American Youth Basketball Association
AYBA Rules and Regulations
2013 Season

Rules for AYBA's National Basketball Tournament
  1. Introduction to AYBA

    2. American Youth Basketball Association is a youth membership organization which provides opportunities to youth athletes for development in the sport of basketball.AYBA encourages teamwork,sportsmanship and fun through basketball.

  2. Membership

    3. Team Membership is $75.00 per team which includes $25,000.00 of secondary medical insurance per player. The insurance is effective Sept. 1 – Aug. 31, each year.

  3. Eligibility

    4. All teams must be members of AYBA and meet the following criteria :

    • 2nd Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 2nd grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 10 prior to September 1,2013.

    • 3rd Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 3rd grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 11 prior to September 1,2013.

    • 4th Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 4th grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 12 prior to September 1,2013.

    • 5th Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 5th grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 13 prior to September 1,2013.

    • 6th Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 6th grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 14 prior to September 1,2013.

    • 7th Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 7th grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 15 prior to September 1,2013.

    • 8th Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 8th grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 16 prior to September 1,2013.

    • 9th Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 9th grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 17 prior to September 1,2013.

    • 10th Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 10th grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 18 prior to September 1,2013.

    • 11th Grade or under Division

      • A player must be in the 11th grade or under as of October 1,2012 and cannot turn 19 prior to September 1,2013.

    REQUEST TO PLAY DOWN A GRADE LEVEL(AGE EXCEPTIONS)

    Current Grade    Requested Grade    Birthdate
      3rd Grade  2nd GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,2004
      4th Grade  3rd GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,2003
      5th Grade  4th GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,2002
      6th Grade  5th GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,2001
      7th Grade  6th GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,2000
      8th Grade  7th GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,1999
      9th Grade  8th GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,1998
    10th Grade  9th GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,1997
    11th Grade10th GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,1997
    12th Grade11th GradeBorn on or after Sept.1,1995

  4. Acceptable Form-Grade Verification

    5. The only acceptable form of grade verification is a copy of the players' report card as of October 1,2012.Home School Students must furnish proof,from their governing body, acknowledging their grade level.

  5. Acceptable Forms of Age Verification

    1. Copy of birth record from the state,country or municipal Bureau of Vital Statistics at the place of birth.
    2. Valid state-issued Drivers License.
    3. Current and valid passport.
    4. Copy of the delayed registration of birth if the players birth was not recorded on his/her day of birth; issued by the same governing bodies.
    5. Consular Service Form FS 240(Report of Birth)issued by the U.S.Department of State.
    6. Immigration and Naturalization Forms I-151 and I-25 and Form 43 R311-7 issued by the U.S Department of Justice.

  6. Residency

    7. A player must participate with a team registered in the state of his/her legal residency with the following exceptions:

    1. A player enrolled at an educational institution located outside of his/her legal residency may elect to treat the state in which the school is located as his/her state of residency.
    2. A player who is subject to a written joint custody arrangement may elect to treat the state of either custodian as his/her state of residency.The State in which the player participates in their first qualifying AYBA event will be considered their official state of residency for the remainder of the season.
    3. A player may attach to a team from another state with a common border of the players legal residency.Player must live within a 75 mile radius of the teams' mailing address.

  7. Players on Multiple Teams

    1. Players may play on two grade divisions within the same named Organization if all grade/age requirements are met.
    2. Players may not play on two teams within the same grade/age division.
    3. Players may only play on one team in any AYBA Qualifying Tournament.

  8. Eligibility Disqualifications

    9. It is the responsibility of all Head Coaches to ensure that their team meets all eligibility requirements for participation in a qualifying AYBA event.Eligibility disqualifications are as follows:

    1. If a player is found ineligible prior to the start of the tournament, he/she will be expelled from the tournament,but the team will be allowed to play.
    2. If a player is found ineligible during a tournament, the player will be expelled from the tournament and the team will forfeit all games in which the ineligible player was listed on the official score sheet.The team may continue to play,if applicable,without the ineligible player.
    3. If a Head Coach is found to have prior knowledge of any ineligible players, the team will be immediately expelled from the tournament and the Coach may face additional disciplinary actions.

  9. Team Attachment

    10. A AYBA registered player becomes attached to a team after he/she competes with that team for the first time in a AYBA qualifying event in the state in which the team is registered.

  10. Player Transfer

    11. A AYBA player may transfer to another team under the following conditions :

    1. If the transfer is for a player to compete with a team that will be playing in the AYBA National Championships, providing his/her team will not be playing in the AYBA National Championships.
    2. If the transfer is due to events outside the control of the player and serves the best interest of the player, as determined by the State Director.

  11. Boys Team Restrictions

    12. Boys may only play on Boys teams.

  12. Girls Team Restrictions and Exceptions

    13. Girls may only play on Girls teams with the following exceptions:

    1. A Girl may play on a Boys team in grade divisions - 2nd and 3rd.
    2. Only three Girls are allowed on a Boys team roster.

  13. Team Roster Limit

    14. Team rosters will be limited to 15 players per team.

  14. Governing Body of Rules and By-Laws

    15. National High School Federation Rules as well as AYBA Rules and Regulations will apply.

  15. Length of Games

    16.   2nd Grade or under Division - 6 minute quarters
      3rd Grade or under Division - 6 minute quarters
      4th Grade or under Division - 7 minute quarters
      5th Grade or under Division - 7 minute quarters
      6th Grade or under Division - 7 minute quarters
      7th Grade or under Division - 8 minute quarters
      8th Grade or under Division - 8 minute quarters
      9th Grade or under Division - 8 minute quarters
    10th Grade or under Division - 8 minute quarters
    11th Grade or under Division - 8 minute quarters

  16. Length of Overtime

    17. Length of overtime will be 1/2 of a regulation period.

  17. Length of Half-Time

    18. Length of half-time will be a minimum of 5 minutes.

  18. Length of Pre-Game Warm-Up

    19. Length of pre-game warm-up will be a minimum of 5 minutes.

  19. Basketball Specifications

    20. Boys   2nd Grade or under Division - 28.5"(official women's ball)
    Boys   3rd Grade or under Division - 28.5"(official women's ball)
    Boys   4th Grade or under Division - 28.5"(official women's ball)
    Boys   5th Grade or under Division - 28.5"(official women's ball)
    Boys   6th Grade or under Division - 28.5"(official women's ball)
    Boys   7th Grade or under Division - Regulation size ball
    Boys   8th Grade or under Division - Regulation size ball
    Boys   9th Grade or under Division - Regulation size ball
    Boys 10th Grade or under Division - Regulation size ball
    Boys 11th Grade or under Division - Regulation size ball
    Girls All Grade Divisions - 28.5"(official women's ball)

  20. Basket Height Specifications

    21. All grade divisions (boys and girls) will use 10 foot height baskets.

  21. Running Clock Rule

    22. At the time a team gains a lead of thirty or more points on his/her opponent,the clock will continue to run (except for time outs, technical fouls, injuries or emergencies). The clock starts when the ball is legally touched after a dead ball is in-bounded. The clock reverts back to stop clock if the trailing team brings the point difference to twenty points or less.

  22. Pool Play Tiebreaker Rule

    23. After completion of pool play,ties will follow the following tiebreaker rules:

    1. If two teams are tied,head-to-head competition between the two teams will determine the winner.
    2. If more than two teams are tied,the point differential of the teams involved in the tie are totaled.Teams are ranked according to the sum of the point differential with the highest number ranked first, the second highest number ranked second, etc. Teams receive a maximum of +15 points for a win and a maximum of -15 points for a loss (this includes forfeits).
    3. If two teams are tied after the application of (b), the tie will revert to (a).
    4. If more than two teams are tied after the application of (b), the point differential of the teams not involved in the tie are added and the results are recalculated.
    5. If two teams are tied after the application of (d), the tie will revert to (a).
    6. If more than two teams are tied after the application of (d), then a total defensive point system will be used. Example: Team A is 2-1 with wins of 55-31 and 63-44 and a loss of 63-55. Total defensive points are 138. The same procedure is repeated for the remaining teams. The team with the lowest points allowed will be ranked first, the team with the second lowest points will be ranked second, etc. If two teams remain tied after the defensive points are calculated, the tie will revert to (a).

  23. Uniforms

    1. All teams must have either reversible jerseys (with two different colors:light and dark) or two sets of jerseys.
    2. The home team will wear light colored jerseys.
    3. Jerseys must have permanent numbers on both front and back of jersey (No tape or markers are allowed).
    4. Permissable numbers are any number from "00" to "99".
    5. If undershirts are worn, they must be the dominant color of the jersey.

  24. Conduct of Participants

    25. The conduct of players and coaches should be above reproach on and off the court. Any misbehavior or misconduct, on or off the court, will be subject to individual and/or team disqualification from an event. Additional penalties could apply.

  25. Attire-Bench Personnel

    26. Any non-player that sits on the official home or away bench are subject to the following guidelines:

    1. All coaches must wear long pants or dress shorts, collared or mock shirt and dress or athletic shoes. Basketball shorts and/or "cut-off" shorts, warm-up suits of any type, hats, sandals and flip flops are not permitted. Any hooded garment or headgear are not permitted.
    2. Each violation to the bench attire rule will result in a two shot technical (administrative - not charged to the coach).

  26. Coaches Responsibility

    27. Each coach will be responsible for all members of his/her team at all times, including all parents and spectators representing their team.

  27. Unsportsmanlike Disqualification

    28. A team and/or player is subject to immediate disqualification from a AYBA tournament for any conduct deemed inappropriate, unacceptable, unsafe and/or abusive by the tournament staff. This includes, but is not limited to, defacing and/or destructuction of rental homes, hotels, restaurants or playing site property ,trashing team bench area, fighting, unsportsmanlike play and/or conduct or ineligible players. Any disqualification is the sole decision of the tournament officials. An ejection of any player, coach, parent or spectator will result in a one game suspension and up to dismissal from the event. A second ejection within the same event will result in suspension from the tournament. No refunds will be issued in the event of a disqualification.

  28. State Qualifying Tournaments

    29. State Qualifying Tournaments are events approved and sanctioned by the National Headquarters for the purpose of qualifying a team for the State Championship. Only teams that reside in the State of their State Tournament are eligible to qualify for the National Tournament. Contact your State Director for more information.

  29. State Champions

    30. Contact your State Director for information about qualifying for the State Championship. Teams in states in which we do not offer State Championships may request an at-large bid to the National Championships by contacting the National Headquarters.

  30. National Championships

    31. National Championships are for teams that have qualified through their State or who have received an approved at-large bid.

  31. Qualifying for National Championships

    32. Teams that have played in their State Championships will qualify for the National Championships according to their finish at the State Championships as follows:
       1st Place-4th Place - Division-1
       5th Place and lower - Division-2
       All at-large bids must play - Division-1

  32. National Championships - Divisions 1 and 2

    33. A team that qualifies for Division-1 can only play in Division-1. A team that qualifies for Division-2 may choose to play Division-1, if a Division-1 team decides not to participate. See your State Director for more information.

  33. Equipment Items

    34. Basketballs, drinks, towels, etc. may or may not be acceptable at the gym sites. Check with the tournament host to determine acceptable or restricted items for gym site. AYBA and/or the gym sites are not responsible for any items lost or stolen.

  34. Bench Decorum

    35. Only eligible players plus a maximum of three non-players (this includes coaches, statistician, ball boy/girl and or other staff) may be on team's bench.

    1. Violation of this rule will result in a warning. The coach will have 1 minute to clear the bench of persons not eligible to sit on the bench.
    2. Team statisticians and/or scorers are not allowed to sit at or behind the official scorer's table.

  35. Protests

    36. Official protests must meet all of the following criteria:

    1. Upon alleged infraction, protest must be communicated at the time of the infraction to the official scorer's table by the head coach (assistant coach if head coach is not there).
    2. Upon completion of the game, the protest must immediately be communicated to the Site Director by the head coach (assistant coach if head coach is not there).
    3. A written protest must be delivered in person by the head or assistant coach to the Tournament Headquarters within two hours of the completion of the game. E-mails or fax copies will not be accepted. A $100.00 (cash) fee must be delivered at the same time.
    4. Protests pertaining to an official's judgement call will not be considered. Protests in which a potential rule infraction has occurred may be considered only if the infraction has a direct impact on the outcome of the game.
    5. A committee will consider all protests and make every attempt to provide a ruling prior to the team's next scheduled game.
    6. Successful protetests will result in a refund of the $100.00 protest fee. Unsuccessful protests will result in forfeiture of the $100.00 protest fee.

  36. Adding Players to National Championships Roster

    37. Players being added to a roster for the purpose of participating in the AYBA National Championships must meet the following criteria:

    1. Players must have been listed on a State Qualifying Roster.
    2. If a player is a member of a team that intends to play in the National Championships, that player cannot be added to any other team roster.
    3. If a teams' State Qualifying Roster has:
      1. Twelve players listed, they may add three players
      2. Thirteen players listed, they may add two players
      3. Fourteen players listed, they may add one player
      4. Fifteen players listed, no players may be added
    4. A Division-1 team may add players to their National Championship Roster from a Division-1 or Division-2 team. A Division-2 team may only add players to their National Championship Roster from another Division-2 team.