LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP BOY'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE

BYLAWS

7TH and 8TH GRADE

 PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this program is to provide a recreational experience for the boys of Lawrence Township with emphasis placed on teaching basic basketball fundamentals and skills. The development of team play and good sportsmanship, with a minimum amount of tension on the participants, will be the objective of the program.

 

Although competition will be an integral part of the program, every effort will be exerted to maintain a low key, well supervised, organized and safety oriented atmosphere in which the participant will play in.

 

Finally, but by no means of lessor importance, a vital aim of the program will be to encourage a wholesome, cooperative effort on the part of the spectators as they relate to players, coaches and game officials.

 

1. FINANCING: Although this program will be operated on a volunteer basis, there will be a minimal fee of ninety ($90.00) dollars charged to provide for the basic needs of equipment, uniforms and awards. Etc.

 

2. SPONSORS: Sponsors will be permitted in the program (i.e., service organizations).

 

3. AWARDS & TROPHIES: Awards and trophies are given by the league each year and are not to be given to the players in the program by parents and/or coaches.

 

4. BOUNDARIES: All participants in the program must be residents within the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township or a student thereof.

 

5. REGISTRATION: It is on a first come first served basis with at least one parent or guardian's written consent for participation required.

 

6. GAME EQUIPMENT: The gymnasiums and basketballs are furnished by the league for each game. Participants are not to bring basketballs to league games! All participants must wear non marking soled shoes.

 

7. SCHEDULE: League practice and game times and schedules will be prepared and distributed by the League Board of Directors. No unscheduled or outside practices may be held.

 

8. SELECTION OF COACHES AND VOLUNTEERS:

 

1)      The Board of Directors and its committees will select coaches.

 

2)      Any new head coach will pick his assistant coach after the player draft.

 

3)      A coach may not coach more than one team in the league.

 

9. COACHES RESPONSIBILITIES: The responsibilities apply to ALL coaches' both head coaches and assistant coaches in the league.

 

Coaches are required to:

 

1)      Attend ALL scheduled meetings, the player draft and clinics.

 

2)      Complete any paperwork required by the League (i.e., team rosters, signing score books, etc.).

 

3)      Call ALL players and parents as soon as possible after the player draft and before the first scheduled practice providing them with all pertinent information about the team, the League and yourself. It is important to call as soon as possible. The players have been waiting to hear from you!

 

4)      Notify all players' parents in the event of any changes or cancellation of any practice session or scheduled game.

 

5)      Ensure that no players are left unattended during or after practices or games.

 

6)      Provide all players with a team roster and game schedule.

 

7)      Provide a qualified scorekeeper/timekeeper for each game. The board and its members will handle scorekeeping and the scoreboard for the tournament dates.

 

8)      The League is responsible for the gyms and facilities used for practices and games. The responsibility is delegated and discharges through each team coach. Ensure players, siblings and other family members conduct themselves properly and respect school/gym property.

 

9)      All coaches will be provided with, read and become familiar with the Lawrence Township Boy's Basketball League Rules & By-Laws and Code of Conduct agreement.

 

10)  Coaches must make themselves available to assist the League Commissioners for "general supervision" duties at the gym sites on game days.

 

11)  Create a positive environment for all team members at all practices and games.

 

12)  Create positive self esteem in each player throughout the course of the season.

 

13)  Coaches will be required to teach fundamentals of basketball, good sportsmanship and leadership. Encourage and insist upon good sportsmanship from players and parents. This applies to practice sessions as well as games. It is especially important for the coaches to demonstrate, as well as teach, in this regard.

 

14)  Coaches will set an example for their teams. They will refrain from:

a.       reprimanding players on the floor before spectators or fellow team members.

b.      baiting of officials or disputing decisions.

c.       riding the opposition or fans by words or gestures.

d.      permitting a player to reenter a game if injured.

e.       physically abusing any player or fan.

 

15)  Emphasize good fundamentals above all else in all practice sessions and games. Emphasis should include fundamentals of:

a.       Shooting

b.      Passing

c.       Defensive technique

d.      Rebounding

e.       Dribbling

f.        Movement without the ball

g.       Basic rules

16)  Emphasize teamwork over individual play. Involve all team members in the flow of play.

 

17)  Conduct practices with safety of the players in mind at all times.

 

Note: If a problem arises concerning any member(s) of the coaching staff; the Board will take whatever action is necessary to correct the situation.

 

TEAM STRUCTURE

 

1.      A team will consist of no more than ten (10) players per team.

 

2.      All participants will be by grade and age level determined by the Board. No Exceptions!

 

3.      After the player draft is complete, a team roster will be provided to coaches by the League giving player name, telephone numbers, school grade and shirt size.

 

4.      The son of the coach, or the brother of a player who ~s already a member of a team will automatically be eligible for that team the following year unless the parents of the player request the Board place the player on a different team.

 

5.      The League, as previously stated, promotes proper discipline, attitude and sportsmanship in addition to learning basic basketball skills. Once a player has been placed on a team for the current season, they certainly can be dismissed for disciplinary reasons with the approval of the coach and League Board of Directors. It is the responsibility of the coach to notify the player and his parents of the action and to explain the reason for the action.

 

6.      Player practice attendance is mandatory. Two (2) consecutive misses without notifying the coach can be cause for dismissal.

7.      If a coach does not return for a second year, the players on that team will be placed in the League draft.

 

8.    After the fourth game of the season, the League Commissioner shall re-evaluate scoring    leaders and adjust player ranking, if necessary, to ensure League parity.

 

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP BOY'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE

PLAYING RULES

7TH and 8TH GRADE

 

 

PLAYING RULES

 

 All games will be played under the IHSSA rules with the following exceptions:

 

1.      All 7th and 8th grade boys will play eight (8) minute running quarters. The clock will stop on fouls, timeouts and after each whistle during the last two (2) minutes of the third quarter, the fourth quarter and any overtime. The clock starts when a player in bounds touches the ball, and when the ball touches any player following a foul shot. There will be one (1) minute between quarters and three (3) minutes between halves. Overtime will be limited to two four (4) minute periods, except in playoff games where there must be a winner.

 

2.      There are four (4) sixty second timeouts per game, with one (1) timeout per overtime.  Regulation period timeouts WILL NOT roll over into overtime.

 

3.      Substitutions:

 

1)      Each youth must play one (1) full quarter per half.  If for disciplinary reasons a youth is going to be held out of a game, the scorers' bench and the Commissioner or Board Members must be notified prior to the game. Failure to comply will be forfeiture of the game.

 

2)      No youth can play more than three (3) quarters during regulation time.

 

3)      A grading system will apply to substitution in cases of absences, injury and fouled out players.

 

4)      If a player shows up at half time, he can play a maximum of only one (1) quarter in the second half of the game.

 

5)      A coach may choose any five (5) players from his team for the overtime period(s) provided they qualify to play.

 

6)      Any exceptions caused by injury or illness must be approved by the Board before the game is played.  The coach may, for disciplinary reasons, withhold a child from play. The coach must notify a Board member, the opposing team coach and the scorekeeper of this action before the game is played.  The referees or league officials are responsible for making decisions as the game is played.

 

4.      A violation will be called after time in the free throw lane exceeds three (3) seconds.

 

5.      Back Court Defense:   Guarding players in the back court (also known as “full court pressure”) will be allowed under the following conditions:

 

1)      If the difference in the game score is less than 20 points, both teams may full court press man-to-man or zone for the entire game, and in overtime.

 

2)      If a pressing team’s lead is below 20 points, it may press all players until the lead reaches 20 points.  If the difference in the score is 20 points or greater, only the team that is trailing will be allowed to use full court pressure defense.

 

6.      Free Throws:

 

1)      Players will use the designated free throw line.

 

2)      Players may not enter the free throw lane until the ball the touches the rim.

 

7.      Fouls:

 

1)      Each player will be limited to five (5) fouls. Each player will be required to raise his hand after a foul he has been called for a foul.

 

2)      Any player or coach receiving two technical fouls will be ejected from the game.  The coach will be required to leave the gym and the player may remain on the team bench at the discretion of the game officials if the offending player is not a disruption to their team or the game.  Both the coach and the offending player will be required to serve a one game suspension for the next game per IHSAA rules.

 

3)      Offensive language or gestures may require an immediate ejection (i.e. only one technical foul) for either a coach or player at the discretion of the game officials.

 

4)      A player serving a one game suspension will automatically be reinstated after their one game suspension, but a conference between the player, League Commissioner, Coach and the player(s) parents must take place prior to the player returning to the game court to reinforce acceptable behavior, the goals and rules of the League and to judge the commitment of all parties.

 

5)      A coach serving a one game suspension must petition the Operations Committee of LTBBL for reinstatement prior to returning to coach a practice or game.  The Operations Committee will review the severity of the incident and judge the coach’s attitude and commitment to League goals, policies and standards.  Coaches represent LTBBL as our most visible and influential ambassadors and will be held accountable to the highest standards.

 

8.      Scoring:  The coaches will be required to sign the scoresheets before leaving the game site.

 

9.   ALL DECISIONS BY THE BOARD ARE FINAL.