League Rules

Basketball League Rules & Facility Guidelines

All games will be played at The Courts of NWI, unless otherwise specified. No outside basketballs are to be brought in by coaches and players. We will supply all warm-up basketballs and game balls for leagues and tournaments.

All players, parents/guardians, and coaches must sign a release form before playing at The Courts of NWI.

Teams are required to have proof of age/grade upon request by the League Director. Acceptable proofs of age are clean photocopies of birth certificates, adoption or immigration papers, or school documentation. Proof of grade is a clean copy of any report card for the current calendar year. AAU cards or USSSA cards are also acceptable.

Completed roster and registration fees must be submitted to The Courts of NWI within the time limits noted or the team may be ineligible for play. No roster additions will be permitted after a team has begun play of its first game. A player may be on two different rosters as long as it is in different leagues. Any protests should be addressed prior to game play- ABSOLUTELY NO PROTESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER A GAME HAS STARTED.

All teams must have matching color jerseys with numbers. Five players are required to start the game. There will be a 10-minute grace period for the first game only, after that game time is forfeit time. Only players from the current roster can play in an official game. After the 10-minute grace period, the game is considered a forfeit whether it is played out or not. Any team having to forfeit two games will be subject to being dropped from the league without refund.

All players should have carry-in shoes. Shoes worn from outside of the facility should not be worn on the basketball courts.

No outside food or drink of any kind will be permitted to be carried into The Courts of NWI. Concessions is available inside the facility.

No jewelry or hair pieces of any kind may be worn during a game. Any player asked by an official to remove jewelry after a game starts will receive one technical foul. If hair constraints are necessary, a rubber band or small hair tie is recommended. All players wearing glasses must also wear safety straps to secure the glasses in place. Plastic lenses are strongly recommended.

Teams should plan to arrive not more than 30 minutes prior to game time.

No fighting, foul language, or spitting by a coach/manager/player/fan will be tolerated. No trash-talking or taunting will be permitted. The first offense will be a technical foul, the second offense will be ejection from the current game and suspension from the next game. Any player/coach ejected twice in one league will be suspended for one year. Coaches will be responsible for their own conduct as well as that of their entire team and fans at all times. In the event a coach/manager/player/fan fails to follow this conduct rule, The Courts of NWI reserves the right to reprimand, eject, suspend, and/or ban that person at The Courts of NWI's discretion. Any player/manager/coach/fan that gets physical in any manner will be ejected from the premises indefinitely.

There is a no tolerance policy for referee dispute. Only the head coach/manager will be allowed to address the officials. The official reserves the right to explain (at his/her discretion) any call to any player, manager, or coach. All complaints should be addressed to the League Director. A continuation of disgruntlement toward the referees will result in a suspension.

Games will be played by IHSAA rules (with exceptions as noted).

Each team will have 3 one-minute time-outs per game. Each player is allowed five fouls per game. Any player or coach that gets two technical fouls will be removed from the game and will be suspended from the next game. A bench technical foul will result in an automatic two shots by the opposing team.

Any player that is injured on the floor and attended by a coach must be taken out of the game until the next dead ball.

All games, rules, and rosters will be monitored for fairness. All complaints will be investigated. The Courts of NWI officials will have the final say in all complaints and conflicts. Any questions about rosters must be asked to the league director before the start of the game in question. Girls may not play on boys teams if there is a girls league available, however if no league is available girls may play with the boys if approved by the league director. AAU/Elite teams with players from different school districts must play up a grade level (unless approved by the league director).

In the event that two or more teams have an identical overall record at the conclusion of a season or tournament, head-to-head will be used, then a +13/-13 will be used. (You'll get +13 points for winning by 13 or more and -13 points for losing by 13 or more). If teams are still tied, total points allowed will be added to determine the tiebreaker. Forfeited games count +13 points for winner and -13 points for loser.

Any game cancellation due to inclement weather or any other unforeseen circumstances can be checked by calling The Courts of NWI or checking our website www.thecourtsofnwi.com.

A maximum of 12 trophies will be awarded to the first and second place finishers in the youth leagues.

League rules specific to age

Third, Fourth, Fifth, & Sixth Grades

	28.5 inch ball
	Two twenty minute halves with running clock; clock only stops at time outs and during last minute of first half and last two minutes of second half
	Four- minute half time
	Three-minute overtime periods (up to two OT's) running clock. Third overtime will be sudden death. Clock only stops for an official or team timeout.
	No press allowed after a 20-point lead. Running clock after 25-point lead in second half.
	10-foot goal and 15-foot free throw line for boys (3rd & 4th grades allowed to cross over the free throw line while shooting, but may not advance to basket until the ball hits the rim)
	10-foot goal and 15-foot free throw line for girls 5th & 6th grades (3rd & 4th grades 12 foot free throw & allowed to cross over the free throw line while shooting, but may not advance to basket until the ball hits the rim)
	3-point shot is allowed

Seventh, Eighth, High School, Adults

	29.5 inch ball (boys) and 28.5 inch ball (girls)
	Two twenty minute halves with running clock; clock only stops at time outs and during last minute of first half and last two minutes of second half
	Four- minute half time
	Three-minute overtime periods (up to two OT's) running clock. Third overtime will be sudden death. Clock only stops for an official or team timeout.
	No press after 20 point lead (adult and high school may press entire game)
	10-foot goal and 15-foot free throw
	3-point shot is allowed
	No hanging on rims
	High school players must be 18 or under and attending high school. Adult players must be 18 or older and not attending high school.

General Spectator Admissions for Tournaments

Children & Adults: $5

Ages 3 & under: Free

Family rate: $15

(Family rate is for two parents and their children only)

General Spectator Admissions for League Events

Children & Adults: $3

Ages 3 & under: Free

Family rate: $10

(Family rate is for two parents and their children only)

THE COURTS IS A NO SMOKING FACILITY.

Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Open Gym Basketball Rules (You can pay $7 per session or pay a monthly membership)

Open gym times are posted on the open gym page. Games are played 5 on 5 full court, first 10 players to show up get to play first game. Baskets count for 1 point, 20ft or longer shot counts for 2 points. First team to get to 15 points wins. Winning team of 1st game played gets to play against next team waiting. After that, each team whether they win or lose, plays two games and then sits and waits in line for their next game. Players call their own fouls. No free throws, just take the ball out at top of key.

Copyright © 2006 The Courts of Northwest Indiana. All rights reserved. 127 East US Highway 6 Phone: (219) 465-1111

Valparaiso, IN 46383 Fax: (219) 465-1108

E-mail: info@thecourtsofnwi.com