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Game Style: 5v5 

General Rules Adapted for Tournament Style Play:

1. Teams will consist of 4(min) – 12(max) participants. You must have four participants on your roster to be moved from the waitlist and added to a division. A minimum of four (4) players must be present to start an official game. If less than four players are present, the game will be declared a forfeit. A team may play with less than five players if they foul out, become injured during the game, or due to suspension. However, a team cannot continue the game with less than four players. Check the Intramural Sports Handbook carefully for all other eligibility rules that apply.

2. A game will consist of two, 12-minute halves. Each team will be entitled to two (2), 30-second time-outs each game (one each half). A team that requests a time-out after using all their allotted time-outs will be charged with a team technical foul. The championship game will consist of two, 15-minute halves. Each team will be entitled to two (4), 30-second time-outs each game (two each half). 

3. The game clock runs continuously throughout the game, except during the final 2 minutes of the second half, when it will be stopped for all dead ball situations. Dead ball situations include: all fouls, held balls, out of bounds, violations and time-outs. This includes injuries, conferences with scorers, etc. During overtime periods, the clock will stop in all dead ball situations.

4. Overtime: Overtime will begin with the ball put into play with a center jump. The first overtime period shall be three (3) minutes in length, and if necessary, additional 3- minute overtime periods will be played. *If a game goes into overtime, each team may use any unused timeouts and will receive one extra 30-second time-out during each overtime period.

5. Mercy Rule: If a team is ahead by 40 points at any point after the start of the 2nd half, the game will be called. If a team is ahead by 20 points or more in the last two minutes of the 2nd half, the clock will continue to run continuously, except during officials and team time-outs. If at any time point difference falls below 20 points within the last two minutes of the half, the clock will then stop on all dead ball situations.

6. Forfeit Time: Game time is forfeit time.

7. The game will begin with a jump ball at the center circle. All subsequent held balls will be awarded on an alternating possession basis. All overtime periods will begin with a jump ball.

8. Both teams’ captains must agree on a ball to be used in the game. If captains cannot agree, a ball provided by the Officiating Crew will be used.

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9. Free Throw and Fouls:

A. Personal Shooting Fouls – Fouls against a shooter in act of shooting - free throws will be attempted if the player's try was not successful, and one additional free throw if the shot was successful.

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B. Common Fouls - Ball awarded out of bounds until the 7th team foul.

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C. 1-and-1 Bonus - 1 free throw will be awarded to the offended player on the 7th, 8th, and 9th team foul of each half. If successful, a second free throw will be attempted. Exception: There will be no free throws shot on Player Control Fouls.

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D. Double Bonus – 2 free throws will be awarded to the offended player on the 10th team foul, and all subsequent team fouls of each half. Exception: There will be no free throws shot on Player Control Fouls.

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E. Free Throw Substitution – During multiple, personal foul, free throws, substitutions may be made only before the final attempt in the sequence and after the final attempt has been converted.

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F. Player/Team-Control Fouls - The official shall award the ball to the offended team at a place out of bounds nearest to the point where the foul occurred. No free throws are awarded, nor can any points be scored on player-control fouls.

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G. Intentional Foul – All intentional fouls will result in two free throws for the offended team, and the offended team will receive the ball at the point of interruption. The free throws will be shot by the player offended. An intentional foul will be called in the following situations: a player's obvious advantageous position is neutralized by another player unnecessarily; a foul is committed on a player when the defender is not playing the ball; when there is obvious, excessive contact with an opponent when playing the ball; or if there is contact with a thrower-in while carrying out an act.

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H. Technical Fouls - All technical fouls will result in two free throws for the offended team. The offended team then gets possession of the ball at mid-court after the two free throws. The offended team may choose any of their players on the curt to shoot the technical free throws. An official may call a technical foul for any reason in his/her judgment where he/she feels the situation or play merits calling a technical foul. Examples are, but not limited to: unnecessary roughness, dirty play, foul language, abusive language from players, coaches, managers, or crowd, coaches running on court during play, intentional tripping, fighting, intentional delay of game other than by regular play, intentionally slapping the backboard, requesting a time-out without a time-out remaining, etc. Any official has the authority to eject, from the game and the gym, a player, players, coach, management, or fan any time in his judgment he deems such action is necessary in order to maintain a wholesome playing situation for the other participants in the game.

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I. Substitutions - Players may substitute only during dead balls AND after they have checked in with the scorekeeper and been beckoned in by one of the officials. No “on-the-fly” substituting will be allowed. If a player enters the game illegally, a team technical foul will be assessed. The offended team will shoot two free throws and be awarded a throw-in at half court.

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J. Entering the Lane – On a free throw, all players lined up along the lane lines may enter the lane area when the ball is released by the shooter. The shooter shall not enter the lane area until the ball has contacted the rim. All players behind the three-point line and free throw line extended shall not enter inside the three-point arc until the ball has contacted the rim. (Penalty: Free throw violation.)

10. Violations and Penalties:

a) Dunking is permissible. Grabbing and hanging from the rim will be prohibited and penalized with a technical foul. If it happens twice involving the same player, it will result in ejection from the game and the gym for the remainder of the evening. EXCEPTION: Grasping the rim to prevent injury is not a violation. This call is based on the judgment of the officials.

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b) Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Swearing and abusive remarks directed toward opponents, officials, or supervisors shall result in the offending player receiving a technical foul and possible ejection from the game.

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c) The third technical foul for misconduct called in one game against one team will cause the game to end with the opposing team receiving the win. The team that was forced to forfeit must also meet with the commissioner before the next game is allowed for any penalties that may proceed.

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e) Fighting directly or indirectly, or abusing opponents, officials, or supervisors in any way is prohibited. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a complete dismissal from play and immediately dismissal from the venue with no refunds.

11. Out-of-Bounds: If the ball passes over the top plane of the backboard or touches the running line, it is considered out-of-bounds. In a throw-in situation from the baseline, the  baseline will be used to account for the overhead of the running lines. As soon as the ball is touched in bounds, the line will revert to the original baseline.

12. A player must leave the game after they receive five (5) fouls (personal or technical). A second unsportsmanlike technical is considered flagrant and the offender is automatically disqualified and removed from the game and may be asked to leave the premises with no refund. Any ejected player will also be suspended for the first half of the next scheduled game. Failure to leave once ejected may result in a team forfeit.

13. Jewelry: NO JEWELRY WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE COURT. This includes, but is not limited to, earrings, wedding rings or bands, other rings, necklaces, bracelets, rubber bands, and metal barrettes. The only exception to this rule is a medic alert bracelet or necklace. In that case in must be taped down. If you refuse to remove your jewelry you will not be allowed to participate. Any player in the game found wearing illegal jewelry must immediately be replaced by a substitute. The player may not re-enter the game until all jewelry has been removed. If there is no substitute available, the offending player cannot re-enter the game until the first substitution opportunity after the clock has properly started. Continual violation of the jewelry rule can result in a technical foul charged to the player.

14. Headgear: Players may wear the following styles of headgear - bandannas; headbands no wider than 2 inches and made of non-abrasive, elastic, fiber, soft leather, or rubber; rubber or elastic bands used to control hair. Baseball caps or any headgear with a bill or a hard outer surface are not permitted.

15. Shot Clock: The ‘shot clock’ shall refer to the timing device that displays a countdown of the time within which the team possessing the ball must attempt a field goal. The shot clock will start when a team gains new possession of a ball which is in play. The shot clock shall start at 25 seconds.  If a team fails to attempt a field goal within the time allotted, a shot clock violation shall be called. The ball is awarded to the defensive team on the sideline, nearest the spot where play was suspended but no nearer to the baseline than the free throw line extended.