Intramural Rules

The following highlights the basic rules for CAC intramural basketball. Please note that evaluations for all age groups, except clinic, will take place in November. Players must attend one of the evaluation sessions.

SAFETY FIRST – The referees may blow the whistle and stop the game to investigate the condition of a player who might be hurt, at any time, and will resume play as soon as reasonable. The safety and well being of our players is always our main concern.
No jewelry shall be worn by any player – This includes rings, watches, bracelets, earrings and other piercings. All players wearing any form of orthodontics shall
wear a mouth guard when playing or practicing. Casts and other devices shall only be allowed at the discretion of the referee after the parent of the player presents a signed release and an approval from the players’ physician.
GYM coordinator(s) will be located at each basketball facility to ensure the games start as scheduled and to manage the facility during the games
CLINIC (age 5-6) is purely instructional. There are no exceptions to the age requirements at this level. All the kids should be kept as busy as possible for the one hour per week of participation allotted, therefore 5 on 5 formalized “games” should
be kept to a minimum, while drills, instructional games involving all present, or else smaller games at each basket, are encouraged. We attempt to have separate teams for boys and girls.
Requests to Play Up – The Anne Arundel County and CAC rules state that the age group is determined by your age as of September 1 of the current year. Requests to play up (except for CLINIC) will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the Basketball Commissioner. Factors to be used when determining if the request will be granted include the number of players registered within each age group and the ability and size of the player.

The following rules apply to all other age groups (except for CLINIC):

At least one referee will be at each game.
Five minutes after the scheduled start time is a forfeit. Teams must have five players from their own roster to start the game.
Rosters and Playing Time: The prevailing rule is that ALL players receive a minimum 50% playing time. Therefore:
- The league will be made up of teams with a maximum of 10 players per team
  (Exception is Clinic).
- Each team member must play at least one full quarter per half, per game, without exception.
- NO substitutions will be allowed during a quarter, except for injuries or in the event a player fouls out, or receives a technical foul. In the case of injury, the player may be reinserted during that quarter, but if they are not reinserted, the quarter counts as a full quarter and the player cannot be subbed in the middle of
  another quarter to make up for time not played due to injury. All players shall check in at the scorers’ table at the beginning of each quarter.
- If a team has less than 10 players for a game, some players will have to play more than 2 quarters. No player can play more than 3 quarters until all other players on his team have played 3 quarters. For example, if a team has 6 players, two of their players would have to play all 4 quarters. With 7 or more players, no players would ever be playing more than 3 quarters.
All age groups will play 9-minute quarters. Games must be completed in under an hour so half time and quarter breaks will be kept to a reasonable amount of time to accommodate this (two minutes between quarters; three to five minutes for halftime).
Clocks will only be stopped for timeouts, injuries, and shooting fouls (clock will resume once the shooter receives ball from referee for the second shot) EXCEPT in the last minute of each quarter where regular rules apply (e.g., the clock stops for all “dead ball” situations).
Each team is allowed one timeout per quarter, with an additional timeout allowed for the overtime period. The unused timeouts do not carry over. Timeouts should last for 45 seconds.
Each team is allowed one head coach and one assistant coach on the bench during games. Only the head coach can be standing and only the head coach can communicate with the referees. (Teams can have as many coaches as needed during practices as long as they have had a background check)
All teams will shoot free throws on the seventh team foul of a half in a refereed game. All age groups will shoot two free throws on the tenth team foul of a half (double bonus) in a refereed game. All age groups will shoot on shooting fouls in all games and all whistle scrimmages. Players are disqualified upon receiving their fifth foul (other than in whistle scrimmages).
In the event a parent, player, or a coach is ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct or a second technical foul, the parent, player or coach will automatically receive a minimum two game suspension, which can only be appealed to the CAC Basketball Commissioner. The suspension CAN be lengthened at the discretion of the Commissioner.
In the event that an ejected participant (parent, coach, or player) refuses to leave the gym promptly and without further incident, the game shall be immediately forfeited, and that participant is subject to dismissal for the balance of the season, as determined by the Commissioner and the CAC Board.
The team bench is limited to players on the rosters and up to a maximum of one head coach and two assistants (parents and fans attending the game should view the game from the opposite side of the gym).
- All head coaches need to be county certified and all coaches and assistants need to have a current AA County background check.
- Only one coach is permitted to stand at any one time, except at the CLINIC level. Failure to follow this rule will result in a two-shot technical foul. A second violation of this rule will result in a second technical and a suspension from the remainder of the game and for two additional games.
- Coaches must attend a mandatory coaches meeting prior to the season at a date and time to be announced.
All coaches should print and retain a copy of these rules and discuss with their players and parents, and league coordinators should provide the scorer’s table a copy for the use of the referees.
Remember – have FUN and PARTICIPATE!!!

The following are specific rules for each age group:

7 and 8 year old league (boys and girls):

Scores and standings are recorded and reported to the age group coordinator at the conclusion of each week.
The players are being introduced to basketball. Special rules apply that encourage the development and participation of all players. Neither full court pressure, nor guarding in the backcourt, is allowed.
There should be controlled transition of the ball from the defensive end to the offensive end.
“Fast breaks” are allowed, but coaches are encouraged to have the players focus on bringing the ball up court and running their offense.
Ten second violations in the backcourt will not be enforced.
Teams should play either a “man-to-man” or a 2-3 zone defense, with no pressure extending beyond a line which runs parallel to the base line and which touches the top of the free throw circle (“blue line”).
When a man-to-man defense is to be played, players should be matched by the coaches according to their size and ability. Players with like talent and size should be guarding each other.
Common sense is to be used regarding “back court” violations on the smaller playing surfaces, such as Crofton Woods, should use the hash mark or the blue line in the defensive half court. The players should be encouraged to play defense with their feet on the perimeter, with particular attention paid to whistling defenders for reaching in and slapping or clutching at a ball in the control of an offensive player.
“Three second” lane violations should be enforced.
For boys only, stealing of the ball is only allowed on the pass and not the dribble. At the mid-point in the season, stealing the ball off the dribble is permitted. There is no stealing off the dribble for the girls.

9 and 10 year old league (boys and girls):

Scores and standings are recorded and reported to the age group coordinator at the conclusion of each week.
Teams may play any defense subject to the rules in part c below.
Defensive pressure is allowed once the ball passes the half-court line. Full court pressure is allowed during the last two minutes of each half unless they are ahead by 10 or more points.
The 10 second rule will apply (the ball must cross mid-court within 10 seconds or it will be a turnover)
The players should be encouraged to play defense with their feet on the perimeter, with particular attention paid to defenders that are reaching in and slapping or clutching at a ball in the control of an offensive player.
“Three second” lane violations shall be enforced.
The three point shot will be in effect if so marked on the playing floor.
In the case of a tie there will be a 2-minute overtime period. Coaches may choose any five players for the overtime, and may substitute during the overtime. Each team may use one-30 second timeout in the overtime. If the score remains tied at the end of one overtime period, the game is declared a draw.

11-14 year old leagues (boys and girls):

Scores and standings are recorded and reported to the age group coordinator at the conclusion of each week.
Defensive pressure is allowed once the ball passes the half-court line. Full court pressure is allowed during the last two minutes of each half unless they are ahead by 10 or more points.
The 10 second rule will apply (the ball must cross mid-court within 10 seconds or it will be a turnover)
The three point shot will be in effect if so marked on the playing floor.
In the case of a tie there will be a 2-minute overtime period. Coaches may choose any five players for the overtime, and may substitute during the overtime. Each team may use one-30 second timeout in the overtime. If the score remains tied at the end of one overtime period, the game is declared a draw.

Ball sizes, rim heights:

Clinic—27” (#5) ball, 8’ baskets
7-8 girls—27.5 ball, 9’ baskets
7-8 boys—27.5 ball, 9’ baskets
9-12 girls—27.5 ball, 10’ baskets
9-10 boys—28.5 ball, 10’ baskets
11-12 boys—28.5 ball, 10’ baskets
13-14 girls-28.5 ball, 10’ baskets
13-14 boys-29.5 ball, 10’ baskets