The objective of Rancho Penasquitos Basketball (RPB) is to provide and promote a wholesome recreational basketball program for the youth of our community. Within this objective, RPB was formed to encourage and foster positive sportsmanship, cultivate good playing skills, and promote friendly relationships among the participants, coaches, and parents.

GAME DAY

Each team shall provide a parent to serve as the scorekeeper or timekeeper for each game. Both coaches must agree on the selection of scorekeeper and timekeeper prior to the start of the game. The scorekeeper and timekeeper must sit at the official’s sideline table located at half court during the game. Children may not accompany the score/time keepers.

TIME OF GAMES

All games for Boys 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade divisions and Girls 3^rd-4^th and 5^th grade divisions will be played using four (4) periods of seven (7) minutes each. All other games in the remaining divisions will be played using four (4) periods of eight (8) minutes each.

All games will be timed using a "running clock" system, with the clock being stopped only for time outs and shooting fouls. The clock is also stopped at each whistle during the last one (1) minute of play in the fourth quarter and during all overtime (OT) periods of play.

There will be a one minute break between each quarter and a three (3) minute break at half time. Time will be allotted for pre-game warm-up activities before the start of the game. In order to keep the game within the allotted time period, the length of rest periods may be altered at the discretion of the referrees.

PLAYING TIME

With 7 or 8 players available:

With 6 players available:

• The coach of the team with only 6 players available must notify the scorekeeper, referees, and the opposing coach prior to the start of the game. Failure to do so will result in a technical foul being assessed.
• The opposing coach will have the option of designating which player, of those playing in the first quarter, will sit out the second quarter. However, if the opposing coach has only 5 players available for the game, he may not exercise this option.

With 5 players available:

A team must have at least 5 players in order to start a game. However, the team may finish the game with fewer than 5 players, if players have fouled out, become injured, or are otherwise unavailable to complete play.

LATE ARRIVAL OF PLAYERS

• A player arriving late in a period will not be allowed to play in that period.

• Players arriving before the start of the 2nd period must play all required periods.

• Players arriving during the second period must play at least one period and may be allowed to play two periods, at the discretion of the coach.

• Players arriving after the start of the 3^rd period may not play in the game (except Senior Girls and High School Boys Divisions).

TIME OUTS

There are a maximum of four (4) time outs allotted each team. Each team may take up to two (2) time outs during each half. Each team will be allotted only one (1) time out for each overtime period played. Unused time outs from the fourth quarter or first overtime period may not be carried into the overtime periods. A technical foul will be assessed against any team that calls for a time out when they have none available. The referee may also call an official’s time out to attend to an injured player, retrieve a stray ball, or review problems associated with the score book, clock, etc. The scorekeeper or timekeeper must stop the game and notify the referees when a player has scored the maximum permissible individual points per game (3^rd through 6^th grade boys and 3^rd through 5^th grade girls only). The official’s time out is not charged to either team.

BONUS SITUATION

Begins after the 6^th foul by a team in each half. A bonus situation (starting with the 7^th foul) means that any player who is fouled will have a one-and-one opportunity to score from the free throw line. If he or she makes the first shot, a second attempt is made. If the first shot is missed, there is no second shot.

A double bonus situation (two free throws) begins on the 10^th team foul in any half.

TECHNICAL FOULS

Technical fouls can be assessed against a team by the game’s officials for any number of reasons including unsportsmanlike conduct by players or coaches, playing time violations, excessive time outs, etc. Any technical foul assessed against one team will result in the other team being awarded two (2) free throws and subsequent possession of the ball. A coach or player who has received two (2) technical fouls in one game will be automatically ejected from the game and further suspended from participating in the next scheduled game. Any team receiving three (3) technical fouls in a game will automatically forfeit the game, regardless of the score.

PROTEST

The desire of RPB is that protest be avoided if at all possible. Problems arising during a game should be resolved between the two coaches and officials at the time of the problem. However, any coach may file a protest against another team if a discrepancy cannot be resolved.

The following specific sequence of steps must be followed in order to properly file a formal protest:

1. The game officials, if available, should be notified by the coach that a protest will be filed and the reasons for the decision.
2. The protesting coach should not sign the score book, rather, he/she should include a written statement on the back of the game’s official score sheet that the game is under protest and briefly outline the reason(s).
3. The game officials should sign next to the protest statement in the book, acknowledging that they have been informed of the matter.
4. The Division Rep and the Rules Committee will handle the problem from this point on.

SIGNATURES

A total of 5 signatures are required on each scoresheet:

• Scorekeeper (1)
• Timekeeper (1)
• Both Referees (2)
• Opposing Coach (1)

The scorekeeper is responsible for collecting these signatures at the end of the game and for returning the scoresheets to the notebook in the proper location (chronological order).

SCOREKEEPER RESPONSIBILITIES

The SCOREKEEPER is responsible for accurately recording the following information on the games official score sheet (use a pencil):

• Each player’s name and jersey number
• Points scored by each player during each quarter of play
• Number of quarters played by each team member
• Number of personal and team fouls committed
• Number of time outs taken by each time
• Running score (This is the official score.)

Playing time violations:

• The SCOREKEEPER shall notify each coach when a possible playing time violation is about to occur at the beginning of each quarter. It is the responsibility of the offending coach to adjust his/her lineup to correct the problem.

Pre-tip-off free throws:

• Draw a small circle at the left side of the first quarter box for each player who is present at the start of the game.
• Draw a line through the circle for each player who makes his pre-tip-off free throw.
• If less than 8 players are present, add a circle (and line, if the point is scored) in the appropriate box for each player who attempts two or more pre-tip-off free throws.
• Before the game starts, draw a vertical line just to the right of the pre-tip-off free throw circles for all eight players. Record all regular first period points to the right of this line.
• Pre-tip-off free throws made do count toward a player’s individual point total, but do not count against his or her maximum individual scoring limit.

Marking quarters played:

• Use a single slash to mark the quarter begun by each player who checks in.

• At the end of each quarter, draw a second slash through the first slash for each player who has played the entire quarter. This creates an "X" showing the full periods that each player has played.

• If a player enters the game after the start of a period, mark the quarter using a slash in the opposite direction. Do not mark an "X" in these periods.

Running score:

• The running score is the official score and should be marked first. Mark the points in the player-scoring section after the running score is marked.

• Draw a line after the running score at the end of each period and at the end of the pre-tip-off free throws. Indicate the period with symbols near each line (i.e., FT, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and OT for overtime).

• It is permissible (and advised) to mark the scoring player’s number above the running score. This provides a way of checking the running score against the player-scoring section of the scoresheet for each period.

Fouls:

• Use a single slash to mark fouls for each player in the personal fouls area and in the team fouls area of the scoresheet.

• It is permissible (and advised) to mark the fouling player’s number in the team fouls area. This provides a way of checking the personal fouls against the team fouls for each half.

• During the half-time break, draw a second slash through each of the single slashes in the personal fouls area for each team. This creates an "X" mark and enables you to distinguish first-half fouls from second-half fouls, and check these against the fouls recorded in the team fouls area of the scoresheet.

The SCOREKEEPER must maintain proper decorum while fulfilling his/her responsibilities during a game. The SCOREKEEPER is considered part of the officiating team for the game; thus, restraint must be shown in "cheering" for either team. Absolutely no coaching is allowed from the scorer’s table. Attention must be focused on correct recording of the game activities.

TIMEKEEPER RESPONSIBILITIES

The TIMEKEEPER is responsible for maintaining the game clock, which controls the maximum number of playing minutes permitted in each quarter, as well as changing the ball possession arrow. The TIMEKEEPER will also change the scorecard for both teams to reflect the accurate score throughout the game.

Clock:

• Remains running except:

1. During time outs called by the REFEREE. (The clock starts back when the inbound pass is touched by another player on either team.)
2. During shooting fouls.
3. During the last minute of the 4^th quarter and of overtimes. The clock is stopped when the REFEREE blows his or her whistle.

• Clock buttons:

1. START – Starts the clock.
2. STOP/RESET –Don’t hit this button twice, or it will clear the time to 0:00. (Always look at the time before you hit the stop button, just in case.)

Cowbell:

• Supplements the clock. The period officially ends when the clock beeper sounds. Ring the bell immediately after you hear the clock beeper.

Possession Arrow:

Scoreboard:

• The side of the scoreboard used for each team depends on where team sits, not on the direction of play.

The TIMEKEEPER must maintain proper decorum while fulfilling his/her responsibilities during a game. The TIMEKEEPER is considered part of the officiating team for the game; thus, restraint must be shown in "cheering" for either team. Absolutely no coaching is allowed from the scorer’s table. Attention must be focused on correct operation of the game equipment.

• Score table with two chairs
• Notebook

1. Game score sheets
2. Pencil pouch
3. Special division rules
4. Extra score sheets

• Game clock
• Bell
• Possession arrow
• Scoreboard

• Fill in the line-ups (first and last names printed)
• Check in players before the beginning of each quarter
• Keep track of the minimum and maximum playing requirements
• Keep running and individual scores in the score book

• Keep track of all fouls (individual, team, technical)
• Notify officials of bonus or maximum point total (per player) situation
• Add and check total points and official score on score sheet at end of game
• Have coaches and referees sign the scoresheets
• Make sure score sheets are returned to the score book

• Keep the game time
• Flip score totals and quarter designations on scoreboard
• Turn possession arrow
• Remind coaches when 3 minutes are remaining in the quarter
• Remind coaches when 1 minute is remaining in the quarter

IMPORTANT SCOREKEEPING AND TIMEKEEPING REMINDERS

1. Make the running score first – It is the official score
2. If you have any questions, ask the referees
3. When at the scorer’s table, you are in an official capacity – This means no cheering or coaching!