Rules

PREMIER DIVISION RULES

Last Update: 7/1/23

All games will be played under current NCAA Basketball Rules, except as modified by the following Virginia Hoop League rules.

PLAYERS:

All player names and numbers MUST be entered on the score sheet prior to the start of the game. When a non-recorded player enters the game, a technical foul will be issued.
All players must sign a waiver in order to be eligible to participate in the league.
Players under the age of 18 must have a permission for signed by legal parent or guardian.

UNIFORMS:

Teams must have matching numbered jerseys.
A player will not be permitted to play without a matching jersey.
If your team needs temporary jerseys, we normally have an extra set in which you can rent for $10 a game.

ROSTERS:

Players can be added to the roster during the regular season as needed. Players must play a minimum of three (3) regular season games, with the same team, to gain playoff eligibility. (See the “Playoffs” section below for more detail)
Teams may have a maximum of fifteen (15) active rostered players.
No player can be on the roster of Two (2) teams.
Switching to a new team is permitted, one time per season, however it must be done be week four of the regular season game. Once the week four regular season game is played, then switching to a new team will not be allowed.

PLAYING TIME:

Two (2), twenty (20) minute running halves.
The last two (2) minutes of the second half only will have a regulation stop-clock (see NCAA Exceptions), unless a team leads by twenty (20) or more points.
The clock will stop for time-outs and injuries.

HALF-TIME:

TIME-OUTS:

Two (2) time-outs per half. One (1) 60 second time out and one (1) 30 second time-out per half.
Time-outs will not carry over to overtime (OT) periods.

OVERTIME (OT):

OT periods shall be five (5) minutes in length using regulation stop-clock at the last two (2) minutes; one (1) time-out per team per OT period.

FORFEITS:

If your team does not have five (5) players to start the game, you can pick up non rostered players as follows: a) you can have already arranged for a fill in to show up or b) you can pick up someone on site but if there is a choice of players then the opposing team will choose which person will fill in on your team. Fill in players are for that game only and cannot be added to your roster unless it is before the roster change deadline. c) You can start the game with 4 people.
Additional player must sign a wavier or consent form before playing.
As a last resort a player from another team can be picked up to fill in. If/When an original player shows up, the fill in player from another team is no longer able to continue the game.
If you cannot find any players to pick up by game time, the clock will begin running and you have 10 minutes in which the game can be started upon arrival of a player. The opposing team will be rewarded 2 points for every minute that passes until the game starts.
All forfeit rules above do not apply during the playoffs. Four (4) rostered players must be present to start the game.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

A player must wait at the scorekeepers table for the official to call all substitutes into the game.
Penalty: Technical Foul.

PERSONAL FOULS:

TEAM FOULS:

FREE THROWS:

NCAA Exceptions:

Exception to NCAA: Clock will not stop on made shots during the last two minutes of the game.
Defensive 5 seconds is counted when offensive player is closely gaurded while holding or dribbling the ball.

TECHNICAL FOULS:

ALSO SEE CODE OF CONDUCT
Unsportsmanlike – Maximum of two (2) “Unsportsmanlike Technical Fouls” per player per game.
Profanity is Prohibited. Using profanity towards a referee is an automatic technical foul. Using profanity in an absurd manner is an automatic technical foul. Using profanity in a general manner is a technical foul but does not count towards ejection. You may or may not be given a warning, this is at the discretion of the referee.
“Unsportsmanlike Technical Fouls” will count as personal and team fouls.
Non-Unsportsmanlike – include, but not limited to, players out of uniform or entering the game illegally. Players assessed a “Non-Unsportsmanlike Technical Foul” is not counted as personal or team foul.
Any player ejected for having two (2) “Unsportsmanlike Technical Fouls” will be subject to being suspended for the next scheduled game.
Play will stop and a loss by forfeit given to any team receiving five (5) Unsportsmanlike Technical Fouls in one game.

PLAYOFFS:

Players must be present for a minimum of three (3) regular season games to gain playoff eligibility. Players that are present for one or two regular season games are not eligible to participate in playoff games. If there are special circumstances, let us know in advance.
In the event that an ineligible player participates in a playoff game, the game will be forfeited with a loss against the team with the ineligible player.

TIE-BREAKER:

In the event of teams having identical records each team’s average point differential for all games played during the current season will be calculated. The Team with the highest averaged point differential will be considered the team with the better record.
Games won by forfeit are excluded.

EJECTIONS:

There will be no refunds of any kind for ejections, suspensions, disqualifications or any other similar circumstances.
ALSO SEE CODE OF CONDUCT