BEHAVE FAIRLY TO EVERYONE

• HBYB is an "Everyone Plays" league. Every player must play at least half of every game. Coaches who do not abide by this most basic and important rule are not being fair to the players who don't get to play, nor to the parents of those players. These coaches are also not being fair to the other teams who do honor the rule. What they are doing is breaking one of the most important rules in order to gain an unfair competitive advantage. The penalty for not playing each player at least half of each game is forfeiture of that game. Repeated violations may result in a coach's dismissal.

• It is the policy of HBYB to try to form teams that are as evenly matched as possible. However, some teams wind up stronger than others. It can be needlessly embarrassing to the players on the losing team to be defeated by large point margins. For this reason we have the 20 point rule. If the referee determines that any team is exhibiting unsportsmanlike conduct, that team will forfeit the game.

There are many ways in which coaches can avoid a blow-out.

• Substitute less skilled players for more skilled players. It won't hurt your star player to sit on the bench.

• Restrict shooting by more skilled players - allow only less skilled players to shoot. This will reduce your team's scoring, and will also be more fun for the less skilled players. Instruct your players to try to ensure that every player on the team scores - this can be fun for all of them.

• Pass the ball more often to less skilled players. They gain valuable experience handling the ball, and the other team has a better chance of stealing the ball and scoring.

• Have your defensive players back off - don't press, don't defend past the red line, don't guard opponents as closely. This is as important as restricting your team's scoring. If your team continues to play tough defense, the other team may be unable to score, and your team may be prevented from doing so by the rules, which can create a very dull game for everyone involved.

Boys Divisions 4, 5, and 6 will practice once a week, inside the gym, immediately before their game. The teams will have 1 hour and 15 minutes for a 30-minute practice and a 45-minute game.

In addition, each team is entitled to one (1) optional outdoor practice of no more than 30 minutes in length. This extra practice is optional for both the players and the coaches. (THAT IS, NO PLAYER CAN BE PENALIZED FOR NOT ATTENDING SUCH A PRACTICE.)

All other divisions may have no more than 1 hour of practice once a week.

No team practices are to occur at any other times or for any length longer than specified. A team practice is considered to be any meeting where a coach and three or more players from the team are present. Any violation of the practice rule will result in termination of the coach.

Paid referees will be present for each game.
 

Game Rules
 

Effective for the 2009 season, the 17 point rule for all Boys Divisions will be changed to the 20 point rule as follows:

If a team is ahead by twenty points, the leading team will win the game.  The clock will continue to run, but the scoring won’t be recorded on the scoreboard or in the scorebook. When this occurs the leading team’s coach should rotate out their higher scoring players, relax their defense and not press. Both teams should continue to play out the remainder of the game regardless of the score.

Any un-sportsman like conduct from either team, such as taunting, ridiculing, playing keep away or disrespect of the other team will not be tolerated, and any violation of this may result in forfeiture of that game as determined by the referee. THE COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PARENTS' AND PLAYERS' CONDUCT.

Our goal is to foster good sportsmanship, ethics and integrity.
 

Teams may play man to man (or woman to woman) defense or zone defense.
 

Full-court defense (behind the mid-court line) is permitted in Boys Division 1. Teams with a 20 or more game point lead may not press, but the losing team may press for the entire game in Boys Division 1. Boys Divisions 4, 5, & 6 can play “red line” defense only.
 

The teams with the ball in the back-court will have 10 seconds to advance it past the mid-court line. Failure to do so will result in a turnover, except during the last two (2) minutes of the game.
 

“Over and back” violations will not be called in Boys Divisions 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. However, in Division 2, a team that brings that ball back past the applicable defensive line may be pursued by the defending team.
 

A jump ball will be called at center court at the beginning of the first and third quarters. After that, possession will alternate between teams when a jump ball is called by the referee.
 

Referees have been instructed to be especially vigilant about discouraging physically rough play. A player who commits five fouls will be removed from the game except in Boys Divisions 4, 5, & 6, where fouls are not counted. In all divisions where fouls are counted, the coach has the option to continue with a “fouled out” player with the following conditions: (1) If a foul is committed after a player has fouled out, two points will be added to the opposing team’s score, (2) the award of two foul shots to the fouled player, and (3) the return of the ball to the fouled team after the second foul shot. Fouls will be called for the following violations, and they will be recorded against the individual player:

Lane Violations: In Boys Divisions 1, 2 & 3, players will be called for a lane violation if they remain in the lane area for more than 3 seconds. In Boys Divisions 4, 5, & 6, no lane violations are called.
 

Dribbling: Players will be called for dribbling if they stop with the ball and then resume dribbling.
 

Traveling: Players will be called for traveling if they complete a second step (their second foot makes contact with the floor) without dribbling. In Boys Divisions 4, 5, & 6, traveling will be called based on the rules adopted by the League Commissioner.
 

Free Throws:

The scorebook should be deposited in the scorebook box at the end of each block of divisional games.

Hermosa Beach

Youth Basketball League