JAM rules for Basketball

© JAM 1996-2024

BASKETBALL

1. Equipment/Set-Up: 

Team captains are welcome to bring their own basketballs. The league staff will have a game ball should one be needed. In addition, teams are responsible for keeping track of the score. Please designate one person/team to keep score. Each team should bring both light and dark coloured shirts to each and every game.

 

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2. Game Time/Default:

• Please arrive 15 minutes early so that you can start your games on time.
• Games are 55 minutes in length, with no stoppage for a halftime. If one side of a venue has a potential advantage (i.e. stage at one end, etc), teams should agree BEFORE the game that they will be switching sides at approximately the mid-point of the game (and agree on the time to switch). A captain that requests a switch pre-game MUST be accommodated.
• Please agree on one person to act as timekeeper.
• Teams are comprised of four (4). A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad by 10 minutes after the official start time. A team can play with a minimum of 3 people.
• Captains may agree to waive the rules regarding minimum people but this should be decided before the game starts. IF IT IS AGREED THAT THE GAME COUNTS, IT COUNTS!

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 3. General Rules:

General NCAA Basketball rules apply to JAM games with the following modifications/exceptions:

1. Co-ed leagues will use a men's basketball.  Women's leagues will use a women's basketball (unless both team captain's agree to play with a men's ball).
2. Games begin with a jump ball
3. Defensive play is man-to-man only (no zone defense).
4. Players may substitute after a basket has been scored (not "on the fly").
5. Each basket scored counts as a single point (regardless of where the shot was taken from i.e. no 3-pointers).
6. An out of bounds ball in favour of the attacking team, or a defensive foul results in the attacking team taking possession of the ball at the top of the key. At this point, the ball must be "checked" in by the defensive team before play can resume. Once the ball has been checked in, the attacking player can dribble the ball but must make a pass (S/he cannot score directly off the check-in)
7. Teams may call a one (1) minute time-out per game if needed except in the final 10 minutes of play.
8. A game can end in a tie during the regular season. In the playoffs, a game that is tied at the end of regulation time is decided by a three-minute overtime period.  If still tied, the game continues without a stoppage until the next point is scored (sudden death).  Please note that playoff games should only be 50 minutes in length in anticipation of needing the extra time to settle a tie.
9. "Three seconds in the key": If an offensive player is in the key for more than 3 seconds, the defensive player may warn the player. An offensive player can receive 2 warnings, after the 3rd warning an automatic turnover occurs. Please note that time starts when the ball crosses half court. Counting should go as follows: "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand"
10. When the ball is 'tied up', and a jump ball call is made, the team who lost the opening tip will be awarded possession of the ball (irrelevant of who was on offence or defense).  For any subsequent "jump balls", possession will alternate between teams (next jump ball will go to the team who won the opening tip) and continue to switch.
11. DUNKING IS NOT ALLOWED. Dunking damages the rim which makes the schools very unhappy.  

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 4. Fouls:

All standard basketball infractions are enforced (e.g. reaching-in, body contact of any kind, charging, etc). Players are responsible for calling their own fouls. Please don't abuse this rule. If a foul call has not been made, the player who has been fouled can also make the foul call.

• Only one of the two players involved with an infraction can make a foul call.
• If a foul call is disputed and the two players cannot come to an agreement, the player who allegedly was fouled will take a shot from the free-throw line. If it goes in, that team gains possession at the free-throw line (the basket does not count towards the final score). A missed basket results in the other team taking possession under their own hoop. Remember that games are timed, so it is not worth wasting time arguing over calls.
• During the last 10 minutes of a game (as announced by the designated timekeeper), if the offensive player with the ball is fouled (whether shooting or not), this person has the option of taking the ball at the top of the key (as usual) OR going to the line and shooting one foul shot. If the player elects to shoot a foul shot and it goes in, it is equivalent to one basket. The ball would then be turned over to the team that had originally committed the foul. If the foul shot does not go in, the ball is live. To avoid defensive players from killing time during the setup for the foul shot, the shooter can attempt the foul shot as soon as the rest of his team is in position for the foul shot (regardless of the position of the defensive players) The foul shooter has a maximum of 20 seconds to take the shot - do not delay the game by taking an unnecessary amount of time.
• Intentional fouls are not permitted in our self-officiated leagues, regardless of the score. If an intentional foul is committed, the player involved will face further disciplinary action. Please be aware that without referrees to monitor the game, this is simply not a safe play.

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5. Rough Play:

ANY ROUGH OR PHYSICAL PLAY WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE EXPULSION FROM FURTHER LEAGUE PLAY AND MAY RESULT IN LIFETIME LEAGUE EXPULSION. PLEASE SEE THE JAM POLICY SHEET FOR OUR OFFICIAL POLICY ON THIS SUBJECT. It is recognized that incidental contact between players is inevitable, however, all players should go out of their way to avoid creating an unsafe play.  This rule supersedes all others.

 

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