Basketball Rules

Game Length

  • Games are 55 minutes in length with a 5 minute stop for halftime.

  • Games start and end according to your online CSSC schedule.

  • If games start late, games must finish at the scheduled time

Players on Court and Defaults

  • Teams are comprised of 5 players on the court.

  • Teams must play with a minimum of 2 males and 2 females on the court at all times.

  • A team can play with a minimum of 4 people, as long as the gender requirements are met.

  • Captains may agree to waive the rules regarding minimum players and gender ratio before the game starts.

Game Set-Up

  • Nets will be set up by CSSC or facility staff upon the arrival to your game.

  • Team captains should meet before the start of the game to go over rules.

  • Teams are responsible for keeping score and time. Often an CSSC Event Coordinator is on-site and will offer to keep score for the game.

  • To start the game, teams should decide who is awarded first ball with rock paper scissors. The opposing team will then start the second half with the ball. Ball will be passed in from team’s base line.

General Game Rule

  • Standard basketball rules apply to all CSSC games. Notable exceptions are listed below:

    • Defensive play is man-to-man only (no zone defense). You can pick-up your man anywhere on the court, however double teaming can only be done on your side.

    • Players may substitute ‘on the fly’.

    • Each basket scored counts as a single point (regardless of where the shot was taken from, i.e. no 3-pointers).

    • When the ball is tied up, and a jump ball call is made, the team who is on defense will be awarded possession of the ball.

    • Dunking is not allowed.

Fouls & Violations

  • It is inevitable incidental contact may occur among players. However, any aggressive contact such as pushing and shoving is not allowed (you should not touch any other player with your body at any time on purpose, and should do your best to avoid unnecessary contact). Any agressive contact may result in being ejected from the game.

  • All standard basketball infractions are enforced (e.g. reaching-in, body contact of any kind, charging, etc).

  • Purposely obstructing an opponent’s vision by placing or waving a hand in his/her eyes is not allowed.

  • The offending player should call their own infractions, however only one of the two players involved in an infraction can make a foul call.

  • If a defensive foul call is made when a player is in the process of taking a shot and the shot goes in, play continues cancelling out the foul. A point is awarded and the other team takes possession under their own hoop.

  • If a defensive foul call is made when a player is attempting a shot or layup (thereby affecting the outcome), the fouled player will take a shot from the free-throw line. If the shot goes in, a point is awarded and the other team takes possession under their own hoop. If the shot is missed, play becomes live and the game continues. To avoid defensive players from killing time during the setup for the foul shot, the shooter can attempt the foul shot as soon as the rest of his team is in position for the foul shot (regardless of the position of the defensive players). The foul shooter has a maximum of 20 seconds to take the shot.

  • If a defensive foul call is made when a player is dribbling, passing, running (not shooting or making a layup), the attacking team takes possession of the ball at the top of the key. At this point, the ball must be ‘checked in’ by the defensive team before play can resume. If an offensive player causes a foul, the defensive team takes the ball to the closest sideline to the foul and starts play by inbounding the ball.

  • Intentional fouls are not condoned by the league.

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