The West Haven Youth Basketball Executive Board and the Coaches Committee have adopted the following game rules specific to West Haven Youth Basketball League play.

Rule 1 – Length of Game / Timeouts per Game
Games shall consist of 4 periods. Periods 1, 3, and 4 will be 6 minutes long. Period 2 is 8 minutes long. If a game ends in a tie, a 2-minute overtime period shall be played.

Each team is allowed a total of 4 one-minute timeouts per game. Each team shall be given an additional timeout for each overtime period. Any remaining timeouts may also be carried-over to the overtime period.

Rule 2 – Team Line-ups
Coaches must submit their line-up to the scorer’s table prior to the start of each game. The line-up must designate five A-team players, or “starters”. The rest of the players in the line-up become B-team players.

The coach may also designate a “6th man” for each game when submitting the line-up. This player acts as an extra starter and may enter the game as a substitute anytime in periods 1, 3, and 4.

Rule 3 – Game Eligibility and Substitutions
The 5 designated A-team players and the “6th man” are not eligible to play in Period 2 unless a team has less than 5 B-team players. In this instance, each coach must pick from the A-team players of the opposing team to determine who plays in the 2nd period. If a team has 4 B-team players, each coach picks 1 A-team player; if a team has only 3 B-team players, each coach picks 2 A-team players, etc.

B-team players may only play in Period 1 when an A-team player is tardy, injured or in foul trouble (commits 3 personal fouls), and when the coach has not designated a 6th man. A B-team player brought in to play due to these circumstances is still eligible to play in Period 2. If an A-team player arrives late, he may enter the game when the next substitution is allowed, except during Period 2.

B-team players may also play in Periods 3 and 4, however a B-team player must not play more minutes than an A-team player, except in the case of injury, or disqualification due to fouls. All players must play a minimum of 4 minutes.

Rule 4 – Team Fouls and Bonus Free Throws
The rule awarding bonus free throws (one-and-one) on the 7th team foul is waived in the first half. The “one-and-one” bonus shall be in effect on the 7th team foul in the second half. Beginning with the 10th team foul, the two-shot bonus shall be in effect.

Rule 5 – Technical Fouls
A technical foul for conduct considered by a game official to be unsportsmanlike, shall result in the disqualification of the offending player for the remainder of the period (including overtime) in which the technical occurred. A game disqualification shall result for any player or coach assessed with two technical fouls in that game. The game disqualification shall be enforced regardless of the reason for the technical fouls. If a game disqualification occurs, the League may review the incident to determine if further disciplinary action is warranted. Player technical fouls are counted as both a player personal foul and a team foul.

Rule 6 – Full Court Press
No full-court press is allowed in the first or second period. Teams may play a full-court press in the 3rd and 4th period, and in overtime. A full-court press is disallowed again if a team has a lead of 20 points or more, unless requested by the trailing team. In those instances where the full-court press is not allowed, a player must not defend in his back court once the opposing team has gained possession of the ball.

Rule 7 – Three-Point Goal
A goal made from behind the three-point arc shall count for 3 points. The player attempting the shot must be clearly behind the line. If the player makes any contact with the line at the beginning of the shot, the goal shall count for 2 points. West Haven Youth Basketball shall subscribe to the High School Federation rules, which allow for continuation on the shot at the discretion of the official. Only an official can declare a three-point basket.