Legacy Leagues Rules

Notable Rules: 

  1. Zero hanging on the rim is allowed at any time. Referees are instructed to call any hanging on the rim a technical foul that results in two (2) free throws, possession for the opposite team, and a $20 fine that must be paid before that player’s next game. (Rule 7-5)
  2. A technical foul now results in a $20 fine that must be paid to the league before the player’s team’s next game, or the player will not be allowed to play. A technical foul still results in two (2) free throws, possession for the opposite team, AND one (1) personal foul. (Rule 10-2)
  3. Five-seconds closely guarded will now be called! The violation will be called against an offensive player in the front court with the ball, when that player is guarded within six feet and does not pass, dribble or shoot. (Rule 7-6)
  4. Any conduct at anytime on or off the court during an official Legacy Leagues game, that is somehow connected to the league or someone else in the league, can result in punishment including suspensions at the Commissioner’s discretion. This includes on social media. By playing in the league, you agree to this and all rules. (Rule 10-8)
  5. No foul bonus exists outside of the final two (2) minutes of the fourth quarter. In the final two minutes of the game, each team automatically has one foul to give before being in the two-shot bonus, which does not reset for any overtime periods. (Rule 9-1)
  6. Only registered players and one commissioner-approved coach are allowed to sit on the bench or be inside the court area during a Legacy Leagues game. (Rule 10-9)

OFFICIAL RULES

RULE NO. 1 – EQUIPMENT

  1. Each basket ring shall be securely attached to the backboard with its upper edge 8.5′ above and parallel to the floor and equidistant from the vertical edges of the board.
  2. The ball shall be an officially approved Legacy League ball between 71⁄2 and 81⁄2 pounds pressure.

RULE NO. 2 – TIME / TIMEOUTS

  1. Each quarter is 10 minutes in duration. Any overtime periods are 2 minutes in duration.
  2. Clock stops ONLY in the last 5 seconds of each quarter, the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter/overtime.
  3. Every team gets two timeouts per half, lasting 30 seconds each. Timeouts do not carry over.
    1. Any timeout taken in the final two minutes of the game or overtime can be used to advance the ball to half court, if the team calling the timeout has possession.
    2. Teams that have 0 timeouts after regulation are to have 1 timeout to begin each overtime period.
  4. Halftime is 2 minutes long.
  5. Breaks in between quarters are 30 seconds in duration.
  6. Clock stops for serious injuries and timeouts.

RULE NO. 3 – PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

SECTION I – TEAM

  1. Each team shall consist of at least 7 and no more than 9 players with 4 players on the court at a time.
  2. To qualify to play in single-elimination playoffs, players must appear in at least three regular season games.
  3. If a player in the game receives his sixth personal foul and all substitutes have already been disqualified, said player shall remain in the game and shall be charged with a personal and team foul. The opposing team will get two shots and then possession. All subsequent personal fouls, including offensive fouls, shall be treated similarly.
  4. In the event that there are only four eligible players remaining and one of these players is injured and must leave the game or is ejected, he must be replaced by the last player who was disqualified by reason of receiving six personal fouls. Each subsequent requirement to replace an injured or ejected player will be treated in this inverse order. Any such reentry into a game by a disqualified player shall be penalized by a technical foul.

SECTION II – SUBSTITUTES

  1. A substitute shall report to the scorer and position himself in front of the scorer’s table. The scorer shall sound the horn to indicate a substitution. The substitute shall remain in the Substitution Box until he is beckoned onto the court by an official.
  2. If a free throw(s) is awarded, substitutes are only permitted to enter the game prior to the final free throw attempt if the ball will remain in play or following the final free throw attempt if it will not remain in play unless necessitated by disqualification, injury, ejection or any other atypical situation.
  3. No substitutes may enter the game after a successful field goal by either team, unless the ball is dead due to a personal foul, technical foul, timeout or violation.

SECTION III – UNIFORMS

  1. Each player shall be numbered on the front and back of his jersey with a number contrasting with the color of the shirt.
  2. Jerseys must be worn at all times, if player does not have a jersey, when they check in that player will be assessed a technical foul. If player starting game does not have jersey, a technical foul will be assessed to the player before jump ball.

RULE NO. 4 – TIMING AND SCORING

  1. The clock is allowed to stop only in the final 5 seconds of each quarter, the final two minutes of the fourth quarter/overtime. The clock stops on the following: any whistle, and a made basket.
  2. Any shot made from inside the arc is worth two points. Any shot made from behind the arc is worth three points. All free throws are worth one point.

RULE NO. 5 – JUMP BALLS

  1. All held balls will result in a jump ball at the nearest circle on the court between the two players involved in the tie up at the referees discretion.
  2. The jump ball shall be between two opponents in the game at that time. If injury, ejection or disqualification makes it necessary for any player to be replaced, his substitute may not participate in the jump ball.

RULE NO. 6 – FREE THROWS 

  1. The non-shooting team is allowed to have a player in the closest position to the basket above the block. Players from both teams than alternate spots.
  2. All players inside the arc besides the shooter are allowed to enter the lane when the shooter releases the ball from his hand. The shooter, and any players behind the arc, are allowed to enter the arc once the ball hits the rim.

RULE NO. 7 – VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

SECTION I – OFFENSIVE THREE-SECOND RULE

  1. An offensive player shall not remain for more than three seconds in that part of his free throw lane between the end-line and extended 4′ (imaginary) off the court and the farther edge of the free throw line while the ball is in control of his team.
  2. Allowance may be made for a player who, having been in this area for less than three seconds, is in the act of shooting at the end of the third second. Under these conditions, the 3-second count is discontinued while his continuous motion is toward the basket.
  3. The 3-second count shall not begin until the ball is in control in the offensive team’s front court. No violation can occur if the ball is batted away by an opponent.
    1. PENALTY: Loss of ball. The ball is awarded to the opposing team at the sideline at the free throw line extended.

SECTION II – DEFENSIVE THREE-SECOND RULE

  1. The count starts when the offensive team is in control of the ball in the front court.
  2. Any defensive player, who is positioned in the 16-foot lane or the area extending 4-feet past the lane end-line, must be actively guarding an opponent within three seconds. Actively guarding means being within arms length of an offensive player and in a guarding position.
  3. Any defensive player may play any offensive player. The defenders may double-team any player.
  4. The defensive three-second count is suspended when: (1) a player is in the act of shooting, (2) there is a loss of team control, (3) the defender is actively guarding an opponent, (4) the defender completely clears the 16-foot lane or (5) it is imminent the defender will become legal.
  5. If the defender is guarding the player with the ball, he may be located in the 16-foot lane. This defender is not required to be in an actively guarding/arms distance position. If another defender actively guards the player with the ball, the original defender must actively guard an opponent or exit the 16-foot lane. Once the offensive player passes the ball, the defender must actively guard an opponent or exit the 16-foot lane.
    1. PENALTY: A technical foul shall be assessed to the defending team, that does not count towards the individual technical foul count. The offensive team retains possession on the sideline at the free throw line extended nearest the point of interruption. The shot clock shall remain the same as when play was interrupted or reset to 14 seconds, whichever is greater.

SECTION III – TEN SECOND RULE

  1. A team shall not be in continuous possession of a ball which is in its backcourt for more than 10 consecutive seconds.
  2. EXCEPTION (1): A new 10 seconds is awarded if the defense: (1) kicks or punches the ball, (2) is assessed a personal or technical foul, or (3) is issued a delay of game warning.
  3. EXCEPTION (2): A new 10 seconds is awarded: (1) if play is suspended to administer  (2) when a team gains control of a jump ball in the backcourt, or (3) during a front court throw-in into the backcourt.
    1. PENALTY: Loss of ball. The ball is awarded to the opposing team at the mid-court line.

SECTION IV – BALL IN BACKCOURT

  1. During a jump ball, a try for a goal, or a situation in which a player taps the ball away from a congested area, as during rebounding, in an attempt to get the ball out where player control may be secured, the ball is not in control of either team. Hence, the restriction on first touching does not apply.
    1. PENALTY: Loss of ball. The ball is awarded to the opposing team at the mid-court line.

SECTION V – BASKET RING, BACKBOARD OR SUPPORT

  1. An offensive player who hangs on his basket ring, net, backboard or support during the game shall be assessed a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul.
    1. The player must pay a $20 fine before their next game, and continued violation of this rule may result in suspension.
  2. A defensive player who deliberately gains or maintains height or hangs on his opponent’s basket ring, net, backboard or support shall be assessed a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul. If he touches the ball during a field goal attempt, points shall be awarded consistent with the type of shot.
    1. The player must pay a $20 fine before their next game, and continued violation of this rule may result in suspension.

SECTION VI – CLOSELY GAURDED 5-SECOND VIOLATION

  1. A five-second closely guarded violation may be called against an offensive player in the front court with the ball, when that player is guarded within six feet and does not pass, shoot or dribble.
    1. PENALTY: Loss of ball. The opposing team is awarded a throw-in from the out-of-bounds spot nearest the violation.
  2. Anytime the offensive player switches between holding or dribbling the ball, the five-second count starts over.
  3. The five-second count ends in the following scenarios:
    1. Anytime the same defender is no longer within the required distance
    2. Anytime the offensive player with the ball gets his head and shoulders past the defender
    3. Anytime another opponent is between the defender and the ball
    4. Anytime the offensive player penetrates below the free throw line extended while being closely guarded.

RULE NO. 8 – BASKET INTERFERENCE / GOALTENDING 

SECTION I – A PLAYER SHALL NOT:

  1. Touch the ball or the basket ring when the ball is using the basket ring as its lower base or hang on the rim while the ball is passing through.
    1. EXCEPTION: If a player near his own basket has his hand legally in contact with the ball, it is not a violation if his contact with the ball continues after the ball enters the cylinder, or if, in such action, he touches the basket.
  2. Touch any ball from within the playing area when it is above the basket ring and within the imaginary cylinder.
  3. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched any part of the backboard above ring level, whether the ball is considered on its upward or downward flight.
  4. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched the backboard below the ring level and while the ball is on its upward flight.
  5. Trap the ball against the face of the backboard after it has been released. (To be a trapped ball, three elements must exist simultaneously. The hand, the ball and the backboard must all occur at the same time. A batted ball against the backboard is not a trapped ball.)
  6. Touch any ball from within the playing area that is on its downward flight with an opportunity to score. This is considered to be a “field goal attempt” or trying for a goal.
  7. Touch the ball at any time with a hand which is through the basket ring.
  8. Vibrate the rim, net or backboard so as to cause the ball to make an unnatural bounce, or bend or move the rim to an off-center position when the ball is touching the ring or passing through.
  9. Touch the rim, net or ball while the ball is in the net, preventing it from clearing the basket.

RULE 9 – FOUL BONUS 

  1. There is no foul bonus in the first 38 minutes of a Legacy Leagues game. If a player is fouled in the act of shooting, he is awarded two free throws. If he is not in the act of shooting when fouled, the team is awarded possession.
  2. Any team fouls from the fourth quarter carry over into any following overtime periods.
  3. Once the clock hits 2:00 in the fourth period or overtime, each team has one foul to give before being in the bonus for the remainder of the game (including overtime).

RULE NO. 10 – CONDUCT

  1. An official may assess a technical foul, without prior warning, at any time. A technical foul(s) may be assessed to any player on the court or anyone seated on the bench for conduct which, in the opinion of an official, is detrimental to the game. The technical foul must be charged to an individual. A technical foul cannot be assessed for physical contact when the ball is live.
    1. EXCEPTION: Fighting fouls and/or taunting with physical contact.
  2. A technical foul results in two (2) technical free throws, AND possession. A technical foul now also counts as a personal foul!!!
  3. A technical foul now results in a $20 fine per technical foul that must be paid to the league before the player’s team’s next game, or the player will not be allowed to play until the fine is paid.
  4. Any of these offenders may be ejected for committing only one unsportsmanlike act, and they must be ejected for committing two unsportsmanlike acts.
  5. A technical foul called for a delay of game, having a team total of less or more than four players when the ball becomes alive, a player hanging on the basket ring or backboard, participation in the game when not on team’s active list, or shattering the backboard or making the rim unplayable during the game.
  6. A technical foul shall be assessed for unsportsmanlike tactics such as:
    1. Disrespectfully addressing an official
    2. Physically contacting an official
    3. Overt actions indicating resentment to a call
    4. Use of profanity
    5. A coach entering onto the court without permission of an official
    6. A deliberately-thrown elbow or any attempted physical act with no contact involved
    7. Taunting
    8. Spiking a basketball
  7. Cursing or blaspheming an official shall not be considered the only cause for imposing technical fouls. Running tirades, continuous criticism or griping may be sufficient cause to assess a technical. Excessive misconduct shall result in ejection from the game.
  8. Any ejected player, if it is their first time being ejected, must also then miss the immediate next game that takes place on their schedule. The Commissioner has the authority to decide when it is necessary for a player to also miss their next game on the schedule, and when it is not. The penalty becomes more harsh each offense that follows.
    1. The Commissioner has the ability to suspend any player for any length of games at any time.
  9. Conduct includes, but is not limited to, actions on the court during an official Legacy Leagues game. Any action at any time, that is somehow connected to the league, including on social media, can result in punishment including suspensions. This is judged and handled by the Commissioner, who has the right to use his judgement to do what is best for the league.
  10. Only players who has registered with the Legacy Leagues and one (1) commissioner-approved coach are allowed to be on the courts during Legacy League games. Everyone else is considered a “fan” and is required to stay in the designated seating areas outside of the courts.
  11. We prohibit the consumption of alcohol or any drug by any player or fan before, during or after Legacy Leagues games while on the premises where Legacy Leagues games take place.

RULE 11 – COMMISSIONER DISCRETION

  1. The Commissioner has the right to apply these and any rules, even ones not listed here, when needed in an attempt to do what is best for the players and the league as a whole.