ST. CHARLES PARISH PARKS AND RECREATION 
  BASKETBALL RULES 
  MISSION 
  The mission of the St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation is to provide quality recreation programs, activities, parks and facilities that allow all residents to enhance their quality of life. 
  ABOUT 
  The St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball program provides and promotes a safe, healthy and nurturing environment that fosters development and education of participants of all skill levels. 
   
  All St. Charles Parish Parks and Recreation leagues, unless otherwise noted, prioritize instruction and education of sports and athletic games, which in turn teach life skills, invite camaraderie through social equity and promote health and wellness, all pillars of Parks and Recreation. 
   
  There are three core reasons “Why We Play”: 
    - To      educate our players on athletic and life skills they can use both on and      off the playing surface. 
  
    - To      build community and provide a safe environment for participants across all      levels of Parks and Recreation. 
  
    - To      have fun. 
  
   
  Lastly, the St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation expects the highest level of behavior, reflecting a positive and honorable environment from its coaches, volunteers, participants and spectators. 
    
  GENERAL LEAGUE INFORMATION 
    - All      St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation Basketball Leagues      will consist of a minimum of eight scheduled games, including a postseason      tournament for participants in age groups from 7-15. 
  
   
    - Once      the season schedule is established, games will not be rescheduled,      exception (Academic school-sanctioned activities that leave a team without      the minimum number of players to play the game, only). (Games will not be      rescheduled due to middle school athletic games or changes in middle      school athletic schedules) 
  
   
    - In      the event an academic school-sanctioned event leaves a team without the      minimum number of players (4) to play a game, the Department of Parks and      Recreation will attempt to reschedule the game. Note: due to the length of      the regular season schedule and gymnasium accommodation, some games may      not be able to be rescheduled. 
  
   
    - A      team must have a minimum of four (4) players to be eligible to play.      Otherwise, the game will result in a forfeit. 
  
    - In      the event a head coach is unable to coach, an assistant coach or parent      who has completed a verified background check through the Department of      Parks and Recreation will be able to stand in for the head coach. 
  
    - If a      team does not have a verified coach or parent to stand in, the game will      result in a forfeit. 
  
   
    - Teams      forfeiting two (2) consecutive games will be removed from the league. 
  
   
  PLAYER CREDENTIALS 
    - All      players must be registered with their respective booster clubs (the      booster club within the boundaries of where the player lives). 
  
   
    - Local      players cannot be added to the roster after the registration deadline.? 
  
   
    - Players      moving into the parish after the start of the season may be added to the      roster before half of the scheduled games have been played. 
  
   
    - Players      may participate in an older age group should their Booster Club not have a      team in their respective age group. 
  
   
    - A      coach may coach outside of a booster club boundary, but his/her child will      still be restricted by boundary rules. 
  
   
    - A      player cannot play for more than one (1) recreation team during the      season. 
  
   
    - If a      player moves from their permanent residence from a booster club area after      the season begins, the player involved will play with the team which      he/she began the season. 
  
   
    - The      cut-off date for basketball is September 1 (Age on or before      September 1). 
  
   
    - Boys      age groups: 5/6, 7, 8, 9/10, 11/12, & 13/15. 
  
   
    - Girls      age groups: 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, & 11/13. 
  
   
  Basketball Sizes: 
  Size 5 = 27.5'' (5-8yr olds) 
  Size 6 = 28.5" (9-12 Boys & Girls, 11-14 Girls) 
  Size 7=29.5'' (13-15 Boys)? 
   
  CONDUCT 
    - All      coaches, players, volunteers and spectators are expected to conduct      themselves in a respectable manner. Coaches are expected to set an example      for their team in behavior and sportsmanship. 
  
   
    - Prior      to the beginning of the season, coaches must sign the Code of Ethics and Guidelines. 
  
   
    - Parents      and Guardians are also responsible for signing the Parent Code of Ethics. 
  
   
   
    - The      following behaviors are prohibited: 
  
    - The      use of profanity by any player, coach, or spectator. 
  
    - Ridicule      by coaches, players or spectators about officials, opposing teams, etc. 
  
    - Smoking      or vaping in the gyms or on school grounds. (5.30 Tobacco Controlled      Substances Policy adopted by St. Charles Parish Schools.) 
  
    - Use      and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages at any gym or on school grounds      during recreation activities. 
  
    - Cheating      or gross misbehavior. 
  
   
    - Violation      will result in a dismissal from St. Charles Parish Department of Parks      & Recreation Programming for a minimum of (2) years. This includes but      is not limited to players, coaches and spectators.? 
  
   
    - Dunking      or intentional contact with the net will not be allowed in games or      warm-ups.?? Any player in violation will not be allowed to participate in      his/her upcoming game. Repeated violation of this rule will cause the      Recreation Department to suspend that player for the remainder of the      season. 
  
   
    - Any      player, coach, parent or spectator who physically assaults an official      will be removed from the gym and will not be allowed to participate in      Recreation Department-sponsored activities and events for a period of two      (2) years, via Louisiana Rev. Stat. Ann. Section 14-34-4 p34.4.      Battery of a school or recreation athletic contest official, which      states: 
  
   
    - Battery      of a school or recreation athletic contest official is a battery committed      without the consent of the victim when the offender has reasonable grounds      to believe the victim is a school athletic or recreation contest official. 
  
   
    - For      purposes of this Section, "school athletic contest official"      means any referee, umpire, coach, instructor, administrator, staff person,      or school or school board employee of any public or private elementary and      secondary school while actively engaged in the conducting, supervising,      refereeing, or officiating of a school sanctioned interscholastic athletic      contest. 
  
   
    - For      purposes of this Section, "recreation athletic contest official"      means any referee, umpire, coach, instructor, administrator, staff person,      or recreation employee of any public or quasi-public recreation program      while actively engaged in the conducting, supervising, refereeing, or      officiating of a sanctioned recreation athletic contest. 
  
   
    - Whoever      commits the crime of battery of a school or recreation athletic contest      official shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars and imprisoned      not less than forty-eight hours nor more than six months without benefit      of suspension of sentence, except as provided in Paragraph (2). 
  
   
    - The      court, in its discretion, may suspend the imposition of the sentence and      place the offender on probation with the condition that he shall perform      five days of community service work.? Failure to successfully complete the      community service work, as determined by the supervisor of the program to      which he is assigned, may result in revocation of probation. 
  
  Acts 1990, No. 675, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1046, §1. 
   
  COACH’S RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT 
    - Coaches      and assistants must wear their background check badges. 
  
    - Violation      will result in a Technical Foul for the coach and assistants. 
  
   
    - Coaches      must provide their team roster during the 4th quarter of the      prior game. 
  
   
    - Gym      attendants will check team rosters before each game. 
  
   
    - Games      played against teams outside of the parish must be cleared by the      Recreation Department. 
  
   
    - The      Head Coach is responsible for keeping the bench clear of individuals who      are not members of the staff. 
  
   
    - Coaches      are responsible for maintaining control of their players while in the gym. 
  
   
    - The      bench will consist of players, the head coach and two (2) assistants. All      coaches and assistants must have approved background screening/badge. 
  
    - If a      player is “benched” for disciplinary reasons, sickness, etc., the official      scorer and opposing coach must be notified before the start of the game. 
  
   
  GAME RULES (ALL AGE GROUPS) 
    - Goal      heights will be set as follows: 
  
    - Ages      8 and under: 8.5’ 
  
    - Ages      9-10: 9’ 
  
    - Ages      11 and up: 10’ 
  
   
    - A      10-minute grace period will be in effect for the first scheduled game of      the day in the event the minimum number of players are not present. 
  
   
    - This      rule only takes place for the first game of the day. 
  
   
    - Games      will consist of four 8-minute run time quarters.
  
   
    - Each      team will be allowed (2) timeouts per half. Timeouts must be used      accordingly (2) in the first half and (2) in the second half. 
  
   
    - Timeouts      will be 30 second timeouts. Timeouts do not carry over into the next      half.
  
   
    - The      clock will only stop during the following: 
  
    - An      official timeout 
  
    - Technical      Fouls 
  
  **Note: the clock will not stop a player tying their shoes. Players should ensure their shoes are tied prior to the game. 
   
    - In      the event of a tied score after regulation time has expired, will the game      result as a tie. 
  
   
    - All      players must check in at the scorers’ table before entering the game 
  
   
    - Two      (2) technical fouls against a player or coach will result in that player      or coach being removed from the game. The player or coach will not be      allowed to play in the team’s next game. Forfeited games will not be      considered as the next game.
  
   
    - Three      (3) technical fouls against a team will result in the head coach being      asked to leave the gym. The coach must leave the gym immediately and will      not be able to coach the team’s next game. (Forfeits will not be      considered as a game). The coach may appeal his ejection to the Recreation      Department before his next game. Any coach removed from two (2) games will      not be allowed to coach for the remainder of the season. (Further      disciplinary action may also be taken.) 
  
   
    - Teams      will “jump ball” only to begin the game. 
  
   
    - When      the official blows his or her whistle, all play stops. 
  
    - If a      player shoots the ball after a whistle their team will receive one (1)      delay-of- game warning. Further violation of this rule will result in two      (2) foul shots for the opposing team. 
  
   
    - A      team will now be in the “Bonus” upon a team's fifth (5th) foul.      The opposing team will shoot two (2) free throws. Fouls will reset at the      end of each quarter. 
  
   
    - Should      a team possess a lead of twenty (20) or more points, a running clock will      go into effect. INCLUDING the last 2 minutes of each quarter. 
  
  20-Point Mercy Rules 
    - There      will be no pressing. 
  
   
    - Teams      must guard inside the 3-point line. 
  
   
    - Team      will receive one (1) warning from the official. 
  
   
    - Second      Warning will result in a Technical Foul for the team. The opposing team      will shoot two (2) free throw shots. 
  
   
    - Third      Warning and beyond will result in Technical Foul for the team. The      opposing team will shoot two (2) free throw shots and will retain      possession. 
  
   
  POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT INFORMATION 
    - The      end-of-season tournament will be a single elimination tournament. 
  
    - Teams      are seeded via end of the season rankings. Games will not be moved or      rescheduled to extra-curricular activities outside of a school sanctioned      academic event. Middle School athletic games are considered      extra-curricular activities.? 
  
   
    - Information      regarding the end-of-season tournament is available at the beginning of      each season online at www.scpparksandrec.com. 
  
   
    - Overtime      periods will only be played during postseason play. 
  
    - In      the event an overtime period is needed, the overtime period will be two      (2) minutes. 
  
   
    - Teams      are each awarded one (1) timeout. 
  
   
    - Teams      will “jump ball” to begin the overtime period. 
  
   
  GAMES RULES (PER AGE GROUP) 
  5/6 Boys & Girls 
    - A      five (5) second lane violation will be in effect. 
  
   
    - The      offensive team is allowed to reset the ball twice if a violation occurs.      After the second violation the ball is turned over to the opposing team.      The violations include double dribbling, carrying and traveling. 
  
   
    - All      inbound passes must be taken from the side, not underneath the goals. 
  
   
    - Note;      There will be no free throws during the games. Teams receiving the foul      will take the ball at half court
  
   
    - No      full court press or fastbreaks allowed. Players must be allowed to bring      the ball over the half-court line without hindrance. (Fastbreaks may occur      on the opening jump ball only)  
  
   
    - Defending      players must?always remain with 2 feet inside the box.? 
  
   
  There will be no postseason tournament. 
   
  7/8 Boys & Girls 
    - A      five (5) second lane violation will be in effect. 
  
   
    - The      offensive team turns the ball over if a violation occurs. The violations      include; double dribbling, carrying, and traveling. 
  
   
    - All      inbound passes must be taken from the side not underneath the goals. 
  
   
    - Must      allow the offensive team to cross the mid court line. Once passed the      midline, 1 defender is allowed to attack the ball after 5 seconds.      However, the defender must remain inside the 3pt line until the 5 second      timeline has depleted. The official will signal when the defensive player      is allowed to guard the ball handler.  All shots behind the 3-point line will      count as 2 points. 
  
   
    - There      will be no pressing at anytime in these age groups. 
  
   
    - Throughout      the game, if a player steals the ball from the ball handler outside the      3pt line, that defender has the right to push the ball up the court. If a      defensive player intercepts a pass tipped or not outside the 3pt line,      they are allowed to push the ball up the court. The player who steals or      intercepts the ball must complete the play. Players cannot advance the      ball on a rebound or steal beneath the basket. 
  
  ? 
  9/10 Boys & Girls, 11/12 Boys, 11/13 Girls & 13/15 Boys 
    - A      three (3) second lane violation will be in effect. 
  
   
    - Open      basketball will be played in the following age groups: 
  
           
    - Teams      may only press the final two minutes of each half in the following age      groups: 
  
     
    - In      the event a team leads by 20 or more points, the press cannot be used and      the mercy rules listed above will go into effect.