YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUE INFORMATION & RULES-6U and 8U

Season Information:

• Winter Season: January-March
• Registration
• Youth Program Discounted Fees: Minneapolis residents can choose a price that aligns with their financial situation. Read more about Citywide Youth Program Discounts - Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board

Divisions: 

• Age Divisions:  ​
• 6U: Ages 5 to 7 or currently in kindergarten & first grade 
• 8U: Ages 7 to 9 or currently in second and third grades
• Two Divisions: Girls, Open (anyone can compete in the open division)
• Roster Size: 10 players per team (recommended)​
• Games can use 4 on 4 or 5 on 5 depending on numbers. Example: if both teams have eight players, they can choose to play 4 on 4 for easy substitution patterns. 

League Objectives:

• Develop basic basketball skills for all participants. Examples: dribbling, passing, shooting, positions, offense and defense. No scores will be kept.
• Foster a positive environment where sportsmanship and self-esteem building come first
• Emphasize team play and skill development without focusing on winning or losing

Players:

• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Jewelry Policy will be enforced. Coaches have detailed information regarding policy.
• Let’s Play! If a team is short on players at game time, please borrow players from the opposing team.

Weather/Cancellations:

• Games are to be played unless there are unsafe conditions due to extreme weather
• Weather Cancellations: Coaches and parents will be contacted to the best of our ability
• For the most up-to-date information, call the game site

Equipment:

• Players must wear tennis shoes or basketball shoes
• A size 27.5 Junior basketball will be used for 6U and 8U

Playing Court:

• Recommended court size for 6U and 8U is one half of standard court- sideways approx. 45 ft long by 35 feet wide. Court sizes may vary by site.
• Whenever possible rims should be placed at: 6U= eight feet and 8U= nine feet. Both are acceptable, rather than standard 10 foot rims. 

Game:

• Length of the Game: ​
• Two– 20-minute running time halves, with a three-minute break between halves. Allow 10 minutes after each game for a change over.
• At the start of the second half-teams switch directions and baskets
• Game time is scheduled start time
• Host site will run the official game clock
• The home team on the schedule will start the game with possession of the ball. The ball will be inbounded at half court. A jump ball called during the game will be awarded to the defensive team.
• All players must play a minimum of half of each game. Equal playing time for all participants should be a priority for coaches. All players should rotate through all positions.
• Substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee (coach on court) at these times: ​
• Halfway through each half, or as needed (preferred method of substitutions)
• After an injury when the coach stops play
• Coaches, as Officials, this is a teaching league.
• Call and teach any obvious infraction such as traveling, double dribbling, fouls and over and back. It isn’t a turnover but a teaching moment for the kids.
• NO free throws will be taken
• Recommended to increase calls as the season progresses
• In case of injury, and a child is unable to play half of the game, the coach should notify either the referee (a coach) or the other coach before the game begins. If injury occurs during the game, the game should be stopped and appropriate first aid should be administered and an Incident Report (available at park’s front desk) filled out, and a new player will have to take the injured player’s position.
• No protests will be considered on ANY games
• Players must fall back to the three point line on defense - pressing will not be allowed
• Player to player defense only​
• Not allowed: double teaming, trapping, stealing or jump to block shots

Additional Notes:

• One certified coach from each team will officiate (be allowed on the court) per game
• Remember, this is about teaching the kids smart basketball, building good habits, and coaching strong fundamentals. Use these games as a way to teach both teams and make all of the kids’ better basketball players.
• All coaches must be certified through their home park and shall comply with the rules and regulations as stated in the bulletin
• The MPRB does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employee in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodation will be provided to allow individuals with disabilities to participate in all MPRB services, programs and activities.
• If anyone believes he or she has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, or handicap, he or she may file a complaint alleging discrimination with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board or the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240
  

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board plays by NFHS rules with the following modifications:

Ball Size:

11U Open, 12U Open and All Girls’ Leagues – 28.5 Women’s regulation ball

13U Open, 14U Open, 16U Open and 18U Open – Men’s regulation ball

Game Time:

• Two (2) 20 Minute running time halves - last one minute of each half is stop time
• If either team is ahead by 20 points or more during the last one minute of the second half, the clock will be running time. During running time, the clock will only stop during time outs.
• If at any time during the last 10 minutes of the game a team leads by 40 points or more the game will continue but the score will no longer be kept

Half Time: Three minutes

Tie Games: Regular season games that are tied after regulation will remain a tie; no overtime

Time Outs: Three per game

Free Throws:

• 11U Divisions: 12 feet
• All other Divisions: 15 feet (Shooter may not cross the line until the balls hits rim.)

Lane restrictions:

• 11U Division: May occupy the lane for up to five seconds.
• All Other Divisions: three seconds

3-point Shot: Will apply when marked

Jerseys: Each team must have the same color uniforms with a number

Penalty: A technical foul will be assessed prior to the game. The technical foul will not be applied directly to the player or coach. The opposing team will receive two points plus the ball to begin the game. A maximum of one technical per team may be assessed (i.e. if three are not in uniform, only one technical will be assessed)

Technical fouls/ejections: Technical fouls will carry a penalty of two points plus the ball. A coach or player who received two technical fouls or is ejected will be suspended for the next scheduled game.

Bench Rules: The NFHS rule will apply. A coach’s box will be used for 16U and 18U leagues only. Only certified coaches are permitted on the bench. Up to two certified coaches are permitted on the bench.

5 second closely guarded rules-11U only: The five second closely guarded rule in the front court will not be enforced at the 11U level.

Pressing: 11U Open and 11U Girls – Each player is responsible for guarding and moving with one offensive player. This requires the defensive player to move according to the offensive player’s movements with or without the ball in the full or half court. If an offensive player with the ball advances past their defensive player, another defender may rotate to guard that offensive player. Defense must fall back to half court when ahead by 20 or more.  All divisions may player to player press unless they are ahead by 20 pts or more.

Zone defense restriction (11U, 12U, 13U Only): Zone defenses of any kind are prohibited in both full or half-court defense. The defensive player must stay on the same side of the court as the offensive player, divided by the rim line. Violations: first occurrence is a warning; intentional disregard of this rule may result in bench technical fouls.

Forfeit Rule: At least four players must be on the floor at the scheduled game time, or the game shall be declared a forfeit. Eligible players may be entered in the scorebook after the start of the game without penalty.

Post season Eligibility: Teams that participate in all regular season games will be eligible for post season play. No call/No Show to regular season games will result in ineligibility for the post season. Multiple reported (excused) absences to regular games will be subject to the league director decision regarding post season participation.

Jewelry Rule: Players must remove all jewelry before participating. Please note hard items worn on the head such as beads, barrettes and bobby pins are prohibited.

Participation Rule: Coaches must ensure that all players receive at least 10 minutes of playing time during each game. The 10 minutes may be completed at any time during the game and do not need to be played consecutively. Intentional disregard of this rule may result in forfeit or coach discipline (up to or including suspension). This decision will be at the discretion of the league directors.

High School Eligibility: Any player that is listed on a high school roster for the current calendar year season (ninth grade-Varsity) is ineligible to compete in MPRB Youth Winter Basketball. Violation of this rule will result in immediate disqualification of violating team from regular season and/or playoff games as seen by league director.

No Dunking: Dunking is not allowed at any level of MPRB Youth Basketball. A player that dunks in warmups and/or the game will be assessed a technical foul and will be ejected from the game.

Free Throw Restrictions: Restrictions for players lined up in the six marked free throw lane spaces apply until the ball is released by the free throw shooter. The free throw  shooter cannot cross the free throw line or leave the semi-circle until the ball hits the rim. Players behind the free throw line extended, and the three-point arc cannot cross either of these lines until the ball hits the rim. Also, defenders may not cross the free throw line and enter the semi-circle until the ball hits the rim. Contact with the free throw shooter may be considered a foul. Players in the six marked lane spaces entering the semi-circle will not apply at the 11U level because of the location of the lane’s spaces and the 12’ free throw line.

• 40th Street Park Recreation Center (1900 E 40th St., Minneapolis, MN 55407)
• Armatage Recreation Center (2500 W 57th St. Minneapolis, MN 55410)
• Audubon Recreation Center (1320 29th Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418)
  
• Bottineau Rec Center (2000 Second St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418)
• Brackett Recreation Center (2728 S 39th Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406)
• Bryant Square Recreation Center (3101 Bryant Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55408)
• Central Gym (3400 Fourth Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55408)
• Corcoran Recreation Center (3334 20th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55407)
• Creekview Rec Center (5001 Humboldt Ave. N, Minneapolis, MN 55430)
• East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center (2307 S 17th Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404)
• Elliot Recreation Center (1000 E 14th St., Minneapolis, MN 55404)
• Farview Recreation Center (621 N 29th Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411)
• Folwell Recreation Center (1615 N Dowling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55412)
• Fuller Recreation Center (4802 Grand Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55419)
• Harrison Rec Center (503 N Irving Ave., Minneapoils, MN 55405)
• Hiawatha School Recreation Center (4305 E 42nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55406)
• Keewaydin Recreation Center (3030 E 53rd St., Minneapolis, MN 55417)
• Kenny Neighborhood Center (1328 W 58th St., Minneapolis, MN 55419)
• Kenwood Community Center (2101 W Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55405)
• Lake Hiawatha Recreation Center (2701 E 44th St.,  Minneapolis, MN 55406)
• Lake Nokomis Community Center (2401 E Minnehaha Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55417)
• Linden Hills Recreation Center (3100 W 43rd St., Minneapolis, MN 55410)
• Logan Recreation Center (690 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413)
• Longfellow Recreation Center (3435 36th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55406)
• Luxton Recreation Center (112 Williams Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414)
• Lyndale Farmstead Recreation Center (3900 Bryant Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55409)
• Lynnhurst Recreation Center (1345 W Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55419)
• Matthews Recreation Center (2318 S 29th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406)
• McRae Recreation Center (906 E 47th St., Minneapolis, MN 55407)
• Morris Recreation Center (5531 39th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55417)
• North Commons Community Center (1801 James Ave. N, Minneapolis, MN 55411)
• Northeast Recreation Center (1530 Johnson St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413)
• Painter Recreation Center (620 W 34th St., Minneapolis, MN 55408)
• Pearl Recreation Center (414 E Diamond Lake Road, Minneapolis, MN 55419)
• Peavey Recreation Center (730 E 22nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55404)
• Pershing Recreation Center (3523 W 48th St., Minneapolis, MN 55410)
• Phelps Recreation Center (701 E 39th St., Minneapolis, MN 55407)
• Phillips Community Center (2323 11th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55404)
• Powderhorn Recreation Center (3400 15th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55407)
• Rev Martin Luther King Rec Center (4055 Nicollet Ave. S)
• Stewart Recreation Center (2700 S 12th Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55407)
• Van Cleve Rec Center (901 15th Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414)
• Waite Recreation Center (1810 34th Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418)
• Webber Community Center (4400 Dupont Ave. N, Minneapolis, MN 55412)
• Whittier Recreation Center (425 W 26th St., Minneapolis, MN 55405)
• Windom Northeast Recreation Center (2251 NE Hayes St., Minneapolis, MN 55418)
• Windom South Recreation Center (5843 Wentworth Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55419)