Girls Basketball

Girls basketball will tip-off the season at our Jamboree on Saturday, November 7th. Our season runs from mid-November through early March.

Girls basketball is available for players in grades K-8th, who live within the Hamilton Southeastern school district.

Yes, it is strongly encouraged to help ensure competitive team placement and we will have a jersey fitting at evaluations as well.

Rec teams will practice one (1) time per week and play games on Saturdays. Weekday practices are scheduled sometime within the window of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p. m. Days and times depend on gym availability. Saturday practices and games are typically scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Please note the K/1st division will only practice on Saturdays. Teams will have a 45-minute practice session followed by a 30-minute game. There will be no practice during the week.

Basketball shorts and shoes. The league provides jerseys. Each player should bring their own basketball, as coaches are only provided with two basketballs per team. Each player should also bring their own water bottle. Thank you!

K / 1st Grade: Junior size (27.5”)

2nd-8th Grade: Intermediate size (28.5”)

No, jewelry is not allowed.

K/1st grade division will utilize an 8 ½ foot rim height.

2nd grade will use a 9-foot rim.

3rd – 8th grade will play on a 10-foot rim.

The players are divided into teams with data from the evaluations with the goal of establishing competitively balanced teams. Recreational teams are formed based on the number of girls registered for each division and number of head/assistant coach volunteers. Girls Basketball does not honor requests for player placement. Requests for siblings in the same division to be on the same team will be guaranteed but should be included in the registration request to help commissioners. Requests will not be guaranteed and cannot be accommodated after teams are formed.

All players must play a minimum of two (2) full quarters (16 minutes) and each player must sit out at least one (1) quarter (8 minutes). Over the course of the season and as much as possible in each game, all players should receive equal playing time.

Unsportsmanlike conduct, including "trash talking" or any unsportsmanlike physical contact by players, coaches or parents will not be tolerated. Please report any offensive conduct to the league commissioner, the gym coordinator, or a Girls Basketball Board Member as soon as possible. Actions by any player, coach or spectator demonstrating unsportsmanlike conduct before, during or after a game or practice will be subject to review by the Basketball Board.

The Girls Basketball Board has the right to take whatever action it deems appropriate to deal with any type of unsportsmanlike conduct including, but not limited to, issuing warnings, suspension, and/or removal of a player or coach from the league and/or barring a spectator from any league games. We have a NO tolerance policy for inappropriate or aggressive behavior.

Any player, coach or spectator who is cited by a referee for unsportsmanlike conduct may either be issued a warning, removed from the game, or asked to leave the facility. Failure to comply with a referee's decision may result in the forfeiture of the game. Failure of a parent to comply with a referee's decision may result in the removal of that parent’s child from the game and/or league. Decisions by a referee and/or Board Members on these matters are FINAL. THERE IS TO BE NO DISPARAGING LANGUAGE BETWEEN PARENTS/GUARDIANS, PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND COACHES and/or PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND REFEREES PRIOR, DURING AND AFTER THE GAME. If you (as the parent/guardian) have a question about a coaching decision, please wait 24 hours and then send the coach a message. Questioning a coach’s decisions during the game, including a child’s playing time, is prohibited.

While the league recognizes a coach may question refereeing calls, we encourage coaches to refrain from doing so. If a conversation must be had with a referee, it should be done in a calm, respectful, manner. Under no circumstances will a coach raise their voice or yell at a referee. If you encounter a referee that does not meet our standards, we ask that you bring your concerns to the girls basketball board to be addressed. Please ensure you provide the name of the referee (if possible), grade level, team name, school and time the game was played.

Conduct Warnings: A Code of Conduct by all parents will be signed for their player(s) to play in the league. Unsportsmanlike conduct by any player, coach or fan will result in a warning. A second offense will result in removal from the gym. A third offense will result in removal from the league.

Athletes are responsible for bringing their own water bottles to practices and games. Our league has experienced significant problems with food and drinks being brought onto school property. Our host schools prohibit any type of outside food or drinks. Drinks and snacks are not allowed in our facilities unless kept in an authorized concession area. The Girls Basketball Board will have the right to take whatever action it deems appropriate to deal with any type of offense or conduct including, but not limited to, issuing warnings, suspensions, and/or removal of a player or coach from the league and/or barring a spectator from any league games.

We need to show the utmost care and respect for the school facilities that our leagues utilize. Players, coaches, parents, siblings, and other spectators need to be careful not to damage anything on school property. Coaches need to ask parents to control their children’s activities before and after games. The Girls Basketball Board will have the right to take whatever action it deems appropriate to deal with any type of offense or conduct including, but not limited to, issuing warnings, suspensions, and/or removal of a player or coach from the league and/or barring a spectator from any league games.

● Please do not prop open any outside doors to the school.

● Thank you for asking a parent to sit by the doors and let other players and parents into the gym.

● Please do not allow unaccompanied children to leave the gymnasium.

● Please do not touch, mark on or tamper with displays, bulletin boards, chalk, and dry erase boards.

● Coaches, parents, and other spectators should remain in the gymnasium and refrain from wandering around school property.

● Participants and spectators must stay in the gym until the game or practice is over.

● Please do not climb or sit on the top of bleachers that aren't pulled out.

● Thank you for staying away from any nets, pads, or other equipment in the gymnasium.

● Keep away from "stage" areas.

● Please help clean up after yourselves and your children following each game and/or practice.

● Please leave the building looking the same as when you entered.

Game Length: There are four 8-minute quarters with a 4-minute half time during the regular season for 2nd through 8th grade. There is no overtime during the regular season for 2nd through 4th grade. There will be a sudden death (next point wins) overtime for the 5/6th and 7/8th divisions in the regular season only. During the season ending tournament there will be a 2-minute overtime period. Subsequent overtime periods will be played until a winner is decided.

Game Clock: The clock runs continuously. The clock will stop during foul shots and during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, last 30 seconds of the overtime period and at the referee’s discretion. The clock will run for the last 2 minutes of games in the K/1st grade division. No regular season game may extend sixty (60) minutes past the scheduled starting time, regardless of how much time is left on the clock.

Score Keeping: Normal scoring is kept throughout the game for all divisions.

Each gym is equipped with a scoreboard. Gym coordinators will set up the scoreboard controls each game day and put away the scoreboard controls at the end of the day. Scoresheets (to be provided at the scorer’s table) need to be used for each game to list the players’ names and to track playing time, scoring and fouls.

Leave the score sheets at the scorer's table to be picked up by gym coordinators at the end of each day.

The clock should stop at the 4-minute mark of each quarter to allow for substitutions. Coaches are to substitute players quickly; this is not an additional timeout. Substitutions may be made at this time or at the end of the quarter only. Exceptions: (i) if a player is injured, or

(ii) if a player fouls out (2nd-8th grade). K/1st grade players cannot foul out of a game.

Coaches and Referees will use these times as teaching opportunities. Intentional fouling in K/1st grade levels will result in the player being substituted. If an official calls a time out for a player injury, that player must sit out until a substitution can be made (i.e. between quarters, another player injury, a player foul shout or at the four (4) minute mark in the fourth quarter).

K/1st Grade: No free throws will be shot.

2nd Grade – 6th Grade: Will shoot free throws from 12 feet (shooter may cross the free throw line after releasing the ball but cannot actively attempt to rebound the ball until it hits the rim).

7th/8th Grade: Will shoot from 15 feet.

Players may not enter the lane to rebound until the ball hits the rim. Free throws will only be shot on shooting fouls. IHSAA rules apply to the number of free throws. All other fouls, up to six, will result in possession of the ball, out of bounds nearest the spot of infraction. On the 7th team foul, we will shoot 1&1, on 10th team foul and thereafter, all fouls will result in 2 shots.

K/1st Grade: It is anticipated that we will have a referee whose focus will be on facilitating the game as opposed to simply calling violations. This is a recreational league with a focus on teaching fundamental basketball skills and rules for all the players. The referee will use reasonable judgment so that the game doesn't stop every few seconds but also be consistent and fair to both your team and the opposing team. The referee will use the whistle to stop gameplay and give a brief explanation of the call so that players can be instructed on the court as to what happened. DO NOT ARGUE OR DEBATE WITH THE REFEREE OVER A CALL DURING A GAME.

2nd – 8th Grade: Officials will be assigned for each game. The official's decision is final. DO NOT ARGUE OR DEBATE WITH THE REFEREE OVER A CALL DURING A GAME.

Offensive players are permitted to remain in the lane for five (5) seconds instead of the usual three (3) second rule. By rule, the 5-second count cannot start until the ball is advanced past half court and will end when the offense shoots the ball. It may begin again when rebounded by the offensive team. There is no 5 second violation for the defense. This is at the sole discretion of the referee to call.

Man to Man Defense only. No Zone defense will be allowed. It is up to the sole discretion of the official to determine if any of the players are playing a zone or double teaming. Players at this age lose their assignments and end up double teaming or playing zone. The official will determine if an advantage was created or if the intent was to gain an advantage. If the official feels players are abusing the zone/double teaming defense rule, the first two violations of each half will be warnings. Penalty for the 3rd violation and subsequent violations of each half will be 2 FTs and the ball at halfcourt. No double teaming allowed, except within 15' of the goal and in a helping role on an offensive player with the ball. If two offensive players are within 6' of each other and a double team occurs, the defense will not be called for double teaming.

K/1st Grade: Players may not steal the dribble except when the player dribbling is inside the lane. Players may not steal the ball if the offensive player picks up her dribble anywhere on the court unless she is passing the ball. The ball cannot be taken from the offensive player’s hands. Players may steal the basketball off a pass anywhere on the floor. Since players are not permitted to steal the ball off the dribble outside of the lane, players should be coached to not hover at half court and should let the offensive team advance the ball past the half court line. If a player steals the dribble, stop the game, and give the ball back to the offensive team. If an offensive player loses control of the ball, it is a free ball and can be taken by the defense.

2nd/3rd Grade: There is to be no stealing of the ball (dribbled or held) above the free throw line extended. If a team is ahead by 10 points or more, stealing of the ball (dribbled or held) may only occur when the ball enters the lane (FT line and below, INSIDE the lane lines). Once the lead is under 10 points, we will revert to allowing steals outside the lane but below the FT line extended. Stealing above the FT line will result in the official blowing the play dead immediately and giving the ball back to the offended team at the out of bounds spot closest to where the violation occurred.

The first two violations will be warnings. The penalty for the 3rd violation and subsequent violations will be 2 FTs and the ball at half court. Players may steal the basketball off a pass anywhere on the floor. Any loose ball or pass, regardless of where it is on the court, may be picked up by either team or stolen. The no guarding in the backcourt rule still applies once possession of the ball is gained.

4th – 8th Grade: Players may steal the ball off either the pass or the dribble.

K/1st Grade: All players must have an opportunity to bring the ball up the court.

2nd – 8th Grade: The player has 10 seconds to get the ball over the half court line. A player has 5 seconds to hold the ball then needs to pass or shoot the ball. If the player does not release the ball after 5 seconds, the ball will be given to the opposing team. This rule will only be enforced in the 4th grade through junior high leagues.

K/1st: No full court pressing. The defense cannot guard the offense until the offensive player has both feet and the ball past half court. Once the ball changes possession, the defensive team must return to their defensive side of the court before they can defend their player. If the offensive player uses this opportunity to fast break and loses the ball before half court, it will be up to the discretion of the official to determine if the ball was just lost or if the defense purposely caused the turnover. If it is a lost ball, it is a free ball.

2nd/3rd Grade: Pressing will be allowed ONLY in the final 30 seconds of 4th quarter and last 1 minute of any overtime period. There is to be NO pressing by a team that has a 10-point lead or more. The trailing team can press anytime under the 30 second mark and last minute of OT.

4th – 8th Grade: Pressing will be allowed ONLY in the final 2:00 of 4th quarter and last 1 minute of any overtime period. There is to be NO pressing by a team that has a 10-point lead or more. The trailing team can press anytime under the 2:00 mark and last minute of OT.

For clarity when pressing is not allowed: The defense cannot guard the offensive player until the player has both feet and the ball past half court. Players will have 10 seconds to advance the ball past the half court line. Once the ball changes possession, the defensive team must return to their defensive side of the court before they defend their player. If the offensive player uses this opportunity to fast break and loses the ball before half court, it will be up to the discretion of the official to determine if the ball was just lost or if the defense purposely caused the turnover. If it is a lost ball, it is a free ball.

For grades K/1st – 4th: No player is permitted to score more than six (6) points in a quarter. Players who score this many points do not need to be removed from the game; they simply are not permitted to shoot the ball. This is an instructional league and scoring by all players should be encouraged by coaches and parents. In the case where foul shots would cause a player to have the opportunity to score more than 6 points in the quarter, the free throws will be allowed and counted. Any baskets scored by a player during live play that result in them scoring more than 6 points will be nullified and result in a turnover. The ball should be given to the defensive team for inbounds throw in. Coaches are expected to monitor this with the scorekeeper. The scorekeeper should notify the referee if any player reaches 6 points in a quarter. 

5/6th and 7/8th Grades: There is no scoring limit for players.

K/1st Grade: Score will be kept but no stats on team performance. No tournament will be held. Instead, an extra regular season game will be played.

2nd – 8th Grade: Score and win/loss records will be kept. Win/loss records will be used for placement in season-ending tournament. In the event of an identical number of wins in the regular season, the first tie breaker will be head-to-head match-up results between the teams. The second tie breaker will be determined by # of ties (2 points for wins, 1 point for ties). In the event two teams are still tied, a coin flip will determine the higher seed.

The league will follow all IHSAA rules with the exception of those previously listed. Any questions regarding rules during the season should be presented to your league commissioner for clarification. You can purchase the IHSAA rule books for basketball and other sports at:

IHSAA

9150 N. Meridian St.

P.O. Box 40650 Indianapolis, IN

46240- 0650 317-846-6601 www.ihsaa.org