The University of Southern Mississippi
Intramural Sports Program
Basketball Rules
All Intramural participants are responsible for their own medical expenses. Any participant
unsure of his/her physical condition should check with their physician or the University
Clinic before participating in an Intramural Sports contest.
Teams are responsible for keeping their spectators under control. Misconduct of participants,
coaches or spectators can result in an unsportsmanlike penalty, ejection or forfeiture
of the game. Team Captains will be held responsible for spectator, team and sideline
misconduct. Two ejections from any contest will result in an automatic forfeiture.
Intramural Officials are in absolute control of the game. Officials and Supervisors shall have the power to make decisions on all matters
and questions not specifically covered in the rules.
GENERAL PROCEDURES
Eligibility and Roster Information
A current Southern Miss I.D. must be presented to the supervisor at game time.
NO I.D. - NO PLAY- NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!
Teams must have a minimum of 4 players to start a game. 5 players shall play on the
court.
Forfeit Policy
If a team fails to appear with the required minimum number of players, ready to play,
at the scheduled location at the scheduled start of the game, a member of the Intramural
Sports Staff will declare the contest a forfeit. Teams that forfeit will receive
an ‘C’ for sportsmanship and will be required to pay $15 to the Recreational Sports
Office prior to the registration of any other intramural sports teams.
Teams are only allowed one forfeit per sport per season. If a team forfeits twice,
it will be removed from the league for the remainder of the season.
Default Policy
If a team knows that they will be unable to play a scheduled game, the Team Captain
must contact the Intramural Sports Office by 12:00 PM the day of the contest to declare
a default. The defaulting team will receive a loss and a ‘B’ for sportsmanship.
There is no re-entry fee for a default.
Protests
A rule interpretation protest must be made before the ball inbounded. Once the ball
has become live, a protest from the previous play will not be valid.
Official’s judgment calls cannot be protested.
The Intramural Sports Program will use the National Federation of State High School
Associations Basketball Rule Book to govern play with the following modifications.
COURT AND EQUIPMENT
- Games will be played at the Payne Center throughout the season. Please check your
schedule carefully for the proper locations of your game.
- You may play with your own basketball if both teams agree. If teams do not agree
on a game ball the Intramural Sports Program will provide one for you.
Co-Rec: The women’s ball will be used during all games.
PLAYERS, SUBSTITUTES, AND EQUIPMENT
- Each team will consist of five (5) players.
Co-Rec: Three (3) females and two (2) males.
- A team may begin a game with a minimum of four (4) players.
Co-Rec: Two (2) females and two (2) males.
- Substitutions may only be made during a dead ball interval and when recognized by
the official after checking in with the official scorekeeper.
Co-Rec: Substitutions are allowed on a male for male, or female for female basis only.
- All team members must be dressed in the same color jerseys with numbers. It is strongly
recommended that teams bring their own jerseys, but jerseys will be available for
checkout. (A shirt must be worn under a Southern Miss Intramural Sports jersey).
LEVELS OF PLAY
-
DIVISION I: Designed to meet the needs of the highly skilled and competitive participant. This
division will consist of fraternity A class teams, sorority A class teams, and those
independent and residence hall organizations that choose to participate at this level.
The champion of Division I will be declared the All-University Champion and will represent
the University in extramural activities.
-
DIVISION II: Designed to meet the needs of the intermediately skilled, yet still competitive,
participant. This division will consist of fraternity B, C, and D class teams, sorority
B and C class teams, and those independent and residence hall organizations that choose
to participate at this level.
NOTE: The Coordinator of Intramural Sports reserves the right to reclassify any team after
completion of the regular season.
SCORING AND TIMING REGULATIONS
- Field goals on or inside the nineteen foot nine inch line (19'9") (3 point line) shall
be worth two (2) points.
- Field goals outside the nineteen foot nine inch line (19'9") (3 point line) shall
be worth three (3) points.
- Free throws shall be worth one (1) point.
- Playing time shall be two (2) halves of twenty (20) minutes each with an intermission
of three (3) minutes between halves.
- The clock will run continuously until the last two minutes of the game, with the exceptions
of timeouts.
- During the last two (2) minutes of the game, the clock will stop on all whistles.
- If a team is leading by 20 or more points (25 for Co-Rec) at the two (2) minute mark
of the second half the game will be called due to the Mercy Rule.
- If a team is 45 or more points ahead at anytime during the second half, the game shall
be over.
-
There will be no overtime in the regular season. In the playoffs, if the score is tied at the end of the second half, play shall continue without
change of baskets for one (1) or more extra periods with a one (1) minute intermission
before each extra period. The length of the extra period shall be two (2) minutes
with clock stopping on all whistles.
- Each team will receive two timeouts per half. Timeouts do not carry over from halves
or overtime. The length of the time-out will be one minute.
PLAYING RESTRICTIONS
- Restrictions for players in marked lane spaces and for players not occupying a marked
lane space ends when the free throw touches the backboard, rim or the free throw ends.
- During the free throw, a maximum of four opponents of the thrower’s team and a maximum
of two teammates of the thrower may occupy the marked land spaces. The two spaces
nearest the free throw line may not be occupied by members of either team.
- A player attempting a free throw shall not break the plane of the free throw line
until the free throw touches the backboard, rim, or the free throw ends
- Remain for three (3) seconds inside the free throw lane while the ball is in control
of his or her team in his or her front court. Allowance shall be made for a player
who, having been in the restricted area for less than three (3) seconds dribbles or
moves to try for a goal.
- While being closely guarded anywhere in his or her front court, a player shall not
hold the ball for five (5) seconds or dribble the ball for five (5) seconds, if this
happens, it becomes a violation and the defensive team gains possession of the ball.
FOULS AND PENALTIES
- Three technical fouls assessed to a team in one game, will result in the automatic
forfeiture of the game by that team. The team captain then will be required to meet
with the Coordinator of Recreational Sports before that team will be allowed to continue
to play another intramural basketball game.
- A player has fouled out of the game if he or she receives their 5th personal foul.
- When a team commits their seventh personal foul, their opponent will shoot the one
and one bonus. When a team commits their tenth personal foul, their opponent will
shoot two shots. Exception: Player control fouls.
NOTE: An individual who is ejected from an intramural contest must meet with the Coordinator
of Intramurals prior to being eligible to compete or spectate at any intramural event.
A player, coach or spectator who is charged with a second technical foul of a game
will be ejected from the game and must leave the facility. They must also meet with
the Coordinator of Intramurals.
- Intentional fouls carry a two (2) shot foul plus possession of the ball.
- Technical fouls will not be shot. The opposing team will automatically be awarded
two points and possession of the ball at half court. All technical fouls count toward
a players five personal fouls and team’s seven team fouls.
- Anytime during an altercation, if a team’s bench empties onto the playing court, that
team(s) shall forfeit the game and must meet with the Intramural Coordinator the following
day.
- A coach, substitute, team attendant, follower, or player shall not:
- Disrespectfully address an official or supervisor.
- Use profanity.
- Disrespectfully address or bait an opponent.
- Object to an official’s decision by rising from the bench or using gestures.
- Incite undesirable crowd reactions.
- Coaches shall remain seated on the bench except to:
- Rise and stand in front of his or her seat to signal players to request a time-out.
- Rise and stand in front of his or her seat to signal or communicate to a player on
the bench.
- Spontaneously react to an outstanding play.
- To confer with personnel at the scorer’s table to specifically request a time-out
for a correctable error.
- Attend an injured player when summoned by an official or supervisor.
- Rise and stand in front of his or her bench during a charged timeout.
CO-REC CLARIFICATIONS
- Males can only guard other male players and females can only guard other female players.
- A violation shall result in the ball becoming dead. The team causing the violation
will be issued one warning, after the warning a point and the ball will be awarded
to the team with control of the ball.
- Each field goal by a female will carry a bonus of one (1) additional point.
- Free throws attempted for fouls, however, shall be in accordance with their point
values according to gender. Male players will shoot two or three shots when fouled
during a field goal attempts and females will shoot three or four.
- Bonus and Double Bonus foul situations shall be the same for all players, one-and-one
or two shots respectively.
- Males are not allowed to block a female’s shot. If this does happen then this will
be considered goal tending and the points will be awarded.
- Screen cannot be set on the opposite gender.
Recreational Sports Website: http://www.usm.edu/recsports
Intramural Sports Office: 601.266.5409
Revised 8/1/11