Grades 3 through 8: Boys & Girls

Welcome to the 2026-27 season. As you read these rules, you will realize that TBA strives to maintain a  program that allows each player to realize his or her full potential, while keeping the ideals of sportsmanship  and fair play above all else.  

Since this is a recreational league, competitiveness is downplayed while participation and fun are  emphasized. There are some fundamental safety rules enforced at all grade levels. These include:  ● Absolutely no jewelry of any kind is allowed except NFHS exceptions 

● Metal and hard plastic hair clips are prohibited. Exception per NFHS: Hair adornments made of hard  material are permitted provided they are securely fastened close to the head and do not present an  increased risk to the player, teammates or opponents. 

● No casts of any kind are allowed  

● Absolutely no food or drink is allowed in any gym as per school district rules. Only individual plastic  water bottles containing water are allowed. No sports drinks, coffee or pop. Violations may each result  in a bench technical foul. 

● Flash photography is prohibited during play.  

● No spectators will be allowed to stand or sit along the endlines during game play. At Fowler,  temporary foot traffic will be permitted in order to access Court 2 (farther from main entry). 

By following these safety rules, the program provides a safe environment for our children. We expect every  coach, player, parent and spectator to adhere to these rules.  

Players who participate in practices must play at least 50% of each game held that week. It is the  responsibility of parents to report any non-compliance of this rule to the TBA Hoop Line. 

GAME RULES: ALL GRADE LEVELS 3 through 8  

TBA operates under the current rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations  (NFHS) with the following modifications and exceptions. Referee decisions are final. TBA does not  recognize appeals.  

At least 5 minutes prior to the start of each game, each head coach will:  

a) Produce a volunteer to work at the scorer’s table.  

b) Present a roster with player names (first and last) and jersey numbers to the scorekeeper.  c) Penalty for each a) and b): administrative team technical foul – 2 shots for opposing team and  possession of the ball to start the game.  

TBA-issued jerseys for the current season must be worn, or the game will start with an administrative  technical foul for each violation. If both teams violate, the technicals do not offset each other. The technicals  count as team fouls, but not player fouls or indirect coach technicals. Players may participate with non conforming jerseys after penalties have been assessed.  

Undershirts and shooting sleeves may be of any color. 

Only registered TBA players shall participate in TBA games. Use of a player in a game who is not registered  will result in the game being declared a forfeit, and the head coach receiving a flagrant technical foul (with  ejection) for unsportsmanlike conduct.  

Any coach, player or spectator ejected from a game will, at a minimum, be suspended from attending all TBA  activities for one week.  

Teams should have at least six players to start the game. If a team has fewer than six , they may play with  four or five, or they may recruit other registered TBA players who are in the gym at the time and who are of  the same gender and the same grade level or below, Only as many players as it takes to get to a full  complement of six are allowed to be recruited. If that team's roster players arrive during the game, they must  replace the non-roster players at the next substitution opportunity, and the non-roster players cannot  participate further in the game except for injury.  

If a number of players are disqualified to reduce the available players to less than five, the most recently  disqualified player(s) may remain in the game, but each foul assessed thereafter against a disqualified player  shall be penalized as a result of the foul, plus one free throw and possession of the ball by a throw-in.  

If a team is assessed 3 unsportsmanlike technical fouls in a game, that team forfeits and the game will end.  This is in addition to any individual sanctions that may result.  

Any profanity from a player or coach is considered to be a flagrant technical foul, which includes ejection  from the game. Parents and/or spectators may be ejected at any time for unsportsmanlike behavior at the  discretion of the officials and/or TBA board members.  

Any coach receiving 2 unsportsmanlike technical fouls in separate games must serve a one week  suspension from all TBA activities. Any player or coach ejected twice in a season will be dropped from TBA.  

Any player yelling at an opponent may be considered unacceptable conduct by the referees. The first offense  shall result in a team warning. The ball will be awarded to the opponents for a spot throw in. A second  offense is considered unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a team technical foul.  

TBA does not recognize a designated coaching box at any level and coaches must remain seated except  that the head coach may stand to request a timeout, confer with the scorer’s table, or spontaneously react to  an outstanding play by a team member.  

SIZE OF BALL: Boys grades 7-8 use 29.5” ball, boys grades 5-6 and girls grades 5-8 use 28.5” ball, boys  and girls grades 3-4 use 27.5” ball.  

GAME TIMING:  

Games shall consist of 10 minute running clock quarters for grades 5-8; 9 minute quarters for grades 3-4.  Half time will be 3 minutes. 1 minute between quarters. The clock stops for free throws and timeouts. If the  score differential is less than 10 points in the last 2 minutes of a game, timing will change to stop clock for the  remainder of the game. There will be no overtime periods during the regular season. If games are running  long, the officials may alter the timing regulations as needed to stay on schedule.  

Playoff games with the scored tied at the end of regulation will play a single 2 min OT, stop clock. 1 30 sec  TO per team. If needed, a 2nd OT will be sudden death (first team to score wins the game).  

NOTE ON RUNNING CLOCK GAMES:  

Following a timeout, the clock will start at the same time it would in a stop clock game and thereafter the  clock will run.  

Each team may be granted up to 2 full timeouts per half. Unused timeouts do not carry over into the second  half. No 30 second timeouts. 

It is important that all games begin and end on schedule. When your game is completed, please exit  quickly so the next game’s personnel may prepare for their game.  

3rd & 4th Boys and Girls - Introduction to Basketball  

The purpose of the 3rd and 4th grade programs is to teach boys and girls the fundamentals of the game. with  emphasis on sportsmanship and fair play. To achieve this goal, special rules apply.  

The score shall not be shown if at any time either team has a lead of 15 points or more. The current score  will continue to be maintained in the scorebook.  

Back court guarding, zone defenses and isolation plays (set plays involving only a single offensive player)  are not allowed at any time. In the front-court, defensive players must remain within six feet of their opponent  and must pick them up by the time that player reaches the top of the key in the front court. Double teaming is  allowed only when the ball-handler is in the key. A “double-team” is two defenders actively guarding and  facing an offensive player.  

The offensive team needs to be allowed to advance the ball into the front court. 

Only 1 player substitution at a time, from each team, will be allowed to enter the game except at the start and  midway point of each quarter. The timer will verbally notify referees as near as possible to the midway point  of each quarter. The referees will then call a 30 second timeout for substitutions to enter the court and  players to be matched up with the assistance of their coaches. This timeout is not to be used for a strategy  huddle.  

Players will be allowed up to 5 seconds in the key.  

5 second closely guarded violations will not be called.  

Free throws are shot from a line 4 feet closer than standard. Strict adherence to the line will be enforced.  All games will use a nine foot hoop.  

Two warnings per team, per type, will be issued for violations of the no back court, zone, illegal double teaming and isolation rules. Subsequent violations may be assessed team technical fouls.  

5th-8th Grade Rules

If at any time during the game a team has a lead of 15 or more points, that team is not allowed to defend in  the back court. The offensive team needs to be allowed to advance the ball into the front court. One warning  per team shall be given for violations of the no backcourt guarding rule. Subsequent violations may be  assessed as team technical fouls.  

If a team has a lead of over 30 points, the score will not be shown on the scoreboard, and the clock will run  during free throws. The current score will continue to be maintained in the scorebook.  

5th Boys and 5th/6th Girls: Free throws will be shot from a line 2 feet shorter than standard. Strict adherence to the line will be enforced. 

6,7,8 Boys, 7,8 Girls: Free throws will be shot from standard distance (15 ft). Strict adherence to the line will be enforced