Bedford Classic - Rules

Bedford Classic 2023 Game Rules

FIBA GAME RULES WILL APPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS: All Age Levels

• 1-minute quarter break (does not apply for U10 & U12 who use shifts)
• U18, U16, U14, U12 - 5 minute half time, U10 - 2 minute half time (half times may be shortened if games are running behind)
• 8-second backcourt and 24-second shot clock count (shot clock maintained by refs)
• Each team shall be permitted a total of five time outs, two of which may be taken in the first half, 3 of which may be taken in the second half with only two permitted to be taken in the final 2 minutes of play.
• Any coach ejected from a game is suspended from their succeeding scheduled game (out of the gym, not just off the bench). Inappropriate coach conduct could warrant a more severe penalty.
• Only head coach may stand during games. All other bench personnel must sit.

U16 & U18 - All Levels

Game Time - 4 x 10 minute quarters. No overtime in round robin play, 5 minute overtimes in medal games only until a winner is decided.

Ball Size: Girls - Size 6 (28.5) Boys - Size 7 (29.5)

Playing Time- while not mandatory or enforced, for player development it is strongly recommended that each individual play a minimum of twenty-five percent of the game time.

U14 - All Levels

Game Time - 4 x 8 minute quarters (includes 2 x 4 minute shifts per quarter).No overtime in round robin play, 4 minute overtimes in medal games only until a winner is decided.

Ball Size: Girls - Size 6 (28.5)

Playing Time- Equal Play - In all levels of U14 Division 3 and lower, no one player shall play more than a one shift difference than any other team mate over the duration of the first three quarters of the game. If players have not been used in accordance with “Equal Playing Time” by the end of the third quarter, the scorer shall record clearly on the score sheet that the game is a default against the violating team. The coach may substitute freely during the 4th quarter. U14 division 1 and 2 playing time is decided at the discretion of the coach. However, participating coaches are reminded that the Bedford Classic supports a Fair Play policy.

Substitutions during a shift - If a player fouls out, becomes injured or is unable to play their shift during the first 3 quarters of play, the player replacing this player will be charged with the full shift and the injured or unable to play player will also be charged for the full shift. The coach may if he or she so chooses to not substitute a player and play with only 4 for the remainder of the shift. This rule does not apply to the 4th quarter of play or any overtime periods.

Defense - Man to man only, no double teaming the ball or a player, and No Zone Defense. If in the view of the Referee there is intent to play a zone defence or double team, the following penalties shall be assessed:

• On the first offence, play shall be stopped and a warning shall be issued to the coach utilizing the illegal defence. Play shall resume with the ball being awarded to the offensive team.
• On the second and any subsequent offence, the offensive team shall be awarded one free throw and possession at the point of interruption.

Game Time - 4 x 8 minute quarters (includes 2 x 4 minute shifts per quarter). No overtime in round robin play, 4 minute overtimes in medal games only until a winner is decided.

Ball Size: Girls and Boys - Size 5 (27.5)

Playing Time - Equal Play - No one player shall play more than a one shift difference than any other team mate. If a minimum of 8 players have not been used in accordance with “Equal Playing Time” by game’s end, the scorer shall record clearly on the score sheet that the game is a default against the violating team and report as such to both coaches and the Facility Manager. Physical Maturity Exception - Should a player arrive at or after half-time they will not be required to play all of the remaining shifts. It will be required that they play at least half of the remaining shifts in their game. In this case the “one shift difference” rule will not apply but no player on the team can play more than 5 shifts.

The coach is expected to notify the scorekeeper that a new player has arrived. When a player arrives late or leaves early there is a section at the bottom of the shift sheet for the scorers to record this information.

Substitutions during a shift - If a player fouls out, becomes injured or is unable to play their shift, they must be replaced by a player who has not played for more than 20 minutes (5 shifts X 4 minutes). The player replacing this player will be charged with the full shift and the injured or unable to play player will also be charged for the full shift. The coach may choose to not substitute a player and play the remainder of the shift with only 4 players.

Minimum number of players - A team shall consist of not less than eight (8) players, five of whom must be present to start a game and 8 players by the start of play in the second half. In the event of a default due to a shortage of players, the game shall still be officiated and scored but recorded as a default. A team must have used a minimum of eight (8) players to complete an official game. If a player becomes injured or fouls out and you only have 8 players, you must play the remainder of the game with one less player.

Overtime - When the game ends in a tie in medal round play, one overtime period of 4 minutes will be played, during which any player that has not fouled out may play, even if they have already played 5 shifts. If still tied, subsequent overtime periods shall be played until a winner is declared. No overtime in round robin play.

Dimensions - Basket Height is10 feet. Foul line is 12 feet (3.5 m)

Defense - Man to man only, no double teaming the ball or a player, and No Zone Defense. If in the view of the Referee there is intent to play a zone defence or double team, the following penalties shall be assessed:

• On the first offence, play shall be stopped and a warning shall be issued to the coach utilizing the illegal defence. Play shall resume with the ball being awarded to the offensive team.
• On the second and any subsequent offence, the offensive team shall be awarded one free throw and possession at the point of interruption.

Defense Rules Clarity - Please Read!
No Full court Pressure - After a violation or offensive foul in the front court or the score of a basket, the team now going on defense must fall behind the top of their own free throw circle until the offensive team brings the ball over the mid court line. Exception Div 1 - In Div 1 Boys and Girls, full court man-to-man pressure is allowed. However, a team that builds a lead of 25 points or more shall remove said full court pressure and follow the rule above until such time as the spread falls below 25 points again.

No three (3) point field goals - With the exception of foul shots, all baskets scored from the floor will be 2 points, regardless of from where the shot is released.

Alternating Possession- Games begin with a jump ball. As soon as a team gains control of the ball after the jump ball, the scorer will point the Alternating Possession Arrow the opposite direction to which the team that first gained control is shooting. Any jump balls at other times will be given to the team with the AP Arrow on the scoring table. When periods end, the ball will remain in possession of the team that had the ball when the time expires. If no team had control of the ball, then the AP Arrow will be used. At half-time, the referees and scorekeeper will confirm direction change. In some gyms, the scoreboard will indicate next possession to Home or Visitor.

Last 30 seconds of the game - Should a game have 30 seconds or less remaining on the clock and the offensive team has a lead in the game of three points or less and the ball, then the clock shall not start until that offensive team has brought the ball over center, thus preventing the offensive team from effectively “killing” 10 seconds with no defensive pressure. Exception Div 1 - this rule regarding the last 30 seconds of the game does not apply to Div 1 since full court defense is permitted.

Penalty Foul Shots - In the Under 12 age level 2 shifts will count as 1 quarter. (Shifts 1 and 2 - 1st quarter; shifts 3 and 4 - 2nd quarter; etc.) A team accumulating a total of 5 team fouls in a quarter, would allow the opposing team to reach a penalty situation where they would shoot 2 free throws for the fifth and every foul thereafter in the quarter. The foul count is reset to 0 at the start of each subsequent quarter.

Game Time - 2 x 17:30 minute halves (includes 5×3:30 minute shifts per half). No overtime in any event. Ball Size: Girls and Boys - Size 5 (27.5)

No Screening - Screening of any kind is NOT permitted (including ball screens, area screens, and dribble weaves/handoffs). If there is a screen set, legal or not, and there is contact it will be called a foul. If there is a screen set, legal or not, and there is no contact it will be a turnover.

U10 - 4 on 4 - Following Canada Basketball recommendations for U10 player development, game play will be 4 on 4. Registered teams must have 8 players on their rosters, and the minimum numbers of players that must participate to make an official game is 6.

Playing Time - Equal Play - No one player shall play more than a one shift difference than any other team mate. If a minimum of 6 players have not been used in accordance with “Equal Playing Time” by game’s end, the scorer shall record clearly on the score sheet the violation and advise both coaches and the Facility Manager. Violations of the tournament’s equal play time rule may result in the offending coach not being invited back to future Classic tournaments.

Physical Maturity Exception - Should a player arrive at or after half- time they will not be required to play all of the remaining shifts. It will be required that they play at least half of the remaining shifts in their game. In this case the “one shift difference” rule will not apply.

The coach is expected to notify the scorekeeper that a new player has arrived. When a player arrives late or leaves early there is a section at the bottom of the shift sheet for the scorers to record this information.

Substitutions during a shift - If a player fouls out, becomes injured or is unable to play their complete shift, a replacement player can be substituted. The replacement player will be charged with a shift if there is one minute or more remaining to play in the shift. If there is less than 1 minute remaining, the replacement player will not be charged with a shift. The coach may if he or she so chooses to not substitute a player and play with only 3 for the remainder of the shift.

Minimum number of players - A team must have used a minimum of six (6) players to complete an official game, four (4) of whom must be present to start the game. Six players must be available by the fifth shift. In the event of a default due to a shortage of players as just described, the game shall still be officiated.

U10 -  Scoreboard - Following Canada Basketball recommendations for U10 player development, the running game score will not be displayed on the scoreboard for any U10 divisions. The running score will be kept by the game clock official in order to help ensure a fun and fair final tournament game for all U10 teams in a given division. Any team violations of rules pertaining to substitutions or minimum player requirements will be taken into consideration by the Beford Classic Committee when assigning match-ups for the final tournament game. All teams will be awarded the same participation awards with no acknowledgement of the team’s record in the tournament.

Overtime - there will be no overtime required in any event.

Dimensions - Basket Height-8.5 feet (2.61 m). Foul line is 12 feet (3.5 m)

Defense - Man to man only, no double teaming the ball or a player, and No Zone Defense. If in the view of the Referee there is intent to play a zone defence or double team, the following penalties shall be assessed:

• On the second and any subsequent offence, the offensive team shall be awarded one free throw and possession at the point of interruption.

Defense Rules Clarity - Please Read!

No Full court Pressure - After a violation or offensive foul in the front court or the score of a basket, the team now going on defense must fall behind the top of their own free throw circle until the offensive team brings the ball over the mid court line.

No three (3) point field goals - With the exception of foul shots, all baskets scored from the floor will be 2 points, regardless of from where the shot is released.

Alternating Possession- Games begin with a jump ball. As soon as a team gains control of the ball after the jump ball, the scorer will point the Alternating Possession Arrow the opposite direction to which the team that first gained control is shooting. Any jump balls at other times will be given to the team with the AP Arrow on the scoring table. When periods end, the ball will remain in possession of the team that had the ball when the time expires. If no team had control of the ball, then the AP Arrow will be used. At half-time, the referees and scorekeeper will confirm direction change. In some gyms, the scoreboard will indicate next possession to Home or Visitor.

No Penalty Foul Shots - In U10 Developmental there are 10 shifts which shall be divided into two halves of 5 shifts each. Quarters shall not be played and there shall be no penalty foul shots.