HBL Rules

1. ADMINISTRATION

1.1 COMPOSITION

(a) The Herts Basketball League (HBL) Committee shall be empowered to finalise the composition of each Division of the League.

1.2 VENUES

(a) All games will be played on courts approved by the League Committee.

(b) The League Committee may at any time ban the use of any court considered unsuitable or unsafe.

(c) All venues will have suitable and sufficient changing accommodation, includinghot and cold running showers. Clubs shall communicate with the Committee and the opposition if there are issues.

(d) Free entry and free parking must be provided for all members of the away team (to a maximum of 14) and all match officials. In cases where leisure facilities charge away teams, these monies must be refunded by the home club before play begins.

1.3 LEAGUE POINTS

All games shall be played to current Basketball England rules unless an exceptional HBL rule exists. For each match, League points shall be awarded as follows: Winning team 2 points; losing team 0 points.

The Disciplinary Committee will consider a defaulting team.

1.4 DISCIPLINARY, FORFEITURE AND FINES

(a) Any team not ready to play 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time shall be considered to have forfeited the game unless both the opposition and officials are informed that a team is on route and provide an estimated time of arrival sufficient for the game to be played and completed.

(b) Any team not arriving for a scheduled fixture without good reason shall be fined£100 for the first offence and may be dismissed from the League for a subsequent offence within the same season. Any club so offending for the second time. shall be required to re-apply for election to the League at the AGM. The offended club may, if it chooses, apply through the League Committee to reimburse reasonable expenses up to the value of the fine imposed.

(c) If, through the fault of one team, another team travels to a scheduled fixture and it is not played, the offended team may claim from the defaulting club through the Committee, reasonable travelling expenses provided that the claim is made within seven days of the scheduled fixture.

(d) If a team does not complete 75% of its fixtures before the last date notified for the season, that team's record shall be deleted from the League.

(e) League points may be deducted at the discretion of the Disciplinary Committee.

1.5 OTHER COMPETITIONS

All cup competitions will be organised each season by the League Committee, subject to normal League rules and eligibility rule 3.1.

Mick Kirk Cup: all teams shall have a random draw. All first-round losers will play in the Mick Kirk Plate competition.

Since there is consensus to have separate D1 and D2 cup comps, could we consider a title for either the D1 or D2 cup and plate competition while keeping the title of Mick Kirk cup in place. The games will be on a home and away basis.

(b) Other competitions may be organised when needed, subject to the rules circulated at the time.

2. LEAGUE FIXTURES, TABLES

2.1 FIXTURE LISTS

The Secretary or Fixtures Secretary will prepare provisional fixture lists for circulation to club secretaries before the end of August each year. Club secretaries will then have three weeks to re-arrange any fixture(s) and to notify the Secretary/Fixtures Secretary of each mutually agreed rearrangement. The fixture list will be published on the League website by September 30th.

2.2 POSTPONEMENT AND REARRANGEMENT

No match shall be postponed from the date set out in the final fixture list without the prior sanction of the Secretary or Fixtures Secretary. They shall only allow such a change if satisfied that exceptional circumstances warrant such action and that all practical measures have been taken by the teams concerned to have the game played on schedule.

2.3 CONFIRMATION OF MATCH

The Secretary or representative of the home team shall confirm each scheduled game with the away team and all referees at least five days before each game, at most ten days before each game. An email is acceptable, but if there is no reply from the away team and both referees, this must be followed up by a telephone call. Failure to do so will result in the home team forfeiting the game.

2.4 SCORESHEETS AND NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS

(a) The official Basketball England running scoresheet shall be used for all games either as a digital or a paper version

(b) Current season licence cards of all players, coaches, and officials, with a photo, must be produced at every game. An image on a phone/tablet will be acceptable for each licence card, and these will be recorded on the scoresheet. A player/coach/official is prohibited from taking part in a fixture unless a valid licence is produced for each game. Playing an ineligible player in a match will result in the game being forfeited by the offending team.

(c) The home team must post a photo of the scoresheet in the relevant Division WhatsApp group within 24 hours of the completion of the match.

2.5 RESOLUTION OF TIE

In case of two teams finishing the season with the same number of League points, the Basketball England procedure for resolving such a tie shall be implemented (see current England Basketball Rules and Regulations Handbook).

3. GAME REGULATIONS

3.1 REGULATION OF PLAYERS

(a) Before any player may take part in any League match, they must hold a current Basketball England registration/ licence and be registered with the League by a club. All clubs must provide the HBL with their roster before the start of the season, along with the names and licence numbers of their players.

Before a player can take part in any HBL match, they must hold a current registration/ License and required insurance cover with any of the Home Country Associations (HCA's), to include Basketball England, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales or the British Basketball Federation.

Before the start of the season, clubs must upload onto the HBL Teamsportz website, their roster to include names and licence numbers provided by the relevant HCA's.

(b) HCA's or BBF licence numbers shall be entered in the appropriate column of the scoresheet to show that each player holds a valid licence (in addition to producing evidence as laid out in 2.4.b above) for the current playing season. The coach will sign the scoresheet before the start of the game to confirm that the players entered on the scoresheet are both eligible and entitled to play

(c) A player can only be registered with one club or team in the HBL. The club or team will hold the player's registration for that season. Teams will send a squad list, including names and licence numbers, to the HBL Committee before the start of the season.

(d) No new players can be registered with a club after January 31st of that season. In exceptional circumstances, the HBL committee may grant a particular concession.

(e) Current National League registered players shall only be eligible to play for First Division teams unless they qualify for under 18 national league competition at the start of the HBL season.

(g) Any player wishing to transfer during the season must first obtain consent from their club and written permission from the League Committee. No player transfers shall be allowed after January 31st except in exceptional circumstances.

(f) Cup Games - Before playing in any cup fixture, up to and including the quarter- finals, a player must have played in at least one match that season for the club they are registered with From the cup, semi-final and in all play-offs, a player must have played in at least 50% of their club team's matches that season The Special Situations Committee may grant dispensation because of genuine reasons, e.g. injuries, late registration.**

*” Playing in a match” is defined as showing on the scoresheet as having been on court during the game

Player Eligibility Between Divisions

Clubs with teams in both Division 1 and Division 2, may apply to the League to allow Division 2 registered players to take part in Division 1 matches only if the Division 1 team is unable to field seven (7) players.

A formal, written, application must be emailed to the Special Situations Committee, at least five (5) days before the event, which will decide.

Approval will only be considered if the club can prove that fewer than seven Division players are available. If approved, Division 2 players may be temporarily promoted to make up the numbers to a maximum squad of seven (7) players.

At no time may Division 1 players take part in Division 2 matches.

Special Situations Committee (SSC)

All requests relating to player eligibility must be made, in writing, to the Head of the Special Situations Committee (Ian Cheesman), no less than 48 hours before the event or they will not be considered.

The Special Situations Committee (SSC) includes Ian and one other Committee member (Clare Holt). They will examine evidence provided, ask relevant questions and decide.

The decision will be communicated by email to the requesting club and all other clubs who may be affected by the decision.

There is no right of appeal.

3.2 DUTIES OF HOME TEAM

(a) Each team shall register two sets of contrasting playing colours with the League at the start of the season. For every game, the home team shall inform the opposition of the colour of its playing kit. In the event of a colour clash, the home team must play in a lighter-coloured kit

(b) The home team shall provide

(i) A suitable venue.

(ii) Competent table officials. At least one Level Two England Basketball qualified, and licenced table official, a second table official who is qualified or in the process of gaining an England Basketball table officiating qualification.

(iii) All technical equipment as detailed in Basketball England Rules.

(iv) A suitable match ball. The Crew Chief will select the match ball.

(v) Access to suitable first-aid equipment

(d) Each club has a duty of care to safeguard the officials, the opposing team, its officials, and all other third parties against harmful action by its players, officials, or spectators before, during, or after the game. Away teams shall leave the playing area immediately after the officials have signed the scoresheet and not continue using the playing facilities.

4. PLAYER UNIFORMS

All players must play in identical, numbered shirts and shorts. Any undershirts must be of compression type and considered an extension of their playing vest; t-shirts are prohibited. Compression tops worn by a team must all be of the same colour. However, they cannot be the same colour as the opposition's vests. Players may wear undergarments such as tights, compression shorts, headbands, shooting sleeves or sweatbands any colour. Other headgear worn for medical or religious reasons will be allowed, subject to the approval of the Committee.

Shirts must be tucked into shorts at all times.

5. OFFICIALS

5.1 FEES AND EXPENSES

The League Committee shall decide match officials' fees and expenses for the forthcoming season. Both teams will share these costs and shall pay these fees and travel expenses in cash before the start of the game. In exceptional circumstances, the Committee may allow fees to be paid by bank transfer, which will be paid within three working days of the game date. If only one referee arrives for a fixture, which results in refereeing on their own, they can claim an additional 100% of their regular match fee. If a visiting team does not arrive for a fixture, the home team will pay the match fee and travel expenses to the referees and table officials. It may then apply in writing to the Secretary for the monies to be reimbursed from the defaulting team. The defaulting team must pay the fees to the HBL account within seven days of the request.

5.2 UNIFORM

The approved dress for referees shall be a grey referee shirt, black trousers, and black shoes. Referees are not permitted to wear any jewellery during the game. Referees and table officials will put away their mobile phones from arrival at the venue until after the scoresheet has been signed at the end of the game. Any breach of this rule will result in the official(s) receiving a warning from the Committee, and further breaches will result in potential removal from the officiating list.

Please see Officials Code of Conduct 2024/5

5.3 COMMISSIONERS

The League Committee may appoint a Commissioner at any League or Cup game. Warning of such an appointment is not necessary. Should it make such an appointment, then the League shall be responsible for any fees or travelling expenses.

5.4 POST-MATCH ISSUES

Within 24 hours of a League or Cup match, clubs and match officials are responsible for notifying the League Committee of any problems relating to or in the fixture. Followed by a written factual report within seven days of the event.

6. TROPHIES

The winning team in each Division and play-off final shall receive a winner's trophy to retain. The cup trophies must be returned in an undamaged condition to a league committee member by the semi-final stage of the following season. The winners of the trophies will be responsible for the inscription of their name on the trophy and will claim the cost of the inscription from the HBL. The League shall decide individual awards for players/officials.

7. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Please see HBL Disciplinary Rules

8. POWER OF INTERPRETATION

The League Committee shall have the power to decide any matters arising not covered by these rules.