SJ Eagles Basketball League Rules and Regulations – 2025 Season
1. GENERAL
1.1 SJ Eagles hosts sporting activities, providing a competitive and enjoyable experience for teams and spectators. To ensure fair play and an organized league, all participants must adhere to the following rules and regulations.
1.2 The 2025 season will run for seventeen (17) weeks, from Saturday, 5 April 2025, to Sunday, 3 August 2025.
2. PARTICIPATION
2.1 League Structure
2.1.1 A total of 160 teams from 41 Clubs across eleven (11) divisions will participate.
2.2 Registration
2.2.1 Teams are officially registered only after full payment of registration fees and submission of proof of payment to sjeaglesbasketball@gmail.com.
2.2.2 Registration fees are non-refundable.
3. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY & REGISTRATION
3.1 Divisions & Age Eligibility
- Player eligibility is monitored throughout the season, and coaches/managers must provide documentation when requested. Eligible birth years per division:
- Under 10 Mixed: Born in 2015 or later.
- Under 11 Mixed: Born in 2014 or later.
- Under 13 Mixed: Born in 2012 or later.
- Under 14 Boys: Born in 2011 or later.
- Under 16 A Boys: Born in 2009 or later.
- Under 16 B Boys: Born in 2009 or later.
- Under 18 A Boys: Born in 2007 or later.
- Under 18 B Boys: Born in 2007 or later.
- Mini Eagles (Girls): Born in 2013 or later.
- Junior Eagles (Girls): Born in 2009 or later.
- Upper Eagles (Girls): Born in 2007 or later.
3.2 Age Verification
3.2.1 Players must provide an original ID, passport, or birth certificate with an ID photo.
3.2.2 Random age verification may occur at any time to ensure fairness.
3.3 Player Registration
3.3.1 All players must register online at: SJ Eagles Registration Link
3.3.2 Players must register with only one team per division and one club per season and may not transfer mid-season outside of the transfer window.
3.3.3 Players must register at least 72 hours (3 days) before their first match.
3.3.4 No new player registrations are allowed after the round-robin stage.
3.3.5 Approved Player List: Updated weekly and published 48 hours before matches.
3.3.6 Late Registrations: Any registrations after the 72-hour deadline are eligible for the following week’s matches.
3.4 ID & Documentation Requirements
3.4.1 Photo: Clear headshot taken in the past six (6) months.
3.4.2 Official ID submission: Passport, birth certificate, or national ID required.
3.4.3 Parental Consent: Required for minors.
3.5 Team Size & Restrictions
3.5.1 Maximum 20 players per team for the season.
3.5.2 No new players may be added at the start of the mid-season tournament or the playoffs.
3.5.3 Age Cheating: Strictly prohibited. Immediate disqualification will be enforced for any team found in violation.
3.5.4 Playing Up Policy: Players may compete in higher divisions but not lower divisions. (Example: U16 players may play in U18, but not vice versa.)
4. TEAM MANAGEMENT
4.1 Each team must have a coach or manager on the bench at all games.
4.2 Coaches/managers are responsible for ensuring players understand the rules.
4.3 SJ Eagles Basketball is not responsible for injuries, lost items, or personal accidents.
4.4 Indemnity Clause: Participation waives all liability against SJ Eagles Basketball.
5. LEAGUE FORMAT
5.1 Regular Season
5.1.1 Teams are placed in one group per division, with all teams playing in a round-robin before playoffs.
5.2 Point System
5.2.1 Win = 2 points
5.2.2 Loss = 1 point
5.2.3 Forfeit = 0 points
5.3 Playoff Qualification
5.3.1 6 teams or less: Home & away format; Top 4 qualify for playoffs.
5.3.2 18-20 teams: Groups formed based on past results; the Top 4 per group qualify for playoffs.
5.3.3 20+ teams: Groups based on past results; Top 8 per group qualify for playoffs.
5.4 Playoff Match-ups
5.4.1 Top 16:
One Pool:
1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, 3 vs 14, 4 vs 13, 5 vs 12, 6 vs 11, 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9.
OR
2x Groups
A1 vs B8, A2 vs B7, A3 vs B6, A4 vs B5, A5 vs B4, A6 vs B3, A7 vs B2, A8 vs B1
5.4.2 Quarter-finals:
One Pool:
1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5
Two Groups:
A1 vs B4, A2 vs B3, A3 vs B2, A4 vs B1
5.4.3 Semi-finals:
One Pool:
1 vs 4, 2 vs 3
Two Groups:
A1 vs B2, A2 vs B1
5.4.4 Finals:
One Pool: 1 vs 2
Two Groups: A1 vs B1
6. GAME RULES
6.1 FIBA rules apply unless otherwise stated.
6.2 Game Duration: 4 quarters of 10 minutes (running time).
6.3 U18 matches: Stop-start format (8 minutes per quarter).
6.4 Timeouts: 2 per half (30 seconds each).
6.5 Halftime: 3 minutes.
6.6 Overtime: 3 minutes. Golden Basket Rule applies in Mini Division after the first OT.
7. FORFEITS
7.1 10-minute grace period from the scheduled time.
7.2 Failure to have 5 players ready to play will result in a forfeit.
7.3 Club/Team Unsportsmanlike behavior or disruption will result in an automatic match forfeit and/or expulsion.
7.4 2x forfeits = Expulsion from the league with no refund.
8. PROTEST PROCEDURE
8.1 Must be lodged within 15 minutes post-match on the scoresheet. (signed by the captain)
8.2 Written protest + R1,000 fee submitted to the Technical Director within 30 minutes after the match finished.
8.3 The Protest Fee will be refunded if protest is upheld.
9. WEATHER & LIGHTNING PROTOCOL
9.1 Lightning Delay: Minimum 30 minutes.
9.2 Designated safe areas: Pre-Prep Hall, Gym, School Hallways.
9.3 Rescheduling & Adjustments:
9.3.1 Matches may be shortened or shifted.
9.3.2 Games may extend until 20:00 if needed at St Stithians and St Benedict’s basketball courts.
10. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
10.1 Comprised of 3 members: Technical official + 2 elected coaches/managers.
11. SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
11.1 Athletes & coaches must exercise caution on social media.
11.2 Serious violations can result in expulsion.
11.3 Coaches must educate players on the POPI Act.
11.4 All teams must promote sportsmanship.
12. DEFENSIVE RULES – MINI-EAGLES, U10 Mixed, U11 Mixed, U13 Mixed, U14 Boys & U16 BOYS
12.1 Man-to-Man Defense
12.1.1 Man-to-Man defense is compulsory for U10, U11, U13, U14, U16, and Mini-Eagles divisions.
12.1.2 Teams will be penalized if not play man-to-man defense. A detailed Addendum A to this rule will be supplied to teams.
12.1.3 If infringed, the team will first receive a warning from the referee.
12.1.4 If zone defense is played after a warning, a technical foul will be awarded to the offensive team.
ADDENDUM a: Man-to-Man Defensive Rules for EAGLES Basketball League
Section 1: General Defensive Requirement
1.1 All teams must play man-to-man (M2M) defense at all times.
1.2 Zone defense is prohibited in All divisions (ME, JE, UE, U10–U18).
1.3 Referees and league officials will actively monitor and enforce defensive rules.
1.4 Post-match Video review may be used during league and tournaments to ensure compliance.
1.5 Coaches are responsible for teaching players the correct man-to-man principles.
1.6 These guidelines reflect the joint agreement between Technical and Coaching staff and will be enforced in accordance. Revision will be on a month-to-month basis.
Section 2: Division-Specific Applications
Divisions: U10, U11, U13, ME, JE
2.1 No full-court man-to-man defense in the first three quarters—only half-court man-to-man allowed.
2.2 Full-court M2M is permitted in the 4th quarter only.
2.3 Zone defense is strictly prohibited. Penalties follow the procedures agreed upon in training.
2.4 Switching is allowed based on approved situations (see Section 3).
2.5. Players are expected to play at least 1x full quarter for a match.
Divisions: U14, U16A, U16B, U18A, U18B, UE
2.5 All of the above applies, except players may use full-court man-to-man defense in all four quarters.
2.6 Legal switching and help defense remain the same across all age levels.
Section 3: Positioning, Switching & Help Defense
3.1 Every defender must be clearly assigned to one offensive player.
3.2 Defenders must stay within arm’s length of their assigned match-up, except when helping.
3.3 No ball chasing—players must not abandon their assignment unless switching.
Legal Switching Scenarios:
Dribble Penetration (Help-Side): Help defender may rotate to stop a drive, and the beaten defender can scramble-switch to cover an open player.
Corner Kick-Out Recovery: A defender may switch to contest a corner shot if rotating from help.
Backdoor Cuts: An immediate switch is allowed if one defender is beaten on a cut.
Offensive Rebound Situations: Quick switching is allowed to prevent mismatches or open shots.
Defensive Transition: Temporary switching to guard the nearest threat is permitted; defenders must reset as soon as possible.
Scramble Double-Team: If a breakdown occurs, defenders may double team briefly during a scramble, but must recover and re-match quickly.
Section 4: Prohibited Defensive Tactics
4.1 Zone defense, pack-line tactics, or sagging off to clog the lane/paint are not allowed.
4.2 Defenders may not “camp” in the key if their assignment is outside the key.
4.3 Double teams are only allowed outside the key (unless in a scramble switch scenario).
4.4 Weak-side players may hedge screens but must rotate or recover quickly.
Section 5: Penalty Procedure for Zone Defense Violations
5.1 First offense → Verbal warning.
5.2 Second offense → Technical foul awarded to the offensive team.
5.3 Further infractions → Two free throws plus possession.
5.4 Persistent violation → Referee may issue a forfeit warning and stop play.
Section 6: Frequently Asked Scenarios & Clarifications
Q1: What is the role of the “imaginary line” between the 3-point line and the half-court line?
→ This line serves as a reference point in younger divisions to help define when full-court pressure becomes active (typically not before the 4th quarter for U10–U13, ME, JE). Defenders should not extend beyond this point in early quarters unless transitioning or recovering.
Q2: Is double-teaming allowed during a defensive scramble?
→ Yes, a brief double-team is permitted during a scramble, especially after help defense or broken plays. However, defenders must immediately recover to proper match-ups to avoid zone-like behavior.
Q3: Does man-to-man still apply once the ball leaves the shooter’s hand?
→ Yes. Man-to-man assignments continue until the possession is over. Players must box out their original or switched assignment, not float in the paint or act as free roamers.
Q4: [e.g., switching rules, communication, etc.]
→ Coaches and referees are encouraged to submit further questions to Technical for clarification and inclusion in future updates.
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Updated: 10 April 2025