League Constitution

Mission – The Kincardine youth basketball league is a league open to all children in the Kincardine area between the grades 5 to 8.  It is to be run as a grass routes league which would incorporate the following three primary goals.

  1. Learn the game of basketball in a safe environment through a combination of practice and game situations.
  2. Encourage fair play, and reinforce behaviors which demonstrate respect for all players, coaches, referees, league organizers and other league contributors.
  3. To do all of the above while having fun.

 The league is operated by a league executive under the following positions

  1. President.
  2. Treasurer/Secretary.
  3. Register
  4. Volunteer Coordinator
  5. Vice President - Coaches Coordinator.
  6. Communications

 

The executive will operate using the following criteria.

  1. Meet once a month between the months Sept to May with the date set at the time of the previously held meeting.  Any meeting can be cancelled if it is unanimously agree that a meeting is not required.
  2. Minutes are taken by the treasure/secretary unless this task is otherwise reassigned by the president.
  3. A general meeting is held once a year in September.  This general meeting is an open meeting, open to all individuals interested in the operation of the league.  At this meeting the next year’s executive is voted in.  The process for elections for the new executive is as follows:

      - Nominations for each position are solicited from the membership.
      - If more than one candidate is nominated than a secret ballot election takes place.  Any parent can nominate a person for the executive.  The vote is presided over by two members of the executive who are not part of the election.

  1. The President or delegate will determine the agenda for each meeting.
  2. All members of the executive as well as coaches, referees, players, scorekeepers and any other league contributor as defined by the executive must conduct themselves according to the league code of conduct.  (Appendix A)
  3. General duties for each position are outlined in appendix B. 
  4. A budget is prepared and presented in the fall of each year and this would determine the registration cost per player.

 

Dissolution of the league
In the event the league cannot continue.  This could be a result of not enough interest or a lack of volunteers to run the league, the disbursement of any assets would be done as follows:

Cash  - Cash balances after payment of all outstanding invoices are to be held by the Davidson Centre Recreation department in trust (reserve account) .  These funds are then available to help the start up of a future basketball league with similar goals.
Other Assets – Any other assets are donated at the discretion of the majority of the executive members.

 

Game Rules
Game rules may be adjusted from time to time by the league executive for the betterment of the league.  The following rules are currently in use and are consistent with the overall league goals:

Traditional basketball playing rules are enforced. For junior games, travelling and double dribbling will be called at the descretion of the referees to make the games move more quickly. The Free Throw line is moved in by 3 feet for Juniors.

Games are 40 minutes in length consisting of 2-20 minute halves. Shifts are divided into 4 minute segments with a full shift change of all players on the court. The rotation of players taking double shifts shoudl change from player to player as the game progresses. The overall goal is that by the end of the game no one player receives more playing time than his/her team-mates.

  • Each team must provide a completed Roster Sheet for the Scorekeeper prior to the start of the game.
  • Players foul out when they receive 5 personal fouls or 1 flagrant foul.
  • Flagrant or "intentional" fouls are penalized by the offended player receiving two foul shots and possession of the ball.
  • "Ties" are not broken for regular season games.
  • The time clock is stopped at the end of every 4 minute shift and for player injuries or significant delays.
  • The last minute of each half will be stop time.
  • "Tie Balls" will result in alternate possession.
  • Zone defense is illegal for Junior Teams. Each defender must guard a specific player, not an area of the floor. "Man to man" defence is defined as requiring the defensive payer to remain within six (6) feet of his assigned offensive player.
    Penalties for violating "Man to Man" guidelines:
    First violation - warning
    Second + subsequent violation - technical foul (2 shots and loss of possession)
  • After a Junior Team scores a basket, they must fall back to half court.
  • If a player gains clear possession of the ball in his/her backcourt, either by holding or dribbling the ball, the defensive team must fall back to half court.
  • Players and coaches shake hands at the end of the game.

Changing the Constitution
The league constitution can be changed at the beginning of each year by majority support of the executive.  The president would break any tie vote.