Impact Youth Basketball League Game Rules
Date Approved/Revised: September 12, 2023
All Leagues
1. Each player on a team must play one continuous full quarter during the game. A continuous full quarter is defined as the beginning of a quarter through its completion.
a. Exceptions: AA division is not required to follow this rule due to the ages of the players. However, the spirit of the rule should apply in that each player should play at least the equivalent of a full quarter.
b. Penalty: Game forfeiture
2. If any team has more than 10 players at the game, they will be responsible for playing 10 players one continuous full quarter (start to finish of a quarter). Additional players beyond 10 must play two continuous minutes sometime during the game.
a. If a player starts a quarter and gets hurt and must come out of the game, that quarter will be counted as their continuous quarter.
b. Penalty: Game forfeiture
3. Late Arrivals: If a player arrives anytime during the first half, they must meet the regular requirement of playing one continuous quarter. If they arrive after the start of the third quarter, they are eligible to play but are only required to play two minutes in that game. If they arrive after the start of the 4th quarter, they are ineligible to participate in that game.
a. Penalty: Violation for not playing a player will result in forfeiture of the game. It is recommended that coaches verify player-playing status with the official scorekeeper during halftime to make sure there is no violation. No technical foul will be issued for a player arriving late if he/she is already signed in the scorer’s book.
4. Referees are required to officiate an official game.
5. A forfeited game must end 10 minutes prior to the next scheduled game time.
6. Length of games will be as follows:
a. “AA” Division - 4 quarters of 6 minutes each
b. “A” Division – 4 quarters of 7 minutes each
c. “B”, “C”, “D”, & “E”, and all girls divisions – 4 quarters of 8 minutes each
7. Additional game rules regarding time:
a. One (1) minute between quarters. Five (5) minutes between halves.
b. Time-outs: 2 per half (no carryovers).
c. Overtime
i. Overtime will only be during playoff games. There will be no overtime during the regular season.
ii. Two (2) minute overtime periods for all divisions during playoff games.
d. Five (5) minutes are allocated for team warm-ups prior to each game
8. No dunking is allowed anytime.
a. Penalty: A technical foul will be assessed for violations.
9. The game clock will stop only on shooting fouls, time-outs, and each dead ball in the final minute of the 1st three quarters and the final two (2) minutes of the 4th quarter.
10. No team will be allowed to full-court press with a lead of 20 points or more.
a. Penalty: The first team violation will result in a warning. On the second and successive violations, a two-shot technical foul will be called on the player committing the violation. Two (2) technicals in a game on an individual will result in that player being disqualified from that game.
b. Recommendation: If one team is obviously much superior to another, it is recommended that the superior team do certain things in the name of good sportsmanship to prevent humiliating the other team. Some things recommended are to pull back in a zone on defense or not guard anyone outside the 3-point line. On offense, you as a coach could have your team work on their offensive sets by not fast-breaking. At this point, these are merely recommendations that will become written rules if teams continue to abuse their superiority over another team!
11. During any time that pressing is not allowed, the team on defense must allow the offense to get the ball across midcourt before guarding them.
a. Penalty: The referee will warn the defensive team and ask them to back up if not allowing the ball to cross into the front court
12. Only coaches and players on the team that is playing are allowed on or around the bench during the game. An adult team scorekeeper is considered a coach.
a. Penalty: Technical foul
13. Only players checking into a game are allowed to be around the scorer’s table during the game (taking a knee).
a. Penalty: Technical foul
b. Exception: Coaches asking a question during breaks (examples: time-outs, between quarters, etc.)
14. Teams may start a game with 4 players. If a team fails to have four players on the court at game time, they will be given five minutes before a forfeit is called.
15. In the AA, A, GA, B, and GB divisions (10 years old and under), players may play with starter earrings that cannot be taken out. The earrings must be only the studs and must be taped up. The parents of players who have these earrings must sign a waiver before the child is allowed to play.
“AA” - “A” Division Special Rules
1. Offensive possession is established with controlled ball possession.
2. The defense may not interrupt the dribble.
a. Penalty: Ball is awarded to the offensive team
3. In “AA”, the ball cannot be tied up or taken from a player at any time while he/she maintains possession. It can only be intercepted when it is passed or blocked when it is shot.
a. Penalty: Ball is awarded to the offensive team
4. There will be no backcourt defense at any time for “AA” division games. Offensive players must be allowed in the frontcourt before being picked up by the defense. In the “A” division full-court press is allowed the last 1 minute of the game unless the team is ahead by 10 or more points. The frontcourt is usually considered the middle of the court.
a. Penalty: Ball is awarded to the offensive team
5. There will be no backcourt violation in the “AA” divisions. In the “A” division the ball must get across mid-court within 10 seconds. The gym site should have at minimum a piece of tape to designate the frontcourt line.
a. Penalty: Ball changes possession
6. No triple teams on the ball handler are allowed.
a. Penalty: The first two times will be a warning. The third time and each time after that will result in one (1) foul shot and the ball.
7. A basket will not count if shot into the wrong basket.
a. If this happens the ball will be taken out by the team that had possession of the ball when it was shot.
8. Free Throws will be shot from the 9 foot line.
9. The “A” division has a 5-second lane violation in place of the 3-second lane violation. The “AA” has no lane violation, unless the team is getting an advantage by staying in the lane.
a. Penalty: The referee should warn the player and coach.
10. The closely guarded five (5) second rule does not apply
a. Obvious stalls by individual players will be called a change of possession. A player may only keep possession of the ball for a maximum of 20 seconds in the frontcourt before they must pass or shoot.
11. “AA” teams cannot defend in the backcourt. “A” teams may defend in the backcourt in the final minute of the game.
12. No score will be kept in “AA” games.
13. No tournament will be played at the end of the year in “AA”.
“B” Division Special Rules
1. Offensive possession is established with controlled ball possession in the backcourt.
2. A free throw-in into the backcourt will be allowed except for the last two (2) minutes of the game. The defense cannot cross half-court to intercept the pass.
a. Penalty: Ball is awarded to the offensive team
3. No full-court press until the last two (2) minutes of the game. The full-court press rule does apply.
a. Penalty: Ball is awarded to the offensive team
4. Free Throws will be shot from the 12ft line.
Sportsmanship - Coaches and Players
1. Coaches and players are expected to conduct themselves as Christians at all times.
a. Penalty: Any use of profanity will result in an automatic technical foul.
2. Any coach or player ejected from a league game will automatically be suspended for the next game (may not practice with his team the next week nor attend his/her next league game).
a. That coach must also initiate a meeting with their pastor/church representative and 2 members of the executive committee to determine if and when they will be allowed to coach. The league will contact you to set up a meeting.
b. Any coach or player ejected from two (2) games during the season will automatically be suspended for the remainder of the season, effective immediately upon the second ejection. Any coach or player thus suspended must have league approval prior to coaching or playing again in the IYBL.
3. If a bench or a coach is issued a technical foul then all coaches must remain on the bench for the remainder of the game.
4. Any physical or verbal confrontations between players or coaches of opposing teams after a game will be dealt with severely by the league. This applies to before, during, and after the game.
a. Penalty:
i. The confrontations will be treated as if two technical fouls were given to the player or coach involved.
ii. The player or coach will not be allowed to practice with the team during the week.
iii. The player or coach will not be allowed to attend the next league game as a spectator.
iv. A second confrontation can lead to suspension for the remainder of the season.
5. Teams should circle up at mid-court, as close to the spectators as possible, before the game for prayer.
6. The home team on the schedule is responsible for a pre-game prayer with the players and spectators. If you don’t feel comfortable leading the prayer, ask the gym site coordinator to have someone do it.
Sportsmanship - Spectators
1. Spectators are expected to model good sportsmanship for the players.
a. Penalty: If a spectator causes a verbal or physical confrontation with another spectator, a coach, a referee, or a player, they will be expelled from the game and may face suspension ranging from the next league game through the remainder of the season.
b. Multiple violations will result in the spectator being suspended for the remainder of the season.