Rules
PREMIER DIVISION RULES
Last Update: 5/20/2026
** Indicate most recent changes
- 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.
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)
- 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 (24) halves, running clock. The clock will only stop for time-outs and injuries.
- 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.
HALF-TIME:
- Five (5) minutes maximum.
TIME-OUTS:**
- Three (3), 30 second time-outs per game.
- Two (2), 60 second media time-outs per game. One (1), per half on the first dead ball at or under the 10-minute mark.
- If you call a time-out within 30 the 10-minute mark before the media time-out occurs, you will be charged with a time-out, and it will count as the media time-out.
- Timeouts do not carry over to over-time
OVERTIME (OT):**
- The first OT periods shall be three (3) minutes in length using regulation stop-clock at the last two (2) minutes; one (1) time-out per team.
- Second OT will be sudden death. The first team to score three (3) points will be declared the winner of the game. One (1) time-out per team.
Advancing the Ball:**
- If a timeout is charged to the offensive team during the last 59.9 seconds of the
second half and/or 59.9 seconds of any overtime period and (1) the ball is
out-of-bounds in the backcourt (except for a suspension of play after the team had
advanced the ball), or (2) after securing the ball from a rebound in the backcourt and
prior to any advance of the ball, or (3) after the offensive team secures the ball from a
change of possession in the backcourt and prior to any advance of the ball, the
timeout should be granted. Upon resumption of play, the team granted the timeout
shall have the option of putting the ball into play at the 28’ hash mark either side in
the frontcourt or at the designated spot out-of-bounds. The team must inform the
officials of their intent to exercise the option and the location of the throw-in before
the timeout is reported to the scorers.- The shot clock will be reset to 20 seconds or remain the same, whichever
is lower, anytime the ball is advanced to the frontcourt following a timeout.
- The shot clock will be reset to 20 seconds or remain the same, whichever
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.
- The first three 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:
- Each player is allowed five (5) personal fouls before leaving the game.
TEAM FOULS:
- One & one bonus after seven (7) team fouls
- Two (2) shot bonus after ten (10) team fouls.
FREE THROWS:
- Play resumes on the release of the ball from the shooter’s possession.
NCAA Exceptions:
- Exception to NCAA: Clock will not stop on made shots during the last two minutes of the game.
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 the higher rank will be determined first by the winner of the game between the two teams and or second, by the team with the higher total point differential. The Team with the higher total 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
NCAA Guidelines for Division I Student-Athletes
- Division I student-athletes must receive written permission from the Division I institution’s athletics director or the director’s official representative before participation in the league.
- No more than two basketball student-athletes with remaining eligibility from the same two-year or four-year college (other than a division II or III member institution) would be on each team’s roster.
- Division I student-athletes can participate in a league from June 15 through August 31 OR their institution’s first day of classes, whichever comes first.
- Division I student-athletes cannot participate in the league’s all-star game.
- All Division I players must limit their competition to one team in one league per summer.
- League play shall be within 100 air miles of the city limits of the student-athlete’s official residence at the end of the previous academic year or the institution the student-athlete last attended as a regular student. If a league does not exist within 100 air miles of the student-athlete’s residence, a student-athlete may participate in the summer league located closest to the student’s official residence.