Playing Rules – Junior Varsity (5th/6th Grade) Divisions

Length of Game - Region: Four 6-Minute Quarters (per Archdiocese Rule); 5-Minute Half-time; 3-Minute Overtime(s) as needed until game is decided; Clock stops on all whistles.

Length of Game - Parish: Four 6-Minute Quarters (per Archdiocese Rule); At the 3-minute mark of each quarter, the clock will stop, and at the next "natural" pause in a game (out of bounds, defensive rebound, foul, etc.), all players currently on the bench are required to enter the game. The clock will stop as normal at the end of each quarter. The clock stops on all whistles. There is no overtime.

Ball/Clock/Book: Women's size 28.5" ball. Home team supplies game ball, scorekeeper, and timekeeper. Home team is official book. An adult should run the clock.

Possession/3's: Jump ball at start of game and each overtime. Alternate possession thereafter regardless of reason for the jump. Count 3-pointers if the gym floor has appropriate markings.

Foul Shots: Shoot 1-and-1 on 7th Foul, 2 shots on 10th foul in each half. Per PIAA rule, players may not move to rebound on free throws until ball touches the rim or backboard. PIAA rules govern the alignment on the lane for foul shooting (defensive team must occupy the two spots above the neutral zone/blocks).

Region Division: Shoot fouls from the normal free throw line.

Parish Division: Players may shoot from a closer 12 ft. foul line (mark if possible). (Parish Division cannot start at the 12 ft. line and jump forward to 10 or 11 feet)

Backcourt Defense

Parish Division -- No back court defense at any time. EXCEPTION: In the last minute of every game, any in-bounds play that occurs from the sideline will be administered at half-court and the ball must be entered into the front-court. Baseline inbounds play will be administered from the baseline.

Region Division -- Full court press during the last two (2) minutes of each half and last two (2) minutes of each overtime, except once a team is ahead by 10 or more points that team may not press until the lead drops to 9 points or less. The trailing team may press regardless of score.

Free Half Court Except for the above, when a team obtains possession of the ball in its defensive zone, it may bring the ball across half-court unimpeded by the opponent, which must drop back to half court. In either Division, whenever a team is ahead by 15 or more points, it must drop back on defense to an imagined straight line running across the 15 ft. free throw line.

Fast break exception: If the team obtaining possession is attempting a fast break or is "pushing" the ball upcourt, the opponent may defend in the back court in order to stop the fast break. However, a fast-breaking team being defended will NOT lose possession before passing half-court in the event of a steal or forced error. (Where there is no defensive pressure, an unforced error in the back-court is still a turn-over.) Rule of thumb - don't fast break if you don't want defensive pressure!

General Rules

Timeouts: Three (3) full and two (2) 30-second time-outs per game, used any time. One (1) additional full time-out for each overtime. Time-outs carry over. Per PIAA rule - coaches may call time out.

Jewelry: Absolutely NO watches, earrings, barrettes, plastic or metal hair bands of any kind. TAPING OVER EARRINGS IS NOT PERMITTED (safety issue -- no exceptions).

Referee Fees: $28 per team with 2 referees (each team pays one of the 2 referees). If only 1 referee handles the game, each team pays the referee $21.00. In case of forfeit (15 minutes after scheduled time), coach at game should NOT pay officials. They will get paid through referee assignor, to whom the forfeiting team must send the entire $56 referee fee within 1 week.

Technicals: Two technicals in any one game results in automatic expulsion from that game. All "unsportsmanship" or "conduct" technicals are to be reported promptly to the Commissioner by both coaches. One game mandatory suspension each time a player or coach accumulates 2 "conduct" technicals during season/playoffs.

Conduct: Any disrespect toward or abuse of referees is always improper misconduct. Any incident reported to the Commissioner by the referees as unruly behavior will be dealt with at the highest levels of your parish and the Region 11 CYO Athletic Board.

Pre-Game Prayer: Prior to the tap, all players and coaches will gather at center court for a pre-game prayer. A representative of the home team will lead the group in an appropriate prayer.

Playing Time:

Region Division: Each player on a team must play at least 3 consecutive minutes per half (9 or more players per team) or 3 1/2 consecutive minutes per half (8 or fewer players per team). This rule is subject to review and change prior to playoffs, however, the minimum playing time rule is still in effect for Junior Varsity Playoffs.

Parish Division: Each player on a team must play at least 1/2 half of each game, subject to the substitution rule described under "Length of Game - Parish.