League Rules 

Age                     Group                  Players         Ball             Goal Height        Game Length 

5-7                    Freshmen                5 vs 5          25.5”                     8’                6 min quarters            

8-10                  Junior Varsity         5 vs 5          27.5”                     9’                7 min quarters  

11-14                   Varsity                    5 vs 5             28.5”                    10’               8 min quarters 

 (For Freshman and Junior Varsity groups)  

Before the start of each game and the second half each player will receive two free throws that if made will count toward the team's score! Each free-throw made is one point. The coaches should rebound and tally up the score and report how many they made to the scorekeeper. 

This rule will help some teammates have more of a role and outcome in the game and allow everyone to get some shots on basket!  

So, practice free-throws!! 

If one team has 8 players and the other team only has 7, one player from the 7 team will shoot again. 

Freshmen Basketball Rules  

Good sportsmanship always comes before winning 

Games consist of 4 quarters of 6 minutes. The clock will run continuously besides shooting fouls. There will be one minute between quarters and 5 minutes for halftime. Teams are allowed one time out per half. 

Scores and records will be kept. 

Lane violations, such as 3 seconds, will not be called. 

Players must play a minimum of 2 quarters per game and one quarter per half. No player is permitted to play in all 4 quarters unless the team is limited to 6 or fewer players. Injuries are the only time a player may be substituted. If a player sustains an injury in which he/she is bleeding, they must be promptly removed from the game until the bleeding has stopped. A player substitution is permitted in this instance.  

While on defense, the following rules apply; 

Must play zone defense  

No double teaming a player 

No full court pressing.  

No pressure is allowed in the backcourt on the change of possession 

No stealing the ball  

Traveling and double dribbling will be called if the offensive player gains an advantage by it or if the official determines the player has the skill set to dribble continuously.  

Free throws will be awarded on shooting fouls. / Clock will stop 

Must progress play no holding ball long periods of time. 

Junior Varsity Rules  

Good sportsmanship always comes before winning 

Games consist of 4 quarters of between 7 minutes (see table above). The clock will run continuously besides shooting fouls. There will be one minute between quarters and 5 minutes for halftime. Teams are allowed two timeouts per half. 

Scores and records will be kept. 

Lane violations, such as 5 seconds, will not be called. 

Scores and records will be kept and posted to the web site weekly. 

Players cannot foul out of a game but may be removed for excessive or intentional fouling.  

Players must play a minimum of 2 quarters per game and one quarter per half. No player is permitted to play in all 4 quarters unless the team is limited to 6 or fewer players. Injuries are the only time a player may be substituted. If a player sustains an injury in which he/she is bleeding, they must be promptly removed from the game until the bleeding has stopped. A player substitution is permitted in this instance.  

While on defense, the following rules apply; 

No stealing dribble but may steal pass and block 

No double teaming a player 

No full court pressing. Half-court pressing is allowed but the player must be given the opportunity to cross the half court. No traps. 

No pressure is allowed in the backcourt on the change of possession 

Recovery Rule: a defensive player may leave his man to prevent another player from driving to the basket. However, once the initial stop is made, the player must immediately return to the original player guarded. 

Traveling and double dribbling will be called if the offensive player gains an advantage by it or if the official determines the player has the skill set to dribble continuously.  

Free throws will be awarded on shooting fouls. / Clock will stop 

Must progress play no holding ball long periods of time. 

Varsity Rules 

Good sportsmanship always comes before winning 

Games consist of 4 quarters of 8 minutes. The clock will run continuously besides shooting fouls. There will be one minute between quarters and 5 minutes for halftime. Teams are allowed two timeouts per half. 

Scores and records will be kept. 

Lane violations, such as 5 seconds, will not be called. 

Scores and records will be kept and posted to the web site weekly. 

Players cannot foul out of a game but may be removed for excessive or intentional fouling.  

Players must play a minimum of 2 quarters per game and one quarter per half. No player is permitted to play in all 4 quarters unless the team is limited to 6 or fewer players. Injuries are the only time a player may be substituted. If a player sustains an injury in which he/she is bleeding, they must be promptly removed from the game until the bleeding has stopped. A player substitution is permitted in this instance.  

While on defense, the following rules apply; 

Man to man defense and zone defense is allowed. 

No double teaming a player 

 half court pressing is allowed. 

Recovery Rule: a defensive player may leave his man to prevent another player from driving to the basket. However, once the initial stop is made, the player must immediately return to the original player guarded. 

Free throws will be given on shooting fouls.  

Traveling and double dribbling will be called if the offensive player gains an advantage by it or if the official determines the player has the skill set to dribble continuously.  

Free throws will be awarded on shooting fouls. / clock will stop 

Must progress play no holding ball long periods of time. 

Program Summary 

Number of Player Requirement (all divisions) 

Each team will have a target roster size of between 7-9 players. 

Games will be 5 on 5 however a team is allowed to play with 4 players. A forfeit is determined when a team has less than 4 players available 5 minutes after scheduled time or as determined by the site director or referee. 

Teams may substitute players on any stoppage of play with the referee’s approval 

Each player shall play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time. 

No defense in the backcourt 

Equipment                                                 

N Zone Sports will supply each player with an N Zone player jersey, and one basketball for each team. Players are asked to wear dark shorts/ sweatpants and rubber-soled athletic shoes. Mouth guards are recommended for safety but not required.  

Referees                                                                                                                                                 

N Zone Sport will provide a referee for games. Officials should avoid interfering with the course of play but are considered part of the court. Referees will briefly explain all rule infractions to the offending player, with more explanation being provided for younger players.  

Game Duration                                    

Freshmen play four, 6-minute quarters. There is a 5-minute halftime. Each team has one timeout per half. JV plays four, 7-minute quarters, a 5-minute halftime, each team has 2 timeouts per half. Varsity plays four, 8-minute quarters, a 5-minute halftime, each team has 2 timeouts per half. 

*There is no overtime during the regular season. Playoff overtime will be 5-minute periods as needed. 

Offense 

Backcourt violations will not be enforced in any 7 and under divisions. Over and back (half court line) will be enforced in JV and Varsity Divisions. 

The 10 second backcourt and 5 second inbound rules will only apply in JV and Varsity Divisions. 

Defense 

Freshman Division Defensive Restrictions  

Half court zone defense only (defense not to extend beyond 3 pt line) 

JV Division Defensive Restrictions 

Half court man to man or zone defense 

If a team is winning by 12+ points defense cannot extend past the 3-point line 

No stealing dribble 

May steal pass 

Varsity Division Defensive Restrictions 

Teams can play either zone or man to man half court 

** Illegal defense will be called if a team loses possession of the ball because of a defensive act taking place in a restricted area.  The turnover will be allowed if it occurred as a result of an error by the offensive team and defense was not being applied in the restricted area of the court.  

Forfeit 

Games must start with at least four players per team. Any team that cannot field four players within five minutes of the schedule's start time shall forfeit the game.  

Forfeit scores will be recorded as 10-0 

Fouls: Personal fouls include any type of illegal physical contact:                                                                                                                                               

Hitting 

Pushing 

Slapping 

Holding 

Illegal pick/screen- When an offensive player sticks out a limb and makes physical contact with a defender in attempt to block the path of the defender. 

Personal Foul Penalties: If a player is shooting while a being fouled, then he gets two free throws if his shot doesn’t go in, but only one free throw if his shot does go in.  

Inbounds 

Inbounds. If fouled while not shooting, the ball is given to the team the foul was committed upon. They get the ball at the nearest side of baseline, out of bounds, and have 5 seconds to pass the ball onto the court.  

One & one. If the team committing the foul has seven or more fouls in the game, then the player who was fouled is awarded one free throw. If he makes his first shot, then he is awarded another free throw. 

Ten or more fouls. If the team committing the foul has ten or more fouls, then the fouled player receives two free throws.  

Charging- An offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a defensive player. The ball is given to the team that the foul was committed upon. 

Blocking- Blocking is illegal personal contact resulting from a defender not establishing position in time to prevent an opponent’s drive to the basket. 

Violations 

Traveling/Walking- Taking more than a step and a half without dribbling the ball is traveling. Moving your pivot foot once you’ve stopped dribbling is traveling. 

Carrying- when a player dribbles the ball with his hand too far to the side of or, sometimes, even under the ball. 

Double Dribble- Dribbling the ball with both hands on the ball at the same time or picking up the dribble and then dribbling again is a double dribble.  

Held Ball- Occasionally, two or more opposing players will gain possession of the ball at the same time.  To avoid a prolonged and/or violent tussle, the referee stops the action and awards the ball to one team or the other on a rotating basis.  

Backcourt Violation- Once the offense has brought the ball across the mid-court line they cannot go back across the line during possession. If they do, the ball is awarded to the other team to pass inbounds.  

Time restrictions- A player passing the ball inbounds has five seconds to pass the ball. If he does not, then the ball is awarded to the other team. Other time restrictions include the rule that a player cannot have the ball for more than five seconds when being closely guarded. 

Forfeit 

Games must start with at least four players per team. Any team that cannot field four players within five minutes of the scheduled start time shall forfeit the game.  

Forfeit scores will be recorded as 10-0 

Games in the younger age groups should be officiated more loosely with emphasis placed on instruction.  

Rule #1….. Have Fun! 

NOTE: The league reserves the right to modify rules during the season.  N Zone Sports reserves the right to ask the player’s parents/guardians to produce valid proof of age in the form of a birth certificate or other forms of legal identification.