Adult Men’s Basketball Rules

Apex Park and Recreation District Basketball Leagues are governed by National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules with the following exceptions and modifications:

Leagues are defined as follows:

• Competitive (Upper): These teams play at a high level and have vast experience.
• Recreational (Lower): These teams have average skills. These teams play the game for enjoyment and fun.
• Open: Consists of teams with varying playing abilities.

Note: Teams who have won or placed in the top 2 previous lower recreational leagues may be moved to the upper division the following season. Apex Park and Recreation District has the right to determine the placement of teams.

Note: Leagues may be combined if there are not enough teams to be run independently.

Payments:

• The entire league fee is due by the first game. Teams may be required to forfeit games if the entire league fee is not paid by the first game.
• Teams are required to pay league fees and fines by credit/debit card.

Team Rosters:

• A roster may contain up to 15 players. All players must be 18+ years old to be eligible to participate.
• A complete roster is required for all teams. All team managers must submit their team roster via TeamSideline.com/Apex before the first game. Players are considered ineligible until the roster invite (via email) has been accepted and signed.
  • All team rosters will be frozen after the 4th scheduled game. Teams have until that time to add and/or drop players.
• Using inaccurate player information will result in automatic player ejection, suspension, and/or forfeit.
• Players may not appear on 2 rosters within the same division.
• All players must play a minimum of 2 league games to be eligible for postseason play.
• Teams who use substitutes must have those players added to their roster before playing. These players may not be on another roster for any other team within the division. If the player is on multiple rosters within the division, that player is ineligible.

Uniforms/Equipment:

• Matching jerseys are recommended for league play but are not required. However, all teams must have shirts in the same color with a number on the back.
• Tennis shoes and/or basketball shoes are required. Steel cleats, metal spiked cleats, detachable cleats, shoes made of hard plastic/polyurethane, flip flops, or open-toed shoes will not be allowed in any league. Players will be ineligible to play until the equipment is legal.

Game Time, Forfeits, and Timeouts:

• All league games will consist of two 20-minute running halves.
• The clock will only stop for the team and official timeouts.
  • If the score is within 10 points, the clock will also stop for the last two minutes of the second half. The clock will be stopped for balls going out of bounds, fouls, and shooting free throws.
• The halftime will be two minutes.
• Teams will be given two 1-minute timeouts per half. Timeouts are not cumulative.
• A team must have at least 4 players to play. Teams that have fewer than 4 players at any time during the game will forfeit the game.
  • The score of a forfeited game will be 2-0.
  • In the event of a double forfeit, each team will be credited with a loss, with the score being recorded as 0-0.
  • Teams will be given a 5-minute grace period if they do not have the minimum number of legal players to begin the game. The 5 minutes will be counted as game time. If a team still does not have enough players once the 5-minute grace period has expired, they will be forced to forfeit.
  • If a team needs to forfeit, managers must contact the recreation coordinator by 12 pm on the scheduled game day. If notified properly, there may be no forfeit fee charged to the team.
  • A forfeit will result in a $25 fine issued to the team. All fines must be paid before the team will be able to play their next game.
  • A no-call/no-show will result in a $50 fine issued to the team. All fines must be paid before the team will be able to play their next game.
  • If a team has two no-call/no-shows in the same season, the team may be removed from the league, and zero refunds will be provided.

Overtime:

• Teams will be given one timeout for each overtime period.
• The first overtime period will last 3 minutes.
  • The first two minutes will be a running clock.
  • In the final minute, the clock will stop for balls going out of bounds, fouls, and shooting free throws.
• The second overtime will last two minutes.
  • The first minute will be a running clock.
  • In the final minute, the clock will stop for balls going out of bounds, fouls, and shooting free throws.
• If a third overtime is needed, the first team that scores will win the game.

Mercy Rule:

• The game will be called if one of the following occurs:
  • A team is winning by 30+ points after 30 minutes of gameplay.
  • A team is winning by 30+ points anytime thereafter.

Fouls and Shooting:

• Foul shots will only be awarded in the act of shooting or due to a flagrant foul.
  • Bonus shots (one and one) will be awarded on the seventh team foul.
  • Double bonus shots will be awarded on the 10th team foul.
  • All other fouls will be awarded out of bounds.
• Players will be required to exit the game on their fifth personal foul.
• For technical fouls, the other team will shoot two free throws and be awarded possession of the ball.
  • If a player receives two technical fouls in the same game, that player will automatically be ejected from the game.
  • If a team receives 3 technical fouls in the same game, they will forfeit.
• On a free throw, players in the lane may “step in” on the release. The shooter and the players beyond the 3-point line must wait until the ball hits the rim.
• Dunking or hanging on the rim is prohibited in any game and in any gym.
  • Violations will result in a technical foul.

Jewelry:

• All exposed jewelry or other items that are deemed to be hazardous or potentially dangerous by the officials may not be worn during the game.
• Players are ineligible to play until the jewelry is removed.
• Apex strongly recommends that no type of jewelry be worn in any league.

Blood Rule:

• Any participant who is bleeding, has an open wound, or has an excessive amount of blood on their uniform must leave the game.
• The participant may not return until either the bleeding has stopped, the wound has been covered and bandaged, and/or the uniform has been changed.

Inclement Weather Policy:

• Check TeamSideline for weather updates. We will make every effort to play games and reschedule only if necessary.
• In the event of a cancellation, team managers will be notified via email/text from TeamSideline.com (individuals must register for text messages to receive them).
• In the event of rain or wet grounds, the officials and/or field supervisors will make the call if conditions are playable based on the City of Arvada designated criteria.
• If a game must be called due to inclement weather, darkness, lighting, etc., it shall be resumed from the exact point where it was stopped (for example, a game stopped at the top of the 6th inning will revert to the end of the 5th).
  • Kickball/Softball exception: If a game is not tied and 4-½ or 5 innings have been completed (depending on the score/home team), the game is considered complete.
• Rainout/Makeup Policy: It is Apex’s policy to make up games as courts/fields are available. Makeup games may be required to be played on weekends and/or weeknights that differ from a team’s regularly scheduled night. If teams are not available for the scheduled makeup, they will be forced to forfeit.

Ejections:

• If a player:
  • Gets ejected for the first time: a $25 fine in addition to a suspension. All fines must be paid before a player can return to play after serving the suspension.
  • Gets ejected for the second time: a $50 fine in addition to a suspension. All fines must be paid before a player can return to play after serving the suspension.
  • Gets ejected for the third time: The player is removed from the league.
• Ejected players must leave the facility immediately. If officials deem an ejected player is intentionally taking too long to leave and delaying the resumption of gameplay, officials have the right to assess a penalty up to including calling the game and awarding the win to the opposing team. This is a judgment call by the officials and is not subject to dispute.

Smoking and Alcohol:

• No smoking or vaping of any kind will be permitted.
• No consumption of alcohol will be allowed before, during, and/or after the game anywhere on the premises. This includes koozies, water bottles, or anything similar.
• Glass bottles of any kind are prohibited.
• Any player, manager, coach, and/or spectator caught smoking/vaping and/or consuming alcohol anywhere on the premises by either the field supervisors or officials will be ejected and must leave the facility.
• If a second player, manager, and/or coach is caught smoking/vaping and/or consuming alcohol anywhere on the premises, the violating team will be forced to forfeit.
• No player, manager, or coach shall participate in the game while intoxicated.
• Penalties for violation of these policies: Minimum 1 game suspension and $25 fine.

Insurance:

• Apex does not provide insurance coverage for players, coaches, or spectators. You are strongly advised to check your coverage with your personal carrier to ensure you are covered for accidents/injuries, including ambulance transportation.

Awards:

• The top 4 teams in each division will advance to an end-of-season single-elimination tournament.
• Awards will be given to tournament winners (maximum 12).
• Tiebreakers in league play between 2 or more teams will be determined by the following:
  • Winning Percentage
  • Head-to-Head
  • Head-to-Head Differential
  • Total Points For
  • Total Points Against
  • Total Points Differential
  • Lowest Number of Forfeits
  • Coin Toss

*Revised 7/8/2024