Christian Athletic League of LaGrange
2008 Rules and Regulations

Through a program of Christ centered athletics, The Christian Athletic League of LaGrange (CALL) provides the opportunity for each participant to develop his or her talents through a program which emphasizes Christian growth and a deeper dedication to God and church. 

Objectives 

• To provide a Christian environment where fellowship, recreation, and ministry can take place.

•  To use the sport of basketball as a tool to spread the gospel and reach people for Christ.

• To develop within each participant patience, self-control, courage, good sportsmanship, teamwork, and a Christian outlook toward sports.

Organization

League Council - comprised of representatives from each church participating in the league. It is the governing body of the league and has final authority on any league decisions. 

Officers: (League Director, Secretary and Treasurer) 

Officer Responsibilities 

• Rules: Reviews and updates rules for play and eligibility and recommends changes to the league council.

• Scheduling: Schedules all regular and post season games. Is responsible for regulating league membership.

• Accounting: Comprised of league officers: Prepare and distributes financial report to league council at appropriate meetings.

• Officers: A liaison between the league and referees. Responsible for observing how well rules are interpreted and enforced by referees.

Participation Divisions

A Division (Competitive)
B Division (Recreational)

Rules and Regulations 

I.  League & Playoff Procedures 

A.   The number, variety, and type of leagues will be determined by the Christian Athletic League of LaGrange.  Teams may request league preference when they are registered.

B.   Players must appear in three regular season games in order to be eligible for the playoffs.

C.   The tiebreakers for 2 teams with identical season records will be as follows:

• 1st tiebreaker - who beat who

• 2nd tiebreaker - point differential between the 2 teams in the games they played against each other.

• 3rd tiebreaker - total point differential between the 2 teams for the entire season.

• 3-way Tie - team with the best record in 3-way, head-to-head play.

• 4-way Tie - 4-way ties for first place only. All 4 teams will make the playoffs, which will have a single elimination format.

 II. Team & Player Eligibility 

Eligibility 

In order to make basketball programs at every church an outreach tool, participants are not required to be church members but they are required to attend the functions of the churches they represent on a regular basis unless they attend a church on a regular basis that does not have a basketball team. 75% attendance will be considered in compliance. The league representative from each church will be responsible for enforcing this rule. Any exceptions must be approved by league officers. Combined teams may comply by attending their own church's services.

All teams in the league must have a complete roster.  A 12 man roster should be considered the minimum number of players to enter a team due player conflicts that arise during the season.  Name, phone number, and church affiliation must be included.  Combined church teams must be approved by league officers.  No more than 25% of team rosters may be prospects. Rosters must be taken with coaches to each game.  Any challenges will be resolved between the coaches and the gym rep.  Challenges will be lodged after the game, not during.  Violation: forfeit of game. The league rep for the church must sign off on any players added to the roster. 

A.   No player under 16 years of age will be allowed to participate.

B.   Players may be not be active on a high school, college, intramural or recreation league team and participate in the Christian Athletic league.

C.   Teams and/or players may only enter one division and team for play.

D.   There are no limits to the number of players per roster.  Only players who have signed the waiver form are eligible to play.  Waiver forms must be signed for both the First Baptist and First Methodist churches.  Falsifying signatures results in suspension.

E.   All rostered players must appear in at least 3 games during the regular season to be eligible for playoffs.

F.   New players may not be added after the third regular season game. Note: If, in the opinion of league officials, a player(s) is too exceptional in ability to participate in a lower league, said player will be dropped from the team roster.  The only exception to this rule will be to allow a team to replace players injured or transferred during league play (see II-H).

G.   Once a player signs the waiver form of a team, he/she must be released by his/her manager prior to playing on another team.  After the player is released, he/she can sign with another team after sitting out one game.

H.   Managers who lose players during the season through injury or employment transfer may petition the League Director to obtain permission to replace the injured player or transferred employee. In the event the player returns before the season ends, the manager must decide which player he wants to keep. He cannot keep both. Proof of the above must be submitted with the petition.

I.   Protests regarding ineligible player(s) must be submitted to the League Director by 5:00 PM the following day of the game in question.  Teams using ineligible players may be subject to forfeiture of all league games played.

J.   The League Director has the authority to make special exceptions regarding eligibility and roster procedures.

 III. Governing Body

A.   The League Council is made up of one representative from each participating church or group.  The League Director has final authority to make decisions pertaining to rules and regulations.

 IV. Scheduling and Forfeits 

A.   No games will be rescheduled unless a team is dropped from the league or the league must reschedule due to weather.

B.   Your church league representative is your contact for inclement weather cancellations and forfeits. You may also consult the league web site at: http://www.fbclagrange.org/activities/basketball.shtml.

C.   Game time is forfeit time.  No games will start before officially scheduled game time. There will be a 5 minute grace period for the first game scheduled each day.

D.   A forfeit is recorded as a loss. In the event of a double forfeit, both teams receive a loss.

E.   A team is subject to a $20.00 fine the first time they forfeit a game. The fine is to be paid prior to their next scheduled game.

F.   If a team forfeits two games, they become subject to being dropped from the league.

G.   There will be no postponement of a game. A team that foresees a conflict with a particular game and notifies the Christian Athletic League of LaGrange 24 hours or more prior to the game time will be credited with a loss, but will not be charged a forfeit fee. Teams may only use this rule once.

H.   No refunds are made after a team has participated in one game.

I.   Teams which drop or are dropped from the league lose any playoff rights and the right to reclaim any part of their entry fee.

 V. Player Conduct 

A.   The manager will be the official representative of the team unless they designate one of the players as team captain prior to the game.

B.   Player technical fouls:  A player technical foul will result in an immediate ejection from the game.  Any player who is ejected from a game will not be eligible for the next game (including playoff games).  Two (2) consecutive technical fouls for the same incident will result in a three (3) game suspension.  Four (4) cumulative player technical fouls will result in the player’s suspension from league and tournament play for the remainder of the season.  Bench technical fouls: Two (2) technical fouls on the bench in one (1) game will result in a forfeit.  Cumulative penalty: Four (4) technical fouls in one season will result in the team being dropped from the league.  There are no extenuating circumstances and there will be no appeals of technical fouls assessed.

C.   The manager will be held responsible for all rules as stated in this Adult League Basketball Rules Sheet and in the Official High School Rule Book.

D.   Managers are responsible to see that their players are familiar with the “Player Code of Conduct”.

E.   No intoxicants are allowed in the gyms. Players who have been using intoxicants must leave the gym, or his/her team will automatically forfeit the game.

F.   No foul language is permitted in the gyms.  Players, coaches, managers and/or assistants will be ejected from the game and gym for using foul language.

G.   Managers can also be held responsible for the actions of spectators.

H.   Managers must report all injuries to the Site Supervisor. Ice is the only first aid provided at recreation facilities.

 VI. Protests

A.   Only protests regarding player ineligibility will be accepted. No protests on rules, interpretations of rules, or judgment calls will be accepted.

B.   A written protest must be submitted to the CALL office no later than 5:00 PM the next working day following the protested game. Protests must be clearly written and accompanied by a $20.00 filing fee. If the protest is upheld, the fee will be returned.

 VII. Pre-Game Rules

A.   Teams will be allowed pre-game warm-ups only if time permits.  Between games there will be a ten (10) minute break (if time permits) but games will start at the scheduled time.

B.   Home team will be determined by schedule.

C.   Score sheets (supplied by the scorekeeper) must be filled out and turned into the scorekeeper 10 minutes before game time.

D.   Dunking the ball is not allowed in pre-game and half-time warm-ups or during the game. Any player in violation of this rule will be immediately ejected from the game.  Any basket made on a dunk will not be scored.  Dunking will be allowed during tournament play.

 VIII. Game Play 

A.   Each game is to begin with a devotion and prayer by the home team.  A technical foul will be given to any home team that does not have a devotion or prayer prior to a game.

B.   Each team must have numbered jerseys—all the same color with no duplications of any numbers. The numbers must be printed on the shirts. A technical foul will be assessed on any player without a matching numbered jersey.

C.   A game will consist of two (2) twenty (20) minute halves, with at least a three (3) minute and a maximum of a five (5) minute period between halves. The clock will stop for time-outs only, except for the last two (2) minutes of the second half. For this period, the clock will be stopped for all whistles.  However, if a team is behind by more than ten (10) points at the two (2) minute time point in the second half, the clock will not stop.  If a team pulls to within ten (10) points during the last two (2) minutes of the second half, if they trailed by more than ten (10) points at the two (2) minute mark, the clock will not stop.  The clock will stop if a team that was within the ten (10) point margin goes behind by more than ten (10) points during the last two (2) minutes of the second half.  The clock will stop if the ball rolls out of the gym or is caught in the bleachers.

D.   Normally, two officials will call each game. If one official is present, the game will be played. If no official shows up, games will be postponed and made up at a later date

E.   In the case of a tie game, there will be an extra three (3) minute, stopped clock period with one (1) timeout per team. No remaining timeouts are carried over to the overtime period.  If the game is still tied at the end of that period, the second overtime period will be one (1) minute, stopped clock, no time-outs. The third overtime period will be sudden death, no time-outs, with the first team to score being declared the winner.

F.   Jump balls: the scorers table will use an arrow system to designate possession. All gyms must have a possession arrow.

G.   Every player will play in each half of every game unless there is an injury.

H.   The Official scorer will place a check mark by each player’s name as that player enters the game (one for each half). The Official scorer is the final authority.  It is the coach’s responsibility to make sure that all of his/her players have entered the game each half and that the official scorer has recorded that information.

I.   Every eligible player (excluding injuries) must play at least six (6) minutes of each half.

 IX. Insurance

A.   Participants in recreation activities sponsored by the Christian Athletic League of LaGrange are not covered in any manner for personal liability or property damage. This means that players are competing in this program at their own risk.

 X. Rule Exceptions

A.   Unless otherwise stated, Official Georgia High School Rules govern league play.

B.   Teams may start and continue with four (4) registered players—but may not start with less than four (4). If four (4) players are present at game time, the game will begin on time.

C.   Each team is allowed one (1) one (1) minute time-out and two (2) thirty (30) second time-outs per half. During the first extra period each team is entitled to one (1) thirty (30) second time-out. No time-outs are available in double or triple overtime periods.  Time-outs cannot be accumulated.

D.   Free throw violations will NOT be governed by High School Rules.  Players may enter the lane upon release of the ball from the free throw shooter.

E.   No full or half court press allowed when ahead by ten (10) or more points. Violation: one (1) warning and then a technical foul.

F.   Dunking will be allowed during tournament play.  Hanging on the rim will be a technical foul unless the player uses the rim to protect themselves.  The judgment of the official is final!  Remember:  A technical foul on a dunk is an ejection from the game.

 XI. Spectators: 

A.   Spectators are expected to adhere to proper Christian conduct. Please support your team but remember you are a guest in another church's gym. Anyone using foul language, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or misbehaving will be removed from the gym. All players, coaches, and fans will adhere to the rules of the gym in which they have a game. Any damage to a gym by an individual will be his/her responsibility. Persistent derogatory comments directed at either a referee, coach, player or fan will result in that person being removed from the gym.

B.   Children must be accompanied and supervised at all times by an adult. 

XII. Miscellaneous Information 

A.   Special Note: If local school gyms are used, managers will be held responsible to remind their players that it is against state law, school policy, and contrary to the Christian Athletic League of LaGrange Basketball Rules to use tobacco products and/or consume alcohol on school property. Evidence of these violations following our program endangers our privilege of using school gymnasiums. 

 

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If you have any questions about the activities ministry, recreation or sports at First Baptist Church, email us at activities@fbclagrange.org or call Gerry Lord at (706) 884-5570.