RULES OF PLAY

1. The Merrimack Basketball League shall consist of: 3rd/4th, 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade boys/girls basketball/cheerleading. There will be an A competitive division and a B recreational equally playing time division in the 5th - 8th boys/girls basketball, when team numbers are sufficient.

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.

A. Each town/school will be required to pay a entry fee per team, amount to be set yearly by the Board.

B. Each town/school will be required to submit a roster for Each team entered into the league. Rosters are due prior to The first scheduled game. Any additions/deletions to roster Must be made on or before the January meeting so that the Board may act on them if necessary.

C. Communities that post 3 or more teams in a 5th/6th or 7th/8th division are required to have at least one A division team.

D. Fees and rosters must be turned in prior to the first game or Risk the penalty of forfeiture of games until roster turned in/ Fee paid.

3.Player eligibility and restrictions:

A. A player or cheerleader must participate in ONLY one (1) class and on ONLY one (1) team in this league. EXCEPTION: cheerleaders may play on one (1) team and Cheer on one (1) squad EXCEPTION: MBL team may play in out of league tournaments.

B. Players rostered on a community’s school team are not permitted to play in the Merrimack Basketball League.

C. Players/cheerleaders must be present and in uniform for at least 50% of scheduled games in order to play in play-off tournament (exceptions: i.e.: sick/medical approved absences). Any cheerleading squad missing a game will have one (1) point deducted for each game they have missed from their final tournament score.

D. A player or cheerleader must register and compete under one Name on one team (see above) except in the situation of relocation. Should the player or cheerleader move during the playing season, he or she may play or cheer for either team of the players or cheerleaders, 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/cheerleader desires to transfer from one team to another (for reasons other than a change of address) such transfer must be done for valid reasons and DONE ON OR BEFORE THE DECEMBER BOARD MEETING OF THAT PARTICULAR PLAYING SEASON.

E. Age verification of player is made by birth certificates to a Director and/or coach from such verification. Players may play up. THE AGE LIMITS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

3rd/4th – must be 3rd or 4th grade.

5th/6th – 12 or younger and in the 5th/6th grade as of August 31 of that year.

7th/8th – 14 or younger and in the 7th/8th grade as of August 31 of that year.

F. If a participant is found to be ineligible during the season after 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.

4. Team Uniforms:

All teams must have uniforms and their uniforms must be numbered front and back. Official NHIAA rules governing basketball numbers will apply (i.e. 1 2 6 7 8 9). Also no garment worn under the shorts will extend more than two inches below the bottom of the shorts. No company logo will be anywhere on the uniform other the town/school name. If a shirt is worn under the uniform top it must match the main color of the uniform.

5. Forfeiture of Games:

A. Any violation of the rules set forth by the Merrimack Basketball League as to classification or eligibility constitutes ineligibility.

B. Every game after in which a player/cheerleaderhas been deemed ineligible but, participates constitutes ineligibility and a forfeit will be awarded to the offending teams opponent automatically.

C. 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.

6. Officials:

A. Each town/school will be responsible for getting the refs for their schedule games. The league will not pay for referees during regular season.

7. Playing Rules:

A. 3rd/4th boys/girls basketball

1.Quarters will be 6 minutes

2. Each player must have equal playing time

3. Basket height will be 8.5 feet where available

4. Junior ball – youth ball

5. Foul shots 13 ft or 1 giant step

6. No back court defense

B. 5th/6th boys/girls basketball – A Division

1. Quarters will be 8 minutes

2. Standard NHIAA playing rules will apply for games

3. No three-point shots will be scored

4. All players will play in every game

5. Boys full size ball / Girls 28.5 ball

6. Mouth guards are mandatory

C. 5th/6th boys/girls basketball – B Division

1. Quarters will be 8 minutes

2. Standard NHIAA playing rules will apply for games

3. No three-point shots will be scored

4. Each player must have equal playing time

5. Boys full size ball / Girls 28.5 ball

6. No stacked teams – all teams need to be equally divided

7. Mouth guards are mandatory

D. 7th/8th boys/girls basketball – A Division

1. Quarters will be 8 minutes

2. Standard NHIAA playing rules will apply for games

3. All players will play in every game

4. Boys full size ball / Girls 28.5 ball

5. Mouth guards are mandatory

E. 7th/8th boys/girls basketball – B Division

1. Quarters will be 8 minutes

2. Standard NHIAA playing rules will apply for games

3. Each player must have equal playing time

4. Boys full size ball / Girls 28.5 ball

5. No stacked teams - all teams need to be equally divided

6. Mouth guards are mandatory

F. Cheerleading

1. All cheerleaders MUST be accompanied by their coach or an adult at all games

2. There will be no jeering or shouting at free-throw shooter or opposing player at any time. Nor will jeering or shouting at other cheerleaders be considered acceptable behavior.

3.Cheerleading teams may participate in the annual League Tournament only if they have participated in at least (50%) of their regular season games Cheerleading teams must cheer at least one game per week.

Additional information concerning cheerleading will be provided in another document.

8. All tournament dates and schedules will be set on a yearly basis by the League.

Revised 9/15/04

2nd Revision 10/13/04

3rd Revision 11/17/05

4th Revision 09/30/08