FIBA Rules

2020 FIBA Rule Changes​​​​​​​

Rules of the Game

Unless expressly stated below, the Winnipeg Basketball League will follow the most recent iteration of the FIBA Official Basketball Rules. We recommend team captains (even veteran captains!) read through the FIBA Rules prior to the first game as a refresher. Questions about rule interpretations can be directed to the league coordinators in a respectful manner.

Rules specific to the Winnipeg Basketball League

1. Zero-tolerance policy for violence, harassment, and offensive or threatening language:

Any player who behaves in an offensive manner towards a referee, scorekeeper, or opponent can be assessed a technical or be ejected from the game at the referee’s discretion. The referee does not have to give a warning prior to issuing a technical foul or ejection. This is the warning. Players who are unhappy with a call made by an official may respectfully ask for clarification of the ruling once play has stopped. Teams are responsible for their spectators and can be assessed a technical foul for offensive behavior by spectators. Fighting and acts of violence will result in immediate ejection and a minimum one-game suspension.

2. Game sheets: The game sheets are printed the day of game and reflect your approved roster. If last-minute spares are required for a game, the team captain must contact the League Coordinators for approval and THEY will ensure they are added to the game sheet.
3. Team uniforms: The uniform rules below are non-negotiable and players may be sent off the court if their uniform is deemed improper by the officials.
   • Jerseys and shorts
     1. Jerseys should be the same dominant colour (shades of a colour is fine) and have one set of clear numbers on them (No number for 0 is acceptable, More than one player cannot be 0, tape is not acceptable). By November 1st,, if players are not in compliance with the jersey rule, the official is permitted to not allow the player to enter the game.
   • Undergarments (sleeves/leggings), socks, sweatbands, and other headwear
     1. There are no colour or matching restrictions for undergarments, socks, or headwear. Please see this update from Basketball Manitoba for more information.
     2. Religious headwear is allowed.
   • Knee braces, knee pads, and ankle braces
     1. All are allowed, with no colour restrictions, so long as any sharp edges are covered.
   • Jewelry, casts, and medical equipment that may pose a danger to other players may not be worn.
4. Playing time: Games consist of four 10-minute quarters with no time given between the 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th quarters. There will be a 2-minute break for half-time.
5. Overtime: If a game is tied after regulation time, 5-minute overtime periods will be played until a winner is decided.
6. Time-outs: Each team is allowed 3 time-outs per game. A team may only use 2 time-outs in the last two minutes of the game. Full time-outs are one minute. Time-outs do not carry over into overtime. Time-outs must be called from the bench to the scorekeeper’s table and will be granted at the next stoppage of play or if the team calling the time-out is scored against. However, if teams do not have any substitutes or bench personnel, a time-out may be called on the court. Teams are allowed one full time-out in overtime (total, not per period).
7. Substitutions: Substitutes must go to the scorekeeper’s table and request a substitution at the next stoppage. Substitutions may occur on any whistle. 
8. Dunking: Dunking and hanging on the hoop are not allowed at any time including during warm-up. The penalty for dunking is a technical foul and cancellation of the basket if scored.
9. Ejections:  If a player is ejected (not disqualified) from a game, they will receive a minimum one-game suspension to be served at the next game. The officials will provide an incident report to the league coordinators who may decide that further suspensions are warranted.
10. Defaults: A ten-minute grace period will be allowed before a default is declared. The scorekeeper shall mark on the game sheet that the grace period was initiated. If the team does not have 5 players before the ten-minute grace period expires, they will default the game and the score will be recorded as 0-20.
11. Late arrivals: If a player arrives after the game starts, they are eligible to play and must check-in with the scorekeeper to show ID before stepping on the court.

Review of Technical and Unsportsmanlike Fouls

“A technical foul is a player non-contact foul of a behavioural nature including, but not limited to:

• Disregarding warnings given by officials.
• Disrespectfully touching the officials, the commissioner, the table officials or the team bench personnel.
• Disrespectfully communicating with the officials, the commissioner, the table officials or the opponents.
• Using language or gestures likely to offend or incite the spectators.
• Baiting an opponent or obstructing his vision by waving his hands near his eyes.
• Excessive swinging of elbows.
• Delaying the game by deliberately touching the ball after it passes through the basket or by preventing a throw-in from being taken promptly.
• Falling down to fake a foul. “Fake” refers to any action by a player to pretend being fouled or to make theatrical exaggerated movements in order to create an opinion of being fouled and therefore gain an unfair advantage.
• Goaltending during the last or only free throw by a defensive player. The offensive team shall be awarded 1 point, followed by the technical foul penalty charged against the defensive player.”

“An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact foul which, in the judgment of an official is:

• Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.
• Contact by the defensive player with no legitimate attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules causing an unnecessary contact in order to stop the fast break or the progress of the offensive team in transition. This applies until the offensive player begins the act of shooting.
• Contact by the defensive player on an opponent on the court during the last 2 minutes in the fourth period and in each extra period, when the ball is out-of-bounds for a throw-in and still in the hands of the official or at the disposal of the player taking the throw-in.”

“A player shall be disqualified for the remainder of the game when he is charged with 2 technical fouls, 2 unsportsmanlike fouls, or a combination of 1 technical and 1 unsportsmanlike foul.”