Chester County Travel Basketball Alliance
Rules and Regulations
A. CCTBA player eligibility
· A copy of an official state birth certificate is required for all athletes participating in the CCTBA for the current year and medical release form.
B. CCTBA League Admission and Acceptance
· Right to refuse entry
o The CCTBA reserves the right to refuse admission to the league to any club, team, coach, player or official.
· Subjection to rules
o Upon acceptance by the league, all clubs, officers, representatives, players, and members shall be bound to abide by the rules of the CCTBA and by all decisions of the CCTBA.
o Conduct deemed to be detrimental to the CCTBA is reason for removal from the league or non-acceptance to the league. This applies to club, team, coach, player or official.
· All decisions are based on the CCTBA using its own criteria, determined by what it deems to be in the best interests of the CCTBA.
· New Organizations
o All organizations must have a head of basketball operations and be associated with a youth organization board of directors, who, along with the head of basketball operations, will be responsible for holding any individual (s) associated with their organization accountable for league violations. Organizations must have a home gym, be able to provide eight home dates for each team during the CCTBA season and must carry and provide proof of insurance by the CCTBA.
o New Organizations must have proper insurance required by CCTBA, be able to provide eight home dates (CCTBA uses six) for each team entering CCTBA.
o THE CCTA DOES NOT ACCEPT INDIVIDUAL TEAMS
· e. Background and Clearances
o All Organizations will be required by CCTBA to affirm their compliance with these laws and retain copies of all clearances for their volunteers. Effective July 1, 2015, Pennsylvania State Law will require every volunteer working with children to obtain the following three security clearances.
§ Child Abuse Background Check
§ PA State Police Background Check
§ Signed Disclosure Form
§ If you have resided outside of Pennsylvania at any point over the past 10 years, you will also be required to complete the FBI fingerprinting check.
§ CCTBA may recommend a service provider for record archival.
o Each organization is required to provide the CCTBA VOLUNTEER AFFIRMATION LETTER. Any organization that does not provide will be ineligible to participate in the CCTBA.
C. Age/Grade based Divisions.
· a. Age Determining Date/Grade Exception Rule
o August 1st shall be the determining date for the age of the basketball players. Eligibility to participate is based first on the age determining date. The grade of the athlete is not a consideration if the athlete meets the age determining date. An athlete who does not meet the age determining date may qualify under the grade exception rule. In the 8U/3rd Grade through the 13U/8th Grade, each team is allowed a maximum of three grade exception athletes.
o 13 and under/8th grade - born on or after - August 1st and in the 8th grade: Grade Exception: A player who is in the 8th grade and who was born before August 1st can participate in the 13U league.
o 12 and under/7th grade - born on or after - August 1st and in the 7th grade: Grade Exception: A player who is in the 7th grade and who was born before August 1st can participate in the 12U league.
o 11 and under/6th grade - born on or after - August 1st and in the 6th grade: Grade Exception: A player who is in the 6th grade and who was born before August 1st can participate in the 11U league.
o 10 and under/5th grade - born on or after - August 1st and in the 5th grade: Grade Exception: A player who is in the 5th grade and who was born before August 1st can participate in the 10U league.
o 9 and under/4th grade - born on or after - August 1st and in the 4th grade: Grade Exception: A player who is in the 4th grade and who was born before August 1st can participate in the 9U league.
o 8 and under/3rd grade - born on or after - August 1st and in the 3rd grade: Grade Exception: A player who is in the 3rd grade and who was born before August 1st can participate in the 8U league.
§ Grade Confirmation: Players participating under the grade eligibility exception must present a birth certificate and confirmation of grade level from the School Administrator
F. PLAYER PARTICIPATION
· Only males may participate as players in the boy’s league and females in the girl’s league unless an exception has been filed with CCTBA and approved.
G. ROSTERS
· Teams are allowed to carry a maximum of 12 eligible players on each roster.
· If a team is down to 5 or less players for a game, they can call the league and get a one-time exception to raise their roster to seven players by using two or less eligible players from the townships program. This is not applicable for the playoffs.
· Exception to this rule is when a player is playing up at a higher division or a higher age group, they are ineligible to be rostered as a substitute for this game.
· Roster is frozen as of First day of season.
H. GAME SCHEDULING
· Weeknight games cannot be schedule prior to 5:30 PM and with a start time no later than 8:45 PM
· Weekend games cannot begin prior to 8:00 AM and no later than 8:45 PM on weekends.
· Note: A minimum of 9 games must be played to qualify for post season play.
I. RESCHEDULING GAMES:
· There will be a $25 rescheduling fee for the game rescheduled. The fee will be paid by the team requesting the change. Games rescheduled may only occur 72 hours prior to the originally scheduled game day except for the situations listed below.
o Exceptions (no fee for these types of reschedules)
§ Gym Closure (proof of gym closure must be provided)
§ Weather related closures
· Games must be rescheduled within 10 days of the original date. Unless there are less than ten days left in the season The games must be scheduled before end of season.
· GAMES THAT NEED TO BE RESCHEDULED BECAUSE OF WEATHER RELATED ISSUES OR GYM CLOSURE.
o The home team must provide one date that the visiting team does not have a CCTBA game scheduled. The game cannot be the following day, there must be at least a 48-hour window from the day of cancelled game. The visiting team must accept the date, or the game will be a forfeit.
o If a game is cancelled on the last day or with two days left in the regular season - a double loss will be calculated into the standings if the game is not played.
J. PLAYING RULES
· This section shall be administered at all CCTBA Games & Tournaments.
· The Official Playing Rules will be the National Federation of State High School rules for the current year as modified by this rule book.
· Coaches: Only the coach and up to 3 assistants are allowed on the bench. Everyone else must be a player who is on the official team roster. Scorers, analysts, or anyone else may not be on the player bench. The game officials may allow more but ask people to leave the bench area if behavior becomes a concern. Only one coach can stand to coach. The coach’s box is the area directly in front of his or her player bench.
· During CCTBA season and playoffs each team is responsible for having a person at the scorer’s table with a book. The home team’s book is the official record of the game being played. A team that refuses or does not supply a person to record the book waives their rights to question official book. When two people are at the scorer’s table they are responsible for reconciling all discrepancies by the end of each quarter.
· Playing Times
o Age Divisions/Division Quarters/Halves Overtime Period
§ 8: U/3rd grade 7 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
§ 9: U/4th grade 7 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
§ 10: U/5th grade 7 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
§ 11: U/6th grade 7 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
§ 12: U/7th grade 7 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
§ 13: U/8th grade 7 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
o Overtime Periods will be added until a winner is decided.
o Halftime/Warm-ups
§ All events shall have a mandatory minimum warm-up and half time of five (5) minutes.
o Basketball Sizes
§ The "undersized" basketball shall be used for all 8: U, 9: U, 10: U, and 11: U Circumference shall be 28.5.
§ Standard Basketball for 12: U and up.
§ The standard Basketball for all girls’ games is 28.5.
· Press Rule (Mercy Rule)
o For 8U/3rd, 9U/4th and 10U/5th Grade: Teams ahead by 15 points or more at any point in the game must play defense behind the half court line. First offense: Warning, Second and all additional offenses: 2 shot technical.
o For 11U/6th Grade and older: Teams ahead by 20 points or more at any point in the game must play defense behind the half court line. First offense: Warning, Second and all additional offenses: 2 shot technical.
· Defensive formations Clarification for Man-to-Man rules
o We encourage “man to man” to be taught using proper man to man principles. This includes help side, basket line, switching on screens, strong side vs weak side concepts or picking up the ball at or around the 3-point line. The two types of concepts NOT allowed are basket hanging by one player or helping defenders shadow the ball. All other man to man principles should be encouraged and coaches should understand the difference between a coach breaking the rules or a 10-year-old that is a little lost. The best way for an offense to show a defense is playing zone principles is move players from strong side to weak side and vice versa on a consistent basis, if a defender does not adjust to the player, they are covering then it would have zone principles.
· Girls League:
o 8-year-old division must play man to man. (Except for inbound under the basket a team may play zone to defend their basket and fall into a man as soon as the ball is successfully inbounded).
§ Man-to-Man Defense - Help side Defense
§ When your opponent is two or more passes from the ball, you are allowed to be in "help-side" position. This will allow players to be in a position to help their teammates against the ball penetrating the paint. This involves dropping off your man some (but without losing sight of him/her) and sagging toward the ball-side one foot in the lane the other out of the lane.
§ Trapping is allowed in the half court.
§ Pressing
§ 8’s Division no full court pressing allowed
§ In the Back-Court man to man must be played within the 3-point arc. (trapping and help defense are allowed no zone)
o 9-Year-old Girls
§ 9-year-old division must play man to man. (Except for inbound under the basket a team may play zone to defend their basket and fall into a man as soon as the ball is successfully inbounded).
§ Man-to-Man Defense - Help side Defense
§ When your opponent is two or more passes from the ball, you are allowed to be in "help-side" position. This will allow players to be in a position to help their teammates against the ball penetrating the paint. This involves dropping off your man some (but without losing sight of him/her) and sagging toward the ball-side one foot in the lane the other out of the lane.
§ Man press, but only in the last 2 minutes of the end of game. Players must play man to man within the 3-point arc while the ball is in play. (trapping is allowed between half court and the arc)
§ In the Back-Court man to man must be played within the 3-point arc. (trapping and help defense are allowed but no zone)
§ 9’s Division pressing is only allowed in the last 2 minutes of the end of game.
§ Overtime Man press is allowed during the entire extra period(s) until a winner is decided.
o All 10-year-old divisions must play man to man (Except for inbound under the basket a team may play zone to defend their basket and fall into a man as soon as the ball is successfully inbounded).
§ When your opponent is two or more passes from the ball, you are allowed to be in "help-side" position. This will allow players to be in a position to help their teammates against the ball penetrating the paint. This involves dropping off your man some (but without losing sight of him/her) and sagging toward the ball-side one foot in the lane the other out of the lane.
§ Zone press may occur throughout the game but must fall back to a man to man once the ball crosses half court. (trapping is allowed between half court and the arc)
§ In the Back-Court man to man must be played within the 3-point arc. (trapping and help defense are allowed but no zone)
o 11 and above there are no constraints.
· Boys League
o 8-year-old division must play man to man. (Except for inbound under the basket a team may play zone to defend their basket and fall into a man as soon as the ball is successfully inbounded).
§ Man-to-Man Defense - Help side Defense
§ When your opponent is two or more passes from the ball, you are allowed to be in "help-side" position. This will allow players to be in a position to help their teammates against the ball penetrating the paint. This involves dropping off your man some (but without losing sight of him/her) and sagging toward the ball-side one foot in the lane the other out of the lane.
§ Trapping is allowed in the half court.
§ Pressing
§ 8's Division pressing is only allowed in the last 2 minutes of the end of game.
§ Zone or Man press, but only in the last 2 minutes of the end of game. Players must play man to man within the 3-point arc while the ball is in play. (trapping is allowed between half court and the arc)
§ Zone or Man press, but only in the last 2 minutes, but players must fall back to a man to man once they cross half court. (trapping is allowed between half court and the arc)
§ In the Back-Court man to man must be played within the 3-point arc. (Trapping and help defense are allowed no zone)
o 9-Year-old Boys
§ 9-year-old division must play man to man. (Except for inbound under the basket a team may play zone to defend their basket and fall into a man as soon as the ball is successfully inbounded).
§ Man-to-Man Defense - Help side Defense
§ When your opponent is two or more passes from the ball, you are allowed to be in "help-side" position. This will allow players to be in a position to help their teammates against the ball penetrating the paint. This involves dropping off your man some (but without losing sight of him/her) and sagging toward the ball-side one foot in the lane the other out of the lane.
§ Trapping is allowed in the half court.
§ 9’s Division pressing is only allowed in the last 2 minutes of the end of game.
§ Zone or Man press, but only in the last 2 minutes of the end of game. Players must play man to man within the 3-point arc while the ball is in play. (trapping is allowed between half court and the arc)
§ In the Back-Court man to man must be played within the 3-point arc. (trapping and help defense are allowed but no zone)
§ Overtime Man or Zone press is allowed during the entire extra period(s) until a winner is decided.
o 10 and above there are no constraints.
· Free Throws
o 8-year-old boys will be allowed 1 step over the free throw line.
o 9-year-old girls will be allowed 1 step over the free throw line.
· Timeouts
o Teams receive 3 - 1-minute time outs and 2 - 30 second timeouts per game.
o Each team is given one additional timeout per overtime.
o Timeouts do carry over into overtime.
· Fouls
o Each player is allocated 5 fouls per game during the CCTBA Season.
o Two shots at fifth team foul. Resets every quarter.
o Follow PIAA rules for team fouls.
K. Player/Team Disqualification
Roster violations that are discovered before or during any part of the season, teams in violation will be removed from the league eligibility immediately. Any games played will result in forfeits and a win for the opposing team (s). Scores will be entered by league at the end of regular season using the scoring formula for forfeits.
· Players will be disqualified for the season due to violent conduct and all situations will be reviewed by the league.
L. Forfeits
· Forfeits will occur if a team does not participate in a scheduled event.
· Teams must notify each other 48 hours prior to any game change requests (except weather related or facility closure) if not game will be played on the game scheduled and if opponent fails to appear a forfeit is issued.
· If a forfeit occurs, the team receiving the victory will have the number of points allowed divided by games played and that will determine the score, as the winning team will get a one-point win. For example, if the teams receiving the forfeit win has played 10 games and has allowed 300 points a 31-30 victory will be entered as the score. The league will enter the score at the end of the season.
· Teams failing to notify teams withing 48 hours are responsible for home teams referee fees.
· Post Season qualification - any team with 3 or more forfeits will not qualify for the post season play.
M. SCORE REPORTING:
· The winning team for each CCTBA game is responsible for reporting the result of the game. SCORES MUST BE ENTERED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE CONCLUSION OF THE GAME.
N. Double Loss:
· When a double loss has to be computed into the standings - it will be done by the league manually at the end of the season when playoff seeding is being figured out. Each team will get a loss - the average amount of points given up by the teams for the season will be added into points allowed for each team, and the average amount of points scored will be added into points scored for each team.
O. Officials (Referee’s)
· If needed, CCTBA can recommend an assignor for league games to an organization.
· All officials must be PIAA and must bring their cards to all games. Organizations may select their assignor and will work with them to make sure two PIAA officials are present at all its home games. Referees/officials do not work for the CCTBA.
· In the event a home team has a non-PIAA referee officiate a game, the host team will lose the game by forfeit.
· The cost for a referee for a CCTBA game is $50 per official (2 officials per game). The home team is responsible for paying officials during regular-season games.
· The cost for a referee during a CCTBA playoff game is $50 per official (2 officials per game). The home team and visiting team will split the cost of officials.
· The cost of a referee for a CCTBA game where only one official officiates the game is $75.
· REFEREE NOTIFICATION - Referee assignor must receive at least 24-hour notice of game cancellation or team/organization is responsible for fees to the officials. Weather related and uncontrollable issues that cause cancellation do not apply.
P. Coaches Conduct Policy:
· There will be a one-game suspension for any head coach ejected from a game, and a two-game suspension for any assistant coach ejected from a game.
· The second ejection for a head coach is a two-game suspension. The second ejection for an assistant coach is a three-game suspension.
· The third ejection for head coach or assistant coach is suspension for the rest of the regular season and playoffs.
· If suspensions are not honored, teams will not be allowed to participate in the playoffs.