Game Rules
Game Rules
- Each game is 40 minutes, played in 4 quarters of 10 minutes each with a running clock; the clock stops only in the last 24 seconds of each quarter and the last 2 minutes, and it stops after made baskets in the last 24 seconds of the 4th quarter. The break between quarters is 60 seconds. When the scorer’s table sounds the signal, players must return to the court immediately. If they have not returned, the scorer’s table will sound a second signal and start the clock (except in the last two minutes of the 4th quarter).
- Overtime is 1 minute with a stopped clock. Team and personal fouls from regulation carry over into overtime; if the game is still undecided when time expires, further overtime periods are played until there is a winner. Special case: if the game is the last game at Heping Court and is still undecided at 18:00, the light-jersey team sends 1 player to shoot a free throw; the team that scores wins.
- Shot clock: resets to 14 seconds when the ball hits the rim; on a foul, if it is below 14 seconds it resets to 14 seconds, and if it is above 14 seconds or the ball goes out of bounds, the remaining time stays the same. (U19 / U15) Shot clock: resets to 20 seconds when the ball hits the rim; on a foul, if it is below 20 seconds it resets to 20 seconds, and if it is above 20 seconds or the ball goes out of bounds, the remaining time stays the same. (U12 / U10 / 8U)
- There are three timeouts per game: one in the first half and two in the second half. Unused timeouts may not be carried over to the second half. Each timeout is 30 seconds. When the scorer’s table sounds the first signal, players must return to the court immediately. If they have not returned, a second signal will sound after 30 seconds and the clock will start directly (except in the last two minutes of the 4th quarter).
- During timeouts and between quarters, after the scorer’s table sounds the signal, the referees will give a reminder the first time, a warning the second time, and a technical foul the third time. If the team still has timeouts available, the referees may charge one of the team’s timeouts before calling the technical foul; if the team still delays the game, a technical foul will be called.
- Teams must go to the scorer’s table 10 minutes before tip-off to present “photo ID documents” (national ID card, student ID card, National Health Insurance card, etc.) for the registered players of that game. All players must be registered with the league; no players may be added on the spot.
- Female players may exceed the age limit by one year.
- If a player is not in proper uniform (e.g., without a jersey), 1 technical foul will be charged. For a technical foul, the opponent is awarded 1 point directly without shooting a free throw; after the point is added, the game resumes with the team that had control of the ball or possession when the foul occurred. (Each player counts as one technical foul, e.g., if 3 players forget their jerseys, that is 3 technical fouls.)
- During free throws, spectators (including players’ parents, friends, etc.) may not distract the shooter in any way. If this happens, the referees will give a verbal warning as the situation requires; if it happens again, the referees will charge that team’s coach with a technical foul.
- A team must have at least 4 players to play. If a team has fewer than 4 players 10 minutes after the scheduled tip-off time, it forfeits and the score is recorded as 20 : 0. If a team is down to only 4 players available to play during the game, 1 technical foul will be charged and the game will continue 5 on 4.
Defense / Fouls / Free Throws
| Level | Group | Defensive Area | Full-Court Press | Defense Type | Double-Team Outside the Paint | And-One Free Throw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U19 | Group 1 | No restriction | No restriction | Zone / man-to-man allowed | Allowed O | Required at all times |
| U19 | Group 2 | No restriction | No restriction | Zone / man-to-man allowed | Allowed O | Required at all times |
| U19 | Group 3 | No restriction | No restriction | Zone / man-to-man allowed | Allowed O | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U19 | Group 4 | No restriction | No restriction | Zone / man-to-man allowed | Allowed O | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U15 | Group 1 | No restriction | No restriction | Zone / man-to-man allowed | Allowed O | Required at all times |
| U15 | Group 2 | No restriction | No restriction | Zone / man-to-man allowed | Allowed O | Required at all times |
| U15 | Group 3 | No restriction | No restriction | Man-to-man only | Allowed O | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U15 | Group 4 | Half court | No restriction in last 30 sec | Man-to-man only | Allowed O | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U12 | Group 1 | No restriction | No restriction | Man-to-man only | Allowed O (half court only) | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U12 | Group 2 | No restriction | No restriction | Man-to-man only | Allowed O (half court only) | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U12 | Group 3 | No restriction | No restriction | Man-to-man only | Not allowed X | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U12 | Group 4 | Half court | No restriction in last 30 sec | Man-to-man only | Not allowed X | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U12 | Grade 6 Boys | No restriction | No restriction | Man-to-man only | Allowed O (half court only) | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U10 | Group 1 | No restriction | No restriction | Man-to-man only | Not allowed X | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| U10 | Group 2 | Half court | No restriction in last 30 sec | Man-to-man only | Not allowed X | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
| 8U | Group 1 | Within 3-point line | No restriction in last 30 sec | Man-to-man only | Not allowed X | Required only in last 2 min of Q4 |
- Once the defending team has gained possession, the original offensive team must retreat and defend within its permitted defensive area.
- A team leading by 20 or more points (inclusive) may not play full-court press defense and must retreat to half-court defense; a team already in half-court defense stays in half-court defense (likewise, full-court/half-court defense may not be played in the last 30 seconds of the 4th quarter), except for U19 Group 1 and U15 Group 1, which are not subject to this restriction.
- U19 Group 1, Group 2 and U15 Group 1, Group 2 must shoot the free throws at any time during the game, including for technical fouls (1 free throw) and unsportsmanlike fouls (2 free throws); all groups must retreat on defense when leading by 20 or more points (inclusive), and only U19 Group 1/U15 Group 1 are not required to retreat when leading by 20 or more points (inclusive).
- On an and-one, no free throw is shot and 1 point is added directly, except in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter. (U19 Group 1, Group 2 and U15 Group 1, Group 2 must shoot the and-one free throw at all times)
- Throughout the game, for a technical foul, the opponent is awarded 1 point directly without a free throw; after the point is added, the game resumes with the team that had control of the ball or possession when the foul occurred. (U19 Group 1, Group 2 and U15 Group 1, Group 2 must shoot the free throw)
- Throughout the game, for an unsportsmanlike foul, no free throws are shot; the opponent is awarded 2 points directly and gains possession, with the points credited to the fouled player. (U19 Group 1, Group 2 and U15 Group 1, Group 2 must shoot the free throws)
- Each player is allowed up to 6 personal fouls per game and must leave the game upon fouling out.
- During free throws, spectators (including players’ parents, friends, etc.) may not distract the shooter in any way. If this happens, the referees will give a verbal warning as the situation requires; if it happens again, the referees will charge that team’s coach with a technical foul.
- When a team violates the above rules, the referees will give a reminder the first time and a warning the second time; the third time, 1 point is awarded directly to the opponent, and from the 4th time (inclusive) onward, 2 points are awarded to the opponent each time. Each type of defensive violation is counted separately.
- The number of free throws for all groups follows FIBA rules: 2 free throws for a shooting foul inside the 3-point line and 3 free throws for a shooting foul beyond the 3-point line.
- Unsportsmanlike fouls: any foul above the neck is automatically ruled an unsportsmanlike foul. A total of 3 results in a one-game suspension, and a total of 5 results in a ban from this season. Definition of suspension: the player must attend the game with the team without playing; games not attended with the team do not count toward the suspension.
- For levels where the defensive area is limited to the half court or the 3-point line, active defense by the defending team in the restricted zone is a violation. This does not apply when the offense commits a turnover / loses the ball / possession is unclear; the referees will judge and give a reminder/warning/technical foul.
- For levels where the defensive area is limited to the half court or the 3-point line, defenders may only steal "passes" outside the restricted zone and may not attempt steals on the dribbler or the ball handler, provided that both of the defender’s feet stay inside the restricted zone without crossing the line; the referees will judge and give a reminder/warning/technical foul.
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