Basketball Rules

Eligibility

1. Texas Lutheran University students, faculty and staff and their spouses are eligible to participate in intramural sports.
2. Dependants or guests are not eligible to participate.
3. Varsity athletes and red shirts may not participate in the same intramural sport that they play.
4. Former varsity players may play the year following their last season of play. (Limit of 3 per roster!)
5. A player must be on the roster to play and cannot be on 2 rosters in the same division. (May play men’s or women’s, and Co-ed.)
6. All players must present their TLU ID or activity card (spouses) to play in a game.

Equipment

1. Participants should remove all jewelry before the game begins. The official will have the final say in this matter.
2. Everyone must be wearing non-marking athletic shoes. Individuals should tape metal braces before the game.

Players

1. A team will consist of 5 players. If four players are present, the game will begin at the scheduled time. There will be a limit of 12 per roster. If you have more-form another team!
2. A team will be allowed to play with less than 4 players if during the game a player is injured or fouls out of the game.
3. Each team must provide a scorekeeper for one half of the game!

Forfeits

1. A twenty-dollar forfeit fee is due at the managers’ meeting. If your team does not have a forfeit this fee will be returned to you. (No forfeit fee for Holiday Basketball)
2. Game time is forfeit time.
3. In order to call a forfeit, the opposing team must have at least 4 players present and be ready to play.
4. If neither team has 4 players present, a double forfeit will occur.
5. If you know your team cannot play a game call the Intramural office at ext. 6762 by noon the day of your game and it will be recorded as a loss, not a forfeit. You may do this for no more than two games! (not applicable to tournament play)

Play

1. Length of game
   1. A game will consist of two 20-minute halves (running clock).
   2. There will be a 3-minute half time unless both teams agree to continue the game.
   3. The clock will stop only for time-outs and injuries.
   4. If the teams are within 10 points of each other with one minute remaining, the clock will then stop for all dead-ball situations.
   5. Overtime: In the event of a tie after regulation time, a one-minute overtime period will be played.
2. Time-Outs
   1. Each team will have two one-minute time-outs per game. These may be taken any time in the first or second half.
   2. Each team will have a 30 second time out per overtime period.

Fouls

Free throws will be awarded in the following situations:

1. Personal fouls in the act of shooting:
   1. If the shot is missed, 2 free throws will be awarded.
   2. If the shot is made, 1 free throw will be awarded.
   3. If the shot is from 3-point range, 3 free throws will be awarded.
   4. During free throws, players will be allowed to play the release of the shot.
2. Bonus situation:
   1. Bonus free throws (one and one) will be awarded beginning with the 7th team foul of the half.
   2. After 10 fouls in a half, the opposing team will be awarded 2 free throws for the remainder of the half.
3. Intentional Fouls:
   1. This is a judgement call by the official and will be called when there “does not appear to be a legitimate attempt to play the ball” or “excessive contact” has occurred.
   2. Penalty: 2 shots and possession.
4. Technical Fouls:
   1. A non-contact foul which included profanity, obscene gestures, abusive language, or any other unsportsmanlike conduct.
   2. This is also a judgement call by the official.
   3. Penalty: 2 points and possession at mid-court.
   4. 2 technical fouls by one player will result in an ejection from the game.
   5. 3 technical fouls by the same team will result in the game being forfeited by that team.
5. Flagrant Fouls:
   A personal foul that involves one of the following:
   1. Violent contact with an opponent (including striking with the elbow, kicking, kneeing, moving under a player who is in the air, etc.) that might cause serious injury to the opponent.
   2. This is a judgement call by the official.
   3. Penalty: 2 points, possession at mid-court, and automatic ejection of the offending player.

Substitutions

1. Substitutions can be made only during dead ball situations: time outs, violations, and fouls.
2. Substitutes must check-in with the scorekeeper and only enter when motioned on by an official.
3. Players may re-enter as many times as desired unless they have fouled out (5 personal fouls) or have been removed from the game for some other reason.
4. No substitutions for the free throw shooter will be made unless the shooter is unable to continue play.

Jump Balls

1. A jump ball will start the game.
2. Alternating possessions will be awarded in all other jump ball situations as well as at the beginning of the second half of play.

Player / Captain Conduct

1. If a player is ejected, the following will apply:
   1. The player must leave the building immediately.
   2. The player is ineligible to participate until they meet with the Intramural Director.
2. Each team must designate a Captain before each game. The Captain will be the only person responsible for communicating with the officials.
3. Coaches must remain in the immediate area of the bench; they cannot walk the entire length of the sidelines. Two non-playing coaches will be allowed on the bench. All other non-players must be in stands or stand area. Each team needs to provide a scorekeeper for one half of the game.
4. Swearing at, threatening, and or touching officials and/or supervisors is reason for immediate ejection and ineligibility for a length of time to be determined by the director.
5. Foul language directed at opposing players and/or loud enough to be heard in the stands may be grounds for a technical foul and/or ejection from the game.

Protests

A protest must be filed with the official in charge of the contest and at the same time the prompting incident occurs. The official in charge of the contest should notify both teams whenever any protest intent is lodged. Both the official and the team managers should ascertain all details required should a protest proceed to the Intramural Director.

Protests may be filed on the use of an ineligible player or when interpretation of the rules is incorrect and actually involves the score and/or outcome of the contest. Under no circumstances will an official’s judgement be grounds for protest. The Intramural Director will determine if a protest is valid and will render a decision based on the information ascertained by the officials and team managers.

Co-Rec Modifications

In Co-Rec play women’s field goal shots are scored as three and women’s three point shots will be scored as four and free throws as two. All other rules in regular play apply the same.

Each team will consist of five players – 3 men and 2 women or 3 women and 2 men. The game may begin or continue with four players as long as there are at least 2 women on the court at a time. Substitutions are allowed on a man for man or woman as long as there are two women on the court.

Uniforms

Uniforms will be checked out with a TLU ID or driver’s licenses. You must wear an intramural jersey or have team shirts of the same color with numbers on them to participate. All players’ jerseys shall be tucked in at all times.

Playoffs

1. Each player must play in two games with their team prior to play-offs.
2. It is each player’s responsibility to check in with his/her ID each game to be checked off. If a player does not have two checks by his/her name before playoffs, he/she will not be eligible for playoffs.
3. No forfeited games.
4. Players committing unsportsmanlike fouls or intentional fouls will be ejected during play-off games. Anyone ejected from a playoff game will be out for the remainder of the tournament.

Intramural Director: Johna Goff ext. 6347
Campus Recreation Director: Debbie Roberts ext. 6762