General Information
1. All participants are required to present a valid BU photo ID during pre-game.
2. All participants must wear recreational attire including sneakers.
3. No dangerous apparel or equipment is allowed (i.e., casts, knee braces with exposed
metal, hats bandanas, or jewelry.)
4. A floor captain must be designated for each team. They alone may discuss problems
with the official. Remember there is, “zero tolerance” for harassing officials. Clear up
any problems prior to the start of each game.
5. Please BE EARLY! Late arrivals must show their BU ID. They cannot enter the game,
unless an injury occurs. The number that you start a game with will be the number that
you finish the game with. If teams are late, the appropriate penalties will be assessed.
(0-2 Minutes =start one man down, 2-5 minutes = start two men down, 5 minutes=loss of
one game, 10 minutes=forfeit)
5. Players may play on one team. Teams playing with
illegal players face possible ejection from the league. Players attempting to check in with
false identification will be suspended for the remainder of the league and or the
tournament and risk the team being forfeited for the league and or the tournament.
6. All forms of rules/policies/procedures will apply to all games. Participants are advised to
familiarize themselves with all publications.
a. Intramural Sports Rules and the Intramural Sports Handbook.
8. We will adhere to the BU Intramural Sport Forfeit Policy.
The Game
1. Teams are comprised of 6 players.
2. There will be seven regulation games. The first team
to win four games shall be declared
the winner of the match.
3. Each game lasts 7 minutes. After 5 minutes into the game, an official will blow their
whistle, and teams may go up to the attack line of the opposing team. The attack line is
the free-throw line extended.
4. The first team to eliminate all opposing players or the team with the greatest number of
players remaining at the end of regulation time will be declared the winner.
5. A one minute sudden death overtime period will be played if there are equal numbers of
players per team at end of a regulation game.
a. All overtime periods will begin with an equal number of “balls in hand” behind
a team’s end line.
b. Teams may not pass the half court line.
c. The first team to eliminate any opposing player will be declared the winner.
6. Substitution can only be made at start of each game, or in case of an injury
Beginning the Game
1. Six balls will be placed along the center line.
2. Matches will begin with the flip of a coin to determine sides
3. Teams will alternate sides after each game.
4. Players take position behind their designated end line.
5. On the whistle, teams approach the line to retrieve the balls.
6. Every ball retrieved from the centerline on opening rush must be taken back beyond the
attack line (foul line extended) before the ball may be legally thrown at an opponent.
7. During an opening rush, players may cross the centerline momentarily while attempting
to retrieve a ball if the player is not trying to gain an advantage.
Rules
1. A player may block a thrown ball with a ball being held, providing the held ball is not
dropped as result of the contact with thrown ball.
2. A player may carry or pass the ball into backcourt. Backcourt is the area between your
attack line and the end line on the basketball court.
3. An OUT is scored by:
a. Hitting an opposing player with a live thrown ball below shoulders. If a
player ducks and it is clearly the reason for being hit above the shoulders,
the player is out.
b. Catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent.
c. Causing and opponent to drop a held ball as a result of contact by a live
thrown ball. NOTE: A ball deflecting off a held ball and striking the holder is
no longer a live ball.
d. Stepping out of bounds (Except to retrieve a ball). If a player retrieves a
ball, they must reenter the game through the end line. During play,
stepping on any boundary marker to avoid being struck is considered
leaving the court.
e. If a ball is deflected off of a player, and caught by a teammate, then the
player who threw the ball is out and the player who was hit by the ball has
been saved by his/her teammate.
4. If people on your team have already been declared OUT, they may stay on the end line
to retrieve any balls that leave the court area.
a. People on the end lines may not enter the boundary of the court area at
any time.
b. When they retrieve a ball, they may give that ball to their team on the court.
Boundaries
1. During play, all players must remain inside the boundary lines. The boundary lines will
be the sidelines and baselines of the basketball court.
2. Players may pass through their end line only to retrieve stray balls. A stray ball is one
that has not been picked up and is lying on the ground
3. When retrieving a ball, the player must also immediately re-enter the playing field only
through their end line.
4. A player not immediately re-entering the playing area may be declared out.
Stalling
A team trailing during a regulation game must be given the opportunity to eliminate an opposing
player. This requires a ball to be at the disposal of the trailing team.
1. It is illegal for the leading team to control all the balls for more than 5 seconds. If the
leading team controls all the balls, they must make a legitimate effort to get a least one
ball across the attack line and into the opponent’s backcourt. If this is not done within
five seconds, a “five-second violation” will be called. A team may avoid a five second
violation by throwing or rolling a ball into the opponents back court. This does not
include throwing a ball over and through an opponent’s end line. The leading team may
not throw at a player who, in opinion of the official, is in the act of securing a ball (in a
vulnerable position). Only an official may call a five second violation.
a. First violation of 5-second violation: Stoppage of play and balls will be divided
evenly between teams. Play will continue with balls in hand.
b. Second violation: Free throw for the opposing team.
1. A free throw is an unobstructed throw at their opponent(s) without risk of
elimination. This is possible because a caught free throw will NOT result
in player elimination.
c. Third Violation: Ejection of one player from the offending team.
Miscellaneous
1. No spectators are permitted on the sidelines.
2. Any rules not covered in this rule sheet will be subject to interpretation by the officials,
supervisors, or Director of Intramural Sports.
3. If excessive force or unsportsmanlike tactics are used, the officials or supervisor can and
will eject the involved parties.
4. Warnings by the officials may be issued but are not mandatory.
**All decisions by officials are final, ARGUING DECISIONS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. The
yellow/red card system will be in effect. Players arguing after a warning will be penalized by
disqualification from the remainder of the game or match. The intramural official or supervisor will rule on any situation not specifically covered in the rules.
