Town League Information

Season starts early December with practices, Games start after Christmas.

Town league is equal playing time. All the games are played in East Bridgewater at either the high school or middle school.

Grade 2 is to be mainly "instructional". The focus will be on drills, skills and fundamentals. In the early season the hour time allotted for practice will be used to focus on fundamentals and skills with limited game time (15 minutes). As the season progresses the 2nd grade coordinator may determine that the children have a good understanding of the fundamentals and more game time may be allotted (20-30 minutes).

Grades 3-4 are to be non-competitive with the emphasis on instruction. The first few practices conducted in this division will be instructional clinics for teams. Once the EBYBA game season begins, the scheduled game hour will be a half hour practice followed by a half hour scrimmage with running time.

Grades 5-8 have scheduled games with the intent to give all players a chance to learn and play the game of basketball in a fun and positive environment.

Town League Rules

1. Players who are wearing an altered uniform (i.e. torn sleeves, torn neck line, etc.) will not be allowed to play in a game.
2. Games will consist of two 20-minute running-time halves. There will be an official stoppage of play at each 5-minute interval to allow substitutions. This is only a brief stoppage to substitute players and shall NOT be used as a “time-out”. A time-out will be charged to a team who does not have subs ready to go. If no time-outs are available, then a technical foul will be called on that team.
3. ONE-30 second time-out is allowed in the first half of the game and TWO 30 second time-outs are allowed in the second half. Officials may call time out for injury or safety issues.
4. Half time will be two minutes in length.
5. The final TWO minutes of the game with the point spread 10 points or less: clock is stop-time (stopped at each whistle, started back up when ball touched after a throw-in); press defense is allowed (see defense #6). (NOTE: more than 10 point spread keeps the clock running)
6. If overtime is needed, a 2-minute, stop-time period will be played.
   • The overtime period will begin with a jump ball.
   • All penalty situations will be carried over (1-and-1 or double bonus).
   • ONE additional (30 second) time out will be granted for overtime (in addition to any the team has not used in second half).
   • If at the end of this first 2-minute overtime, the game is still tied there will be sudden death overtime (first team to score wins) as follows:
     • Sudden death overtime will begin with a jump ball.
     • REGULAR SEASON - there will be a 1-minute, running time, sudden death overtime. If at the end of the 1-minute running time the score is still tied, the game is over and the game is considered a tie.
     • PLAYOFFS – the clock will be set 20 minutes for a sudden death overtime (since game cannot end in a tie for playoff purposes, this allows enough time for sudden death without having to reset clock multiple times). The clock will be running time and the first team to score is the winner.
7. Defense: for 5 th /6 th and 7 th /8 th grade games, defense will be played in the “front court”; for 3rd/4th grade games, defense will be played “inside the arc”. The following exceptions apply to defense:
   • 7 th /8 th grade in the final two minutes of the game and overtime: full court pressing is allowed. NO pressing is allowed by the winning team with a lead of more than 10 points (only the team that is behind can press). Pressing may resume by the winning team once the lead is 10 points or less.
   • 5 th /6 th grade at any point during the game: team with a lead of more than 20 points must play defense behind the 3-point arc (only the team that is behind may play half court defense). Half court defense may resume by the winning team once the lead is 20 points or less. 
   • 5th/6th grade NO PRESSING at any time
8. For each half, one-and-one penalty free throws will be attempted beginning at the 7 th team foul, and double bonus free throws beginning at the 10 th team foul.
9. A player will be disqualified after five personal fouls in a game.
10. Officials will be assigned to 5/6th grade and 7/8th grade leagues
11. 3/4th grade league - one coach from each team will officiate the game
12. Coaches have the sole responsibility of keeping track of playing time for his/her team. Players must play an EQUAL number of shifts per game (see section V for chart)
13. Decisions and calls of officials are final. Each team must supply an adult to operate the scoreboard and to keep possession arrow. Coaches should verify the score at all stoppages in play.
14. No jewelry is to be worn during a game. It is the coach’s responsibility to enforce this rule. New earrings must be covered completely by tape or bandage before a player will be allowed to play. Braces and supports must be made of soft or cushioned material and will be allowed at the discretion of the officials.
15. Late arrivals: Any player arriving after the start of the 2 nd quarter, will be limited to 10 minutes of playing time. (This rule may be superceded by “player minute chart” depending upon # of players)
16. Any “unsportsman-like conduct” technical foul called by an official will result in a one-game suspension for that player or coach. Multiple infractions by player or coach will result in an executive board review and possible season suspension. Officials and coaches are requested to report any negative actions or unsportsman-like behavior by anyone to the executive board.
17. Zone defense as well as man-to-man defense is allowed.
18. Playoff Requirements: Each player must play in at least half of the regular season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.