GAME RULES

• If a team does not have four (4) members on the court within 10 minutes of the game start time, that team will forfeit. Three players are a forfeit. Captains should notify their league commissioner 48 hours before the game is scheduled to begin, if they have to forfeit. All forfeits are recorded in the score book as 1-0.
• Two twenty (20) minute continuously running halves, clock stops only for timeouts until the last two (2) minutes of each half.
• Three (3) full time-outs per team for the whole game.
• Players foul out after six (6) fouls.
• Team gets the bonus (shoot free throw, one and one) after the seventh foul of the half on one team. Double bonus on the tenth team foul (shoot free throws, two shots).
• During the last two minutes of the second half, the clock will not stop if the scoring difference is fifteen (15) points or greater.
• Overtimes are three minutes. Clock stops for every whistle during the last minute of each overtime period. One (1) timeout per team for each overtime period.
• If a player quits in the middle of a game or is ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, the player is suspended for the next game.

GUIDELINES

• All players (captains exempt) should play at least eight minutes of every half (including playoffs).
• A present league Vice Commissioner must be told prior to the game of any ill or injured players who are suited to play (so that there will be no playing time penalty imposed on your team).
• Subbing: Each individual that wants to sub into active play must check in at the score table first. Only on a dead ball, and with the referee's acknowledgement, will the person be allowed to sub into the game. It is the responsibility of each player to sub themselves in and out, under the advisement of their captain, if needed. It is at the discretion of captains to play certain players at certain times of the game, keeping in mind player participation rules.
• The team captain is the manager of the team.
• Each team captain will represent all player concerns to the referees. Only a team captain may address the referee.
• The referees will have final say in the calling of penalties, awarding of points and final decisions for all games.
• Any further disputes must be brought to the attention of the PBLNYC Board to discuss and resolve. Any larger issues (referee misconduct, repeated poor calls, etc), should be brought to the Board to address.
• Fans and players who are not playing in an on-going game should not sit on sidelines and not interfere with warm-ups or games.
• Bring a bottle of water or other liquid refreshments; PLEASE dispose of them when empty.

ATTIRE REQUIREMENTS
All players are encouraged to wear proper attire in games. Proper attire includes basketball shoes and shorts. Running shoes and sweatpants are not advised. All players must wear the League-provided t-shirt/jersey for the current season.

If a player does not have their shirt for the current season (i.e. is wearing a non-league shirt or shirt from the prior season) at the start of the game, the team will be given a technical foul, which the other team will shoot two free throws prior to the start of the game. If it is not taken prior to the start of the game, there will be no penalty. If a player arrives late, the technical foul shots must be taken prior to the player entering the game.

It is the responsibility of the captains and the players to notify the referees of the t-shirt penalty.

Please do not wear any jewelry during games. This can cause injuries to you and the other players on the courts. Fitness bands (FitBit, etc) are allowed as long as they are covered by a sweatband.

CAPTAINS

Captains are responsible for reviewing the game score-sheet prior to the game and informing the referees of any roster changes at that time.

Only Captains should be speaking to the referees, and only about the game in general. Players must limit their interaction with the referees.

Captains may only play rostered players. If it is discovered a captain has played a non-rostered player in a game, the team forfeits.

SCOREKEEPING DUTIES

Captains will select 2 people from their team that will be responsible for keeping the scorebook for another game. Those players should arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of that game.

The score keeping schedule will be sent to captains at the start of the season with the schedule and will always be accessible on the website.

Your team may be scheduled to cover games in other divisions at various times and potentially on a court other than that which you are scheduled to play on.

IF A TEAM FAILS TO KEEP THE SCOREBOOK FOR ANOTHER GAME THAT THEY ARE SCHEDULED FOR THEY WILL BE PENALIZED:

1) First Offense: Technical Foul at the start of their next game
2) Second Offense: 10 points awarded to the other team at the start of next game
3) Third Offense: Team Forfeit at next game.

PLAYOFFS

C-Division: In the final week, C Division teams will play against B-Division players.
A-and B Division: All teams make the playoffs. There are two weeks of playoffs - Quarterfinals in week one, with winners moving on to play in the Semifinals in week two. The two remaining teams will play for the Championship. Teams are seeded based on their record from the season.

PLEASE NOTE: Playoff structure is subject to change, based on the number of teams fielded each season. The Board will communicate to Captains as soon as its determined what the format will be.

TIE-BREAKER RULES

• If teams have the same record, the Board will follow tiebreaker rules to determine seeds. The first tiebreaker used is head-to-head victories.
• If teams are even head-to-head, then the team with higher points score differential (head-to-head) receives the higher seed.
• If a tie still remains, then the team with more points scored overall receives the higher seed. In the unlikely incidence that a tie still remains, the commissioner will use a coin toss to determine the higher seed.
• These rules may be updated at anytime by the Board of Directors of Pride Basketball League NYC.