Current NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) & NIRSA (National Intramural Recreational Association) shall govern all intramurals rules used for basketball unless modified by the UMass Lowell Campus Recreation Department for program needs. 

Persons subject to the rules are team representatives, including players, substitutes, replaced players, coaches, trainers, spectators & other persons affiliated with the team are subject to the rules of the game & shall be governed by decisions of officials assigned to the game.


Illegal/Prohibited equipment is as listed but not limited to the following:

  1. Shorts, pants or jerseys with any belt, belt loops, exposed drawstrings or zippers. 
  2. Jewelry: includes earrings, rings, watches, braclets, necklaces.
  3. Any exposed body or facial piercing must be taken out.
  4. Hard and unyielding braces.  

Equipment 

  1. All team members must wear the same colored, numbered shirts.  (Shirts and skins will not be allowed).
  2. Numbered jersey’s will be available for check-out from the Intramural Supervisor.
  3. No black-soled shoes will be allowed on the gym floor. 
  4. Participants must remove all jewelry prior to competing.
  5. A game ball will be provided for each scheduled contest.
  6. If teams wish to warm-up, they must check out a ball from the Equipment Center with a valid UMass Lowell ID or provide their own.

Players

  1. The game shall be played between 2 teams of 5 players.
  2. (4) players are required to start the game to avoid a forfeit.

Forfeits

  1. Forfeit time is ten minutes from the scheduled starting time of the contest.
  2. In order to claim a forfeit, a team must have the minimum number of players present and ready to play.
  3. If neither team is able to field the correct number of players, a double forfeit will be declared.

Play

  1. Length of  Game:
    • The game will consist of two 20 minute halves (running clock), separated by a 3 minute half-time period.
    • During regulation play, the clock will stop only for time-outs, officials,injuries and emergencies.
    • During the last two minutes of each half, the clock will stop on all whistles, fouls, violations, etc.

Overtime Play

  1. In the event of a tie after regulation play, a three minute over-time period will be played.
  2. The over-time period will utilize a running clock, with one time-out allowed per team.Time-outs do not carry over from regulation play. (The clock will stop on all whistles during the last minute of this period.)
  3. If the game is still tied at the end of over-time additional over-times will be played if necessary until the game is not tied at the end of the over-time period.

Time-outs

  1. Each team is awarded 2 time-outs per half (1) 30 second and (1) Full 60 second time-out.
  2. Time-outs not taken during the first half will not carry over to the second half.

Fouls

  1. Personal fouls on missed three point tries will result in three free throws. On made three point shots, one free throw will be given.
  2. Players may not enter the lane area on a free throw until the ball has been released from the hand of the player/free throw shooter.
    • No players are permitted on the lane spaces closest to the basket on either side during free throws.
    • Only 4 defensive and 2 offensive (not including the shooter) players shall occupy the marked lane spaces.
  3. The ball will be awarded out of bounds on all common (non-shooting) fouls until a team has reached the seventh (7th) foul of the half.  On all subsequent non-shooting fouls, a one and one bonus will be given. On the 10th foul of each half, the two-shot bonus will be invoked.
  4. There are no free throws awarded in a player control foul situation. Player control fouls do count towards personal and the team fouls.  
  5. On all the intentional fouls (except for double intentional fouls), two (2) free throws and possession of the ball at the spot nearest the foul will be awarded.  
  6. On a flagrant foul, players will be given two shots (three if in the act of an unsuccessful three try)  and the ball and the offending player will be ejected from the game.
  7. On all technical fouls, two free throws, plus shooting team awarding possession at mid-court.  

Two unsportsmanlike technical fouls on an individual will result in ejection of that player from the game.  Three unsportsmanlike technical fouls on any team will result in forfeiture of the game by the offending team.


Substitutions

  1. Substitutions shall be made only when the ball is dead, such as time-outs, violations and fouls.
  2. Substitutes must check in with the scorekeeper at the table prior to entering the game.
  3. Substitutes may enter the game only when recognized by the officials.  Failure to do so will result in a technical foul.
  4. Players may re-enter as many times desired unless they have fouled out or have been removed by the official/supervisor.
  5. No substitutions will be allowed for a shooter in free throw situations, unless the player is injured and unable to continue to play.

Out of Bounds

  1. On all out of bounds ball, (whether they be for a foul or a violation), the official must handle the ball.
  2. To facilitate play, please toss the ball to the nearest official when a whistle is blown.

Jump Balls

  1. A jump ball will be administered to start the game and for over-time period(s).
  2. The ball will be awarded according to the alternating possession rule at the start of the second half.
  3. Alternating possessions will be awarded in all other jump ball situations.

Pressing

  1. A team may press the entire game unless that team has attained a 15-point lead.
  2. If a team presses during a 15-point lead that team may be subject to unsportsmanlike technical foul(s) based upon the officials judgment.

Mercy Rule

  1. To avoid injuries and prevent conflicts, a game will be considered complete if a team is leading by 30 or more points at any point in the second half.

Dunking

  1. Not permitted during warm-ups or half time = technical foul.
  2. Permitted during the game.
  3. The only time a player may hang on the rim is to avoid injury, otherwise hanging on the rim is a technical.

Playoffs

  1. All teams will be eligible for playoffs as long as they:
    • Are represented at the captain’s meeting.
    • Do not forfeit any games during the season.
    • Are not removed from the league play due to unsportsmanlike conduct.

Miscellaneous

  1. Players arriving late must be added prior to entering the game.
  2. No food or beverages are allowed on the gym floor.
  3. The Office of Campus Recreation does not provide insurance coverage and assumes no responsibility for injuries occurring during intramural sports.