SoCalHoops High School News

CIF Southern Section Rules: Really,
These Are The Rules--(Nov. 29, 1998)

We often get inquiries regarding the specific rules in effect for basketball in the CIF Southern Section.  No, not the actual rules of the game (length of court, number of periods, etc), which are governed by the High School National Federation of Basketball Rules,  but the Southern Section's sometimes peculiar variations and quirks. You know, the rules pertaining to modifications from the regular rules, such as the rules governing uniforms, officials, when a team can practice, the definition of a "scrimmage", tournaments, "carnivals" (a unique game format which almost no one uses anymore), maximum games, spring practices and summertime rules, and on and on.

So we thought we'd post up the official rules for applicable to Southern Section teams, coaches, players and refs, particularly since the  the start of the season tomorrow is tomorrow.  Don't mind the strange numbering, because that's what's in the Southern Section handbook (for example, Rule 1606.1 is actually found in Section 1607. Why?  We don't know, but that's the way it is.)  Some of these rules will in fact raise more questions than they answer, so if you do have questions, feel free to send us an e-mail or post your question on the Message Board, or better yet, call the Southern Section CIF and ask for Dean Crowley or Thom Simpson, media relations director.  

Article 16
Basketball

1600 GIRLS MODIFICATION

The National Federation Basketball Rules shall be modified for girls' basketball as follows:

    A. Utilization of a 30-second shot clock.

    B. Utilization of mid-court line.

    C. No 10 second rule in back-court.

    D.  Utilization of 5 second count for holding the ball only.

        1600.1  A visible clock is not required

1601.  BOYS MODIFICATION

The National Federation Basketball Rules shall be modified for boys' basketball as follows:

A. Utilization of a 35 second shot clock.

1602. UNIFORMS

The National Federation boys and girls uniform rules shall be waived to allow for the wearing of a shirt with diagnoal or tailed lettering at the non-varsity level.

1603. OFFICIALS

The following will be observed:

        A. In order to move toward gender balance at regional and state champinoships in girls' volleyball and basketball, a minimum of on-half of the officials assigned to all levels shall be qualified female officials.

B. In order to move toward minority balance at regional and state championships ingirls' volleyball and basketball that all such assignments be reflective of the diversity of the participating school populations.

C.  Should the available "pool" of qualified officials not meet the specifications of A and B above, that such assignments be referred to adjacent areas for these assignment. (May, 1997, Federated Council)

1604 THREE PERSON OFFICIATING

At the regional and state basketball championships, three person officiating teams will be utilized.

1605 ORGANIZED TEAM PRACTICE

Organized team practice shall be interpretedas meaning the association of a coach with potential team members for the purpose of learning or practicing the skills of basketball.

Organized before and after-school team practice may not be conducted until November 14, and may continue until a school's final league or CIF Southern Section play off contest.  Before November 14, and until May 17, coaches may associate with potential team members for the purpose of learning or practicing the skills of basketball only during one regular physical education class.

1606 TRYOUTS

It will be permissible for a coach to conduct a ten-day tryout period before or after school any time prior to November 14 for the purpose of trying out, not instructing, those students who have not previously played on a high school basketball team at any level the previous season in the school in which they are enrolled.  Basketball letter-winners or students not eligible to participate in the tryouts will not be permitted to be in attendance with the newcomers during the alloable 10-day tryout period.

1607 SCRIMMAGES

        1606.1    SCRIMMAGES: An interscholastic scrimmage in basketball is a practice session between a minimum of two and a maximum of three schools where no score is kept, free substitution and time-outs are permitted, spectators are not urged to attend, and officials are not paid (See Q&A following Bylaw 231 for definition). A carnival may be conducted in lieu of an interscholastic scrimmage and must be sanctioned by the Commissioner.

        1606.2   Schools are permitted one interscholastic scrimmage which may not be held prior to November 23 and must be held prior to the teams first insterscholastic contest (non-league, league, or tournament).

1608 TOURNAMENTS

A basketball team may not be entered in more than three tournaments.

    1607. 1    For each tournament, a team will be charged two games toward the allowable maximum number of contests.

     1607.2    The maximum number of contests allowed any team in a tournament, whether participating in the championship or consolation bracket, shall not exceed 4 contests in an 8-team tournament, 4 contests in a 16-team tournament, or 5 contests in a 32-team tournament.

      1607.3  Tournament managers are responsible for notifying participating schools of the number of games and/or teams participating in the tournament.

NOTE:  Two contests could be played in the SAME TOURNAMENT only, but not two games in two different tournaments. (See Bylaw 1202).

1609 CARNIVALS

The following conditions shall govern league or district carnival:

        1608.1     All district or league carnivals must be sanctioned by the Commissioner.

        1608.2     Such carnivals must include four or more schools from one league or one school district.

        1608.3     Officials may be used.

        1608.4     Each team will be permitted to participate in a maximum of two regulation 8-minute periods. Opponents must be different for each period.

        1608.5     Admission may be charged, but net receipts may not go to the participating schools.  Profits shall be donated to worthy charities or placed in the league treasury to benefit all schools in the league.

        1608.6     Each carnival will count as the one allowable scrimmage per team.

1610 STARTING DATES FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC CONTESTS

No interscholastic contest may be scheduled prior to November 30.

1611 MAXIMUM TEAM CONTESTS

A basketball team will be permitted ot play no more than 20 games during the season, including tournaments, but excluding CIF Southern Section playoffs.

        1610.1     FACULTY:  Each team will be permitted to play one game with the faculty which will not count toward the allowable number of contests and must be played during the regular season of sport, effective with any date following the first allowable scrimmage.

        1610.2     ALUMNI:  Each team will be permitted to play one alumni contest, which will not count toward the allowable number of contests and may be played effective with the first scrimmage date.  The contest must take place during the regular season of sport.

1612 END OF COMPETITION

All league competition for entries must end on or before Friday, February 12.  Schools may compete until February 13 for non-league contests.

1613 SPRING PRACTICE RULE

Beginning May 17, a school may hold before and after-school practice but may not participate in an interscholastic scrimmage or contest for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) days.

1614 SUMMERTIME RULES

        1614 .1     Form close of school in June until the summer dead period, there shall be no restriction on high school coaches working with high school students registered and/or attending their respective high school or entering them in summer basketball competition, provided approval is received from the school principal.

Question:    Who may participate in high school summer athletic programs approved by the principal?

Answer:        Only students registered for the upcoming school year in grades 9 thorugh 12.   Aditionally, it would be a violatino to allow elementary students (8th grade and below) to participate with the high school team.  For students enrolled in more than one school, all summer competition must be confined to one school.

        1614.2     A summer dead period will be in effect from Monday, August 2, 1999, until the beginning of the first official starting date for fall sports which begins on August 23, 1999.  No class could be offered in a summer school program which could circumvent the rule.

                        During the dead period, weight lifting ONLY would be permitted.  No running or other type of conditioning would be allowed.   

                        Special nationally recognized programs in various sports that require a national or regional championship format, such as Bobby Sox Softball, American Legion or Mickey Mantle Baseball, etc., would be allowed to continue until completion during the dead period.

                        SPECIAL NOTE:  THE SOUTHERN SECTION COMMISSIONER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT EXCEPTIONS TO THE SUMMER DEAD PERIOD REQUESTED BY THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR PROGRAMS. ALTERNATE DATES MUST BE FORWARDED WITH THE REQUEST FROM THE PRINCIPAL.  THE ALTERNATE DEAD PERIOD WILL BE APPROVED FOR ALL LEVELS, NOT JUST ONE TEAM, AND MUST BE FOR THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS.

1615    ASSOCIATION WITH HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS

No member of the school athletic staff shall organize, sponsor or coach a basketball team in a league outside the season of basketball, during the school year, in which students with remaining eligibility at that school are participating.

1616 OUTSIDE COMPETITION BY AN INDIVIDUAL

During Individual's Season of Sport-- A member of a high school basketball team may not during his or her season of sport, compete for an outside team in the sport of basketball.  A season of sport (See Bylaw 511) is defined as that period which begins with a student's first interscholastic competition (non-league, tournament, or league game) and ends with that student's last interscholastic contest (tournament, non-league or CIF Southern Section Playoff).

1617 LEVEL OF COMPETITION

No Student shall participate in more than one level of competition in the same sport in the same day.

1618 MAXIMUM ATHLETIC CONTESTS IN ONE DAY

All interscholastic contests are to be arranged in such a way that no student shall take part in more than two athletic contests in any one day.

1619.  SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

All contests are to be arranged in such a way that no student shall be away from school for more than one day.

1620.  COLOR OF JERSEYS

In all basketball games played between member schools of the CIF Southern Section, the host team shall wear light-colored jerseys, and the visting team shall wear dark-colored jerseys. If a team has only one set of jerseys, it will be its responsibility to notify the opponent in sufficient time in advance of any scheduled contest, so that proper arrangements can be made to make certain both teams have contrasting jerseys.

1621.  HOST TEAM SELECT LEGAL COURT

Teh host team in basketball shall select the court, and such court must be legal according to the rules.

1622. NOISEMAKERS

No mechanical noisemakers (hornes, bells, victory bells, sirens, chimes, musical instruments other than those in the band, etc.,) will be permitted inside the gymnasium at any  CIF Southern Section basketball game (non-league, league, tournament, or playoff).  Cheering devices such as wooden blocks, or other similar objects, are prohibited.  Megaphones shall be used only by uniformed cheerleaders for the purpose of directing and controlling rooting sections.  The improper use of any of the above-leisted devices by supporters of a team would subject that team  to possible foreiture of the contest.

1623. PLAYER CONDUCT

Any player ejected for any reason or any player who leaves the confines of the bench or team area during a fight that may break out or has broken out shall be disqualified from participating in the remainder of the game and will be ineligible for the team's next contest.  A second ejection will constitute a two contest suspension, and a third ejection will cause suspensino for the remainder of the season. (See Q&A following Rule 1624).

SPECIAL NOTE: This rule does not apply to a player disqualified during a contest for five(5) personal fouls. It would apply to any player disqualified for a second technical foul.

1624 COACH EJECTION

Upon ejection, the head or assistant coach shall be disqualified from participating in the remainder of the game and will be ineligible for the team's next contest.  A second ejection will constitute a two contest suspension and a third ejection will cause suspension for the remainder of the season.

Question:  What happens if unknowingly a coach or player who was ejected the previous game participates in the next contest?

Answer:     Being in attendance at or coaching/playing in a contest after having been ejected from a previous contest will result in the forfeiture of the contest.

1625  PLAYOFFS

Refer to Article 31 (Playoffs) for details regarding playoff inhformation. (Specific information will be contained in playoff information bulletins.)

There now, don't you feel better knowing what the rules really are?  No more guessing, no more speculation, right? These are the rules, and teams and coaches should know them.  Because if you don't, it's pretty certain that your opponents and the refs will. 

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Contact: jegesq@SoCalHoops.com