West Hempstead Basketball League

 


League Rules – Fall 2017

 

** - Indicates new or modified rule for the Fall 2017 season.

 

 

                                    Section I - Rules of the Game:

 

Introduction:

 

The rules of a regulation game of the West Hempstead Basketball League will be the same rules as a standard regulation NCAA basketball game, unless the rule is in conflict with, or supplemented by this document.

 

Requirements for the Game:

 

Article I - Players Requirements:

 

i)          All players must be at least 20 years of age, and in good health & in good physical condition in order to be allowed to play.

ii)         All players must have already signed a league waiver form and have fully paid their league fees to be eligible to play in a game.

iii)         All players must wear the official league jersey in order to play.

iv)        Professional players (players currently accepting money to play basketball) are not allowed to play in the league.

 

Article II - Number of Players & Starting on Time:

 

i)          All teams will play with up to 4 players on the court at a time, with up to two substitutes per game.  The exception to this rule is that any team comprised of players on an individual basis (not entering the league as a team) may play with up to three substitutes per game.

ii)         A team may play with 3 players on the court, if they do not have 4 players

iii)         All teams may use a maximum of 6 players per game.  A team must play with a minimum of 3 players per game.  The exception to this rule is that any team comprised of players on an individual basis (not entering the league as a team) may play with up to three substitutes per game.

iv)        If a team does not have at least 4 players present within 5 minutes of game time, then either (at the choice of the captain), the other team will automatically receive 10 points, and a minute will be deducted from the game clock for every additional minute that the other team does not have 4 players, OR the game will proceed with 3 players [If the team only has 2 players, then there is no such 2nd option].

v)         If a team does not have at least 4 players within 10 minutes of game time, then either (at the choice of the captain), the other team will automatically receive an additional 10 points (20 points total), and another minute will be deducted from the game clock for every additional minute that the other team does not have 4 players, OR the game will proceed at that point with 3 players (the score will still be 10-0)  [If the team only has 2 players, then there is no such 2nd option].

vi)        If a team does not have at least 4 players within 15 minutes of game time, then either (at the choice of the captain), the team forfeits the game, or the game will proceed with 3 players [If the team only has 2 players, then there is no such 2nd option].

 

Article III - Rosters:

 

i)                    Team rosters must be submitted to the referee or a league official prior to each game.

ii)                   To be eligible to play, a player must be fully paid up individual member of the league, or on a fully paid up team in the league.

iii)                 To be eligible to play, a player must have signed a league waiver, A player has to sign a new waiver each and every season.

iv)                 To be eligible to play, a player must be in good physical condition, and either have a doctor sign off on their health, or sign a waiver acknowledging that they are playing without doctor approval at their own risk, and are indeed in good physical condition.  All players must show proof of acceptable medical insurance, or attest to having acceptable medical insurance.

v)                  Before or during a game, a team captain may ask a referee to check the eligibility of an opposing player.

vi)                 Use of an ineligible player is a technical foul, and the game is subject to protest.

vii)        Playoff rosters after determined by the commissioner may not be changed without commissioner approval due to injury or a prior known issue.

viii)       All teams must submit final playoff rosters that will be used throughout the playoffs.  A team’s playoff roster may not exceed seven.

ix)        For a player to be an eligible player in a playoff game, that player must be on that team’s final playoff roster, have played in a minimum of THREE regular season games for that team and ONLY have played for ONE team throughout the course of the season.  Captains may not internally agree to override this rule.  The commissioner may override this rule at his discretion for an injury or a prior known issue, and reduce the rule to TWO games, or ONE game in an extreme emergency and excellent reason.

x)         If a player gets injured in the middle of the season, he will not be given a refund or compensation for the league fee.  That player may be replaced on the roster with a new player who pays a pro-rata league fee (minimum 3 games fees).

 

Article III – Prior to the Game:

 

i)                    Before the game, each team must identify to the referee its CAPTAIN.

ii)                   The HOME team will get to choose which direction of the court, their team will initially be shooting to (it will be automatically reversed in the 2nd half of the game).

iii)                 The HOME team will wear the dark uniforms, and the AWAY team will wear the light uniforms.  If both teams choose to override this and switch, then they may.  The referee must be notified of any such switch.

iv)                 Prior to the game, each team will get at least 3 minutes of warm up time prior to the scheduled game time.  If time and space allow (no game played on the court at the time), the players may get additional warm up time, as possible, but not more than 8 minutes at the most.

 

Article III – After to the Game:

 

i)          After the game, each team is responsible for any clean up on their team’s bench.

ii)         If the game ends early, the players are welcome to stay on the court to practice or play up until 8 minutes before the next game’s scheduled start time.  If there is no other scheduled game, then the players can stay on court up until the permitted time ends.

iii)         After the game, it is the responsibility of BOTH team captains to report the final score into the president at ariel@whbasketball.com along with any technical or flagrant fouls that occurred during the game.

iv)        If a team has an official scorer (not provided by the league), or if the league does provide an official scorer, they may also report the individual game statistics to the president at ariel@whbasketball.com.

v)                  Statistics other than final game scores may or may not be kept.  All technical fouls and flagrant fouls need to be reported to the commissioner and president.

 

 

Article III - Game Start & Halftime Start:

 

i)                    The first half begins with a “tip off,” also known as a “jump ball.”  Each team shall designate a player to be in the tip off / jump ball in the center of the court, and take the tip.  Whichever team does NOT control the first possession as a result of the tip-off, will receive the Possession Arrow in their direction.  Possession of the ball after tip off, constitutes clear possession, and advancement of the ball past the half court line.  The referee will determine what constitutes clear possession.

ii)                   Whichever team has the possession arrow at the end of first half, will receive the ball from the far end of the court to start the 2nd half.  The possession arrow will be reversed at the start of halftime.

iii)                 If a team is not ready at game time, fielding a minimum of 4 eligible players, then the team present will receive the ball in both halves. 

iv)        Any player who is not wearing the official league jersey will result in a player technical foul to start the game for each such player infraction (the team also retains possession), plus the team will also be awarded the possession arrow.  If both teams have at least one player not wearing the league jersey, then there will not be any technical foul shots, and the opening tip will occur as usual (technical fouls do remain).  The referee may disqualify any player from playing in the game without a jersey, if he chooses.  There will be jerseys available in several sizes for purchase.  Players who do not at the minimum wear the team color as the dominant solid color of their shirt, will NOT be allowed to play at all under any circumstance.

 

 

Article IV - Forfeiting:

 

i)          A team may forfeit a game in advance.  Only the captain may choose to forfeit the game, and he must do so before Wednesday at 10 PM before the official game.

ii)         If a team forfeits a game, but not in advance (before Wednesday at 10 PM) then that team may be penalized an extra loss, will lose all tie breakers, and is subject to a team fine.  More on this is discussed lower in the forfeiting and fines sections.

 

Game Time / Clock:

 

Article V – Duration of Games / Game Time:

 

i)                    Games consist of two 20-minute halves, with a 3-minute halftime break. 

ii)                   If both teams are ready, and the referee agrees and is ready, then halftime may begin prior to the five minute break allotted, but there must be at least a 90 second halftime break.

iii)                 If the first half started past game time, or if there was a sizeable delay in the middle of the game during the first half, the referee may reduce the halftime break to 3 minutes at his discretion.

iv)                 If the second half begins past 30 minutes of the official game time, then the 2nd half game time will be reduced by 5 minutes (2nd half will start with 15 minutes on the clock).

v)                  The clock runs continuously, except during timeouts, during technical fouls and during the last minute of the first half, and the last two minutes of the second half, and the last minute of overtime.  If one team is ahead by a score of 15 points or more, then the clock will still run continuously (ignore the last minutes of half rule).  The clock will also stop if a ball is kicked far away from the players, at the referee’s discretion, or during an injury which would result in a lengthy delay of the game.

vi)        In the last minute of the first half, and in the last two minutes of the second half, and in the last minute of overtime, the clock is stopped:

a) When the ball goes out of bounds,

b) On a foul,

c) On a referee’s whistle – including traveling violations, technical fouls, or other.

c) On a timeout

vii)        No game shall start past 5 minutes of official game time, without the team taking a penalty (no penalty if this is due to another game ending late).  There is a larger penalty for games that do not start past 10 minutes.  No game shall start 15 minutes past game time, no matter the circumstance.   These rules are described above.

viii)       The 1st Game will end no later than 5 minutes past the official start time of the 2nd Game. 

ix)        If a game starts more than 5 minutes late, then the time comes off of the game clock.

 

Article VI – Timeouts:

 

i)                    Each team receives two timeouts in the 1st half and two time outs in the 2nd half.  Timeouts do not carry over from half to half.

ii)                   Each team will receive one time-out in each overtime period played.

iii)                 Any player currently on the court, plus the captain of the team may signal to the referee for a time out.  A referee must grant the timeout to be official (it is not when the player asks, it is when the referee grants it).

iv)                 A team must have possession of the ball in order to call a timeout.

v)                  Each time out lasts 30 seconds.

vi)                 The game clock is restarted at the beginning of the following play.

vii)               A referee is allowed to stop the game clock as the referee sees fit, and may retroactively change a team’s Time Out to an official timeout if it emerges that the timeout was necessary to correct an error.

viii)              If a team calls for a timeout, and they either do not have the ball, or do not have any more timeouts remaining, then it is a technical team foul.

 

Article VII – Shot Clock:

 

i)                    There will NOT be an official shot clock used at the game. 

ii)         A team has 30 seconds to take an official shot, which hits the basketball rim, or it is a shot clock violation, and the team losses possession.  This will be timed in the same manner as a 3 second, 5 second and 10 second violation is times - by the referee’s discretion.  In the last minute of the first half and the last two minutes of the 2nd half, and in all of overtime, the shot clock violation is also after 30 seconds. 

 

Article VIII – Clock violations:

i)                    3 second violation is in effect – An offensive player cannot be in the paint for more than 3 seconds.

ii)                   5 second violation is in effect – A ball has to be inbounded within 5 seconds.

iii)                 10 second violation is in effect – The offensive team has 10 seconds from the time of inbound to get the ball across half court.

iv)        Shot clock violation is in effect - 30 seconds – The ball must be shot and hit the rim in a single team possession within the time allotted.

v)         If any of the above violations in this article occur, then that team loses possession of the basketball.

 

Article IX – Overtime (Regular Season):

 

i)                    A game that is tied at the end of regulation is resolved in overtime (time permitting before a second game or end of permit time). If there is no time permitting, the game will be called a tie.

ii)                   Overtime will be 2 minutes long with 1 timeout per team.  

iii)                 There will be a 90 second break between the 2nd half and overtime.  If the teams are ready, and if the referee agrees, then overtime can start after 1 of the end of the 2nd half.

iv)                 Teams will NOT change sides for overtime.

v)                  There will be a tip off / jump ball at center for possession of the ball.  The team that does not maintain possession, will get the possession arrow (as in the 1st half of the game).

vi)                 Shot clock is 30 seconds for all of overtime.

vii)               The game clock will run continuously until the last minute of overtime, which the last one minute has the same rules as the last minute of the first half, and the last 2 minutes of the 2nd half.

viii)              In the regular season – there will only be one overtime period.  The games ends after one overtime period.  After the game clock has reached zero in overtime (or if there is no time to play overtime), if the game is still tied, the game will be declared a tie.

 

Article X – Overtime (Playoffs):

 

i)          In the playoffs, if the score is tied at the end of overtime, then a second 2 minute overtime will be played. The team which has the possession arrow at the end of the first overtime will get possession of the ball to start the 2nd overtime (similar to the start of the 2nd half), and the possession arrow will then flip.  Teams will NOT change sides for the 2nd overtime. 

ii)         If the game is tied after the 2nd overtime, there will be a “shootout.” 

a)      Each team will send two players to shoot two foul shots.  Players will alternate (shooting 2 shots) and the teams will alternate, with the HOME team choosing who shoots first.  Each shot is worth 1 point. 

b)      If the score is still tied after the first 8 shots of the shootout, then the teams will each send a 3rd player [must be different from the first two] to shoot two shots each (same order). 

c)      If still tied, then the teams will send a 4th and different player to shoot two shots. 

d)      If still tied, then each team will send up one player – anyone on the team, in repetition, if they desire, to shoot just one shot.  This last round of the shootout is repeated until the score is not tied at the end of the round.

e)      If a team has more points than the other at any point after a round, then that team wins the game. 

 

Game Play:

 

Article XI – Fouls:

i)          Players will be given 5 fouls per game.  If a player commits 5 fouls in a game, then that player is out of the game.  Technical fouls count towards the 5 fouls.  If the league is not using jersey numbers or names, this rule may not apply.

ii)                   If a player is fouled out, and there are no players left on the bench for the team, then that team will play with only 3 players for the rest of the game.  If there are only 3 players playing, and a player fouls out of the game, then that team loses the game (If the opposing team is ahead, then the final score is as is, and if that team is ahead, then the opposing team will be granted enough points to take the lead).

iii)                 Starting with the 7th team foul in each half, a bonus “1 and 1” shot will be given.  An offensive foul after the 6th team foul (starting with the 7th team foul) in the half will not be given a bonus “1 and 1” shot.

iv)                 Starting with the 10th team foul of a half, a double bonus shot will be given.  An offensive foul after and including the 10th team foul in the half will be given a double bonus shot.

v)                  Starting with the 15th team foul of a half, a technical team foul will be given.  As double bonus shot will be awarded, plus the team will get to keep possession.

vi)                 A technical foul also counts as a personal foul.

vii)               A technical foul will be awarded with a double bonus shot, plus the team gets to keep possession.  A technical foul may be shot by anyone currently playing on the court. 

viii)              If there are two technical fouls for the same team, the team will be rewarded by two double bonus shots by anyone on the court at the time, but there must be two different players shooting the shots. 

ix)                 If there are technical fouls given to a player on each team, they offset, and there will be no bonus shots awarded.  The team that has the possession arrow gets possession, and the possession arrow flips.  The fouls count for the individual players as well as for team fouls.

x)                  A flagrant foul has the same rules as a technical foul above, except that the clock always stops on a technical foul, but not ordinarily for a flagrant foul.

xi)                 If a player commits two technical fouls or two flagrant fouls within a game (or one of each), he is then fouled out of the game, and must leave the building.  Failure for the player to leave the building in a timely fashion will result in an additional technical foul being called on the player, and at the discretion of the referee, a forfeit by the team.

xii)               A team that commits four technical or flagrant fouls during the game, forfeits the game.

xiii)              A player who is fouled in the act of shooting will receive two shots, regardless of the number of team fouls committed by the other team (3 shots for a 3 point shot attempt).

 

Article XII – Three Pointers:

i)                    The three point line will be used in the game, and any shot scored from beyond the line will count as three points. 

ii)                   If a player touches the line while or before shooting the ball, then if scored, the shot will only count as two points (players have to be completely behind the three point line).

iii)                 If a player is fouled in the act of shooting behind the three point line, then he will receive three foul shots, instead of two.

iv)                 The West Hempstead Middle School court does not have an arc three point line.  Instead the yellow taped line will be used as a three pointer, which is a grounds rule.  There will be no side three court pointers.

 

Article XIII – Full court pressing:

i)                    Full court pressing is allowed, unless a team is leading by at least 20 points.

ii)                   Full court pressing by a team leading by at least 20 points is a technical foul on the team - will not count as a personal foul, but will count as a team foul.

 

Article XIV – Jump Ball

i)          The possession arrow rule will be in effect for a jump ball.  The team that has the possession arrow gets the ball, and the possession arrow then flips.

 

Article XV – Out of bounds

i)          Out of bounds as far as the court goes will be standard NCAA out of bounds rules.

ii)         The ceiling is also out of bounds.

 

Article XVI – Player substitution

i)          Player substitutions are allowed for any teammate at any dead ball situation. 

ii)         Players checking in with the game must first check in with the referee, and with an official scorer, if there is one.

iii)                 Captains ultimately decide the lineup.  If there are any internal player disputes, the captain will decide the lineup.

 

Article XVII – Other

 

i)          Captains have to notify score errors immediately to the referee.

ii)         If there is blood on the floor, or other bodily fluids, the custodian must be notified immediately. 

iv)                 A player who has an open wound, or is bleeding must exit the game, and can only re-enter the game after he is shown to not be bleeding any longer.

 

Scoring:

 

Article XVIII - Scoring

i)                    Scoring a basket is worth 2 points.

ii)                   Scoring a 3-point shot (beyond the 3 point line) is worth 3 points.

iii)                 Foul shots and technical foul shots are worth 1 point each.

 

Appeals/Protests:

 

Article XIX – Appeals/Protests:

i)          Any appeal to the referee must be made immediately after the play being appealed, or immediately upon such time as the appellant knew or could reasonably have known of the subject of the appeal.

ii)         Only the team captain may make such an appeal

xiv)             Upon being informed of the referee’s decision, the appellant must resume play immediately. Further deliberation of the decision, prior to resuming play, is undertaken solely at the discretion of the referee, and the referee is the final arbiter of all decisions,

with the exception of disciplinary matters.

 

              Section II - Equipment, Dress Code, Injury and Conduct:

 

Article I - Equipment:

i)                    Uniforms must be worn.  Please see above rules for penalty.  Uniforms will be made available for purchase in various sizes.

ii)                   Sneakers must be worm.  Shoes are not permitted.  Boots are not permitted.  Cleats of any kind are not permitted.

iii)                 No loose jewelry is permitted on field of play.

iv)                 All players are required to bring their own additional safety equipment.  The opposing team will not provide any equipment.

 

Article II - Balls:

i)                    Ball will be provided.  Only official West Hempstead Basketball League basketballs are allowed.

 

Article III - Diving:

NONE!!! We play on a hard surface.  Diving can be dangerous, and is at your own risk !

 

Article IV - Injury:

WARNING!!! The league is not responsible for any injures! You are playing at your own risk! All safety equipment you require should be brought by you, with you to all games. The league will not be held liable for any and all injures.  All players are required to inspect the premises prior to playing for hazardous conditions.

 

Article V – Injury Waiver:

All players must sign an injury waiver prior to playing in any official West Hempstead Basketball League game (regular season, playoffs or an exhibition), or prior to playing on any permitted West Hempstead Basketball League court.  By playing in any part the West Hempstead Basketball League, you agree that you have signed the injury waiver, and that the West Hempstead Basketball League and Ariel Cohen and Ari Herskovits, and any of the league’s officials are not responsible for any injury.

 

Article VI - Discrimination:

Should any player be unfairly discriminated against regardless of ability or otherwise then that player may address his/her complaints with the commissioner. Should that person's complaints prove valid, then that person may accept the commissioner's address and rectification of their problem, or accept a refund.

 

Article VII - Alcoholic Beverages & Illegal Drugs

i)                    There will be NO alcoholic beverages permitted in the building or outside of the building during, before, or after a game by any player.

ii)                   Failure to adhere to this article will result in an automatic suspension of player(s) of at least 1 full game, and/or expulsion from the league by the Commissioner or the President, effective immediately.

iii)                 Alcoholic Beverages & Illegal Drugs found is an immediate ejection from the game, and a technical foul.

 

Article VIII - Conduct

i)          There is to be no arguing with referees.  Only the CAPTAIN may appeal a GAME RULE.  Judgment calls may NOT be appealed. 

ii)         A referee may eject an unruly player at his discretion.

xv)               Offensive behavior and language towards opposing players will not be tolerated. A referee may issue a technical foul at their discretion, or an ejection from the game. Any offense can result in suspension at the discretion of the Commissioner or President and no refund or compensation will be given.

xvi)             There will be no fighting at any games, either physically or verbally.  During the game, the referee has discretion on the conduct, and after the game, the president and commissioner have discretion as to any punishment, including suspension or expulsion of players.  No refund or compensation will be given to any suspended or expelled players.

xvii)            There will be no offensive behavior or foul language towards any referee of league official.  Penalty will be as above in iii).

xviii)          Any player who fouls out of 2 games due to two technical or flagrant fouls - within a season, including the playoffs, will automatically be suspended for the next game, including in the playoffs.  Any player who fouls out of 3 games due to two technical or flagrant fouls - within a season, including the playoffs, will automatically be suspended for the rest of the season, including the playoffs.  The player will not be eligible to receive any money back or compensation for the suspension.

xix)             For any player who has committed a technical or flagrant foul in any 3 games during the season, that player will automatically foul out of the game with just 1 technical or flagrant foul, for the duration of the season, including playoffs.

xx)               Fans for teams are also subject to penalties – including technical fouls and ejections from the building.  It is the players’ responsibility to control their spectators.

xxi)             Teams do not have choice or referees to work or not work their games.

 

Article IX – Fines

i)          Along with any suspensions and/or ejections and/or expulsions, there are automatic player fines for personal technical and personal flagrant fouls.

            a) 1st foul (of season by a player, including playoffs) - $0  [$5 suggested fine]

b) 2nd foul - $10

c) 3rd foul - $20

d) 4th foul - $25

e) 5th & subsequent fouls - $50.  A player who commits 5 technical or flagrant fouls in a season will be automatically suspended for at least one game (or more), and possibly expelled from the league.

ii)         Along with any suspensions and/or ejections and/or expulsions, and IN ADDITION to any personal fines, there are automatic team fines for technical and flagrant fouls.

a)      6th team foul (total fouls for the season, including playoffs) - $0  [$5 suggested fine]

b)      7th team foul - $10

c)      8th team foul - $20

d)      9th team foul - $25

e)      10th & subsequent team foul - $50

iii)         Personal fines must be paid prior to the following week (if there are 2 games in a day, the player does not have to pay in between games).  Teams will be given a 1 week grace period on fines during the regular season – they may pay their fines prior to their game 2 weeks later.  Payments can be handed to a referee or any league official.

iv)                 All fines may be appealed to the president of the league.

v)                  These fines are designed to be a deterrent for a player and for a team to commit technical or hard or flagrant fouls.  Safety and conduct of the league is very important to us, and we would like to have the league be safe and sportsman like.  For a player to commit technical fouls on an every other game basis or worse, or for a team to commit 8 technical fouls in the course of a season (at least one a game), is not something that should happen in the league, which is why we have fines.

vi)                 If a team forfeits a game in the season, then unless they notify the commissioner or president before Wednesday at 10 PM before the game, then they are subject to the following fines:

a.       1st game forfeited - $0  [$50 suggested donation]

b.      2nd game forfeited - $95

c.       3rd game forfeited - $135

d.      4th game forfeited – No fines, but no more league games will be scheduled for the remainder of the season.  A $360 fee will be assessed if that team wants to play in the following season.

vii)               Forfeited game fees must be paid prior to Wednesday at 10 PM of the game, or the team will not be allowed to play their next game, and their next game might also be subject to a forfeit as well.

viii)              The purpose of fines for forfeiting games with little or no notice is to deter teams from showing up to games without the proper number of players.  People paid to play, and although there would be a forfeit win, people want to play, and this does not allow them to do so.  It also costs the league money to operate a game, and with a fine, the league can potentially make-up a game with the funds from the fines.

ix)                 Cursing or making any obscene gestures or remarks directed at or about any league official who is not involved in the game (either playing or refereeing), will results in a $10 fine, and possible suspension.  2nd offense will result in an automatic suspension and $25 fine.

 

Article X – Personal Items

i)          The league, any of its officials, and/or the referee are NOT responsible for any lost or stolen items of any player in the league, or any items left past league permit time.

 

Article XI – Dress Code & Body

i)                    All players must wear the official league and team uniform.

ii)                   Players may not wear loose jewelry, or any articles of clothing that can endanger or hurt another player.

iii)                 Players may not play with open cut wounds.

 

Article XII – Spectators

i)                    Spectators are welcome to view the game, provided that space allows.  Spectators will not be charged for attendance. 

ii)                   Any spectator who is bothering or who is harassing another player or referee will be asked to leave the building.

iii)                 Spectators conduct may result in a technical foul for a team.  Players are responsible for the conduct of their players.

iv)                 Spectators are not allowed on the court at any time before, during or after game play.

 

                Section III - The Season Schedule:

 

Article I - Number of Games and Rain/Snow Outs:

i)          Each team shall have 8 scheduled games in the regular season.

ii)         Should there be rain or snow or poor field conditions outside, and the game is unable to be played at all due to hazard driving conditions, or if the court is unplayable due to poor conditions, or if the school for ANY reason cancels a date on the schedule, the commissioner will decide if and when the game is made up.  Since rain/snow/school events are an unexpected occurrence (as per the permit rules), please check with you captain as to whether or not the game will be played in such an event.  There is one built in make-up date on the schedule, which will be used in such an event, to be re-scheduled by the Commissioner in the manner that he sees fit.  If there are two such cancellations, the league cannot guarantee a make-up for both dates, but will try to secure another date on the calendar.

iii)         On any official week of the season, an official game (or two official games) can be scheduled during that day, during the permitted time slots.

 

Article II – Forfeited Games

i)          A forfeited game, which has not started, will go down as a 10-0 victory for scoring purposes.  If the game has already started, if the team forfeiting is winning or trails by 9 points or more, then the other team will receive enough points to win by 10.  If the other team is up by at least 10, then the score remains the same.

ii)         If a team forfeits any game of the regular season, they may be penalized at the discretion of the commissioner, an additional loss (in addition to the game that they are forfeiting).

iii)         If a team forfeits any game of season, regardless if they were penalized a forfeit loss or not, they will lose any tie breakers with any teams which have not forfeited a game.

iv)        If a team forfeits games on any 2 different weeks of the season, then they are ineligible for the playoffs.

 

Article III - Standings:

 

These are the rules for determining the order of the league standings:

 

i)          The overall record (winning percentage) is the chief factor in determining the standings.  A better record means a higher ranking.

ii)         If two teams have the same record, then the tie will be broken as follows:

 

            The higher ranking team shall be the team with the better statistic in (in order of tie breaker):

 

            1) Head-to-Head record

            2) Divisional record

            3) Head-to-Head points scored vs. points allowed differential

            4) Divisional points scored vs. points allowed differential

            5) Overall points scored vs. points allowed differential

            6) Head-to-Head scoring differential against the highest already ranked team in the division. (If tied, then next highest ranked team.)

            7) Head-to-Head scoring differential against the highest already ranked team in the league. (If tied, then next highest ranked team.)

            8) 3-7 replaced with points scored.

9) The team which has Ariel Cohen on its team.

10) The first team which offers and pays a $500 additional league fee.

11) Coin flip.

 

iii)         If three or more teams have the same record, then the tie will be broken as follows:

 

            The highest ranking team shall be the team with the better statistic in [If there is no highest, then the lowest ranking team with shall be the team with the worse statistic in] (in order of tie breaker):

 

            1) Head-to-Head record against the other two teams

            2) Divisional record

            3) Scoring differential among the tied teams

            4) As above (as 2 teams) with Head-to-Head being against the tied teams

 

            Now, after a ranked team is decided, then the same procedure is used to rank the other remaining teams with the same record.

 

Article IV - The Playoffs:

i)          At the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams will make the playoffs, as assigned by ranking.

ii)         In the first round of the playoffs, called the “Semi-Finals,” the #4 seed will play the #1 seed, and the #3 seed will play the #2 seed.  The winners will move on to the next round of the playoffs, and the losers will be out.

iii)         In the final round of the playoffs, called the “League Championship game,” the #1 seed will play the lowest ranking seed left, and the next highest ranking seed will play the other team left in the playoffs.  The winners will move on to the next round of the playoffs, and the losers will be out.

vi)        The two winners will then play in the “League Championship,” to determine the League Champions.

v)         For a player to be an eligible player in a playoff game, that player must be on that team’s final playoff roster, have played in a minimum of THREE regular season games for that team and ONLY have played for ONE team throughout the course of the season. Captains may not internally agree to override this rule.  Forfeited games do not count towards eligibility.  If a team forfeits a game to you in the middle of the season, then you may use at most one forfeited game for eligibility in the playoffs.  The commissioner may override this rule at his discretion for an injury or a prior known issue, and reduce the rule to TWO games, or ONE game in an extreme emergency and excellent reason.

vi)        Eligible rosters will be determined prior to the playoffs by the commissioner.  All teams must submit up to 7 players to be on the final playoff roster.

 

 

           



Last Updated on: September 10, 2017 at 4:00 PM EDT by Ariel