Invitational Rules – Lou Athanas Youth Basketball League (LAYBL)

Rules of Play - 2025

The Tournament will consist of four Divisions. The divisions are a 3rd and 4th grade Division; a 5th and 6th Grade Girls Division; a 5th and 6th Grade Boys Division and a 7th and 8th Grade Boys Division.

For fans, players and coaches, only positive cheering is allowed. A player, Coach and/or FAN may be removed from a game for jeering another team or any type of obscenities being voiced from the sidelines. If a fan, player or coach is removed from any game, they are removed from the entire tournament.

At no time, should any fan approach the scorers table, whether before, during or after a game. Only coaches and players may approach the scorer’s table. Parents are not allowed on the player’s side of the court, unless for injury of their child. The reason for this is there is a very tight time frame scheduled for games and parents should wait on the bleachers or in the hallway after the game for their children and not cross the basketball court.

For all divisions, the only person allowed to address the referees are the head coach of the team (determined at game start time). No other person from the team’s sideline shall address a referee and if you do so a technical will be issued. After two technical in any given tournament, a team will be removed from the remainder of the tournament.

Each team is allotted one (1) 60-second time-outs and one (1) thirty second times out per half. Half time will be five (5) minutes. (Championship Games 15 mins) The break between each quarter will be one (1) minute.

For all Divisions there is a mandatory 20-point difference rule. If your team is beating another team, at any time during a game, by over 20 points, you MUST stop pressing and your team must play a zone defense. If the point difference at any time becomes less than 20 points, at that time and only during the time that the point difference is not over 20 points, may you return to pressing and man-to-man defense. This rule does not pertain to the team that is losing by the 20-point deficit. The team that is down 20 points may continue to press, and play man to man defense.

Once a 20-point difference rule is implemented, LAYBL reserves the right to declare “running-clock” for the remainder of that game. If running clock is declared, the clock will only be stopped for time-outs, foul shots, substitutions and injuries.

Duplicate numbers are not allowed for any of the above divisions. Duplicate numbers include, but are not limited to, 0 and 00.

Players must have played in at least two (2) tournament games in order to participate in the FINALS.

Players must be rostered to the team they are playing for, they cannot play for different teams other than the one they are submitted for. Players must meet the grade level requirement for their division. They can play “up” IE a 3/4 player rostered on a 5/6 team but they cannot play down.

Regulation Play

All divisions will play four (4), seven (7) minute quarters. Stopped Time.

Rules of Play – 2025 (continued)

The hoop height will be 10’. The 3rd and 4th grade division will play with a women’s 28.5 size basketball and will abide by all NHIAA rules of play. 3 pointers are allowed.

The hoop height will be 10’. The girls will play with a women’s 28.5 size basketball and will abide by all NHIAA rules of play. 3 pointers are allowed.

The hoop height will be 10’. The boys will play with an NHIAA regulation basketball and will abide by all NHIAA rules of play. 3 pointers are allowed.

All Championship games are Single Elimination. There are games and events during the halftime of each championship game. Halftimes for these games will be 20 Minutes.

If additional periods are necessary due to a tie, all divisions will play an addition four (4) minute, running time period until a winner is determined.

All Tournament pass 12.00 per adult, 10.00 for Seniors or Children. This covers admission to all games for the full length of the tournament in all gym locations. 2 coaches per team, players and score keepers are admitted free of charge but will need to stop by the admissions table to get a band. THIS IS A CASH ONLY TOURNAMENT.

There will be concessions available for all games. Concession may include, but are not limited to drinks, snacks, pizza and other hot foods and baked goods. Wednesday- Friday concessions are smaller but a full offering will be available on Saturday and Sunday. CONCESSIONS ARE CASH ONLY.

Complaints about an individual team, player or coach, shall be submitted in writing. A copy of any complaint will be given to the team for which the complaint is about. No complaint will be acted upon by the Tournament Committee unless put into writing.

The tournament director/committee members will be present approximately one (1) hour prior to the start of the first scheduled game of the day/evening. If you need to speak with the Director or a Committee member, please speak with them during this time frame.

If you require an exception to any of the above rules, please put the rule you request the exception for and the reason for the exception in writing for the Tournament Committee to make a determination about. Most exceptions will not be allowed; however, each request will be reviewed on the individual merits of the request.

New in 2025- The LAYBL tournament will be a qualifier for the New England Regional Tournament in RI held in March. The first and second place teams in each division will receive a “golden ticket” to the event as a qualifier. That tournament has their own set of rules and a copy of those will be sent to each team prior to the start of our tournament. It is your responsibility to review and ensure your team meets these rules and requirements to be able to participate. This is an individual tournament and we are not responsible for their rules or requirements outside of ours.