High school and college basketball are two of the more popular forms of organized amateur basketball, and as such have their own rules that differ from the ones used in professional basketball. Amateur basketball rules and regulations provide an equal playing ground for all players. Understanding these rules can help players and coaches better prepare for a number of different scenarios during game play.
Game Length
The rules of basketball dictate how long the game is to last, and how the playing periods are broken up. High school basketball features four eight-minute quarters, while college basketball is played in two 20-minute halves. In both cases, an overtime period is used if the game is tied after the end of regulation play. This overtime period lasts four minutes in high school and five minutes in college. There are no ties in amateur basketball, so as many overtimes as are needed to determine a winner are used.
Bonus Free Throws
Each personal foul called against a player also counts as a team foul. After a team commits six personal fouls within one half, every foul after that entitles the opposing team to shoot bonus free throws. The fouled player shoots one free throw. If he makes it, he receives another bonus free throw. After 10 team fouls, the fouled player automatically receives two bonus free throws, regardless of whether the first one is missed.
Fouling Out
Fouling out means being disqualified based on the number of personal fouls received during the game. A player who receives five personal fouls over the course of a game--including overtime--is disqualified and may not play for the remainder of the game, but may sit on the team bench.
Held Ball
When two players get at least one hand on the ball at the same time so that neither player can gain sole possession, the referees are required to call a held ball. Possession is determined by an alternating possession arrow, which is established at the beginning of the game based on the team that does not win the jump ball. Each time a held ball occurs during the game, the alternating possession arrow is switched.
Closely Guarded
It is a violation for a player to hold or dribble the basketball for more than five seconds while being closely guarded by a defensive opponent. Closely guarded is defined as the defender facing the opponent and standing within 3 feet in college and 6 feet in high school basketball. If the defender moves out of closely guarded position at any time, the count is reset and resumes when the player begins guarding closely again.
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