GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF THE
THE BASKETBALL LEAGUE 2008 - Season 7

This tournament shall be governed by the current FIBA rules (2006) aside from the house rules set by the organizing committee.

A. CLUB PHILOSOPHY

The Basketball League was formed because of the following reasons:

1.  For the love of the Game.

2.  To build good camaraderie among basketball players and fanatics.

3.  To remind us that in spite of our busy schedules and stressful living, we need to take time-out and take care of our health by doing regular exercises.

Our vision:

1.  We are a non-profit organization.  We aim to provide basketball league to basketball lovers in the cheapest possible way.  

We collect our fees per game basis.  No additional charges will be collected from each team on overtimes.   The fees will be divided to the court rent fee, referees, and commissioner.  All proceeds will be transparent to members.  

B. TEAM COMPOSITION

1. The composition of each team participating in the forthcoming tournament shall be submitted for approval before the schedule date of the first game of the tournament.

2. A team can have a maximum of Fifteen (16) players and shall be headed by a Coach and/or team Captain, both of whom shall be appointed by the members of the team.

3. Once the team line-up has been finalized, the line-up can no longer be altered upon acceptance by the Technical Committee (see Section D) . No player replacement, addition or substitution shall be allowed thereafter.

C. TOURNAMENT RULES

This tournament shall be governed by the current FIBA rules (2006) aside from the house rules set by the Tournament Committee of TBL 2008.

Conduct of Games

1. Only the Coach and/or Team Captain may request for the interpretation of the rules from the floor officials in a calm and courteous manner.

2. No team shall be allowed to warm-up while an official game is in progress.

3. Each player must be granted playing time. Each player seated on the team bench must play before the end of the second quarter. A player who reports to play in the second half will not be required to play in the game. Violation of this rule will result in the awarding of two free throws at the end of the first half for each violation per player. If both teams are in violation, free throws will be awarded to both teams.  This rule applies only in the Elimination Round.

4. Late arrival of players is allowed. However, if the players arrives right after the third quarter starts, he will no longer be allowed to play.

5. Game format shall be as follows:
• A regular game shall be divided into four (4) periods with 10 minutes playing time per period. 1st period shall begin with a jump ball at the center of the court.
• There shall be a one (1) minute break between the 1st & 2nd period, and between 3rd & 4th period. There shall be a 10 minute break at the half (between 2nd & 3rd period).
• Each Team shall be given two (2) time-outs at any time in the first half (first and second period), and three (3) time-outs at any time in the second half (third and fourth period). Each time-out shall last one minute long.
• Each team will be allowed 20 minutes from the scheduled time of the start of the game to field five (5) players. Failure to do so within the allotted time will result in a loss by forfeiture.

7. The following are significant FIBA rules (2006) will apply:
• Shot Clock is 24 seconds
• Time required to cross the ball to the half-court line is eight (8) seconds.
• Player Technical Foul - the other team shall be awarded 2 free throws and ball possession.
• Bench/Team Technical Foul - the other team shall be awarded 2 free throws and ball possession.
• A player substitution opportunity begins when the ball becomes dead, the game clock is stopped and the official has ended his communication with the scorer's table.

8. Not all players will be qualified to play in the play-off.  Only players that has attended a minimum of (Total number of games in the elimination round / 2) games in the elimination round will be eligible to play after the elimination round.

Rules regarding playing time (Guaranteed a minimum of 5 minutes of playing time per player)

A.  1st set of 5 players shall play the first 5 mins of the 1st quarter, then 2nd new set of five players on the last 5 mins of the 1st qtr, and the the 3rd new set on the 1st 5 mins of the 2nd qtr. (eg. team A has 15 players... 1st 5 will play for 1st 5mins of 1st qtr, then 2nd 5 will play the last 5 mins of 1st qtr.. then 3rd 5 will play on the 1st 5 mins of the 2nd qtr.)

B.  If there are less than 10 players on the team, the team can fill in players who already played from the 1st set to form another 5 (with the players who haven't play) and can change the players (already played on the 1st or 2nd set) anytime, but not the new ones. (eg. team B has 8 players… 1st 5 will play for the 1st 5 mins of the 1st qtr, then the 2nd 5 (consisting of the 3 players + 2 from the first 5) will play the last 5 mins of the 1st qtr.  The 2 players can be change/sub anytime by the other players (who are part of the 1st 5).)

C.  If there are more than 10 player and less than 15, the team can let the players from the 1st and 2nd set of players to form another set of 5 (with the players who haven't play) and can change the players (already played on the 1st or 2nd set) anytime, but not the new ones.  (eg. team C has 12 players… 1st 5 will play for the 1st 5 mins of the 1st qtr, then 2nd 5 will play the last 5 mins of the 1st qtr.. then the 3rd 5 (consisting of the 2 players + 3 from first 10) will play the 1st 5 mins of the 2nd qtr.  The 3 players can be change/sub anytime by the other players (who are part of the 1st and 2nd 5).)

D.  No substitution is allowed unless the player is injured.

E.  If a player comes late:

F.  The penalty of not following the rules is one technical foul (with pay) for the 1st time, 2 technical fouls on the 2nd time and so on.

Restrictions - A substitution shall not be permitted to the scoring team when the game clock is stopped following a successful field goal.

• Time-Outs – Any team can call a time-out during a dead ball situation. In the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter, time out will only be granted to the team that has been “scored against”.

Uniform

1.       All players will be required to wear the official team uniform (short & jersey) during all the games.  Due to time constraint in preparation of the league, we will give an allowance of up to 2nd game of not wearing proper uniform.  However, the player should wear the same color of jersey.  On their third game, all players will be required to wear their official team uniform.

2.       Any player who has played and was found not wearing his proper uniform shall be asked to discontinue playing. However, his stint should not affect or change the result of the game.  If the player wears the proper jersey and wrong short, he can be allowed to play provided that he should pay first a fine of P200.00.  If the player is not wearing the proper jersey, he would not be allowed to play even if the opponent team agrees.

Forfeiture

1. A team shall lose the game by forfeiture if it fails to field five (5) players, twenty (20) minutes after the scheduled time for start of the game. (Refer to FIBA Rules 2004, Rule 4 - Playing Regulations Art. 20) .

2. If both teams failed to field five (5) players, both teams lose the game by forfeiture (Refer to FIBA Rules 2006, Rule 4 - Playing Regulations Art. 20) .

3. A team that loses by forfeiture will be penalized with a fine of Php3,000. The fine must be settled before the start of the team's next game.

4. Any team that “walks out” of any scheduled game will lose the game by forfeiture and will be penalized in accordance with Section 3 above.

5. A team that wins by forfeiture shall receive a score of twenty (20) points and the losing team shall receive a score of zero (0) points.

6. The clock at the venue shall be the basis for determining start of game and loss by forfeiture.

Technical Foul, Unsportsmanlike Foul

1. As per FIBA rules, a referee can call a technical foul without giving a warning. A player who collects two technical fouls will be ejected from the game (Refer to FIBA Rules 2006, Rule 6 - Fouls Art. 38 & 39) .

2. Any player who initiates the use of fist or feet with the intention to inflict bodily harm (otherwise, known as initiating a fight) will be charged with a disqualifying foul and shall be ejected from the game, penalized with the appropriate fine, and disqualified outright from the tournament. Said player has to pay the appropriate fine to be allowed to participate in the succeeding tournament (Refer to FIBA Rules 2006, Rule 6 - Fouls Art. 37).

3. Any player may be disqualified from the game for verbal/physical abuse directed at any floor official or members of the technical committee.

4. In the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and of the overtime period, any player who fouls an opposing player without possession of the ball will penalized with a technical foul.

5. A player penalized with two (2) technical fouls or (2) un-sportsmanlike fouls or a combination of both shall be ejected from the game, and penalized accordingly (Refer to FIBA Rules 2006, Rule 6 - Fouls Art. 36 & 38) .

6. Only the Coach and/or Team Captain shall be allowed standing during the progress of the game. A technical foul can be charged against the offending team, only after a warning was given.

7. A disqualified player will not be allowed to sit on the bench nor have verbal or visual contact with his team. He will not be allowed to enter the venue of the games. For violation of this rule, the offending team shall lose the game by forfeiture and receive a score of zero (0) points.

8. Ejected player(s) shall be suspended in the next succeeding game of the team. If the infraction was committed in the last game of the tournament, the penalty will be carried out to the next tournament. If committed on the last playing date of the season, penalty shall be carried out on the first playing day of the succeeding season (See Section H Penalties & Fines) .

9. Ejected players, who have served their suspension, will only be allowed to return to play upon payment of the appropriate fine to the technical committee (See Section H Penalties & Fines) .

10. Players disqualified from a current tournament will only be allowed to return to play in another tournament upon payment of the appropriate fine to the technical committee (See Section H Penalties & Fines) .

D. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

In accordance with the By-Laws of TBL 2008, the Technical Committee shall be composed of the Tournament Commissioner.

The Technical Committee is empowered to make decisions not specifically covered by the tournament rules, and can penalize any member whose action shall be detrimental to the progress of the tournament.

E. PROCEDURE FOR FILING PROTEST

1. To signify that a game is under protest, the Coach and/or Team Captain must sign the scorebook immediately before the floor officials have signed the same.

2. The team concerned must submit a formal written protest to the technical committee within 48 hours after the game.

3. Deposit the amount of equivalent to Php100/per player as cash bond. The same shall be returned in full if the protest is upheld and the same shall be forfeited in favor of the organizing committee if the protest is null and void.

F. FORCE MAJEURE

1. Other than force majeure, scheduled games may be cancelled/reset if schedule falls on a declared holiday, if government offices are closed, or if the owner of the gym where the venue is held has a special activity scheduled on a particular date coinciding with the games of the tournament.

2. If a force majeure occurred in the first half, the game shall be rescheduled from the start of the game.

3. If force majeure occurred in the second half, the game shall be continued at the time it was stopped, and all the scores, the fouls, the time-outs, etc. shall be be carried over to the rescheduled game.

4. All players that are absent/suspended on the time of the force majeure will not be allowed to play on the rescheduled game.

5. All games that are cancelled or reset shall be played before the end of the elimination round.

G. RESOLUTION OF TIE (S) IN TEAM STANDING

The FIBA classification of teams shall take precedence in case of ties.
(Refer to FIBA Rules 2006, D - Classification of Teams)

Procedure

Note: The classification of points shall determine the final placing of teams.

Teams shall be classified according to their win-loss records, namely two (2) points for each game won, one (1) point for each game lost (including lost by default) and zero (0) points for a game lost by forfeit.

1. If there are two teams in the classification with equal points, the result(s) of the game(s) between the two teams involved will be used to determine the placings.

2. If the points and the goal average (quotient system) in the games between the two teams are still the same, the classification will be determined by the goal average of all the games played in the group by each team.

3. If more than two teams are equal in the placings, a second classification will be established, taking into account only the results of the games between the teams that are tied.

4. If there are still teams tied after the second classification, then goal average (quotient system) will be used to determine the placing, taking into account only the results of the games between the teams still tied.

5. If there are still teams tied, the placings will be determined using goal average from the results of all their games played in the group.

6. If, at any stage, using the above criteria, a multiple team tie is reduced to a tie involving only two teams, the procedure in Steps1 and 2 above will be applied.

7. If, at any stage, it is reduced to a tie still involving more than two teams, the procedure, beginning with Step 3 above, is repeated.

8. Goal average will always be calculated by division.

Example:
Two teams - equal points and only one game played between them.

The winner of the game between A and B will be classified first and the winner of D and E be classified fourth.

Further examples of the classification rule:
More than two teams - equal points:

Results between A, B, C

Therefore

If the goal average is the same for the three teams, the final placing will be determined from the results of all their games played in the group.

H. PENALTIES AND FINES

1. The following fines shall apply:
• One (1) technical foul or one (1) un-sportsmanlike fouls or a combination of both.................... Php 500.00
• Disqualifying foul or two (2) technical foul ............................................................................ Php 1,000.00
• Team technical foul ........................................................................ Php 1,100.00 or Php100/player or whichever is greater
• Forfeiture ....................................................................................... Php 3,000.00

2. No player or team shall be allowed to return to play until the appropriate fine/penalty has been settled with the technical committee.

I. PLAY-OFF RULES

1.  If a player does not attend a total of five (5) games during the elimination round, will not be eligible to play in the play-off round.

2.  Force-to-play system will not be applied after the elimination round.

J. TOURNAMENT FORMAT

 

DIVISION QUARTER-FINALS ROUND (Twice to beat)  - The winners in the wild card round will enter the quarter-finals.  The 1st placer will play against 8th or 9th placer.  The 2nd placer will play against 7th and 10th placer. The 3rd placer will play against 6th placer.  The 4th placer will play against 5th placer.  Twice to beat applies to the top 4 teams of every group.