Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Youth Basketball Begins Soon

The Prescott Youth Basketball League will begin its 2001 season on Thursday, January 11, at the newly remodeled McRae Middle School gymnasium. Tip-off for the first game is 5:30 p.m. with a third and fourth grade boys game, to be followed by a fifth and sixth grade girls game at 6:30 p.m. and a fifth and sixth grade boys game at 7:30 p.m.

Admission for all games is $1 per person over 12 years old. A concession stand, operated by the Prescott Athletic Booster Club, will be available.

This year the league has expanded to include first and second grade boys and girls. They will be playing on an eight-foot goal, while grades three through six will be playing on a regulation ten-foot goal.

Each game will consist of two 18-minute halves with an eight-minute halftime period. The clock will only stop every 4= minutes for time-outs and substitutions. A coin flip for ball possession will start the game. There will be no jump balls and alternating possession will apply in all cases. Because the end of a 4=-minute segment does not signal a change of possession, the team with possession at the end of the 4=-minute segment will retain possession.

Teams will switch goals at half-time. Five personal fouls are allowed per player. Tie games will end in a tie. Teams are allowed five minutes to warm-up before the game.

Every child will play at least half the game. Man-to-man defense is required; no zone defense is allowed. No double-teaming is allowed. No full court press is allowed; defensive players cannot pick up their opponents until half court. Defensive switching is not allowed. If a defensive player clearly has possession of a rebound, the other team must get back down court without trying to steal the ball. The offense must attack the defense in every situation and cannot freeze the ball. If the offense does not cross half court in the allotted ten seconds, a violation will be called and the ball with be awarded to the opposing team.

Referees will call and explain all violations and the penalty will be a turnover. These explanations will vary according to the age group and understanding of the players. During the game, when possible, referees will verbally warn players of potential violations. No score will be given for a basket in the wrong goal; it will be treated as a turnover. Non-shooting fouls will result in the ball being taken out on the side. All shooting fouls will result in free throws.

Because the game clock runs continuously, the following rules go into effect with less than two minutes remaining in the game: A) Non-shooting fouls - offensive team gets one point and the ball; B) shooting foul - offensive team gets two points and opposing team gets the ball; and C) player gets fouled in the act of shooting and makes the basket - offensive team gets three points and opposing team gets the ball.