2024 League Rules
General Rules that apply to ALL divisions
-Unless stated otherwise below, the Cooper City Optimist Basketball program uses the same rules as Florida high school basketball (excluding new 2023 Free Throw Bonus Rule).
-Coaches are required to wear the Coach’s Shirt provided by the league for this season. A coach may wear a team sponsor warm-up (issued by the league) or another league approved shirt if they have been provided one, in lieu of the coach’s shirt. If the coach does not wear a proper shirt the team/coach will be assessed a technical foul. If one coach has the proper shirt, and the second coach does not, the coach without the proper shirt will not be allowed to sit with the team or will be assessed a technical foul.
-All players must report to the scorer’s table prior to entering the game. This is the coach’s responsibility. Failure to substitute without checking in will result in a technical foul. All players must check in to start each quarter.
-The uniforms are reversible to ensure that no two teams playing each other are wearing colors to similar to each other. Each team may wear whichever color they want so long as the officials (at their discretion, not the coaches) determine the colors are not too similar or the same. If colors are too similar, the home team must wear white and the road team must wear the non-white side of jersey. Players are to wear the same color shorts as shirt.
-The scorekeepers will decide the number of minutes required for players who show up after the start of the game.
-Every player must play at least 1 minute per quarter.
-Each team is granted two (2) time outs per half. An additional time out will be granted to each team in each overtime period. No more than one (1) timeout can be carried over from regulation into overtime.
-Only players and registered coaches are allowed on the designated sideline for teams. Regardless of how many coaches are on the team sideline, only one coach may stand on the sideline during the game.
-No food is allowed in the gym.
-Once the game schedule is set, it will not be modified to address teams that cannot field enough players or for coaches who failed to timely submit a request. Games may be changed at the necessity of the league. TEAMS that do not have at least four (4) players by ten (10) minutes after the scheduled game time forfeit that game. If a game is a forfeit, the two teams can elect to mix the rosters and scrimmage in an officiated game.
-Overtime will be one three minute period. Only one timeout may be carried over. The clock will stop in the last minute only. If the game is tied after two overtimes in a division playing on baskets lower than 10 feet, the game will proceed to foul shots. All players will shoot.
-Referees have the authority to eject any player, coach, or spectator. Any player or coach ejected will be suspended a minimum of one game. A suspended player can only serve their suspension by sitting games where they’re in attendance.
-League Officials (including referees and scorekeepers) can sit players as necessary to ensure good sportsmanship.
-Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, player’s parents and guests. Failure to exert such control may result in technical fouls and forfeiture.
-Uniforms may not be altered by coaches, parents or players.
-A team/player will be assessed a technical foul for starting a game out of uniform, unless one has not yet been provided by the league. This will not count as a personal foul.
-Teams may not press if up by 20 or more points. Pressing when up 20 is a delay of game.
-All players must play at least the minimum time. Players who do not play the minimum will be required to play double that time the next game and Technical fouls will be assessed. This penalty does not give a coach the option to elect to play a player less than the minimum. The referees and scorekeepers can stop the game and force you to insert a player they think needs minutes.
-Playing defense in the backcourt when it is not allowed is a delay of game.
- These rules can be amended during the at the discretion of the league.
Developmental
· There is NO change of possession for travelling, double dribbling, backcourt violations, or line violations.
· Referees can stop the game at any time to explain the rules/teach
· One coach may go anywhere on the court, except for the paint, while the clock is running, but must not interfere in game action
· 8-minute running clock per quarter
· 7-minute minimum playing time per half
- If a team has eight (8) or less players, each player must 8 minutes per half and every player must sit at least two minutes per half
· Games are played with a 27.5” basketball
· Games will be played with a basket height of 6.5’
· Teams may not play defense outside of their own 3-point line
· Any shot taken behind the 3-point line is only worth two (2) points
· There is no in the paint violation
· Clock stops the last minute of game for free throws and substitutions
· A player cannot foul out but can be sat at an official’s discretion to ensure player safety and fair play
· Free throws are taken from behind the volleyball end line, approximately 2-3 feet away from the basket. There is no violation for jumping over the line. There is no
rebound on the second shot. All non-shooting players go back to half court, while the fouled player is shooting.
· Teams cannot use the lack of a backcourt violation turnover to stall or circumvent fair play.
· Teams can foul in the backcourt in the last minute of the game, if the game is within seven (7) points. A change of possession cannot be caused by a player attempting
to foul in the backcourt.
Boys Instructional/Girls Instructional
· Referee can stop the game at any time to explain the rules/teach
· In Boys Instructional, one coach can move up and down the entire sideline but must stay behind the volleyball sideline drawn on each court
· In Girls Instructional, one coach may go anywhere on the court, except for the paint, while the clock is running, but must not interfere in game action
· 8-minute running clock per quarter
· 7-minute minimum playing time per half
If a team has eight (8) or less players, each player must 8 minutes per half and every player must sit at least two minutes per half
· In Boys Instructional, games are played with a 28.5” basketball
· In Girls Instructional, games are played with a 27.5” basketball
· Boys Instructional games will be played at a basket height of 8’
· Girls Instructional games will be played at a basket height of 7.5’
· Teams may play defense once the offense pass the ¾ court line. Once the ball has crossed the ¾ court line, the defense can play defense all the way to midcourt.
· 10 seconds in the paint violation
· Clock stops the last two minutes of each half
· Clock will stop for up to 20 seconds to set up a free throw
· A player will foul out upon receiving their sixth (6th) foul, but can be sat prior to that, at an official’s discretion to ensure player safety and fair play
· Free throws are taken from two feet in front of the free throw line in the mini gym and Pioneer Middle School and three feet in front at the JCC. There is no penalty for
jumping forward on a free throw. The free shooter can only rebound their own miss from where they landed on their free throw attempt, i.e. they cannot run in for the
rebound after landing on their shot.
· 15 seconds to bring the ball past ¾ court
· Prior to a date set by league, travelling, double dribble and backcourt violations will be returned to the offending team. After the date set by the league, those
violations will result in a turnover.
· Teams can foul in the backcourt in the last minute of the game, if the game is within seven (7) points. A change of possession cannot be caused by a player attempting
to foul in the backcourt.
Starter/Bronze
· 8-minute running clock per quarter
· 7-minute minimum playing time per half
- If a team has eight (8) or less players, each player must 8 minutes per half and every player must sit at least two minutes per half
· 28.5” basketball
· Defense may pick up at ½ court
· Full court press allowed the last two minutes of each half
· 6 second violation in the paint
· Clock stops the last two minutes of each half
· No penalty for jumping forward on a free throw
· 15 seconds to bring the ball past half court
· Free throws are taken from free throw line in the mini gym and Pioneer Middle School and one foot in front at the JCC. There is no penalty for jumping over the line on
a free throw. The free shooter can only rebound their own miss from where they landed on their free throw attempt, i.e. they cannot run in for the rebound after landing
on their shot.
· Starter games will be played at a basket height of 9’
· Bronze games will be played at a basket height of 8.5’
Freshman/Sophomore/Silver
· 10-minute running clock per quarter
· 8-minute minimum playing time per half
- If a team has eight (8) or less players, each player must 10 minutes per half.
· Clock stops the last two minutes of each half
· Defense starts at half court
· Full court press the last two minutes of each half
· Freshman/Sophomore 29.5 ball, Silver/Gold 28.5
· In the Freshman and Silver division, free throw shooters can jump over the line. The free shooter can only rebound their own miss from where they landed on their
free throw attempt, i.e. they cannot run in for the rebound after landing on their shot.
Junior/Gold/Senior Boys/Senior Girls
· 10-minute running clock per quarter
· 8-minute minimum playing time per half
- If a team has eight (8) or less players, each player must 10 minutes per half.
· Clock stops the last two minutes of each half