Sponsors
Iona Sports / District 93
Youth Basketball League Rules and Regulations
4th Grade Boys & Girls
Updated 13 Jan 2024
Sportsmanship:
The purpose of the Iona basketball league is to provide the opportunity for kids to build self-confidence, develop skills, participate in healthy competition and have fun in a safe environment. In order to help kids we must put sportsmanship at the forefront of all we do. It has come to my attention that coaches, assistant coaches and parents have put victory over all else. Everything you do is setting an example for the youth, good or bad. Knute Rockne said, “One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it.” Let’s keep the high standard of sportsmanship at every Iona basketball game you coach, attend, officiate and play. Please contact me if you have any issues and we can discuss your options.
General Information/Game Layout:
Rim heights:
- 4th grade = 10 ft.
Basketball size:
- 4th girl’s leagues will use a women’s size (28.5) ball.
- 4th boy’s leagues will use a women’s size (28.5) ball.
League Rules Adaptations:
- Four (4) players needed to start the game.
- Please have your team there on time. There will be a ten minute grace period and then a forfeit will occur.
- The team listed second on the schedule will wear the white side (home) of the jersey while the team listed first will wear the blue side (visitor) of the jersey.
- Four (4) eight (8) minute quarters with a three (3) minute halftime.
- Two (2) one minute timeouts per half.
- A jump ball will begin all games. See Appendix A for more information.
- Clock will stop the last two minutes of the 4th quarter unless the lead is 10 points or more.
- Score is not displayed in grades 4th-6th when the score difference is greater than 20 points.
- Substitutions will take place during dead ball situations.
- Overtime is one (1) two (2) minute period.
Violations:
- No three (3) second key violations will be enforced.
- No back-court violation will be enforced.
- No ten second line is used. No extended time in the backcourt without a violation being called.
- Full court press is not allowed. Players can’t defend until their opponent or the ball has crossed the half court line.
- Shot blocking is allowed.
- Stealing is allowed.
- Man to man defense. No zone defense.
- No purposeful double-teaming. Understand that some double-teaming may inadvertently happen at times when a ball-handler moves through the defense or a teammate crowds the ball handler and draws their defender to the ball handler. The second defender may steal the ball if he/she is “within reach” while closely guarding their man. Referee discretion will determine a purposeful double-team. Please keep in mind this is recreation and the kids are playing to learn and have fun.
- “Switching” or “Help Defense” is allowed. Help defense is allowed on fast breaks or when a legal screen is executed by the offense and frees the ball handler from their defender. The help defender must immediately return to their opponent once their teammate has recovered.
- The help defender can either make a true switch with their teammate, or they must immediately abandon their position once their teammate has recovered.
Fouls/Free throws:
- Team and personal fouls will be kept.
- A player will foul out after five (5) personal fouls.
- Two free throws will be awarded on a shooting foul.
- Clock stops for free throws.
- Referees will instruct players not to jump over the foul line when shooting free throws, but it will not be a violation.
- Bonus is two free throws after five fouls per quarter.
Rules may change at Director’s discretion. Please be compliant.