Merrimack Basketball Rules

Merrimack basketball League

Rules of play

2024-2025 updated rules will be in red

 

  1. The Merrimack Basketball League shall consist of: 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, 7th/8th grade and High School boys/girls basketball. Divisions will be set at pre-season jamborees for those age groups with sufficient numbers.
  2. Towns participating in the league will provide a director to sit on the governing board, which will consist of town directors/representative, president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary. Each town/school will only draw players from their own towns, school, school district or affiliated parish. Any exceptions to this will have to be approved by the current board of directors and officers.
  • Each town/school will be required to pay an entry fee per team, an amount to be set by the board.
  • Fees will be due by January 1st of each season. If fee isn’t turned in, Risk of penalty of forfeiture of games until paid.
  • Each town/school will be required to submit a roster for EACH team entering the league. Rosters are due prior to the first game. Any additions/deletions to the roaster MUST be made on or before the January meeting so that the Board may act on them if necessary.
  • Official rosters must be turned in prior to the 1st. jamboree or risk the penalty of forfeiture of games until roster is turned in.
  1. Player eligibility and restrictions:
  • A player must participate in ONLY one (1) class and on ONLY (1) team in this league. Exception: MBL team may play in out of league tournaments.
  • Players rostered on a community’s school team are permitted to play in the Merrimack Basketball League if permitted by their school and/or community program.
  • Players must be present and in uniform for at least 50% of scheduled games in order to play in the play-off tournament (exceptions: i.e.: sick/medical approved absences). 
  • A player must register and compete under one Name on one team (see above) except in the situation of relocation. Should the player move during the playing season, he or she may play for either team of the players, BUT ONLY ONE. This choice must be made on the date he or she changes address, and the league Director should be notified and in turn must notify the other Directors/President and Secretary as soon as possible. This should all be done through his or her coach. If a player desires to transfer from one team to another (for reasons other than a change of address) such transfer must be done for a valid reason and DONE ON OR BEFORE THE DECEMBER BOARD MEETING OF THAT PARTICULAR SEASON.
  • Age verification of player is made by birth certificates to a director and/or coach from such verification. Players may play up at each town’s discretion. THE AGE LIMITS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
  • 2nd graders only at the discretion of individual towns.
  • 3rd/4th - must be 3rd/4th grade. (exceptions must be brought to the league for approval)
  • 5th/6th - 12 or younger and in the 5th/6th grade as of August 31 of that year. (exceptions must be brought to the league for approval)
  • 7th/8th - 14 or younger and in the 7th/8th grade as of August 31 of that year.  (exceptions must be brought to the league for approval)
  • If a participant is found to be ineligible during the season after the submission of rosters the player will be declared ineligible and will be moved onto a higher level and if no higher level exists, removed from the league.
  • If a team knows that they are only going to have 4-5 players, they may ask a coach from another team if there is a player that could fill in. It consists of equal grade or lower, a higher grade or division isn’t allowed to play down. This is only allowed in urgent cases to eliminate a forfeit. This isn't a recurring action; players aren't allowed to be rostered on multiple teams. This will be for regular season only (not in the playoffs) and will need to notify the opposing coach at time of game.
  • Teams are as followed:
    • 3/4 grade will be split into equal teams based on the players fundamentals. This level is not to be split into divisions.
    • 5/6 & 7/8 teams may be split into divisions (A or 1), (B or 2) or (C or 3) based on their fundamentals.
  1. Team Uniforms:
  • All teams MUST have uniforms and their uniforms MUST be numbered front and back. Official NHIAA rules governing basketball Legal numbers are: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 00, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 53,54, 55. Also, no garment worn under the shorts will extend more than two (2) inches below the bottom of the shorts.
  • Sponsored company logos will be allowed only on the back of the uniform.
  • Shirts worn under the uniform top will be of solid color and it should match the main color of the uniform.

  5. Forfeiture of Games:

  • Any violation of the rules set forth but the Merrimack Basketball League as to classification or eligibility constitutes ineligibility.
  • Every game after in which a player has been deemed ineligible but participates constitutes ineligibility and a forfeit will be awarded to the offending team opponent automatically.
  • Failure of a team to field a 3-player squad in fifteen (15) minutes of scheduled time exclusive of weather conditions, unless mutually agreed upon by the coaches of said game ahead of time will result in a forfeit.
  • Make up games - Host team will suggest 3 make-up dates. If the dates don't work and the games can't be resolved. The decision will be brought to the board to determine whether it will be considered a tie or loss. Make-up games must be made up before the last game of the season or appeal to the board.
  • Overtime - There is NO overtime, unless there is no game after, both teams agree and agreed by the refs. Overtime is 4 minutes.

  6. Game Scores:

  • Each coach will be responsible for contacting the division coordinators (A new form with link will be provided to add your score by each coach and submitted) after each game to submit the game scores giving a 24 hour period. If the scores aren't  submitted by the following Wednesday, following the Saturday's games. Both scores will be entered as “0", until both scores have been submitted.

  7. Officials:

  • Each town/school will be responsible for getting refs for their scheduled games, jamborees and tournaments. The league will not pay for referees during the regular season. The league will pay the referees for the jamborees and the playoffs.

  8. Advertisements:

  • A town is allowed to post game information in the papers, but no scores if more than a 20-point spread. Only win/loss should be indicated and follow mercy-rule, no large spread games mention with scores.
  • All other information from the game is allowed. 

  9. Jamboree:

  • One jamboree will be held at the beginning of each season for 3/4. 5/6 & 7/8 grades will both have one jamborees with the purpose of properly seeding each team in a division for equity and competitive play. 
  • 10. Mercy Rule.
  • The Mercy Rule will be implemented when a team is ahead by 20 points for 3/4, 5/6 & 7/8 and 30 points for HS. At this time there will be a 30 second "REF" timeout to allow the coaches to explain to the players that the Mercy Rule is in effect. It will stay in effect until the team reaches the 15-point difference. 
  • The team that is ahead by 20 cannot press and defense must be within the 3-point arc. Three-point shots will not be counted. A minimum of three (3) passes must be made in DEFENSIVE zone only before a shot. If a shot is made before the three (3) passes the shot doesn’t count. There is to be no breakaway for the team that is up by 20.
  • At the time of Mercy rule, coaches discuss whether running the clock should be considered an option. The team that is down will choose whether they want the running clock.
  • If a player or coach, does not follow the Mercy Rules. You will be giving a warning. If this continues, your director will decide whether you will continue to coach.

  11. Assistant coaches

  • Will NOT be allowed off the bench, only for time outs, even when head coach gets a technical.  An assistant may fill in if the head coach isn’t present. –

  12. Tournaments:

  • There are no ties in playoffs. Tie breakers will be played as 3 minutes for 3/4 and 4 minutes for 5/6, 7/8 & HS.
  • 3/4 games are played the first full week of February.
  • 5/6 games are played in the 2nd week of February.
  • 7/8 & HS are played the 3rd week of February.
  • ** If there is no availability during these times, any division at any level can be played during February to get the games played. If there is no town available to hold a tournament for a specific division. There will still be trophies for the 1st and 2nd place for that division.

  13.  Guards, casts, braces and compression sleeves must meet the following guidelines:

  • ​a. A guard, cast or brace made of a hard and unyielding substance, such as, but not limited to, leather, plaster, plastic or metal shall not be worn on the elbow, hand, finger/thumb, wrist or forearm; even though covered with soft padding.
  • b. Hard and unyielding items (guards, casts, braces, etc.) on the upper arm or shoulder must be padded with a closed-cell, slow recovery foam padding no less than ½” thick.
  • c. Knee and ankle braces which are unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production are permitted and do not require any additional padding/covering.
  • d. A protective face mask may be worn and made of hard material but must be worn molded to the face with no protrusions.
  • e. Must be worn for medical reasons.

  14. Medical and Religion Exceptions:

  •  On the headband, there is an exception for Medical and Religious reasons. If the coaches are asked why a player is wearing a head covering and the coach states, it is for Medical or Religious reasons. The official and other team has no right to challenge.

  15. Jewelry:

  • Jewelry is completely banned, no exceptions. Only two items do not have to be removed a Religious Medal, Medical Bracelet, Medical Necklace. Although the items must be taped with medical tape.

  16. Sportsmanship: Zero Tolerance: IS FOR ANYONE THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH ANOTHER PERSON

  • If the league hears of any misconduct from a player(s) or coach (es). The league will issue a game suspension. If there is a second complaint, the league will issue a suspension for the remaining season. The coaches are in charge of their spectators and are expected to handle any misconduct. If there are any spectators that have any misconduct, they will be asked to stop. If they continue, they will be asked to leave. If this is persisitent, the spectator will not be allowed to anymore MBL games at any venue.
  • The league will not tolerate any misconduct.

  17. Equal Playing Time:

  • The league will not enforce equal playing time, but each player is required to play in each quarter. The league highly recommends that each team makes every effort to play players equally. Each town will enforce their own rule for equal playing time.

  18. Team Fouls:

  • As of this season, the NFHS has changed the rules for team fouls. When a team reaches 5 team fouls, their opponent  will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the "bonus". This rule eliminates the one - and - one scenario and sets new fouls limits each quarter for awarding the bonus free throw. Player fouls will stay the same.

   19. Time Outs:

  1.  Each team will be allowed: 2 - 30 second time outs and 3- 60 second time outs.

 

    20. Playing Rules

A. 3rd/4th boys/girls’ basketball

1. Quarters will be 6 minutes.

2. Basket height will be 8.5 feet where available. (Some towns may only have 10', which they will need to communicate to teams)

3. Youth Ball - size 5 - 27.5 balls.

4. Foul shots 13 ft or 1 giant step.

5. No back court defense, until one minute remaining in the game. 

6. Three-point shots will be scored.

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B. 5th/6th boys/girls’ basketball

1. Quarters will be 8 minutes.

2. Standard NHIAA playing rules will apply to games.

3. Three-point shots will be scored.

4.  Boys/Girls- size 6 - 28.5 balls.

5. Basket height is 10'.

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C. 7th/8th boys/girls’ basketball

1. Quarters will be 8 minutes.

2. Standard NHIAA playing rules will apply to games.

3. Three-point shots will be scored.

4.  Boys - size 7 - 29.5 balls / Girls - size 6 - 28.5 balls.

5.  Basket height is 10'

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D. High School Basketball

1. Quarters will be 8 minutes.

2. Standard NHIAA playing rules will apply to games.

3. Three-point shots will be scored.

4. Boys - size 7 - 29.5 balls / Girls - size 6 - 28.5 balls.

5. Basket height is 10'

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