Rec Basketball

Program Overview:  The Rec League is for players of all skill levels. Our intent is for everyone to learn the game of basketball and have the opportunity to play in games.  There are playing time rules for each age division.  See “Rules” on the main Rec Basketball page.  The use of the draft also helps to evenly distribute the talent level fairly across teams, resulting in balanced games.

 

How Many Players Are On A Team?  Usually 7, no more than 8.  For some age groups, there may be more players if we have only 2 or 3 teams.

 

Can I Choose The Team or Coach My Child Plays For?  For grades 3 thru 8, the answer is NO.  Teams are chosen through a draft following evaluations.  The age group commissioner reserves the right to change teams during the season to keep teams in the league balanced.

 

How Can I Be Sure My Child Is Placed On A Team?  There are 3 ways:  1. Coach  2.  Sign Up Early   3. Sponsor a Team

 

There may be limited space in some age groups.  After the league is full, sign-ups will continue; however a waiting list will be created based on the date/time you sign up.  First- Come, First Served.

 

When Are Evaluations?  Evaluations are either the 3rd or 4th Saturday in October, depending on the calendar.  An evaluation schedule will be posted to the website.

 

When and Where Are The Practices And Games?  Practices will be held once each week for 75 minutes beginning in mid-November.  Practices are held at various western Union County elementary schools.  We cannot guarantee which school or on which night your child will practice.  That will be determined by the coach of each team and on gym availability.  If you have special requests (ie, you cannot practice on a certain night) please put this under COMMENTS when you register.  We will attempt to accommodate requests but no guarantees can be made.

 

The regular season goes until February.  Games will be played throughout the day on Saturdays and possibly Sunday afternoons.  In most cases, each team plays only one game each week.  MOST games will be played at Weddington and Marvin Ridge high schools.  Alternate locations are Weddington and Marvin Ridge middle schools.

 

Can I Get A Refund After Signing Up?  No. There are no refunds unless your child is trying out for a middle school or high school team.  Then go ahead and register because a full refund will be issued if your child makes a school team.  There are no late fees for MS and HS players due to school tryouts.

 

How Do I Sign Up?  All registrations are online at the wcwaa.org website through League Apps.  If you know of someone who wants to register but does not have online access, please phone the age group commissioner.

Program Overview:  The HS Rec League is for players of all skill levels. Our intent is for everyone to learn the game of basketball and have the opportunity to play in games.  There are playing time rules for each age division.  See “Rules” on the main Rec Basketball page.  

The High School league allows players to create their own teams in two divisions:  9th/10th and 11th/12th.  All teams must have an adult as a head coach.   Players who are not “attached” to a team can still register and will be assigned to an existing team, or grouped to create a new squad.  

High School players register and pay individually. 

Head coach submits a team roster to HS commissioner John Halpin (john.halpin@yahoo.com )

There are no evaluations at the high school level.

HS league games are on Saturdays and HS league practices are on Sundays.

Please note that if you make a HS team, you cannot participate in this league per UCPS rules.   

Refunds will be issued for players who make their school team.  There are no late fees for HS players due to school tryouts.

How Do I Sign Up?:  All registrations are online at the wcwaa.org website through League Apps.  If you know of someone who wants to register but does not have online access, please phone the age group commissioner.

Gym Rules

WCWAA is a guest at each of the schools.  Adherence to the gym rules is required by all.

Game Rules

RULES FOR WCWAA BASKETBALL LEAGUE BOYS & GIRLS REVISED OCTOBER 2022

RULES FOR WCWAA BASKETBALL LEAGUE BOYS - REVISED AUGUST 2021 

RULES FOR WCWAA UNION COUNTY GIRLS LEAGUE - REVISED AUGUST 2021

3^rd and 4^th Grades Boys 

1.   Basketball Junior Size 28.5” circumference
   2. Parents who wish players to “play up” to 3^rd grade must register for 3^rd grade AND have their child attend evaluations
   3.  10 minute quarters, running and stopping last 2 minutes of 4th quarter.
   4.  Timeouts: (2) 60 second timeouts per half, (1) 60 second timeout per overtime period. No carry over of unused timeouts         is allowed. 
   5.  OT periods: Maximum of 2 OTs in regular season, unlimited in playoffs. OT periods are 2 minutes with a stopped clock
   6.  9 foot goals for 3rd Grade / 10 foot goals for 4th Grade
   7.  Foul line at 11 feet
2. No Zone defense.Man-to-man defense per USA Youth Basketball guidelines and league commissioner.
   9.  No pressing in first three quarters.  
   10. Two players can press full court in the final TWO minutes of the 4^th quarter and final minute of OT. Three defenders at half court.
   11.  During regulation (and not the last two minutes as stated above) only the on ball defender is permitted outside the 3-point line. If a defensive player illegally leaves the area, the offense will retain possession of the ball.  Each team will receive one warning per half.  A second violation will result in a technical foul given to the bench.
   12. Defensive player may leap from the 3-point area to block a shot or a pass but must immediately retreat back to the area after the ball is secured.
   13.  Mercy Rule: If a team has 20 point lead or more, that team must keep all defenders within the three point line when on defense. Once the leads drops below 20 points, the team can go back to regular defensive rules.
3. Playing time: All players must play half the game. 10 mins in 1st half & 10 mins in 2nd half.

5^th Grade Boys

1. Basketball - Junior Size 28.5” circumference
   2. 10 foot goals
   3.  Foul shots at regulation line
   4.  10 minute quarters running and stopping last 2 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarter
   5.  Fouls: Players get 5 fouls. Players and coaches allowed 2 Technical Fouls per game.  If a player receives 2 technical fouls and is out of the game, he is not allowed to play the following game.  He must be in attendance and sit on the bench.  If he is not in attendance, that game missed does not count towards the game he must sit out.
   6.  Timeouts: Two 60 second timeouts per half, One 60 second timeout per overtime period. No carry over of unused timeouts is allowed 
   7.  OT periods: Maximum of 2 OTs in regular season, unlimited in playoffs. OT periods are 2 minutes with a stopped clock
   8.  Defense: In regulation pick up at half court, all five defenders allowed outside the arc. Teams will get warnings for attempting to steal the ball in backcourt and technical foul assessed on third violation.  Full court press permitted in 2^nd quarter final 1 minute.  Full court press allowed in last 2 minutes of regulation and final minute of OT periods.
   9.  Mercy Rule: If a team has 20 point lead or more, that team must keep all defenders within the three point line when on defense. Once the leads drops below 20 points, the team can go back to regular defensive rules
   10.  Playing time:  All players must play at least half the game
   11.  Players arriving late:  Coach has the option to play that player immediately (staying within the playing rule guideline) or hold player on the bench until the beginning of the next quarter.  A player arriving after half time, the coach has the option of playing the player or not.  No technical will be awarded for players arriving late.
   12.  Starting Time:  All games will start at the scheduled time if 4 or more players are present.  If a team has fewer than 4 players at the start time, that team will forfeit the game.  If a coach is not available at the game time, the team’s parents will provide a coach or forfeit.
   13. If a coach/player is ejected from the game, for any reason, he/she must leave the gym immediately. Also they may not be present for the team’s next game.
   14.  Call Up Players:  You may call up a player during the regular season from a lower grade level only if you are down to 5 or less players.  You can only call up a particular player 2 times in a season. The call up can only play half of the game unless your other players foul out. The call up cannot start unless you are down to less than 5 of your own players.  Call ups are not allowed for playoff games
   15.  Playoff Rules: Same as regulation except there is no limit on OT periods
   16.  Teaching & playing man-to-man defense strongly encouraged 

6^th grade Boys

1. Basketball Junior Size 28.5” circumference 
   2.  10 minute quarters running and stopping last 2 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarter
   3.  Timeouts: (2) 60 second timeouts per half, (1) 60 second timeout per overtime period. No carry over of unused timeouts is allowed 
   4.  Foul shots at regulation line for boys.  Foul shots at 11 feet for girls
   5.  10 foot goals
   6.  May press last two mins of 2nd & 4th Qtr.
   7.  Teaching & playing man-to-man defense strongly encouraged
   8.  All other rules apply from 5^th grade unless otherwise stated above

 

7^th and 8^th Grades Boys

1. Basketball Official Size 29.5” circumference
   2.  10 minute quarters running and stopping last 2 minutes  of the 2nd and 4th quarter
   3.  Teaching & playing man-to-man defense strongly encouraged
   4.  Full Court press anytime – all OT rules apply from 5^th & 6^th grade
   5.  Same rules as High School
   6.  All other rules apply from 5^th grade (call up players, etc) unless otherwise stated above
   7.  Timeouts: (2) 60 second timeouts per half, (1) 60 second timeout per overtime period. No carry- over of unused timeouts.  
   8.  OT periods: Maximum of 2 OTs in regular season, unlimited in playoffs. OT periods are 2 minutes with a stopped clock 

 High School (Girls)

1. Basketball Official Size 28.5” circumference
   2.  10 minute quarters running and stopping last 2 minutes of 4th Qtr.
   3.  Same rules as Middle School & High School unless otherwise stated (call up players, etc)

 

HS Boys

1. Basketball Official Size 29.5” circumference
   2.  10 minute quarters running and stopping last 2 minutes of the 4th Qtr.
   3.  1.Timeouts: (2) 60 second timeouts per half, (1) 60 second timeout per overtime period. No carry over of unused timeouts is allowed 
   4.  OT periods: Maximum of 2 OTs in regular season, unlimited in playoffs. OT periods are 2 minutes with a stopped clock
   5.  No player who makes his high school team (JV or Varsity) is eligible to play in the Rec league.  A team that is found to use a high school team player will forfeit any games that player was used in.
   6.  Call up players: a registered WCWAA high school basketball player that is on another team can be called up but cannot enter the game until only 4 players on the team are available and/or for when a player fouls out and/or is injured and cannot re-enter the game

***WCWAA Basketball Board will be in charge of all protests and Commissioner will be the final authority. All protests must be filed immediately with the grade commissioner following the game.

GIRLS 1-3 & 4-6 Grades

1. BASKETBALL SIZE: 

• CO-ED SIZE (28.5" CIRCUMFERENCE)
• 8U GIRLS SIZE: (27.5" CIRCUMFERENCE)
• 10U GIRLS SIZE: (28.5" CIRCUMFERENCE)

2. 10 MINUTE QUARTERS.
3. 9 FOOT GOALS.
4. FOUL SHOTS AT 11 FEET.
5. ONE PLAYER CAN PLAY DEFENSE HALF COURT THE ENTIRE GAME.
6. DEFENSE WILL NOT LEAVE THE ZONE.  (ZONE IS INSIDE THE 3 POINT AREA)   IF A  DEFENSIVE PLAYER ILLEGALLY LEAVES THE ZONE, THE OFFENSE WILL RETAIN POSSESSION OF THE BALL.
7. A DEFENSIVE PLAYER MAY LEAP FROM THE ZONE TO BLOCK A SHOT OR A PASS BUT MUST IMMEDIATELY RETREAT BACK TO THE ZONE.

GENERAL RULES:

1. Time Outs – 2 per half only.  Coach may call time out from the bench.

2. Technical Fouls – Players:  2 per game;  Coaches:  2 per game   Ejection from gym after 2nd Technical.

3. If a coach/player is ejected from the game, for any reason, he / she must leave the gym immediately.  Also they may not be present for the teams next game.

4. Clock: 
5. (4) ten minute quarters. Running clock except for last 2 minutes of game.
6. 1 minute between quarters
7. 3 minutes for half-time
8. Overtime = 2 minute game clock (Clock stops on whistle and timeouts)

5. Playing Time for regular season:  Clock will be set for half the time of the quarter for the first three quarters.  At the sound of the buzzer, ALLplayers on the bench must enter the game and play the ENTIRE 2^nd half of that quarter.  This is not a time-out and play must resume immediately.  The team with the possession arrow will take the ball out at half court opposite the scoring table.  NO SUBSTITUTIONS MAY BE MADE IN THE 1^ST HALF OF THE FIRST THREE (3) QUARTERS, but players who played the 1^st half of the quarter may be substituted in the second half of the quarter.  In the 4^th quarter, coaches may substitute players at will. Exceptions will be granted if player has a pre-determined medical condition or is injured during the game and is unable to play. 

6. An official timekeeper will be present at each game to assure the minimum playing time is met for each player.

7. If a player is injured or sick, their coach must notify the officials and the opposing coach and the official timekeeper.

8. A coach may suspend a player due to:  (1) not coming to practice on a continual basis, (2) disciplinary actions.  (Coaches must notify their Commissioner at least 24 hours prior to a game.  The Commissioner may approve or disapprove the suspension.  The opposing Commissioner and opposing coach should be notified prior to the game.)

9. Players arriving late:  Coach has the option to play that player immediately (staying within the playing rule guidelines) or hold player on the bench until the beginning of the next quarter.  Players arriving after half time, coach has the option of playing the player or not.  No technical will be awarded for players arriving late.

10. No dunking allowed, including during warm-ups.  Penalty will be a technical foul.

11. Starting Time:  All games will start at the scheduled time if 4 or more players are present.  If a team has fewer than 4 players at the start time, that team will forfeit the game.  If a coach is not available at game time, the team’s association will provide a coach.  There is no grace period.

12. If a team has a 20 point lead or more, that team must stay within the three point line when on defense.

13. Each association will be in charge of acquiring officials for all sanctioned regular season games.

14. All other playing rules not listed will be followed according to the North Carolina High School Basketball Rules.

ALL-STAR  RULES (EXCEPTIONS):

15. During the All-Star tournament,  a player is notrequired to make an appearance.

16. WCWAA will follow Union County Tournament gameplay and age rules provided.

17. A player participating on multiple All-Star teams must be a part of both 10 man rostered teams prior to the start of All-Stars.

18. Clock:

• (4) ten minute quarters. Running clock except for last 2 minutes of game.
• 1 minute between quarters
• 3 minutes for half-time
• Overtime = 2 minute game clock (Clock stops on whistle and timeouts)