Active Ummah Boys Basketball Rules (2025)

      I.         Active Ummah Basketball implements a majority of FIBA rules with some custom rules.

     II.         Rules can be amended/altered at the discretion of the committee at any time during the Season. 

    III.         General Rules are as follows:

Game Schedules and Forfeits

• ALL games will begin according to schedule. Teams must give at least 24 hours notice if they do not have enough players for their scheduled game.

• Teams with less than 4 players for Primary & Junior divisions, and less than 5 players for Intermediate & Senior divisions, will forfeit the game 10-0 for Primary and Junior, and 25-0 for Intermediate & Senior. 

• Teams may not bring in substitute players/fillers for an official game. Coaches are responsible for their team attendance. There will be no bending/breaking of the rules.

• Friendly, unofficial games may be played with substitute players during the forfeited game’s time slot, at the discretion of the On-Site Co-Ordinator. For these unofficial games, Stats will not be recorded for substitute players. However, Stats will be recorded for official players on both teams. Although status will count towards player’s individual status, total points scored will not count towards the official record of the game.

Game Structure

• Regular Season will consist of two 12 minute halves (Primary and Junior Division) and four 10 minute quarters (Intermediate and Senior divisions) - could be reduced if adherence to the daily schedule is at risk of delay.

• The last two minutes of the game will be stoppage time only if the point differential is:

• 4 or less for Primary

• 6 or less for Junior

• 10 or less for Intermediate and Senior

• There will be a 1 minute break between quarters, and a 1 minute break during halftime . These times are at the referee and coordinator discretion if time is running short.

• Each team will generally consist of an 8-10 player roster. Games will be played on a 4 versus 4 basis for Primary and Junior Divisions, and a 5 versus 5 basis for Intermediate and Senior Divisions.

• Substitutions can happen anytime during dead ball/foul situations, and/or at referee discretion:

• Primary and Junior coaches may substitute players “on the fly”, similar to hockey shift changes, without stopping the game

• Intermediate and Senior teams can ONLY officially substitute in players when the referee announces it. 

• For Intermediate and Senior divisions, players will have to indicate to the scorer’s table that they are going to be substituting in to make Stat Keepers aware.  

• A late player can join at any time during the game. However, adherence to Minimum playing time for late arrivals is at the discretion of the coach.

• At the referee's sole discretion, any player may be required to remove jewelry deemed unsafe for play. Failure to comply could result in a suspension and game forfeit.

• Teams will have 8 seconds to get the ball across half court, otherwise possession goes to the opposing team. The “Over and Back” rule applies to Intermediate and Senior divisions only.

• For Primary and Junior divisions, no full court pressure is allowed for the duration of the game. On any change of possession as well, the defensive team must retreat to the half court line without applying pressure on the ball.

• For Intermediate and Senior Divisions, full court pressure is allowed during the last two quarters (or second half) of the game as long as the point differential is less than 20 points. If the point differential is greater than 20 points, the leading team cannot apply full court pressure. However, the trailing team can apply pressure until the score differential is less than 20 points.

• Shots that go over the backboard are ruled out of bounds, even if it doesn't touch the structure, and possession will change hands.

• Shots that get stuck in the basket or wedged between the rim and backboard will go to team with possession arrow.

• Only the Offensive “3 Seconds in the Key” applies.

• There will be no shooting fouls for Primary and Junior divisions. Abuse of this rule or flagrant fouls may result in issuance of technical fouls against the player committing the foul, automatic points (1,2, or 3) awarded to the team that is fouled, and/or maintaining possession of the ball for the team that was fouled. This rule will be applied at the discretion of the referee and Coordinator.

• For Intermediate and Senior divisions, Free Throws are played on the release of the shooter for those waiting in their respective spots in the key. The player shooting the free throw, must wait until the ball hits the rim before they can attempt to rebound the ball. An air ball free throw, results in an automatic possession to the opposing team.

• Live ball time-outs can be called on possession or dead ball. Any player on the court or bench can call it, including the coach.

• One 30 second Time-Out per half for the Primary and Junior divisions, and two 30 second Time-Outs per half for the Intermediate and Senior Divisions, will be allotted for regular season play. Unused Time-Outs cannot be carried over from the first to second halves.

• If a player does not have his official team jersey, that player will not be allowed to play. No exceptions.   

• There is a zero-tolerance policy on fighting/assaulting referees/players, swearing, and/or taunting, for participants and spectators. For swearing and/or taunting, the first offence results in a technical foul. Subsequent offenses may result in an ejection, suspension or a league ban at the discretion of the league management. An automatic ban will be handed out for fighting (even if just a swing/punch is thrown), and this includes playoffs for even a first time offence.

• There will be no refund or discount on league fees for violations of the zero-tolerance policy

Fouls

• Primary and Junior players are allowed 4 personal fouls before an ejection. Intermediate and Senior divisions are allowed 5 personal fouls before an ejection.

• For intermediate and Senior divisions, each team will have 5 Team Fouls (non-shooting fouls) per half, but on the 6th foul, teams will be awarded free throws (one and one rule). 5 fouls on any one player results in the player being fouled out from the game.

• Fouls that occur away from the ball in the LAST 2 MINS of the game and in OVERTIME will result in 2 free throws, and will retain possession. Even if it is a bonus situation, the team will get 2 free throws and possession. This means you cannot foul a weak free throw shooter if they do not have the ball in the last 2 mins/overtime without being penalized for it. For inbound situations, a defensive foul that occurs before the ball is released by the in-bounder will result in an away-from-the-play foul and 2 free throws plus possession will be awarded. 

• In the LAST 2 MINS of play, two consecutive fouls on the ball will result in 2 free throws, regardless of whether defensive team has reached their team foul limit for a bonus situation.

• Last minute of play in 2nd half or overtime, teams can advance to halfcourt on makes or misses regardless of where the ball is after calling a timeout. 

• If a player is fouled and the team that committed the foul has less than 5 fouls, then the foul counts and the offensive team claims possession. No free throws allotted.

• If a player is fouled and the team that committed the foul has 5 fouls or more, then the offensive team will go to the line to shoot a “single bonus” free throw (one and one).  1 free throw, plus another if the first is successful is awarded on the 6th, 7th and 8th and 9th foul of each half; the penalty is increased to two shots on the 10th and subsequent fouls; overtime is an extension of the second half. 

• 5 players total in the lane when free throws are being taken. 2 from the offensive team and 3 from the defensive team. 

• Clear path fouls if determined by the referee will result in 2 free throws and possession of the ball regardless of whether it is a bonus situation or not. This applies to “unsportsmanlike misconduct” fouls as well. 

• Fouls are completely at the referee’s discretion. Coaches and players must treat the referees with respect, and talk to them during stoppages or after the game to voice any concerns. 

• Referees have the discretion to call “Delay of Game” and allot 1 basket to the opposing team (if necessary). However, the possession will go back to the team that had the ball prior to that call.

• Technical fouls will function as follows: Shoot the one free throw immediately. After the free throw, the inbound shall be administered by the team that had control of the ball or was entitled to the ball when the technical foul was committed, and from the place nearest to where the ball was located when the game was stopped.  

• If a team has players foul out of the game, to the extent that at least 5 players are no longer available to take the court, that team will automatically forfeit the game. The opposing team shall receive a Win as a default.

Overtime

Regular Season: In case of Over Time (OT), there will be 1 OT half consisting of 2 minutes. Possession goes by arrow.  No additional time outs are awarded in OT during regular season.  Fouls and time out situations are an extension of the second half. If the score remains tied after OT, both teams will be credited with a tie.

Playoffs: Overtime rules for playoffs will follow the regular season rules, unless otherwise communicated by league management at least one week prior to start of playoffs.

Playoffs

• Time-out allocations will be the same as regular season, but are subject to change at the discretion of league management prior to the playoffs. Any modifications to rules specific to playoffs will be communicated to coaches at least one week prior to playoffs. 

• All teams will make the playoffs, and the standings will be determined by point differential. If there is a tie in point differential, it will next be determined by head to head record, and lastly by total points scored.