Basketball played at the middle-school level can be a very exciting game. However, it's also one where coaches and referees emphasize the fundamentals of the game. While you may see players at the college and professional level get away with some mistakes (traveling and carrying the ball), this does not happen at the middle school level. Players have to learn how to dribble the ball and handle it properly and referees do not let players get away with the miscues that older players can.
Violations
Violations are called frequently at the middle school level. Traveling violations are called when players move without dribbling the ball. Players who put both hands on the ball are called for double dribble. Players who stop their dribble and then start to dribble again without passing or shooting are called for a discontinued dribble. Players who cross midcourt and then go back to the defensive side of the court are called for over-and-back violations. These violations happen more frequently at the middle-school level because players are not as adept with the ball and have more issues handling the ball than more advanced players.
Personal Fouls
Players cannot intentionally initiate contact with their opponents. While there is contact in basketball--players often collide on loose balls and rebounds--no player may initiate direct contact with an opponent. When a defensive player fouls a player who is shooting the ball, the offensive player will get two free throws if he missed the shot from the field and one if he made the shot from the field. If the offensive player fouls a defensive player, the defensive team gets possession of the ball.
Game Format
Middle school basketball consists of four, eight-minute quarters. The game clock does not stop except for the final two minutes of the second quarter and the fourth quarter unless coaches call time out. Each team gets three timeouts per half. There is a two-minute break between the first and second and third and fourth quarters. There is a 12-minute break at halftime. If the two teams are tied at the end of four quarters, there is a three-minute overtime period.
Behavioral Issues
In middle school basketball, many of those in attendance are there in support of children, siblings, relatives and friends. A call that goes against a particular team or individual player may result in criticism and catcalls from fans. Whenever this happens, enlist the help of the coaches to make sure that this type of behavior does not lead to any incident. Basketball at the youth and middle-school level is not professional or high-level college basketball. Officials are almost always well-intentioned but they do make mistakes. Derisive behavior toward the officials cannot go unchecked. No schools or leagues allow this kind of behavior from players or coaches and the coaches must make it clear that officials cannot be mistreated. In addition, many middle school basketball leagues require parents to sign codes of conduct to ensure that parents adhere to the rules of fair play.
Out of Bounds
Any time the player in control of the ball sends the ball out of bounds with a poor pass or dribble, the offensive team loses possession of the basketball to the defense. If a defensive player is the last to touch the ball before it goes out of bounds, the offensive team regains possession
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