After 21 months, Season VI of Nativity Men's League basketball is back. Piggybacking off of what I said at the original start of the season back in March of 2020... I want to leave you all with a quick thought, a couple of major rules changes, and the schedule.

For the next 4 months the 42 of us will compete at a much higher level and a faster and more physical pace than we have for the last couple months of open gym. There will be a very fine line between competitive banter, trash talking and straight up disrespect. The latter will not be tolerated and as many of you know, we don't do refunds.

This season I expect us to grow even closer as a basketball community, something I feel we really lacked in Season V. I challenge you all to get to know your teammates a little bit better and for our more skilled players to raise the level of play from the guys like me who could use some tips and tricks of the trade. Let's remain competitive but let's also make this a fun season.

I ask only a few things. I ask that you respect the gym we play in. This is a church league. I ask that you respect your captains. All of these guys put in a lot of free time to do things behind the scenes and they deserve respect for it. I ask that you respect our referees. This is a new crew and I'm giving them full control to run this the way they want to run it within our rules. Lastly, and most importantly, I ask that you respect each other. Fighting won't be tolerated. One swing caught on tape and reviewed by the school shuts us down. Not the league. The whole operation.

Again, I appreciate you all trusting me to run another season, I hope you enjoy the play and format and best of luck to everyone, when they're not playing against my team.

THE RULES for SEASON VI

  1. Game Rules for Season VI. We will observe 2020-2021 NBA Rules & Guidelines with the following adjustments/exceptions:

    1. a. Timing – we will play four (4) twelve (12) minute quarters per game/stopped time with the last portion of the fourth (4th) quarter being un-timed, as described under Elam Ending Rules
      1. i. Half-time will be 2 minutes in length.
      2. ii. Pre-game/Warm-up time will be 5 minutes in length or the announced game-time, whichever is greater.

  2. Team Time-outs – Each team will have two (2) 60 second timeouts per half — of which one (1) may carry over to the 2nd half. Timeouts may be called by players on the court or by coaches.

  3. Personal Fouls – A player will be disqualified after their 6th personal foul.

  4. Bonus – On the 5th foul of each quarter, all non-shooting fouls will be awarded 2 FT’s.

  5. Elam Ending Rules –At the first stoppage at or under 4:00 of the 4th quarter, the game clock stops and timed play ends. At this juncture, a target score shall be set, equal to the leading team's score plus (+) eight (8). Play shall resume without a game clock until one team matches or exceeds the target score. During the untimed portion (the Elam Ending), any foul on the floor (i.e. any non-offensive, non-shooting foul) while in the bonus shall result in one free throw and the fouled team’s continued possession of the ball.
    i. Example: Team A leads Team B 70-63 at the first stoppage under 4:00. The game clock is turned off and the target score is set to 78. First team to 78 points wins the game.

  6. 8 seconds to cross half-court

  7. Flagrant 1 and intentional excessive foul one shot and ball.

  8. Except for the first jump ball to begin game, all possessions will alternate according to possession arrow including the start of each new quarter

    1. Any jump ball situation will go to possession arrow (college/high school)

  9. Clear path fouls along with Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 fouls will apply this season

  10. Fighting – During the course of a game, any person who leaves the bench and steps onto the court of play will automatically be ejected from that game and subject to disciplinary action by the Hoop District Men’s League. If a person is determined to be in a fight/altercation during the game, he or she will be ejected from that game and subject to suspension or expulsion for the remainder of the season and playoffs. No refunds will be given.

  11. Season VI Men's League reserves the right to alter, amend, or otherwise change the rules of the game by which competition will be conducted during Season VI. Should Season VI Men's League alter, amend, or change any rule, Season VI Men's League shall provide public notice to participants.

  12. Curse Rule: It's back and it will be enforced just like always. 1st violation is a technical foul (2 shots), and a team foul. Second violation on the same person is a technical foul (2 shots), and a game ejection. If you get ejected from two games for cursing, you will be suspended for the following game. It's a church league, this is non-negotiable.

  13. Captain Rule: Each captain is required to play the first 6 minutes of each quarter. Playing time beyond that is up to each team captain. The only exception to this rule is if another team captain is unavailable for a game or becomes injured during a game. Foul trouble is a personal problem.