee will record these details and shall
notify the following parties of the date and
time when the appeal will be heard:

The team which has refused the clearance

The team to which the player wishes to be
cleared.

The player concerned.
11.12 One representative from each team concerned
may then attend the appeal meeting and speak
on the matter, as well as the player involved.
11.13 If a player has not played for two seasons, and
there is no financial obligation existing to his
or her old club, an automatic clearance will be
granted at any time during the season.
11.14 A Junior Representative Squad player (Played
VC or Metro Division during last 6 months)
will not be cleared to a Junior domestic team
that already has at least three (3) Junior
Representative Squad players (All Divisions)
within the same age group as the team.
11.15 The Association shall recognise a player permit
allowing a player playing within the next age
division above or below providing they are
eligible to play in that age division as per
Bylaws 4.1 & 4.4
11.16 Such permit must be applied for on a prescribed
form supplied for such process by the MBA.
11.17 Permits must be submitted to the competition
supervisor for forwarding onto the MBA
Administrator. Players cannot play for his / her
club / team on permit within 7 days of
submission to competition supervisor & until
approved by the MBA Administrator.
11.18 No permit will be required for a player to play
within a lower and an immediate older age
division of teams registered as the one club
with the Association.
11.19 A player or that players parent or legal guardian
if a junior, may apply for a permit to play
within an older/younger age division of
another club / team and such a permit must be
granted if:
a) The club of who the player playing within
the older/younger age bracket does not
require the services of the player within its
older/younger age division, or
b) The club/team of the older/younger division
does not have a team within the older/
younger age division, or
c) The player who is seeking a permit to
play in an older/younger age group
within another division of competition
than the current club/team offers. A
player under this sub clause may not
apply for a permit nor will it be legal to
grant a permit less than 5 working days
prior to the commencement of round 1 of
any new domestic competition.
11.20 Any permit issued is for one season only but
may be resubmitted each season.
11.21 Any player who receives a permit to play
may not clear to that club / team for an
extra full season on top of the season to
which
the
permit
applies
unless
extraordinary circumstances are proved to
the Association Committee of the day.
12.
FINALS QUALIFICATION
12.1 A player must have been in uniform and been
available to take the court for their team
and signed the rear of the scoresheet in at
least seven (7) games in the current
domestic season, to be eligible to play in
the finals with that team unless extenuating
circumstances can be proved to the MBA
Committee of the day.
12.2 Qualification games for finals will
commence from the date a player
registration is completed.
12.3 Unclear or illegible player’s names, numbers
or signatures in the opinion of the
Competition Administrator will not be
given credit towards finals eligibility.
12.4 Failure of a player to sign the back of the
scoresheet in a game will result in that
game not being counted towards finals
qualification.
12.5 A fixtured “bye” is not counted as a game
towards finals qualification.
12.6 Where games are cancelled due to
extenuating circumstances, e.g. power
failure, water leaks equipment failure, etc.
the complete round will be cancelled if all
teams in that grade are affected. However,
if not all teams in the grade are affected,
those who have had their games cancelled,
will be awarded two (2) premiership points
each and the bye team will be awarded two
(2) premiership points. All players
registered at that date would be deemed to
have played the game and will be awarded
a game towards finals eligibility.
Page 6 of 8
12.7 The MBA Committee reserves the right to give
a team automatic qualification to a named
team player who has not played enough games
to qualify for finals, where the team has only 4
or less qualified players for the finals series
where extenuating circumstances apply.
13.
COMMITTEES
13.1 The MBA Committee will appoint Subcommittees to handle grading, protests,
clearances, appeals, etc. as required. The MBA
Committee will grade and re-grade teams as it
sees fit.
14.
REPORTS
walkover will be awarded a game towards
finals eligibility.
16.5 A team giving a second walkover in
succession may be required to give the
MBA Committee reasons why they should
be allowed to remain in the competition.
16.6 If a walkover fine is not paid within seven
(7) days of the walkover date, the team
cannot take the court until the fine is paid in
full. Premiership points so lost are not
redeemable.
16.7 The MBA Committee may disqualify any
team from a competition which incurs three
(3) or more Walkovers in the one season.
14.1 The MBA Committee will use/adopt the
Basketball Victoria Tribunal By-Laws as far as
possible, and where appropriate, in handling
reports.
16.8 Teams will not be accepted into the new
season's competition until prior walkover
fines are paid in full.
14.2 In the event that a late report is lodged, a Subcommittee of three members of the MBA
Committee, none of whom shall be involved
with the clubs/players concerned, will decide
whether the report will proceed.
16.9 Players from teams which have outstanding
walkover fines must pay their share of the
teams fines before they are able to play for
any other team within the MBA
competition.
15.
16.10 A team is not permitted to give a walkover in
finals. Any offending team will be
disqualified from the finals series.
PROTESTS
15.1 All protests or complaints must be in writing
and addressed to the MBA Committee and be
submitted to the Secretary within seven (7)
days of the incident.
15.2 Appeals against decisions of any committee
must also be lodged with the Secretary of the
Melton Basketball Association. This must be
done within seven (7) days of the receipt of the
notification of the decision.
16.
WALKOVERS
16.1 Notified walkovers will incur a penalty as
determined by the MBA Committee. To be a
valid Notified walkover the team giving the
walkover must notify the Competition
Supervisor more than twenty-four (24) hours
before the scheduled game.
16.2 In the case of a Notified walkover, all registered
players of the team receiving the walkover will
be awarded a game towards finals eligibility.
16.3 Un-notified walkovers will incur a penalty as
determined by the MBA Committee. The team
given the walkover will be refunded all of their
money if the court is cleared before half time.
If the team remains on court, there will be no
refund of money.
16.4 Where an Un-notified walkover is given, all
registered players of the team receiving the
17.
GENERAL
17.1 A team or club representative is required to
report any injury to the Competition
Supervisor at the stadium at the time of
injury. Accident Claim forms are available
from the Competition Supervisor during
competition hours.
17.2 The MBA Committee may refuse entry of
players, officials or spectators to any venue
which MBA competitions are operating as
it sees fit.
17.3 Coaches must be 14 years or older to be
eligible to coach any basketball team within
the MBA competition or at the discretion of
the MBA Committee on a case by case
basis.
17.4 Drink or food is not permitted on the court.
17.5 Ignorance of the By-Laws is not grounds for
an appeal.
17.6 A basketball with blood on it may not be
used. A player who is bleeding shall be
removed from the court until the wound is
covered. A player may not enter the court
or remain on the court in a uniform with
Page 7 of 8
blood on it, but may replace the uniform with a
makeshift top without penalty.
such property or valuables directly under its
control.
17.7 Smoking is not permitted in the stadium or the
spectator area of all venues. MBA officials
including supervisors and referees are not
permitted to smoke in uniform.
17.18 The MBA will not accept any responsibility
for any injuries incurred.
17.8 Persons (Players, Coaches or Spectators)
believed to be adversely affected by alcohol or
drugs will not be permitted to play or coach
and may be removed from the stadium if found
to be disruptive or abusive.
17.9 Offensive language will not be tolerated from
any person or persons in the stadium. The
Competition Supervisor, Referee Supervisor or
Committee member has the right to evict such
a person or persons from the stadium.
17.10 A committee person has the right to report any
person or persons for any offending or abusive
behaviour. The report is to be submitted to the
MBA Secretary.
17.11 The MBA Committee has the right to impose
penalties for breach of any of the By-Laws
contained herein which have no specified
penalty.
17.12 No Representative (Coach, Team Manager,
Player or Parent) of any team or club may
approach a registered player of another team or
club to take part in the playing of games for
their team or club. The MBA Committee will
deny any Clearance requests made as a result
of such action. Any person or persons found to
be violating this By-Law will be penalised a
poaching fine of $100.00.
17.19 All monies owed to the MBA must be paid
within 7 days of date of invoice being
issued; players or teams may be excluded
from taking part in any competition
matches until such monies are paid.
17.20 Trophies will only be presented to qualified
players of teams competing in grand finals.
17.21 The MBA Committee will determine from
time to time what Registration fees will be
paid by teams or players. What admission
charges will apply, what trophies and
awards will be made, what regulations
governing timing of games will apply, and
any other matters in respect of fixtures or
competition games not specifically referred
to in these By-Laws.
17.22 Any amendment to the By-Laws must be
posted on the MBA Stadium notice board
and MBA Website for 7 days. Objections
must be received by the MBA Secretary
within 7 days of posting. If no objections
are received the new By-law(s) shall be
deemed to be approved.
17.13 The MBA will abide by all tribunal decisions
and/or penalties.
17.14 All complaints must be made in writing to the
MBA Committee on forms available from your
Competition Supervisor.
17.15 In any MBA competitions, when a Referee
awards a Technical foul to a player, the player
is required to sit on the bench "SIN BIN" for 5
minutes playing time. Any player who has
been benched i.e. Sin Binned can be
substituted.
17.16 In any MBA senior competition a player who
receives two technical fouls or a disqualifying
foul will automatically receive a 1 game
suspension from that competition.
17.17 The MBA will not accept any responsibility for
any personal property or valuables other than
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