ALBUQUERQUE PAROCHIAL AND INDEPENDENT ATHLETIC LEAGUE BASKETBALL RULES

High School Federation Rules will prevail regarding any specific rules not covered within the parochial rules.

Most Common Misunderstood Basketball Rules

1. Pre-Game Book/Roster

1. Each Team should provide a complete roster prior to game time. Rosters must match player names and numbers.

1. any player not listed on the roster is not allowed to participate in the game.
2. any player with a number incorrectly listed may participate in the game as long as their name is on the official roster.

2. ANY Team that does not have an official roster present prior to the pre game officials meeting will be penalized with a BENCH TECHNICAL FOUL to begin the game

1. Bench Technical foul is a one shot penalty and the ball inbounded at half court.
2. any handwritten or typed rosters will incur the same bench technical foul to begin the game.

2. Timing

1. Two 20-minute halves for all levels.  All levels have a running clock (except during timeouts), with the clock stopping the last two (2) minutes of the game.

1. If the score reaches 15 or more points during the game before the final 2 minutes the clock will run continuously until the final horn

1. if at any point the score returns back down to 10 points before or during the last 2 minutes the clock will stop for the remainder of the 2 minute clock stoppage time.

2. Half time will be five (5) minutes.
3. The first game will start at 4:00 p.m.  Immediately following the first game, ten (10) minutes will be put on the clock indicating the starting time for the next game, and so forth for the third game.

1. Participants running late for any contest. If the game begins after the ½ hour the period length will be abbreviated to 15 minute halves.

1. Any game that has not begun by ½ (30 minutes prior) until the next contest time the game will need to be rescheduled, or forfeited if no contact has been made by each school's A.D. stating why teams are not at the game location.

4. If necessary, a three (3) minute overtime period will be played.  All Division!. ONLY ONE Overtime allowed per game. No double overtime.

1. During the overtime period each team will be awarded one additional 30 second timeout per each overtime period. If any team has timeouts remaining from the regulation period those time-outs will carry over into the overtime period.
2. NO OVERTIME PERIOD FOR PRE- SEASON

5. Each team will have two (2) full time-outs-one minute in duration each and two (2) 30 second timeouts PER GAME.  Time-outs ARE cumulative.
6. If a team is up by 15 points or more the clock will run for the final 2 minutes.

3. Scoring

1. Three Pointers are allowed in gymnasiums with a 3 point line. No 3 pointer without a line to indicate a 3 point shot.
2. Free throw line will be moved up three (3) feet for DIVISION 5
3. Full court press will be allowed for DIVISION I-IV.  No press for Division 5, except for the last two (2) minutes of the game.
   Once a team is leading by 15 points, the press must be taken off. When there is a ten (10) point differential, pressing may resume.  
   Please use discretion.  The first violation is a warning, next violation will result in a technical being called.

1. Pre-Season Rules

1. Pools A-I allowed to Press
2. Pools J-N - NO PRESS until the last 2 minutes of the game

4. One and One will be in effect on the seventh (7th) team foul per half.  All Divisions
5. There is no double bonus.

4. Free Throw Lane - Release & Rim Rule Clarification

1. All players are allowed to enter the lane upon the release of the Free Throw, except for the shooter and all players not lined up on the lane. The shooter and all players not lined up on the lane must wait until the ball contacts the rim.

5. Miscellaneous

1. Coaches Privileges:

1. Head Coach may stand to coach during the game.

1. Allowed to stand within their coaches box.

1. privilege may be removed at the discretion of the officials for the following

1. abuse of privilege
2. game control/safety
3. coach fails to maintain positive sportsmanship throughout the game.
4. assistant coach continues to stand after being instructed not to do so by the official, both coaches will be asked to remain seated.

2. Technical Foul - Removes coaches privilege to stand throughout the game.

1. coach must remain seated for the remainder of the game.

2. It is highly recommended that scorers and timekeepers be ADULTS.
3. A possession arrow must be kept at the scorer’s table.
4. Home team management is responsible for the control of the crowd and coach.
5. Stress sportsmanship at all times.  Keeping the interest of the student-athlete in mind, good sportsmanship will be expected at all times.  This includes the crowd. This pertains to all areas including “running up the score.” No shouting or the use of noise makers during free throws.
6. If a player is moved “up” to play a game, that player must remain on the higher level team for the remainder of the season.
7. Profanity is not allowed by players, coaches, or fans.
8. Two technical fouls will result in an automatic ejection from the game.  If a coach, fan, or player is ejected from a game they will be suspended from the next game. Infractions will be reported to the league administrator.
9. Ten minutes between games starting at the conclusion of the last game.
10. Players may NOT be moved up and down on a team.  i.e.  If a player is moved up to Varsity they must stay there for the duration of the season.
11. Official basketball size is 28.5” for Girls basketball all teams.
12. Official basketball size is 28.5” for boys Division TBD , 29.5”for Division TBD

1. Preseason Rules

1. Pool Play A-I use 29.5 ball
2. Pool Play J-N use 28.5 Ball

13. The bottom 2 Divisions TBD, The free throw line modified—From 15’ up to 12‘

1. Preseason Rules

1. Pool Play A-I use regulation line
2. Pool Play J-N use modified line (IF NEEDED- If a player can reach the basket have the athlete shoot from the regulation line)

14. Players moved up in emergency situation

1. Players moved up for an emergency situation must adhere to pregame book/roster rules to be allowed to participate in the game. Any player moved up prior to 12:00 PM on game day will not be allowed to participate in the game.
2. All players moved up for one contest in emergency situations must be approved by League Board members and rosters must match any and all changes made. 

6. Rules Notation from NFHS high school rule book. All rules notated from NFHS within APIAL Rules include common mistaken topics and are not all encompassing. Our officials are trained in the full enforcement of all NFHS rules and APIAL rules modification are only made to affect the timing and scoring for games. All rules under NFHS regarding game play are enforced within APIAL contests.

15. Rule 2 Officials and their duties

1. Section 2: Article 1- The officials shall make decisions for infraction of the rules committed within or outside the boundary lines.
2. Section 2: Article 2- The officials Jurisdiction, prior to the game, begins when they arrive on the floor. The officials' arrival on the floor should be at least 15 minutes before starting the game.
3. Section 2 Article 3 - The officials jurisdiction extends through periods when the game may be stopped for any reason.
4. Section 3: The referee shall make decisions on any points not specifically covered in the rules.
5. Section 11: Scorers Duties

1. Article 1: keep record of names and numbers of players who enter the game and all substitutes who enter the game.
2. Article 2; Notify the nearer officials when an infraction of the rules has occurred pertaining to the submission of the roster, substitutions or the number of players
3. Article 3: Signal the officials by using the game horn or sounding device unlike that used by the referee and umpire(s). This may be used immediately or as soon as possible, the ball is dead or is in control of the offending team.

16. Rule 3: Rosters, Starters, Numbers

1. Section 2:

1. Article 1: at least 10 minutes before scheduled start time, each team shall supply the official scorer with the name and number of each team member and designate 5 starting players. Failure to comply will result in a technical foul. (see 10-1-1 Penalty)
2. Article 2: after the 10 minute time limit specified in article 1, a team is charged with a maximum of one technical foul regardless of how many of the following infractions are committed

1. changing a starter, unless necessitated by illness, injury, illegal equipment or apparel etc., or to attempt a technical-foul free throw.
2. Adding a name to the team member list.
3. Requiring the scorer to change the team member’s or player’s number in the score book.
4. Requiring a player to change the number in the scorebook.
5. having identical numbers on team members and/or players.

17. Rule 4: Definitions

1. Section 7: Blocking, Charging

1. Article 1: Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent with or without the ball
2. Article 2: Charging is illegal personal contact by pushing or moving into an opponent's torso.

1. A player who is moving with the ball is required to stop or change direction to avoid contact if a defensive player has obtained legal guarding position in his/her path.
2. If a guard has established legal guarding position, the player with the ball must get his/her head and shoulders past the torso of the defensive player. If contact occurs on the torso of the defensive player, the dribbler is responsible for the contact.

3. There must be reasonable space between the two defensive players or defensive player and a boundary line to allow the dribbler to continue his/her path. if there is less than 3 feet of space, the dribbler has the greater responsibility for contact.
4. The player with the ball may not push the torso of the guard to gain an advantage to pass, shoot, or dribble.

2. Section 11: Continuous Motion

1. Article 1:  Continuous motion applies to a try or a tap for field goals and free throws, but it has no significance unless there is a foul by the defensive player during the interval which begins when the habitual throwing movement starts a try or with the touching on a tap and ends when the ball is clearly in flight.
2. Article 2: If an opponent fouls after the player has started a try for a goal, he/she is permitted to complete the customary arm movement, and if pivoting or stemming when fouled, may complete the usual foot and body movement in any activity while holding the ball. These privileges are granted only when the usual throwing motion has started before the foul occurs and before the ball is in flight.
3. Article 3: Continuous motion does not apply if a teammate fouls after a player has started a try for a field goal and the ball is in flight. the ball becomes dead immediately.

3. Section 19: Foul- A fouls is an infraction of the rules which is charged and penalized.

1. Article 1: A personal foul is a player foul which involves illegal contact with the opponent while the ball is live, which hinders an opponent from performing normal defensive and offensive movements. A personal foul also includes contact by or on an airborne shooter when the ball is dead. Note: contact after the ball has become dead is ignored unless it is ruled intentional or flagrant or is committed by or on an airborne shooter.
2. Article 2: A common foul is a personal foul which is neither flagrant nor intentional nor committed against a player trying or tapping for a field goal nor part of a double, simultaneous or multiple foul.
3. Article 3: An intentional foul is a personal or technical foul that may or may not be permitted and is not based solely on the severity of the act. Intentional fouls include, but are not limited to:

1. contact that neutralizes an opponent's obvious advantageous position.
2. contact away from the ball with an opponent who is clearly not involved with a play.
3. Contact that is not a legitimate attempt to play the ball/player specifically designed to stop the clock or keep it from starting.
4. Excessive contact with an opponent while playing the ball.
5. contact with a thrower-in as is in 9-2-10 penalty 4.

4. Article 4; A flagrant foul may be a personal or technical foul of a violent or savage nature, or a technical noncontact foul that displays unacceptable conduct. It may or may not be intentional. If personal, it involves, but is not limited to violent contact such as: striking, kicking, and kneeing. If technical, it involves dead-ball contact or noncontact at any time which is extreme or persistent, vulgar or abusive conduct. Fighting is a flagrant act.
5. Article 5:A technical foul is :

1. a foul by a non player.
2. a noncontact foul by a player.
3. an intentional or flagrant contact foul while the ball is dead, except a foul by an airborne shooter.
4. a direct technical technical, charged to the head coach because of his/her actions as in 10-5.
5. an indirect technical, charged to the head coach as a result of a bench technical foul being assessed to team bench personnel.

6. Article 13: A team foul is any personal foul or technical foul (except indirect technical fouls) which is charged to either team. All team fouls are counted to reach the bonus free throw.

4. Section 26: Holding:Holding is illegal personal contact with an opponent which interferes with his/her freedom of movement
5. Section 27: Incidental contact: Incidental contact is contact with an opponent which is permitted and which does not constitute a foul.

1. Article 1: The mere fact that contact occurs does not constitute a foul. When 10 players are moving rapidly in a limited area some contact is certain to occur.
2. Article 2: Contact which may result when opponents are in equally favorable positions to perform normal defensive or offensive movements, should not be considered illegal, even though the contact may be severe.
3. Article 3: Similarly, contact which does not hinder the opponent from participating in normal defensive or offensive movements should be considered incidental.
4. Article 4: A player who is screened within his/her visual field is expected to avoid contact with the screener by stopping or going around the screener. In cases of screens outside the visual field, the opponent may make inadvertent contact with the screener, and such contact is to be ruled incidental contact, provided the screener is not displaced if he/she has the ball.
5. Article 5: If, however a player approaches an opponent from behind of from a position in which he/she has no reasonable chance to play the ball without making contact with the opponent, the responsibility is on the player in the unfavorable position.

6. Section 10: Closely Guarded

1. A closely guarded situation occurs when a player in control of the ball and his/her team's frontcourt, is continuously guarded by any opponent who is within 6 feet of the player holding or dribbling the ball. The distance shall be measured from the forward foot/feet of the defender to the forward foot/feet of the ball handler. A closely guarded count shall  be terminated when the offensive player in control of the ball gets his/her head and shoulders past the defensive player.