GOBL Rules
Greek Orthodox Basketball League (GOBL) Rules
- GENERAL
a. In order to insure a successful and meaningful basketball season, the following guidelines have been established. It is imperative that the rules, policies and procedures of the Greek Orthodox Basketball League are adhered to without exception. The GOBL is composed of five boys and five girls divisions ranging from ages 7-17. The league web site is www.dadgobl.com.
2. PURPOSE
a. The purpose of the League is to teach boys and girls the meaning of good Christian sportsmanship and fellowship; to provide an avenue for pre-teens to participate in an environment with their Greek Orthodox peers; to interact with youth of other churches; to respect your teammates, coaches and other league coaches and players and to learn how to play the game of Basketball as individuals and as members of a team.
3. ORGANIZATION
a. Children must be between the ages of 7 through 17 on or before December 31, 2023 to be eligible to play in the League. The League is organized into divisions for boys and girls ages 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15 and 16-17 The players/parents must be members of their respective community or the players must be members of their respective community’s athletic program (JOY/GOYA) in order to participate.
Division I Boys /Girls Ages 7-8 born January 1, 2016-2017
Division II Boys/Girls Ages 9-10 born January 1, 2014-2015
Division III Boys/Girls Ages 11-12 born January 1, 2012-2013
Junior Boys/Girls Ages 13-15 born January 1, 2009-2011
Senior Boys/Girls Ages 16-17 born January 1, 2007-2008
b. A player currently participating in the G1/B1/G2/B2/G3/B3 division is not eligible to play in the Juniors or Seniors.
c. Coaches are chosen by each community but are subject to approval and/or dismissal by the League Board.
d. A player may not switch communities for his senior/final year of eligibility.
Players may only transfer communities if it involves a physical move to a new address within a parish closer to their home. Any other transfers that do not include a change of address will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Parents must submit a letter to the commissioner explaining the reason for the transfer and must also meet with their community representative to discuss their request.
Rule Note: The idea of "sitting out a year" to become a free agent and choose a new parish is a misconception. This has never been a rule in the GOBL, despite what has been mistakenly circulated over the years.
4. SCHEDULING
a. There is presently one season the Winter/Spring regular season plus the playoffs. The league schedule will be distributed at the beginning of the season pending all communities meet the proper deadlines of submitting paperwork and rosters. The number of games per season will be decided once the number of teams in each division has been determined.
b.Games postponed for any reason will be re-scheduled at the discretion of the League Director and posted on the web site.
c. Regardless of the weather conditions, unless otherwise notified by a league official, coaches and their teams are expected to appear on the court ready to play at the scheduled date/time of the game. A team will have 15 minutes to show up after the scheduled game time or they will be issued a forfeit (if a previous game is delayed the 15 minute rule will begin once the previous game ends.)
d. The referee is authorized to cancel the game once he/she steps onto the court.
e.The director and only the league director can reschedule games, coaches, committee member are not authorized to reschedule games between themselves.
5. SITES
1. At the beginning of every season each participating community shall provide the League Director with gymnasium and equipment (clock/scoreboard) availability.
2. The home team, as designated on the League schedule, will provide the game ball.
3. The referee shall have the option of selecting another ball.
4. Before the game starts the site rep at the table will ask for the coaches to show them their ID cards. Failure to produce the current issued league ID card will disqualify the coach from being allowed to sit on the bench.
6. GAME PROCEDURES
a. Each game will be officiated by an experienced referee secured by the League. In the event that a referee is not present to begin the game in the G1/B1/G2/B2/G3/B3 divisions, a parent or another league official agreed upon by both coaches, can begin the game. Only a referee secured by the League can officiate a game in the Juniors/Seniors division. He/she shall have the same powers as a League Referee. If the League Referee arrives after the start of the game, he/she shall take command of the game.
b. All games will begin with the Lord’s Prayer and a handshake between all team players and their coaches.
c. Coaches will require team members to be at the gym site 20 minutes prior to the game to insure all games start on time.
d. The home site is responsible for providing a first aid kit. The responsibility is no longer on each team, however, the league strongly encourages each team to bring a first aid kid. If a site is found not having a proper first aid kit the League Director(s) and/or League Board can levy penalties up to and include forfeiture of all future home games.
e. Each team must have a minimum of 5 uniformed players on the court at the scheduled game time, prepared to begin the game. If a team has 4 or less uniformed players, 15 minutes after the scheduled game time, the Referee must declare a forfeit and award the victory to the opposing team. Players may not be loaned between teams to avoid a forfeit. If a "loaned" player is discovered, the violating team(s) will automatically forfeit the game. If both teams have less than 5 players, 15 minutes after the scheduled game time, a double forfeit shall be declared.
f. Coaches should designate a team captain prior to each game. The team captains will conduct the opening prayer. The coaches will have their players proceed to center court for the prayer. After the game, at the Referees signal, each team must proceed to center court led by their coaches and exchange handshakes.
g. Coaches will ensure that each player in the G1,B1,G2,B2,G3,B3 divisions present shall play in the game. The league will be monitoring player playing time. If it is determined a coach is abusing this rule by having players make brief game appearances, the abuse will be brought to the coach's and community representative's attention. Further abuse may result in a meeting between the coach and league executive board to explain his/her actions. In the G1/B1 divisions each player must play a full quarter. In the G2/B2/G3/B3 divisions each player must play by the end of the 3rd quarter. Failure to comply with these rules may result in a disciplinary action against the coach. The above rules are not in effect in the Juniors/Seniors division.
h. Team members and the Referee are the only persons allowed on the court. In the event of an injury, the coach may assist the Referee on the court, if called by the Referee. NOTE: Exception is the G1/B1 Modification for coaches
i. If a game must be stopped while in progress for any reason other than a forfeit, the League Director(s), will decide the status of the game, and if it will be continued or declared final.
j. The basketball size will be 27.5 for B1/G1 divisions, 28.5 for B2/G2/G3,Junior Girls/Senior Girls and 29.5 for B3, Junior Boys and Senior Boys
k. The Home team has the choice of where their team will sit each game.
l. Dunkin or grasping of the rim, while the officials are on the floor during warm-ups or a dead ball results in a technical foul.
m. Teams will begin each game by shooting at the basket opposite their benches
n. Only the head coach is allowed to stand during the game. Players must remain seated.
o. Unsportsmanlike behavior by a player, coach or spectator will not be tolerated and may result in the removal of that person from the gym led by official referee or site/league representative.
p Taunting will not be tolerated. A player that kicks a chair or removes his shirt will receive a technical foul (at referees discretion). If a player received a technical foul, he or she must sit out for at least 2 minutes before returning.
q Any player/coach that is thrown out of the game for cursing will receive an automatic two game suspension.
7.PROTESTS
1. Protests will be entertained by the League for issues involving player eligibility. All other forms of protest will not be permitted. If a protest is decided in favor of the appellant, the team with the ineligible player will be issued a forfeit.
2. The referee must sign the scorebook and write a notation that the game is under protest.
3. The protest is to be sent by the Head Coach, Community Representative or Athletic Director and received by the League Director(s) within three days of the incident. Otherwise, protests will not be heard.
4. The League Director will immediately convene a meeting of the League’s Committee/Disciplinary Committee who will render a decision and forward their decision to all involved parties, as well as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and Youth Committee.
8. LEAGUE STANDINGS
At the end of the season, in the event of a tie, league standings will be determined as follows:
1) If any of the tie teams forfeited a game during the season, the non-forfeiting team will be seeded higher
In the event of two undefeated teams – a coin flip will govern.
In the event of a two team tie of teams with at least one loss:
- First, head to head record;
-Then, winning percentage against ALL common opponents;
-Then, winning percentage against the highest-ranked common opponent, no matter what division they are in;
-Then, coin flip
In the event three teams or more are tied –
- First, for tied teams within the same division, standings within their division using two team tiebreaker rules above where applicable. For illustration purposes, if three teams finish tied at 8-2 and two of these teams are in the same division and those teams played head to head during the season, the loser of the “head-to-head” meeting would be eliminated from the tie-breaker and the remaining two teams would settle the tie based on the two team tie-breaker rules.
-Then, head to head common winning percentage amongst the three (or more) teams
-Then, winning percentage against the highest-ranked common opponent, no matter what division they are in;
Then, coin flip
NOTE: All tie breakers will be resolved from top down (first place, then second place etc…). For example, if three teams are tied for a playoff spot, the three team tiebreak procedure will be used only for the top slot. After the top team is determined, the two team tiebreak procedure will be used for the remaining two teams.
9. PLAYOFFS
The number of teams to make the playoffs will vary from year to year in all divisions.
b. The same rules during the regular season will apply to the playoffs unless otherwise stated.
c. All players of each team must have played/been on the bench at least half of their team games during the regular season to be eligible to participate in the playoffs. The exception is if injury occurred to a player and was disclosed to the League Director. (If its an odd number of games in the season the number will be round up (half plus one)
10. ROSTERS
a. Each team is allowed to have 12 players on the roster in Divisions 1,2,3 and 15 players in the Juniors and Senior Divisions.
b. Players will only be allowed to move up one year. Players will never be allowed to play in younger divisions. By way of illustration, if a division contains players with 2002 and 2003 birth years, only players born in 2004 will be allowed to “play-up.” The above rule is not in effect for Juniors and Seniors. Any such players must be brought to the attention of the league director by the roster deadline.
c. Players from non-participating league communities must be identified on the roster and their names must be submitted to the League Committee for review. The league committee will place the player with the community most in need. Communities need to notify the league director of any player(s) they have who previously played for a different community.
d. The League Committee reserves the right to spot check rosters during games and if it is determined that a player is on the court that is not on the roster, it will result in the team forfeiting that game and further disciplinary action will be considered by the Committee.
f. If the league finds that a player has participated in any league games, and has not registered on LeagueApps, will be suspended for the remainder of the season, and any games that the player participated in will be forfeited. In addition, the coach will receive a suspension to be determined by the League Director.
11. COURTS AND EQUIPMENT
a. The home team will provide the scorekeeper for each game. The home team will make its best efforts to provide a mature/experienced person to maintain the scorebook and scoreboard.
b. The Scorers table is the ultimate authority on all statistical aspects of the game.
c. The home team coach for the last game of the day is responsible for assuring the gym is left clean. All coaches are encouraged to monitor their players and spectators on the issues of garbage disposal, respect for gym property and equipment, crowd behavior and bathroom cleanliness.
12. UNIFORMS
a. The proper uniform in the League for each team is a reversible numbered matching team jersey, if undershirt is worn it must be white, matching shorts, and sneakers. A uniform infraction(s) will result in an administrative technical foul assigned to the coach.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT: Players who normally wear glasses have two options a) not wear glasses while playing b) must use safety (sport) goggles while playing. An athletic support is optional.
b. Players may not wear hats, earrings, necklaces, other jewelry or anything that may injure any player. Long hair should be either tied back or a headband should be used. Players with casts of any type are not permitted to play.
c. Players will not be allowed to play if they don't have the proper safety equipment.
13. REFEREES
1. The referee has discretionary power from the time he/she enters the court to the time he/she leaves the court.
2. The referee must check that the team bench is occupied by the coaches and players.
3. Referees will caution players, coaches, parents or spectators if there are unsportsmanlike outbursts. The referee has the option to stop the game or have one or both teams forfeit.
4. The referee has similar power on evicting players, coaches, parents or spectators from the premises.
5. Conduct by spectators of any age, which is considered unsportsmanlike, may result in eviction from the spectator's area including the gym and the game being forfeited by one or both teams.
6. The referee has the final word in all situations on the court.
14. EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE PROCEDURES
a. First Aid Kit. See Section 6 (d).
b.Use common sense when rendering first aid. For trauma, use a cold pack to the affected area. Any player bleeding must be removed from the court and cannot re-enter the game until the referee inspects said player.
15. COACHES RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE LEAGUE
1. A Coach shall be a non-player and be at least 25 years of age.
2. An Assistant Coach shall be a non-player and who is at least 19 years of age or older.
3. Anyone wishing to coach must fill out an “Application to Coach” form and have it approved and signed by their Proistameno. This must be presented to the League Director no later than the first League Meeting.
4. All coaches must attend a pre-season training session and meeting organized by the League and the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Failure to attend a pre-season meeting may result in disqualification to coach. Coaches are required to have their "coaching badges" at all games beginning November 19, 2016. If a coach does not have a badge and/or proper ID he will not be allowed to coach that game.
5. Exceptions to the age requirements can be made by application through the Board.
6.It is the coaches responsibility to present to the League Director:
a.A player roster
b. Baptismal and waiver for each player
c.A letter from the President/Priest of the community or a copy of the policy declaratory page that an insurance liability policy is in effect for the respective community.
d. Coaches are expected to dress in a manner respectful to the league and the churches they represent
7. All coaches must attend at least one of the preseason meetings or they will not be allowed to coach. This includes both head and assistant coaches. All coaches must also consent to a background check in order to be part of the league.
Any coach that knowingly submits false information on a roster shall be suspended from the League for at least two years; and
Any coach that plays a player that has been deemed ineligible by the Commissioner, even if an appeal is pending, shall be suspended for at least four games but not more than a year.
16. GOVERNING RULES
The league rules are governed by the National High School Federation Basketball Rules unless modified in their application by the league rules. See below.
The Junior and Senior Girls will follow the new NYSGBOA established prior to the 2015-2016 season. 5 team fouls per quarter = 2 foul shots. Team fouls reset at every quarter. The Girls 1-3 Divisions will also follow the five team fouls per quarter rule. In the final minute clock stops after a made basket in Juniors and Seniors. Junior/Senior Teams can advance the ball to the front court in the final minute of the game by calling a timeout after a made basket, or after a rebound in which ball has not been advanced. Junior and Senior Divisions Girls games are played under NYSGBOA rules
1. GAMES WILL CONSIST OF FOUR 7 MINUTE QUARTERS IN G1/B1/G2/B2. IN THE G3/B3/ JUNIORS AND SENIORS DIVISION GAMES WILL CONSIST OF FOUR 8 MINUTE QUARTERS. HALFTIME WILL BE 3 MINUTES. SEE G1/B1 MODIFICATIONS FOR CLOCK STOPPAGE. IN DIVISIONS G2/B2/G3/B3 THE CLOCK WILL ONLY STOP ON TIME-OUTS, HELD BALLS, FOULS AND SUBSTITUTIONS. ONLY DURING THE LAST TWO MINUTES OF THE 4TH QUARTER AND THE ENTIRETY OF OVERTIME WILL THE CLOCK STOP ON EVERY WHISTLE.
2. THERE ARE NO TIES IN THE B2/G2/B3/G3/JUNIORS/SENIORS DIVISIONS. THERE IS A 3 MINUTE OVERTIME AT THE END OF REGULATION TIME IN CASE OF A TIE (G2/B2/G3/B3). THERE IS A 4 MINUTE OVERTIME IN JRS/SRS/ ALL FOULS, TIMEOUTS AND SCORING, CARRY OVER INTO THE O/T PERIOD. AN ADDITIONAL TIMEOUT SHALL BE AWARDED TO EACH TEAM FOR EACH O/T PERIOD.
3. FULL COURT PRESSING IS PERMITTED FOR THE ENTIRE GAME IN THE B3/G3/JUNIORS/SENIOR DIVISIONS. EXCEPTION: IF A TEAM IS LEADING BY 20 POINTS OR MORE IN THE 4th QUARTER BOTH TEAMS MUST STOP FULL COURT PRESSING IN THE B3/G3 DIVISIONS AND BY 25 OR MORE POINTS IN THE 4TH QUARTER IN THE JUNIORS AND SENIORS DIVISION. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN A WARNING FOLLOWED BY A TECHNICAL FOUL. IN THE G2,B2,G3,B3 DIVISIONS THE CLOCK WILL ALSO RUN ON EVERY WHISTLE DURING THIS TIME. IN THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR DIVISIONS THE CLOCK WILL ALSO RUN DURING THIS TIME, AND ONLY STOP ON FREE THROWS AND SUBSTITUTIONS.
4. PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF EACH GAME, EACH TEAM WILL BE GIVEN 5 MINUTES TO WARM UP.
5. EACH TEAM WILL PROVIDE THE SCORER WITH A COPY OF ITS ROSTER, WHICH STATES EACH PLAYERS NAME, JERSEY NUMBER, TEAM NAME, COLOR AND COACHES FOR THE TEAM.
6. ALL GAMES WILL BE REFEREED. THE REFEREES WILL ALLOW SUBSTITUTIONS AT THE STOPPAGE OF PLAY ONCE A PLAYER IS AT THE SCORER'S TABLE. THE SCORERS TABLE MUST BE FREE OF SPECTATORS.
7. THERE WILL BE ALTERNATE POSSESSION AFTER GAME-OPENING JUMP BALL. EACH OVERTIME PERIOD WILL BEGIN WITH A JUMP BALL AND ALTERNATE POSSESSION THEREAFTER.
8. FOULS WILL BE POSSESSION ONLY UNLESS IN THE ACT OF SHOOTING, WHICH WILL CONSTITUTE TWO SHOTS. A TECHNICAL IS COUNTED AS A FOUL. PLAYER ATTEMPT TO REBOUND SHALL BE ON THE RELEASE.
9.Effective with the 2023-24 season every division will shoot two foul shots after the 5th team foul of the quarter. At the end of the quarter team fouls will reset.
10. TIMEOUTS- 3 FULL AND 2 30 SECOND (All divisions)
11. ANY TECHNICAL FOULS CALLED AGAINST A PLAYER WILL RESULT IN THAT PLAYER BEING REMOVED FROM THE GAME FOR AT LEAST TWO MINUTES. A SECOND TECHNICAL FOR A PLAYER OR COACH IN THE SAME GAME WILL RESULT IN EJECTION AND A ONE GAME SUSPENSION. A THIRD TECHNICAL IN THE SEASON WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC ONE GAME SUSPENSION. ANY COACH OR PLAYER WHO PICKS UP FOUR TECHNICALS IN A SEASON RESULTS IN AN AUTOMATIC EXPULSION FROM THE PROGRAM. COACHES TECHNICAL FOULS ARE CUMULATIVE. IF A COACH IS COACHING MULTIPLE TEAMS AND PICKS UP A TECHNICAL WITH TEAM A AND THEN A TECHNICAL WITH TEAM B IT MEANS HE HAS TWO TECHNICALS FOR THE SEASON
12. A PLAYER MUST LEAVE THE GAME AFTER FIVE PERSONAL FOULS.
13 DURING GAMES, THE TEAM BENCH WILL BE EXCLUSIVELY OCCUPIED BY UP TO THREE CREDENTIALED COACHES. THE HOME COURT OFFICIAL OR REFEREE WILL DIRECT PARENTS, RELATIVES AND SPECTATORS WHERE THEY CAN VIEW THE GAME.
14 ALL COACHES ARE CHARGED WITH BEING FAMILIAR WITH BOTH THE GENERAL RULES AND GAME RULES OF THE LEAGUE AND OF EXPLAINING SAME TO THE PLAYERS.
15. NO THREE POINTERS IN THE G1/B1/G2/B2 DIVISIONS
G1/B1 RULE MODIFICATIONS
SCORE RESETS EVERY QUARTER
ALL PLAYERS MUST PLAY AT LEAST ONE QUARTER. MANDATORY MAN TO MAN DEFENSE. DEFENSE ALLOWED FROM THE DEFENSIVE TEAM’S OWN TOP OF THE KEY EXTENDED. IN THE FINAL 2 MINUTES YOU CAN PICK UP FROM HALF COURT
RUNNING CLOCK EXCEPT ON TIME OUTS AND FREE-THROWS. CLOCK WILL STOP FINAL TWO MINUTES OF THE GAME.
GAMES MAY END IN A TIE.
THE FREE THROW LINE WILL BE MOVED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CIRCLE
A COACH WILL BE PERMITTED ON TO THE COURT MOMENTARILY TO POSITION HIS PLAYERS
A PLAYER BRINGING UP THE BALL MAY NOT BE GUARDED UNTIL THEY REACH TOP OF KEY EXTENDED - EXCEPT FOR THE LAST TWO MINUTES OF THE GAME
THE FOLLOWING VIOLATIONS SHALL BE MODIFIED:
THREE SECOND VIOLATIONS SHALL BE MODIFIED TO 5 SECONDS.
THE 5 SECOND INBOUND PASS VIOLATION WILL BE INCREASED TO 10 SECONDS.
ALL PLAYERS MUST PLAY ONE QUARTER. NO SUBSTITUTIONS ARE ALLOWED UNTIL EVERY PLAYER HAS ENTERED THE GAME
Intentional delays by the offense to waste time will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct against the coach. The spirit of G1/B1 is developmental, and the league strongly discourages coaches telling players to pass the ball outside the three point area when the defense is not able to play defense.
B2/G2 Rule Modifications.
- Full court pressing is allowed in the last two minutes of regulation, only if the margin is below 15 and, if necessary, overtime. Defense can pick up at half court but can't double team outside the 3 point line
- For free throws, foul line is the first hash-mark below the foul-line.
- Mandatory man to man defense has been removed for the 2017-2018 season
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