Baseball Rules
Basketball Rules
Grades 1-2
Ball Size: Junior
Basket Height: Eight feet
Free Throw Line: Twelve feet
Playing Time: All players must play half of every game.
Game Length: Eight-minute quarters running clock. The clock will stop for time outs and injuries.
Score: Scores or standings will not be kept.
Time in the Key: Seven seconds
Back Court Press: There is no back court press.
Double Teams: Only one player allowed on the ball handler. Help is allowed in the key.
Zone Defense: No zone or trapping defense allowed.
Wristbands: At the beginning of play each player will wear a colored wristband. The wristband will match a player on the opposing team. Players with matching color wristbands will guard each other. Players on defense may “switch on screens” as long as defense remains one- on-one (player-on-payer).
Traveling/Double-Dribbles: Will be enforced with referee discretion. We want players to begin learning proper ball-handling and enforcing these rules will help all players as they progress.
Jump Balls: Only to start the game. There are no jump balls during play. Alternating possession will be used.
Over & Back: Over & back will not be called.
Half Court: There is no 10-second count to cross half court.
Substitutions: The referee will stop play every four minutes for substitutions.
Time Outs: There may be two 30-second time outs per half per team. Time outs are not cumulative.
Fouls: An offensive player fouled in the act of shooting shall be awarded two free throws. There will be no keeping track of personal fouls. Constant fouling by the same player may result in a referee asking the coach to sub a player for some “cool-down” time.
Rules Misc: High School rules will apply in all cases not specifically covered in the SPYA rules.
School Closures: No games will be scheduled on days when Franklin Pierce Schools are not open. If the schools are closed due to bad weather, all games will be canceled and will be rescheduled.
Fan Behavior: Coaches are responsible for the conduct of the parents and supporters of their team. Officials have authority to cancel a game due to inappropriate behavior.
Player/Coach: Any coach or player ejected from a game will be automatically suspended from the team’s next two scheduled games at minimum.
Snacks/Drinks: Coaches must remind parents no food or drink other than water is allowed in the gym and that they must clean up after themselves.
Grades 3-4
Ball Size: Intermediate (28.5)
Basket Height: Ten feet
Free Throw Line: 15 feet (regulation)
Playing Time: All players must play half of every game
Game Length:18 minute halves. The clock will stop for time outs and injuries. Standard play-clock (stop-clock) rules will apply during the last 2 minutes of each half. If the score discrepancy is greater than 20 points in the second half the clock will continue to run.
Over Time: In the case of a tie there will be two additional minutes of overtime. Overtime will be played same as the final 2 minutes of regulation. Games cannot end in a tie. Each team gets one time-out. No carry-over of timeouts from regulation.
Time in the Key: Three seconds
Back Court Press: Allowed during the last 2 minutes of play in both halves. No zone presses = player-on- player only permitted. If the score discrepancy if greater than 15 points, the team leading is not allowed to full-court press.
Double Teams: Player-on-player defense only when offensive player is inside of the 3-point area. Only one player allowed on the ball handler. However, player-to-player Help Defense principles are encouraged and players may collapse on ball-handler in the key.
Zone Defense: No zone or trapping defense allowed. At the second warning the referee will award one (1) point to the offensive team’s score.
Jump Balls: Only to start the game. There are no jump balls during play. Alternating possession will be used.
Over & Back: Over & back will be called.
Half Court: Each team has 10 seconds to cross half court or the ball is turned over to the opposition.
Substitutions: Are only allowed to enter the game in dead ball situations after the whistle blows with approval by the official.
Time Outs: Two time outs per half per team. Each team will receive one time out in overtime. Time outs are not cumulative.
Team Fouls: The first six team fouls each half are non-shooting and the ball is awarded out of bounds. After the 7th foul, players will shoot one & one. On the 10th foul, teams will shoot double-bonus (2 shots).
Personal Fouls: Players will be disqualified on their 5th foul.
Technical Fouls: The opposing team receives two automatic points. Count as a team foul and personal foul. Two technical fouls result in immediate disqualification. Any player or coach who receives two technical fouls will automatically be suspended for that team’s next 2 games.
Fighting: All fighting offenses will be handled by the Recreation Manager or SPYA Board in a timely manner. Possible sanctions include suspension or removal from the league.
Scorekeeping & Timekeeping: The home team must supply an adult to keep the official score-sheet. The visiting team will supply one adult to run the score-clock. Coaches must include players’ last names and numbers on the score-sheet prior to the start of the game.
Uniforms: Each player must have a number on the front and back of their uniform. If teams use non-SPYA uniforms they must be reversible (light and dark color) so as not to conflict with opposing uniforms.
Injuries: The clock will stop when the referee feels it is necessary to stop the game due to an injury. The injured player is the only player that may be substituted during this stoppage of play.
Rules Not Covered: High School rules will apply in all cases not specifically covered in the SPYA rules.
Protests: Must be made official to the referee and on the score sheet prior to the completion of the game. The protest must be submitted to the SPYA office within 48 hours of the completion of the game with a $20 administration fee that is refunded only if your protest is upheld. The basketball committee or SPYA Board will render a decision as soon as possible. Judgment call cannot be protested.
Grace Period: Applies to the first game of the day only. Teams must be ready to play within ten minutes of the game’s scheduled start time.
School Closures: No games will be scheduled on days when Franklin Pierce area schools are not open. If the schools are closed due to bad weather, all games will be canceled and will be rescheduled.
Fan Behavior: Coaches are responsible for the conduct of the parents and supporters of their team. Technical fouls can be issued to the bench/coach due to inappropriate spectator actions. Officials have authority to cancel a game due to inappropriate behavior.
Player/Coach Behavior Any coach or player ejected from a game is automatically suspended from the team’s next two scheduled games at minimum.
Snacks/Drinks: Coaches must remind parents no food or drink other than water is allowed in the gym and that they must clean up after themselves.
Grades 5-6
Ball Size: Intermediate
Basket Height: Ten feet
Free Throw Line: Fifteen feet (Regulation)
Game Length: 2 - 20 minute halves. The clock will stop for time outs and injuries. EXCEPTION: in the last two minutes of each half the clock will stop every time the whistle blows. If the score discrepancy is greater than 20 points in the second half the clock will continue to run.
Over Time: In the case of a tie there will be two additional minutes of overtime. Overtime will be played just as the last two minutes of the half. Games cannot end in a tie so multiple overtimes may be played.
Time in the Key: Three seconds.
Back Court Press: Back Court Press is allowed throughout all games. However, teams cannot back court press when leading by 15 or more points during a game.
Jump Balls: Only to start the game. There are no jump balls during play. Alternating possession will be used.
Over & Back: Over & back will be called.
Crossing 1/2 Court: Each team has 10 seconds to cross half court.
Substitutions: Are only allowed to enter the game in dead ball situations after the whistle blows.
Time Outs: Two time outs per half per team. Each team will receive one time out in overtime. Time outs are not cumulative.
Team Fouls: The first six team fouls each half are non-shooting and the ball is awarded out of bounds. On the 7th foul, players will shoot one & one. On the 10th team foul, players will shoot double bonus, 2 shots.
Personal Fouls: Players will be disqualified on their 5th foul.
Technical Fouls: The opposing team receives two automatic points. Count as a team foul and personal foul. Two technical fouls result in immediate disqualification. Any player or coach who receives two technical fouls will automatically be suspended for that team’s next 2 games.
Fighting: All fighting offenses will be handled by the basketball committee in a timely manner. Possible sanctions include suspension or removal from the league.
Scorekeeping & Timekeeping: The home team must supply an adult to keep the official score-sheet. The visiting team will supply one adult to run the score-clock. Each coach must include the players’ last name and number on the score-sheet prior to the start of the game.
Uniforms: Each player must have a number on the front and back of their uniform. If teams use non-SPYA uniforms, they must be reversible (light and dark color) so as not to conflict with opposing uniforms.
Injuries: The clock will stop when the referee feels it is necessary to stop the game due to an injury. The injured player is the only player that may be substituted during this stoppage of play.
Rules Not Covered: High School rules will apply in all cases not specifically covered in the SPYA rules.
Protests: Must be made official to the referee and on the score sheet prior to the completion of the game. The protest must be submitted to the SPYA office within 48 hours of the completion of the game with a $20 administration fee that is refunded only if your protest is upheld. The basketball committee or SPYA Board will render a decision as soon as possible. Judgment call cannot be protested.
Grace Period: Applies to the first game of the day only. Teams must be ready to play within ten minutes of the game’s scheduled start time.
School Closures: No games will be scheduled on days when Franklin Pierce area schools are not open. If the schools are closed due to bad weather, all games will be canceled and will be rescheduled.
Fan Behavior: Coaches are responsible for the conduct of the parents and supporters of their team. Technical fouls can be issues to the bench/coach due to inappropriate spectator actions. Officials have authority to cancel a game due to inappropriate behavior.
Behavior: Any coach or player ejected from a game is automatically suspended from the team’s next 2 games.
Snacks/Beverages: Coaches must remind parents no food or drink other than water is allowed in the gym and that they must clean up after themselves.