MVCBA RULES:

Game Time: All grades: (2) 20 Minute half's with running time, the last 2 minutes of the GAME (not each half) is stop time.

Defense: 4th, 5th & 6th grade: Only man-man defense is allowed, no zone, traps or double teams (except in the paint). 4th, 5th & 6th grade can play full court the last 2 minutes of the game (if a team has a lead of 10 or more points, then full court press is not allowed for the leading team). Even during full court press in the last 2 minutes it is man to man defense only with no zones, traps or double team (except in the paint).

Defense: 7th & 8th grade: Any defense, including zone, double teaming, traps and full court press (as long as the lead is under 15 points)are allowed throughout the game.

Timeouts: 2 timeouts per half; they do not carry over to the second half.

3 Point Shots: Count for all grades 4-8

Foul shots: Foul shots are taken on the 10th team foul for each half, other than a shooting foul all trips to the foul line are 1 & 1; no double bonus at any time.

Players are disqualified if they have 5 fouls.

No player may play on a lower grade team.

A Player that receives a technical foul can not play the remainder of the game and is suspended for the next game (this is a behavioral technical only, a technical for reaching out of bounds and making contact with the person in-bounding the ball, or a technical for an intentional foul that is not flagrant such as grabbing the back of another players shirt on a breakaway are not grounds for dismissal from the game or suspension from the next game).

A Coach receiving a technical is not removed from the game; 2 technicals and a coach is removed from the game, however, should a coach receive 2 technicals in a game or during the season he or she will not be allowed to coach the remainder of the season.

Playing Time: All eligible players on the bench (excluding injured players) must play in each game, there is no mandated playing time, but all eligible players must get into the game.

Respect and good sportsmanship at this level are far more important than talent and wins; players must respect the refs, coaches, team members and members of the other team. There is zero tolerance for bad sportsmanship and the refs have the full support of the league maintaining this policy.

Coaches are held to an even high standard than the players and are expected to show respect for the reis, other teams players, other coaches and the score keepers as well as setting a good example to their players as to how one behaves during a game. Coaches are role models (whether they choose this or not) and their behavior towards the refs, coaches, players and fans has a direct impact as how their players and their parents react during the game as well.

Score Keepers: No one is allowed to directly interact with the score keeper, most (if not all) are high school kids and should not be confronted. If a coach has an issue with the score or the score keeper, please talk with the refs and not the score keeper. No parent is allowed to be at the score table and if a parent believes there is an error in the score they can talk to their coach or talk to the ref during a timeout, but a parent is not allowed to go to the score table. The coaches are held responsible for making it known to their parents this policy of not approaching the score table.

Playoffs: All teams make the playoffs regardless of their record.

uestions concerning the rules, games, refs, etc, should be directed to John Vitulli (league director) at 978-273-3080 or by email at johnvitulli@comcast.net.