Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the Lancaster Biddy Basketball Leagues, a player must be in the 5th or 6th grade AND must attend the Lancaster City Schools; or if *HOME-SCHOOLED a player must be in the 5th or 6th grade AND live in the Lancaster City School District.
6th Grade Students who played on a Biddy Team in the 5th grade will return to the team of which they played. 6th Graders who have not played in the Biddy Leagues will try out for the elementary school they attended last year. If new to the area, player will tryout for school district in which they live.
*Home-Schooled Children will try out for the elementary school in which district they live.
Players cannot play more than 2 years in the Boys' Biddy Leagues; no more than 3 years in the Girls Biddy.
Registration
Registrations and registration fees will be taken through the coach and paid to the LBBA before the first week of games.
Registration information will have been advertised in local papers, fliers will be distributed to students at the schools, and information will be available on the Lancaster Biddy Website.
Roster
The roster will usually contain 12 players. Special circumstances may allow less players on the roster; however, no more than 12 players will be allowed.
Player’s fees and release forms from each parent or guardian must be turned in before the first game of the season. If the release forms and fees are not turned in by the first game of the season, that player will be declared ineligible until the payment is received.
No players may participate in any other basketball league or tournaments during the regular season and tournament and be a regular player of the Lancaster Biddy Basketball Program during the same season.
Coaching Freezes
This rule pertains only to split squad schools. Freezes will only be issued to existing, established (one or more years in this league) coaches, or new head coaches with previous coach severing all ties with the team and will occur in the third round. No more than one freeze will be issued per season. All proposed freezes must be presented to the league director in writing two weeks before tryouts. All requested deemed to gain an unfair advantage in the draft process will be denied. Final approval will be determined by vote of the Lancaster Biddy Basketball Board.
Coaches Box
One coach may stand during the game, staying within the coaching box and off the floor. Players and coaches may rise to briefly cheer a well executed play, but must sit down quickly to allow the referees to do their jobs safely and efficiently. Failure to follow this rule will result in a technical foul at the referee’s and/or league director’s discretion.
Defense
A man- to-man defense must be played in the Biddy Basketball Leagues.
1. If a team is found to be playing zone (overseen by supervisors and officials)
o 1st time per game- charged time out- 30 second.
o 2nd time per game- charged time out- full, and technical foul on the coach.
o 3rd time per game, a technical foul on coach, and head coach is ejected from game
§ Head coach must not have contact with team at any practices during the week of suspension, and may not coach the next regular or tournament game
A man-to-man defensive player who’s man is not in scoring position (such as far corner of the court, standing near mid court, etc.) may drop off his/her man to the perimeter of the three second lane. If a defensive man is in the three-second lane before ball action enters, he is considered to be zoning.
*Double-teaming and trapping may take place in the frontcourt if players are in a cluster (usually during a held ball).
Double-teaming is not allowed in the backcourt.
Player/Coach Ejection
Any player or coach who is ejected from a game must automatically sit out the next game. Any player or coach ejected for a second time in a season will be suspended for the remainder of the year.
Practice
The Lancaster Biddy Basketball Board believes in minimizing the amount of practice time per week because of other weekly family events that take place during a school year. A compromise has been reached to hold our basketball time to three hours per week. That is two 1-hour practices and one game per week, or three hours of practice if there is no game, unless authorized otherwise by the LBBA. A week begins on Sunday morning and ends Saturday night. Penalties for non-compliance will be as follows:
1st offense- The head coach will be assessed a double technical foul, ejected from the game, and the opposing team will be awarded four foul shots and the ball out of bounds at the beginning of the game following the violation.
2nd offense- The coach will be dismissed for the remainder of the season.
Make Up Practice
If a scheduled practice is missed due to a NO PRACTICE DATE or a snow day, the team coach may contact the LBBA Practice Scheduler for a make-up practice. If there are times available for the week that the team missed practice, a make-up practice will be scheduled. If a team has missed several practices in a row, and no makeup times are available for the weeks that they have missed, a makeup practice may be scheduled for another week allowing the team practice over the 2-hour limit per week. This is possible only if it is authorized by the LBBA and the team has missed more than 2 consecutive practices.
Make up practices will be scheduled ONLY by the LBBA Practice Scheduler. Any coach who schedules a make up practice on his/her own without going through the LBBA Practice Scheduler will be in violation of the LBBA Rules and will be penalized for non-compliance:
1st offense- The head coach will be assessed a double technical foul, ejected from the game, and the opposing team will be awarded four foul shots and the ball out of bounds at the beginning of the game following the violation.
2nd offense- The coach will be dismissed for the remainder of the season.
Uniforms
Each player will provide his own personal equipment such as shoes, socks, and game shorts. The league will provide each player with a game shirt, which will become the personal property of the player upon completion of the season. When the team takes the floor for pre-game warm-ups, the team shall be dressed only in playing uniforms. Each team player must wear matching (colored) shorts and undershirts (if applicable).
A player with non-matching shorts/undershirt may be asked to sit out for the game, or a technical foul may be given prior to the start of the game.
Games
1. Games are played on Saturday afternoons according to a schedule provided to the coaches and located on the Lancaster Biddy Website. Teams will play about 10 weeks and will finish the season with a single elimination tournament. The season will begin in October/November and will conclude in March.
2. Each game will consist of 2 twelve-minute quarters with a 5-minute intermission between the first and second halves. Each half will be continuous clock until the last minute of the final half. Meaning, the clock will not stop except for shooting fouls, injuries, time outs, or at the discretion of the official or supervisor in charge. A jump ball will begin the games. From then on, ball possession will alternate on tie-ups and halves.
3. Each coach will turn in his/her line-up/substitution form to the scorekeeper when his or her team first takes the floor for warm-up at the beginning of the game.
4. There will be at least 3 minutes to warm up between games.
5. A team must have a minimum of 5 players to start a game.
In order to supervise his/her players, we ask that the coach arrive 15 minutes prior to the arrival of his/her team.
Lineup Sheets
Lineup/Substitution sheets must be completed in their entirety and turned into the scorekeeper before a team goes into their warm-ups. Some coaches have been accused of waiting to see the opponent’s lineup before completing their own so they can gain an advantage in certain match ups. This will not be tolerated. Teams shall not begin warm-up routines until their roster is turned in.
Playing Time
Every player on the roster must play the minimum required minutes in the first half of each game as stated below depending upon the number of players per team. Free subbing is allowed in the second half of each game. Coaches must have their substitution sheets completed with each player's play time determined for the entire first half.
12, 11, & 10 Player Teams
- Each player must play a minimum of 4 minutes in the first half, with no player having more than 8 minutes play time in the first half.
Less than 10 Player Teams
- Each player must have a minimum of 6 minutes play time in the first half, with no player having more than 10 minutes play time in the first half.
Less than 7 Player Teams
- If a team has less than 7 players, the team coach must advise the league supervisor who will determine playing time and rotation at that time.
Sickness or Injury
- If a player is injured or cannot play due to sickness, the league supervisor should be consulted and will determine playing time and rotation at that time.
Violation of Playing Time Rule
Violation of the playing time rule stated above will result in the following:
- Two-shot technical foul for the opposing team.
- Immediate coach ejection from game.
- Immediate coach suspension from the following week of team practices.
- Suspension from the next week game, whether regular season or tournament
Method of Substitution
Complete rosters and designated starters for the 1st half with instructions from the coach as to how he/she will substitute players into the game (in order to satisfy the Playing Time Rule) is required. This must be turned into the scorekeeper prior to a team's pre-game warm-up routine. If the coach fails to turn in his/her completed line-up, his/her team will be kept off the floor until it is completed.
1st half- Coach may choose any 5 of her/his 12 players to start the game, with substitutions listed at 2-minutes, 4-minutes, 6 minutes, 8 minutes, and 10 minutes to satisfy the Playing Time Rule. See below.
12, 11, & 10 Player Teams
- Each player must play a minimum of 4 minutes in the first half, with no player having more than 8 minutes play time in the first half.
Less than 10 Player Teams
- Each player must have a minimum of 6 minutes play time in the first half, with no player having more than 10 minutes play time in the first half.
Less than 7 Player Teams
- If a team has less than 7 players, the team coach must advise the league supervisor who will determine playing time and rotation at that time.
Sickness or Injury
- If a player is injured or cannot play due to sickness, the league supervisor should be consulted and will determined playing time and rotation at that time.
Second half- any 5 of the 12 players may participate. Substituting players at any given time is permitted.
3-point Shots
3-point shots can be taken in the final half.
Foul Trouble
A player in foul trouble in the 1st or 2nd quarter will not be permitted to substitute unless it was already indicated on the team substitution sheet that was given to the scorekeeper prior to the game. No exceptions.
Length of Games
Games will run two 12-minute halves with a five minute intermission between the first and second halves. The clock does not stop except at the foul line and during time-outs, and to the discretion of the officials or supervisor. The final minute of the last half is regulation clock and will stop at each whistle blow.
A jump ball will begin the game and from then on ball possession will alternate on tie-ups and halves.
A jump ball will begin each overtime period.
Time Outs
As for high school play, there will be granted 3 regular time outs and 2 thirty-second time outs per game.
Overtime
In order to break a tie, the following procedure will be followed:
1. A 3-minute overtime period will begin with the first two minutes as continuous clock, and the final minute as regulation time.
2. If still tied after 3-minute overtime, a 2-minute overtime will begin with the first minute as continuous clock, last minute regulation time.
3. If still tied after 2-minute overtime, a 1-minute overtime will begin, regulation time,
4. If still tied, a 1-minute overtime will be repeated until the tie is broken
4. There will be no ties.
*Exception- In the Championship Game, there will be unlimited 3-minute overtime periods until the tie is broken.
Mercy Rule
The Biddy Basketball Leagues were created to teach young players the sport of basketball. We encourage competitive play, but we discourage excessive victory margins. If a team is leading a game by 20 points by the second half, if the coach does not substitute his/her starters for second team players, the supervisor will take corrective action.
Foul Shot Points (prior to game points)
Teams will be awarded points as part of the game score for foul shots made by players. Players will shoot prior to the start of their game. The league supervisor will organize this administration. No greater than a 3-point difference will be credited to the scoring.
- Each player gets one shot from the foul line.
- The League Supervisor will make sure that all teams have equal chances.
- As in game situations, a player cannot cross foul line on his/her shot.
Divisional Tie
If there is a division tie, the team that won the meeting between the two tying teams will be declared the champion. If still tied, a playoff game will be arranged. In case of a 3-way tie, 2 playoff games will be played.
1. All 3 teams will draw a number. The team with the #1 draws a bye.
2. The other two teams will play the first game, with the losing team being awarded third place. The winning team will then play the team with the bye for first place on a separate night.
Awards
Division winners will receive a team trophy and small individual trophies, to be awarded at one of the tournament games.
The tournament winner will receive a team trophy and small individual plaques or medals, to be awarded after the championship game.
In the event the divisional winner also wins the tournament, the trophies will still be presented. The runner-ups will receive a team trophy and individual ribbons.
Building Rules
Coaches are responsible for their players within the dressing rooms before and after the games, and to see they are dressed and out of the locker rooms after the game. Coaches are responsible for property damage at your school practice. Players should not come to practice too early and coaches need to make sure they do not disturb other teams or groups who are using the facility. When practice is over, make sure everyone has left the building. Smoking is prohibited in all buildings.
1. No smoking or drinking anywhere within the facility.
2. No food, candy or beverages.
3. Do not use rear doors for entry or exit.
4. Keep everyone off any equipment that may be out.
5. No one is allowed in the locker rooms except players and coaches.
6. Do not allow players in the locker rooms without your supervision.
7. Remember the use of the buildings is a privilege, not a right.
Coach Responsibility
1. Coaches are in charge of players before and after practice and games. Players should arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before practice. Coaches should be there to receive them. After practice and games the coach should remain until all players are gone. Coaches need to insure that everyone respects the building in use and abides by its rules. Problems at the school can result in forfeiture of use. Please report any damage to the person in charge.
2. Use good judgment in dealing with parents, kids, or others and refer to the code of ethics of your coaching guideline.
Equipment
The height of the basket is 8.5 feet, and an official women's size (28.5-19 inches in circumference) ball, comparable to an intermediate sized youth ball, is used in both season and tournament games.
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