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Outside of these special rules, the National Federation of High School Associations Rule Book governs play.

1. Man to man defense will be played at all times. Zone defenses are not allowed.
2. Defensive players must stay within arm’s reach of the player that they are guarding. (Isolation plays will not be a part of Upward Basketball because they take away the opportunity for improvement for all players and contradict the spirit of the rules.
3. Double-teaming is not allowed. However, help defense is encouraged in the following instances:
    
   • In The Lane Area
     If a defender is in the lane, and the player being guarded is within an arm’s reach, the defender is allowed to provide help by double-teaming. The intent of this exception is not to encourage a defender to remain near the lane at all times (“soft zone”) and double-team the ball each time it enters the lane. The intent is to teach a player “already in the lane” to play help defense.
   • Off Picks And Screens
     Defensive switching is allowed on offensive picks and screens. At the appropriate time, players should return to guarding their assigned player.
   • During Fast Breaks
     When an offensive player has beaten their defender, another defensive player may help. Upon stopping the fast break, defenders should return to guarding their assigned player.
4. At the beginning of each 6-minute segment, both coaches are to line up equally ranked players across from each other.
5. Full court presses are not allowed. Defensive players cannot guard their opponents in the backcourt.
6. Due to the shortness of the court, backcourt violations will not be called.
7. The offense must purposefully attack the defense in every situation. After a warning from the referee, if the offense does not cross half court, a violation will be called, and the ball will be awarded to the opposing team.
8. Referees will call and explain all violations and the penalty will be a turnover. These explanations will vary according to the age group and understanding of the players and decrease as the season progresses.
9. When possible, referees will verbally advise players of potential violations before the violation occurs.
10. There will be no technical fouls or protest of games.
11. No score will be given for a basket in the wrong goal. It will be treated as a turnover.
12. A player committing two fouls in one 6-minute segment must sit out the remainder of that segment. The next player in the rotation comes in as the substitute. This does not change the normal rotation because the fouled out player does not come back in the game until scheduled to do so. The player who comes in as a substitute gains extra playing time. This extra time does not affect the predetermined substitution. Note: In a second foul situation where a team only has five players at a game, replace the substitution rule with a two-point penalty by awarding the fouled team two additional points.
13. Non-shooting fouls result in the ball being taken out on the side by the offended team. All shooting fouls result in one point and the ball being taken out on the side by the offended team.  Players fouled in the act of shooting and making the basket, are credited with the basket plus one point. The opposing team then takes possession.

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