(Revised April 2020)

• Competition Rules. 
  • All Metro Prep Basketball League (“The League”) games will be conducted under National Federation of High School Basketball Rules, unless otherwise noted.
• Uniforms.
  • While it is required to have numbers on the back of the uniform, it is recommended that uniform numbers be on both the front and back of the uniform.
  • All other NFHS rules regarding uniforms and uniform numbers are waived. It is recommended, but not required, that teams have both a dark and light-colored jersey.
• Home Team Designation. 
  • Home team wears lighter colored jersey. Away team wears darker colored jersey. In tournament bracket play, the top team will be the home team.
• Game Ball/Scorekeeper/Clock Operator.
  • Game balls will be provided. Teams must provide their own warm up balls.
  • Teams are not required to provide the scorekeeper or clock operator. These are provided for by The League. The scorekeeper will only keep track of team & individual fouls, and time outs.
• Ball Specs.
  • (“28.5”) will be used for Boys Junior & Middle Divisions, and all Girls’ divisions.
  • Senior Division will use the regulation size ball (29.5”).
• Game Duration.
  • 2 ‐ 20 Minutes halves –  Running Clock.
  • Stopped clock in last 2 minutes of the 2nd half - if the game is within 15 points.
  • Half-Time will be 3 minutes.
• Overtime
  • If the game is tied at the end of regulation, a three (3) minute overtime period will be played.
  • If the game remains tied at the end of the first overtime, a sudden death overtime period will be played.  (In the sudden death overtime period, the first team scoring any point whether off a free throw or a basket.)
  • Overtime periods start with a center jump ball.
• Pre-game Warm-Up.
  • Will be a minimum of 5 minutes (the Warm-Up time length may be reduced at the option of the Site Director).
• Free Throws.
  • NO 1&1 bonus.
  • Teams will shoot double bonus on the 10th team foul.
• Time Outs.
  • Each team will be allowed 4 thirty-second timeouts per game.
  • One additional timeout will be allowed for each overtime period.
• Pressing Rules.
  • Grades 5th & below: Teams are not allowed to press beyond half court with a 20 point or more lead anytime during the game.
  • Grades 5th & up: Teams are not allowed to press beyond half court with a 20 point or more lead in the 2nd half.
  • If the lead is reduced below 20 points, teams are then allowed to press beyond half court.
  • The first violation of the “no press” rule will draw a warning from the officials; subsequent violations will be assessed a bench technical foul (indirect technical foul to Head Coach).
• Tiebreaker for season standings.
  • Two Team Tie: Head to head.
  • Three or more teams tied:
    • Head to head record for tied teams.
    • Point Differential.
    • Points Allowed.
• Behavior Standards.
  • Inappropriate behavior and verbal assault will not be tolerated.
  • Each coach is responsible for the conduct of the team’s players, coaches and fans on and off the court and must promote the best sportsmanship, win or lose.
  • The Site Director or any game official may remove a player, coach, or attendee from a game, tournament, or venue for inappropriate behavior or verbal abuse.
  • The Site Director may take any such other corrective action it deems appropriate to assure proper sportsmanship, the safety and well-being of all participants, and the integrity and standards of the event.
  • All teams, coaches, players, and spectators are subject to such rulings and corrective actions.
  • Any coach, player, or spectator who is ejected from a game by a game official or the Site Director may be subject to further suspensions or removal from the MPBL.
• Player Eligibility – No Exceptions.
  • Grade Based Eligibility.  Events will be organized by grade divisions only.  A team must participate in the division which corresponds with the highest grade of any player on the team.
  • Playing Up.  A player may play up in a higher-grade division.
  • Gender Specific Divisions.  Players are only allowed to play in a division for the player’s gender (for example, a girl player cannot play on a team participating in a boy’s division).
• Protesting & Process.
  • To help alleviate conflicts and allegations on player eligibility, the League recommends coaches keep a copy of a player(s) proof of grade such as a current report card or student ID with you during games.
  • If you have concerns that a player is not within the eligibility rules, address this with site coordinator or league commissioner at any time.
  • Do not comment on or address this issue with the opposing coach, referee, players or spectators.
    • Upon a protest, the league commissioner or site coordinators may ask to see documents or proof on any or all players on your team roster.
    • Violation of player eligibility rules can result in forfeits, coach suspension, and/or team and player removal from the league.
• Division Edits.
  • The league commissioners may find it necessary to move a team into a higher or lower division to maintain appropriate competition levels.
  • Division edits will in no way warrant refunds or credits.
• Borrowing Players / Avoiding Forfeits. 
  • Your team can legally play with a minimum of 4 rostered players to avoid an automatic forfeit.
  • If your team has or is projected to have a shortage of players for any scheduled, game your team can borrow grade-eligible players from another league team.
  • A team that borrows players will lose the game by forfeit in the standings, however the game will be played as if it were a regulation game. We want kids to play!