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Liverpool Community Church (LCC) Basketball League Rules & Regulations Revision S dated 22-Sep-09 1. Players, coaches, and fans should keep in mind that LCC is a community church. As such, we are here to serve the needs of the community including the personal needs of individuals who participate in our leagues. If you find yourself looking for a church home or desire personal help in any way, please do not hesitate to engage with us. At the same time, please keep in mind that the use of vulgar language (including using the Lord’s name in vein), inappropriate behavior (e.g., fighting, taunting, trash talking), and misuse of church facilities is prohibited. 2. A common theme that will run across all LCC basketball leagues is “professionalism”. We don’t see ourselves as a “church league1”. Instead, our goal is to offer the community an extremely well-run, highly-competitive league that competes with the best basketball leagues in Central New York. To accomplish this goal, we need our players, coaches, fans, scorekeepers, and referees to act in a mature, “professional” manner. 3. The “official” league rosters will be maintained by the league secretary. Rosters may be modified until midnight on 19-Oct-09. For the men’s league, players are allowed to play on more than one team as long as each team is in a different division (e.g., a player can play for Team A in the Tuesday evening division and Team B in the Wednesday evening division. A player cannot play for multiple teams in the same division however). Disqualifications apply to individual players, not teams or divisions (e.g., a player who is disqualified from his Division A team for the next three games (including playoff games) is also disqualified from his Division B team for the next three games (including playoff games)). See rule #31 for further information. 4. Players must be 18 years of age or older to participate in the men’s league, in 912th grade to participate in the boy’s league, and in 7th or 8th grade to participate in the girl’s league. 5. For a player to be eligible to play in a game, they must (a) be on the team’s “official” roster at least 24 hours before the game’s scheduled tip-time and (b) have acknowledged (via e-mail or signed hardcopy) the LCC Liability Form, LCC League Rules, and LCC Game Rules. Note: the league secretary maintains a record of player acknowledgements. Hardcopy LCC Liability Forms (from past 1 Church leagues often carry the stigma of poor organization, low skill, and bad officiating (i.e., hackerball). seasons) have been retained so players don’t have to re-sign each season. It is the responsibility of the coach/manager to ensure that each player on their roster has acknowledged the aforementioned three documents. 6. A portion of the league fee is used to pay for team uniforms. Each team will receive eight uniforms. In the interest of league professionalism (see rule #2 above), players are prohibited from altering uniforms in any way (this includes removing sleeves). Each player must wear their uniforms in each game. Teams that are “not in uniform” will be assessed a two-shot technical foul before the game begins. The term “not in uniform” refers to a team where one or more players are either not wearing the league provided uniform or have modified the league provided uniform in any way. Keep in mind that any team receiving three technical fouls in a single game will forfeit the game (see rule #31). The third (or more) time a team receives a technical foul for a uniform violation; they will be required to pay the $35 game fee for each team (i.e., $70). 7. If all afterschool activities at Liverpool High School are cancelled due to hazardous weather conditions (e.g., snowstorm), then all games in the LCC Basketball League are cancelled as well. 8. Defensive players who slap the backboard during a shot attempt will be charged with goaltending. 9. Each team will pay the scorekeeper $35 cash (game fee) before the game begins. Credit cards and personal checks will not be accepted. Teams that fail to pay the $35 game fee will forfeit the game. 10. Games will tip-off at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm. Teams that don’t have the minimum number of players to begin the game (i.e., four) will be given a 13 minute grace period. Teams that cannot field a team at the end of the 13 minute grace period will forfeit the game. 11. If a team cannot play a scheduled game (for any reason), the team must notify the League Commissioner at least 48 hours before the game’s scheduled tip-time. The League Commissioner is Steve Crowell and can be reached by e-mail (athleticdirector@liverpoolchurch.com), telephone (622-3321), or through the church office (701-0857). The League Commissioner will attempt to reschedule the game. If the game cannot be rescheduled, the game will be cancelled. Teams that don’t adhere to the “48 hour” rule will forfeit the game (i.e., the game will not be rescheduled to a later date). 12. Teams that forfeit a scheduled game (for any reason) will be required to pay the $35 game fee for each team (i.e., $70) before their next regularly scheduled game (regular season or playoff). If a team forfeits their last game of the season, they will be required to pay the forfeit fee within two weeks of the forfeit date. Teams that refuse to pay the forfeit fee within two weeks of the forfeit date will not be allowed to participate in future LCC Basketball Leagues. 13. Each game will consist of two 20 minute halves (with the exception of the girl’s league). The clock will be stopped during the final two minutes of each half. 14. The wearing of jewelry during a game (i.e., earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, etc.) will be at the discretion of the referees. is prohibited. 15. Teams must have at least four players to participate in a game. Each player will be allotted 6 personal fouls per game. A player receiving his/her 6th personal foul will be disqualified from the game. If a team is playing with four players and one of the four players fouls out of the game, the game will end immediately in a forfeit. 16. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, the teams will play a 5 minute overtime period. The clock will be stopped during the final minute of the overtime period. Subsequent overtime periods will be played until a winner is determined. Each team will receive an additional timeout for each overtime period played. 17. On foul shots, players who are positioned in the lane may enter the lane when the ball leaves the shooter’s hand. Players who are positioned behind the foul line (i.e., towards half-court) cannot leave their position until the ball hits the rim. 18. Each team will receive two timeouts per half. All timeouts will be considered “full” timeouts and will last no longer than one minute in duration. Timeouts do not carry over from one half to the next or from regulation to overtime. Each team will be allotted one timeout per overtime period. 19. Players are not allowed to dunk in warm-ups. Dunking in the game however is permitted. Players who dunk in the game are not allowed to hang on the rim unless it is required for safety purposes. Players who hang on the rim for nonsafety purposes will receive a technical foul. 20. To be eligible for the playoffs, a player must play in 40% or more of his/her team’s regular season games. 21. The use of vulgar language (i.e., swearing or using the Lord’s name in anger) by players, coaches, or fans (in the bleachers) is not permitted. Vulgarity will be governed using the regulations defined in rule #31. 22. Any team that has clearly won the game yet continues to trap, press, and/or fast break is subject to a warning, technical foul, ejection, or forfeit (at the referee’s discretion) for running up the score which is considered “unsportsmanlike conduct”. See rule #31 for further information about this type of behavior. 23. Before each game, the referees will explain to the players how the game will be called. Generally speaking, referees will call each game closely. Hand-checks, reaching-in, creating contact, bumps, over the back, moving picks, and lane violations will be called. A team committing seven team fouls in a half will surrender a one on one free throw to their opponent. A team committing 10 or more fouls in a half will surrender two free throws to their opponent. Fouls such as hacks, slaps, poking a player in the stomach on a jump shot, elbows, and knock-downs will obviously be called. Intentional “hard fouls” may result in a warning, technical foul, or ejection. 24. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed in the gymnasium. Players, coaches, and fans will properly dispense of bottles, rappers, etc. before they leave the gymnasium. 25. Fighting will not be tolerated. Any player who participates in a fight (including fighting players on his/her own team) will be ejected from the game immediately. Any player who throws a punch will be disqualified for the remainder of the season (including playoff games). See rule #31 for further information about this type of behavior. 26. Taunting or trash talking will not be tolerated. information about this type of behavior. See rule #31 for further 27. Teams are allowed to bring their own scorekeeper (i.e., a person sitting in the stands keeping a scorebook; NOT a simple piece of paper). In the event of a game score discrepancy, a coach can request that "their" scorebook be checked against the “official” scorebook and scoreboard. The game referees will have the final decision if a discrepancy still exists after all articles have been examined. Important note: if all three articles (i.e., official scorebook, scoreboard, and team scorebook) reflect a different score, the official scorebook (at the scorer's table) will be the overriding authority. 28. Players will be responsible for their personal belongings. Liverpool Community Church is not liable for property that is stolen while a player participates in this league. 29. Referees will not engage in negative conversation with players regarding calls that are challenged. Good natured, fun conversation is obviously welcome. 30. Referees will be expected to endure a certain amount of complaining. This is part of the game and is actually healthy for the players. Each referee however will establish their own threshold level (i.e., the amount of complaining they will accept before they take action). Once the threshold line is crossed, the referee will take action as described below. 31. When a player, coach, or fan (in the bleachers) exhibits inappropriate behavior (e.g., vulgarity, taunting, referee abuse, fighting, etc.), the referee will issue one of the following2: (a) warning, (b) technical foul, or (c) ejection. Further information on each infraction is listed below… Warning – Each warning will be recorded by the scorekeeper. The number of warnings given to each player will be at the discretion of the referees. Technical Foul – Each technical foul will be recorded by the scorekeeper. Any player who receives six technical fouls (over the course of the season) will be disqualified for the remainder of the season (including playoff games). Players who play in both divisions (i.e., Tuesday night division and Wednesday night division) do not receive six technical fouls per division. If they receive two technical fouls in the Tuesday night division and four technical fouls in the Wednesday night division, they are disqualified from both divisions (i.e., the entire league). Entry into the league the following season (for both the player and his/her team) will be determined on a case by case basis. A technical foul will be given to a player who does not heed an initial warning from a referee or exhibits inappropriate behavior that warrants an immediate technical (i.e., no warning). The opposite team will receive two free throws and the ball. A second technical foul will result in immediate ejection. Any team receiving three technical fouls in a single game will forfeit the game. Ejection – Each ejection will be recorded by the scorekeeper. The opposite team will receive two free throws and the ball. Players who are ejected from a game will be required to leave the building for the evening immediately and will be disqualified from the next two scheduled games (even if these games are playoff games). The game will not resume until the ejected player leaves the building. Players who remain on the court or in the gymnasium arguing with (or verbally harassing) an official after they have been ejected will be disqualified from the next three scheduled games (even if these games are playoff games). Any player who throws a punch or threatens an official (in any way) will be disqualified for the remainder of the season (including playoff games). Entry into the league the following season (for both the player and his/her team) will be determined on a case by case basis. 2 If the severity of the offense warrants drastic action (as perceived by the referee), the referee can assess a technical foul, ejection, or forfeit without issuing a warning (i.e., infractions do not need to be made sequentially). Forfeit – Each forfeit will be recorded by the scorekeeper. In the event of a forfeit, the opposite team will automatically win the game. A team forfeiting two games due to inappropriate behavior during a season will be disqualified from the league for the remainder of the season without a league-fee refund. Entry into the league the following season will be determined on a case by case basis.