By-laws

PARRAMATTA BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

BY-LAWS

EFFECTIVE MARCH 2019

CONTENTS

Interpretation:

• The Association (PBA) means the Parramatta Basketball Association
• Board means the elected Board of Parramatta Basketball Association
• Tribunal By-Laws means the Tribunal By-Laws of the Parramatta Basketball Association
• Management means the person/s appointed by the Parramatta Basketball Association to manage the Association
• By laws means the By Laws of the Parramatta Basketball Association
• Suspension means the person is unable to participate or represent the Association in playing, refereeing, coaching or score benching of the game.

FIBA rules will apply except where the following By Laws make exceptions:

Penalties (as determined by the Board) will apply for breaches of the following By Laws:

(Penalties may be loss of points and/or monetary)

 

GENERAL:

1 (a)  It is the player’s responsibility to register with Parramatta Basketball Association and pay the appropriate registration fee prior to their first match. Registrations will be renewed on a yearly basis on the due date.

Unregistered players may be removed from the court.  A team playing an unregistered player will receive a penalty of minus three points without notification.

The court supervisor has the right to ask any player for identification to confirm the player’s legality of registration. No ID – no play.

1 (b)  All matches will be under the control of the Parramatta Basketball Association which is responsible for receiving entry forms for competitions, registration fees, court fees, spectator and other fees set by the Board from the teams in all divisions. The Parramatta Basketball Association is also responsible for making the draw, notifying teams of the draw and late changes, receiving notice forfeiture of matches and informing the other team and ensuring that these competition rules are carried out.

1 (c)  If at any time during a game the referee or court supervisor suspects that a person is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the game will be stopped and the offending person removed from the game.

1 (d)  Players whose names are listed as unregistered on the scoresheet are not entitled to transfer their name to the players list until proof of registration has been determined. The Canteen person may add a player’s name to the scoresheet providing the player has just paid his registration fee in full and the canteen person will initial the scoresheet. The Court supervisor may also add a player’s name to the scoresheet or the team list electronically in the event the person is playing up a grade on a particular night.

Where electronic scoresheets are in use, players are not permitted to add their names to the electronic scoresheet unless a registration payment has been made and the referee or court supervisor is satisfied that the player has paid his registration fee and that his details are currently in the electronic database.

1 (e)  All financial commitments to the Association must be met. Those failing to meet those commitments will be listed as un-financial with PBA and will be suspended until the debt is paid.

1 (f)  Teams may start a game with four players and must sit in the designated bench area.

1 (g)  All substitutions and time outs must be called through the score bench.

1 (h)  Players are not permitted to wear jewellery. Wedding rings (only) may be taped.  Players may not wear shorts with pockets. Fingernails visible above the level of the fingertips are not permitted.

1 (i)  Players will not dunk, swing or hang on the rings or damage PBA property. Signs on the wall in the stadium will serve as a warning. One month’s automatic suspension from the Cumberland (Auburn) Basketball Centre or any other centre operated by PBA will apply for dunking, swinging or hanging on the rings or causing damage to PBA property. In the case of repeated offences the penalties will double, (e.g. 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 32 weeks). (If the suspension occurs during a holiday or non-competition period the player will serve his suspension in playing weeks when the competition resumes.)

1 (j)  Injuries must be reported to the court supervisor and the appropriate form filled out within 7 days of the injury. This procedure must be followed otherwise the insurance company will have the right to decline the claim. Injury claim forms are available from current insurer. Players must go to the current insurer’s website or contact PBA for current insurer and follow the instructions for lodging a claim.

The referee will substitute a player incurring an injury involving bleeding – the blood rule will apply and the Association will make a “blood kit” available.

1 (k)  All representative players are required to play in the domestic competition prior to nominating for representative teams according to rule 2 (c), unless an exemption has been granted by the Board.

1 (l)  All representative players must pay the allocated Club Fee prior to the first representative game of the season.

Representative players are those players who are training with representative teams and considered by the coach to be part of the squad.

(m)  Players and spectators who are behaving irresponsibly or in an abusive, threatening or intimidating manner can be suspended from all venues operated by the Parramatta Basketball Association Inc. This includes the Cumberland (Auburn) Basketball Centre or any other centre including venues operating pilot programmes or training organised by the Association. Supervisors are permitted to charge players or spectators with matters pertaining to abusive, threatening or intimidating behaviour including unsportsmanlike behaviour and the like.

1 (n)  Representative teams may apply to the management to raise funds.  Such funds raised must be banked into the Association’s bank account.  

1 (o)  Appeals against decisions made by the management, staff, tribunal/disciplinary By-Laws and breaches of these By-Laws should be made in writing to the Board.

The Board have the right to change the By-Laws. Proposed changes to the By Laws by teams/individuals must be submitted in writing to the Board, for consideration, seven days prior to a scheduled Board Meeting.

Any matters not specifically covered by these By-Laws or the Memorandum and Articles of Association shall be dealt with by the Management.  Appeals against such decisions will be heard by the Board.  The Board’s decision shall be final.

Tribunal/Disciplinary Rules for the Parramatta Basketball Association are listed under separate cover and are enforceable under these By-Laws.

All fees for competitions including nomination, registration, game fees, spectator fees, forfeit and duty fines and Club fees for players are set by the Board each year and will be communicated by notice in the Stadium or in writing.

 

COMPETITION STRUCTURE:

2 (a)   All teams must be nominated on the official Parramatta Basketball Association Team Nomination Form and the appropriate team nomination fee must be paid at the time of nomination.

2 (b)  Nominations in junior competitions will only be accepted if signed by a responsible adult who is prepared to act as Team Manager and will be in attendance with the team at all times.

2 (c)  Any players entering the competition after the nomination form has been completed must register and affiliate, submit the appropriate form and pay the appropriate fee before taking the court.

2 (d)  Parramatta Basketball Association is not obliged to accept nominations. Applications may be rejected in respect of individual teams or such limitations imposed as Parramatta Basketball Association sees fit. Where a nomination for a team is not accepted the nomination fee shall be refunded.

2 (e)  Any team withdrawing from the competition after the draw has been completed, will forfeit their nomination fee and will be subject to any outstanding monies, including court fees for their team and any opposing team for the remainder of the competition.

2 (f)  Where a game is cancelled after the game has commenced the team who is responsible for the disqualification of the game shall lose the game and the team who is not responsible for the disqualification shall win the game by default.  The team responsible for the disqualification will be penalised -3 points.  If both teams are responsible for the disqualification no scores will be awarded for the game and both teams will be penalised with -3 points.

2 (g)  Teams must pay court fees five minutes prior to the game commencing.  If a team fails to pay court fees before game commences, said team will forfeit the game.

2 (h)  For the purpose of these competition rules, a junior player is a player under 18 years of age as at 31^st December of that particular year. All junior players, including representative players must produce proof of age when initially registering.

2 (i)  Men must play in men’s competitions and women must play in women’s competitions.

The exception shall be for Unisex teams who will incorporate both men and women. Unisex competitions can start a game with four players. For the purpose of unisex competitions each team will have maximum of three men and two women on the court at any one time. Men cannot block women’s shots when women are shooting.

Female players are only allowed to play defence on female players. Male players are only allowed to play defence on male players. Male players are not allowed to defend female players. Female players are not allowed to defend male players.

Players that do not adhere to the rules of blocking or defending players will be awarded a technical foul, sent from the court for the standard duration of five minutes and free throws awarded to the opposing team.

2 (j)  Players transferring between Clubs/teams must seek a clearance to ensure that the player has met their financial obligation to that Club/team. Clubs/teams have the right to deny clearances if the player has not met their obligations.

2 (k)  Finals format will be played over two rounds – semi-finals 1v4, 2v3.  The final will be contested between the semi-final winners. From time to time other finals series will be used, conducive to satisfactory running of competitions.

2 (l)  Any team forfeiting a game will be subject to a payment of their court fees and the opposing team’s fees for the forfeited game (double court fees) for any game forfeited. Any team forfeiting will incur a -3 point penalty.

 

TIMING:

3 (a)  The Management and/or the Board may from time to time review the timing of matches. Any variations will be circulated to participating teams.

3 (b)  All games are to start on time. The first game of the night will start at the discretion of the court supervisor. Senior grades men and women will play twenty minute halves. The clock does not stop in the first half. The clock stops for time outs in the second half and every whistle in the last minute of the game. In the event of finals requiring overtime, five minutes will be played with one time out per team.

Friday night juniors will play seventeen minute halves; clock does not stop in first half. Clock stops for time outs in the second half and every whistle in the last minute of the game. One time out per team, per half is permitted. These timings will apply whilst ever team numbers permit.

In the event of a draw in the finals series, an extra five minutes will be played, with each team allowed one (1) time out. The clock will stop for timeouts and every whistle in the last minute of the game.

 

UNIFORMS:

4 (a)  All players must be in correct uniform from the first night of play. Teams must be uniformly dressed with tops numbered front and back. Numbers must be at least twenty 20cm high on the back and ten (10) cm on the front.  No player will be permitted to take the court if they are not in correct team uniform. All games require complete uniform (singlet and shorts).

All games require matching singlets. Shorts must be the same colour throughout the team e.g. all black and will be correct basketball shorts with no pockets or loops to be worn.

The following range of numbers is acceptable: 0-99.

4 (b)  T-shirts worn under singlets must be the same dominant colour as the singlet. Shorts, skirts, knickers, dresses, bike pants etc or any combination of these are classed as part of the uniform. Players are not required to tuck their shirts in.

4 (c)  In the event of a clash of uniform colours, the lowest team number on the draw will change for the first round in the competition and the highest number team on the draw will change for the second round of the competition.

4 (d)  Shoes must be of the correct type for use for sport, on the playing surface.

 

GRADING:

5 (a)  The grading of teams shall be determined by Parramatta Basketball Association and shall be based on the list of players recorded by the office from registration forms and previous competitions results if applicable.

5 (b)  Parramatta Basketball Association has the power to reject or regrade nominations if it considers the team too strong or too weak for that particular grade.

5 (c)  Promotion and relegation of teams within grades will be at the discretion of the management. It may be appropriate in some instances to schedule a play off between teams considered for promotion to a higher grade to access their eligibility.

 

ELIGIBILITY:

6 (a)  Players must mark their player numbers and names onto team list, prior to the game. In the case of juniors the adult in the Canteen or managing the team will mark them off as they pay their court fee.  Where electronic scoring is used, players will confirm their identity via a driver’s licence or a debit or credit bank account card and be signed in by the court referee.  In the case of juniors they must supply adequate proof of identity and follow the same processes.

6 (b)  Players may only play in one team in any competition played on a particular night. (All senior competitions are classed as separate competitions each night.) Players may only play in one grade of the competition each night. If an open grade is played, players/teams may play in the open grade as well as a graded competition game on another night. Juniors may play in a junior and a senior grade each week.

6 (c)  Players may fill in for a team in a higher grade, however once a player has played three (3) games in a higher grade they will then be considered ineligible for the lower grade.

Once a player has played one (1) game for a team/Club in a higher grade, they may only play in that competition for that particular team/Club in the higher grade. The first team of a Club/played in by a player dictates the grading of the player in question and accordingly this player may not play in a lower graded team of that Club without permission of the Management.

6 (d)  In junior competitions including under 20’s, players must not turn the age listed during the calendar year, i.e. Players nominated in the under 16 competition cannot turn 16 in the year of competition.

In competitions which carry over from one year to the next, players must not turn the age listed prior to December 31^st of the year competition commences.

6 (e)  Once a player has played for one team or Club in a particular competition, they may not transfer to another team or Club in that competition. The exception to this rule may apply if a team or Club withdraws from the competition – the player must seek the permission of the management before playing with any other team/Club.

6 (f)  Players are not eligible to play in semi-finals or finals unless they have played in 33% of the games with the team in that competition. A bye or duty is not classed as a game. A forfeit may be classed as a game provided that their names are initialled on the scoresheet or have been acknowledged on electronic team list as an eligible player for the winning team.

6 (g)  Teams must have met all their financial commitments in order to participate in the finals series.  If a team is not financial at this time it will forfeit the right to participate in the finals series.

6 (h)  In the event of a competition splitting during the season, teams will carry their points into the second half of the competition.

 

REPRESENTATIVE PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:

6 (i)  With the exception of the Premier League and junior competitions, all teams are limited to three (3) representative players from any Association (from that age group) per team. In senior competitions, National League, ABA State and Youth League representative players will be regarded as Senior Representative Players. In the Premier League Men’s Competition there will be no limit on the number of representative players in each team, however a limit may be placed on the number of NBL players in any one team. The Management will have the final say. The Women’s Premier League or in the event of having no Premier League in either genders’ competitions, the highest division in the competition may also have a limit of representative players restricted to three and this also will be decided by the Management depending on the strength of the team verses the standard of Competition.

In the case of junior competitions all teams are limited to three (3) current representative players from any Association (from that age group) per team; however this rule may be exceeded when the team is playing in a higher age group. There is no restriction on the number of representative players playing in the open grade. Junior representative players competing in senior competitions shall not be considered as representative players.

Representative players must play in domestic competition in order to play in representative teams.

Representative players must meet all their financial obligations to the Association prior to transferring to another Association.

 

DUTY RESPONSIBILITIES:

7 (a)  Where possible, PBA will supply a scoretable person to perform duty on games.

7 (b)  Where teams are charged with doing scoretable duty before and after games, duty teams are required to provide four people for duty – two referees, a scorer and a timekeeper for each game rostered. If a full complement is not supplied, that team is liable for a fine and loss of competition points. Teams should note that in all cases, if qualified referees are available they will automatically take precedence over duty team members to referee.

7 (c)  Where teams are charged with doing duty on their own game, teams will provide one scorer from each team.  Teams who have only five players on any given game will place one player from their team onto the scoretable and will play with four players.  Teams who have four players in total and cannot provide a person for scoretable duties will forfeit the game.

7 (d)  Where teams are charged with doing duty, teams will provide a minimum of four players for each game to be covered – two referees, a scorer and a timekeeper for each game rostered. Teams who do not turn up for duty will incur a penalty of -3 competition points and a monetary fine to be set by management.

 

ALLOCATION OF POINTS:

8  Competition points will be allocated on the following basis:  3 points for a win, 1 point for a loss, 2 points for a draw, minus three points for a forfeit and playing unregistered players.

8 (a)  Where teams cannot play the same amount of games within a competition, double point games will be awarded to create an even opportunity for all teams to get an equal result.

8 (b)  Where teams finish on equal points on a ladder, teams are considered firstly on a head-to-head comparison. Both for and against scores are added for each team for every game played between the two teams who have ended on equal points. If that exercise gives a clear difference, then the team with the highest for and against scores is placed higher on the ladder. If after this comparison teams are still equal, then the competition total scores of for and against is taken into consideration between the two teams.

 

SIGNING THE SCORESHEET:

9 (a)  Where paper scoresheets are used, players must write their names on the scoresheet before the scheduled game time. The score sheets are accessible at the canteen, please sign on as you enter the centre and before you go onto the courts, exceptions will be made for late arrivals.

If your name is already printed on the scoresheet players must initial their name and adjust their playing number.

If your name is not printed please print your full name legibly so staff can update the data base.

9 (b)  Where electronic scoresheets are used, the senior referee or the court supervisor shall confirm electronically that the players who are on the court are the same players who are electronically registered.  Teams who play unregistered players or who play players under a false name will lose 3 competition points. The offender will incur a suspension as outlined in the Tribunal By-Laws.

 

REFEREES WEARING PORTABLE CAMERAS:

10  Referees shall wear a portable camera to record any infractions by players or coaches. Referees shall remove such devices once they leave the court and will not wear or take them outside the building or into bathroom facilities but shall hand them back to the canteen until the next referee takes possession or at the end of their shift or at the end of the night.

 

RULE VARIATIONS CHILDREN’S COMPETITIONS:

11  *NB All rules as listed in the Official Basketball Rules will apply unless listed below.

*NB Children can only play for one team per age group – a child can play up an age group but may not play for two teams in the same age group.

 

Under 8 YEARS

1. Matches played on (2590mm) 8.6ft rings. Size 6 ball is used
2. Games Duration – 12 minute halves running clock. 2 minutes for half time clock stops.
3. Each team is allowed one time out per half (50 seconds) Clock Stops
4. Free throws taken from the dotted semi-circle or where a dotted semi-circle is not available, from a point indicated on the court by the referee
5. No three point baskets
6. No cross court rule
7. Three second rule in the key does not apply
8. Bonus shots will be taken on the 8^th team foul
9. Possession arrows used for all jump ball situations during the game – halves commence with a jump ball
10. Teams ahead by 10 or more points may not play a full court man to man defence. Opposition Players’ may not be defended until they cross the centre line.
11. A team supporter from each team will be required to do scoring duty for the games.

 

Under 10 YEARS

1. Matches played on (2590mm) 8.6ft rings. Size 6 ball is used
2. Game duration – 15 minute halves running clock. 2 minutes for half time clock stops.
3. Each team is allowed one timeout per half (50 seconds) Clock Stops
4. Free throws taken from the dotted semi-circle or where a dotted semi-circle is not available, from a point indicated on the court by the referee
5. No three point baskets
6. No cross court rule
7. Three second rule in the key does not apply
8. Bonus shots will be taken on the 8th team foul.
9. Possession Arrows used for all jump ball situations during the game – halves commence with a jump ball.
10. Teams ahead by 10 or more points may not play a full court man to man defence. (Opposition players may not be defended until they cross the centre line.)
11. A team supporter will be required from each team to do scoring duty for the games.

 

Under 12 YEARS

1. Matches played on 10ft rings. Size 6 ball is used
2. Game duration – 15 minute halves running clock. 2 minutes for half time clock stops
3. Each team is allowed one timeout per half (50 seconds) Clock Stops.
4. Free throws taken from the dotted semi-circle or where a dotted semi-circle is not available, from a point indicated on the court by the referee
5. No three point baskets
6. Bonus shots will be taken on the 8th team foul
7. Teams ahead by 10 or more points may not play a full court man to man defence. (Opposition players may not be defended until they cross the centre line)
8. Possession Arrows used for all jump ball situations during the game – halves commence with a jump ball.
9. A team supporter will be required from each team to do scoring duty for the games

 

PLAYING CONDITIONS:

1. Players are required to sign on 10minutes prior to their scheduled game time
2. Games will start at the scheduled time. Teams will require 4 players to start a game
3. For a player to be eligible to participate in Gala Day they must have played in one game throughout the season and be registered member of the Parramatta Basketball Association.
4. The Parramatta Basketball Association advise that teams are required to play man to man defence to enhance the individual skill and the development of players. A No Zone Policy may be implemented by Parramatta Basketball Association.  “A coach who is found to be using static half court Zone Defence by the court supervisors shall be penalised by a technical foul in the first instance and then a disqualifying technical foul on the second.” The decision of the court supervisor will be final.