Metro Prep Basketball League Competition Rules
(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!