Organized basketball is an opportunity for young people to learn the skills needed to play the game. In addition to learning about teamwork and work ethic, players have to learn the rules of the game in order to play effectively and avoid making mistakes. Rules for junior players generally emphasize effective dribbling and avoiding fouls.
Dribbling
Players must dribble correctly in junior basketball. In professional basketball and at some levels of the college game, referees will let players get away with minor traveling violations before shooting or passing. In junior basketball, players must dribble correctly with their hand on the top of the ball. Players cannot move with the ball unless they are dribbling or taking a step-and-a-half during a layup.
Game Length
Youth basketball games are four quarters long. For games involving players who are age 11 and under, the quarters are six minutes long. For players who are 12 or 13, the quarters are seven minutes long. There is a one-minute break between the first and second quarter and the third and fourth quarters. There is a 10-minute break at halftime. If the game is tied at the end of four quarters, a three-minute overtime will be played.
Number of Players
Five players are on the court at a time in youth basketball. A team may have as many as 15 players on the roster at a time. The coach must designate the starting lineup five minutes before the start of the game. Substitutes may enter the game during any stoppage. However, players must report in to the official scorer before they are allowed to go into the game. The referee will wave new players into the game after they have reported properly. Once players have gone to the bench they may return back into the game at any point as long as they report again to the official scorer.
Fouls
No player may make contact with any opponent during the game. The only exception is when players are competing for a loose ball or a rebound and the contact is ruled as incidental and is not excessive. No defensive player may put his hands on an offensive player to slow him down. If a player is shooting the ball in youth basketball and gets fouled, he will get two free throws if he missed the shot and one free throw if he made the shot despite being fouled. If a player is fouled while taking a three-pointer and misses the shot, he will get three free throws.
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