HANDBOOK | National Youth Sports Events

NYSE Handbook

Gym Regulations

Only squeeze-style water bottles are permitted on the team bench. Bottles with flip or screw-top lids are prohibited.
Basketballs are not allowed inside the gymnasium on Saturday game days. Players may warm up with basketballs outdoors or in designated hallway areas only.

Coach and Player Expectations

All participants are expected to arrive early to practices and games, fully prepared to participate.
Attendance at all scheduled practices and games is required. In the event of an absence, prior notification must be provided to the coaching staff.
Participants shall recognize athletics as an opportunity for development, learning, and enjoyment.
All individuals must adhere to team rules and maintain respectful, professional communication with coaches, teammates, and staff at all times.

Playing Time and Substitution Policy

Games will consist of two 14-minute halves.
Coaches are required to ensure equitable playing time for all players throughout the game.
Mandatory substitutions will occur at 10:30, 7:00, and 3:30 of each half. At each substitution interval, all bench players must enter the game (“clear the bench” rule).
After the 3:30 mark of the second half, substitutions will be at the discretion of the coach.
Substitutions must be executed promptly and are not to be treated as timeouts. Players should report to the scorer’s table in advance.
Each team is allotted three (3) timeouts per game. One (1) additional timeout will be granted in overtime.
Teams with nine (9) or fewer players must rotate players for two sequences before substituting them out.
No player may participate for an entire half unless the team has only five (5) or six (6) available players.
Teams with ten (10) or more players must substitute all players each sequence, except after the 3:30 mark of the second half.
No player may play the entire game unless only five (5) players are available.

Game Clock Procedures

The game clock will run continuously and will stop only under the following circumstances:

A timeout is called
An official stops play (e.g., injury, equipment issue)
During the final minute of each half, when the ball is out of bounds, a score occurs, or upon official stoppage

Game Rules by Division

Jr. Ballerz Division

Zone defense and double-teaming are prohibited.
Defensive play must be strictly man-to-man; steals are permitted only under these conditions.
Following a defensive rebound, the opposing team must retreat to half-court defensive positioning.
Team fouls reset at the start of each half:
- 7th foul: one-and-one free throws awarded
- 10th foul: two free throws awarded
Overtime consists of a two-minute period; player selection is at the coach’s discretion.
If a second overtime ends in a tie, a sudden-death format will determine the winner.
During the final 30 seconds of regulation and overtime, the ball may be advanced following a timeout, at the offensive team’s discretion.

Rising Stars Division

All-Stars Division

Conduct and Discipline

A technical foul results in two free throws and possession of the ball. The penalized player must sit out the remainder of the current rotation. If issued late in a rotation, the penalty extends into the next rotation period.
A coach receiving a technical foul must remain seated for the remainder of the game. A second technical foul results in ejection.
Bench areas are restricted to players and coaches only; spectators are not permitted.

Press Rules

Jr. Division: Pressing permitted during the final 30 seconds of each half and the game.
Rising Stars Division: Pressing permitted during the final minute of each half and the game.
All-Stars Division: Pressing permitted at all times.