Rules

Our Purpose

Fellowship Basketball exists to bring adults together through Christ‑centered community, friendly competition, and positive relationships. Every game should reflect respect, humility, and joy. Sportsmanship is non‑negotiable.

1. League Structure

1.1 Team Entry & Fees

  • The entry fee is $250 per team for the season, payable to Cambridge Christian School. This will cover court rental fees and paying refs for the Final Four.
  • All fees must be paid in full before the season begins.
  • Teams that have not paid by the deadline will not be added to the schedule.

1.2 Church Sponsorship

  • Every team must be sponsored by a local church.
  • Sponsorship may include:
    • Providing players
    • Providing a team leader or pastor contact

1.3 League Board

  • Each participating church receives one seat on the Fellowship Basketball League Board.
  • The board helps guide:
    • League policies
    • Disciplinary decisions
    • Future expansion
    • Overall direction of the league

1.4 Team Uniforms

  • Teams are encouraged to have matching jerseys.
  • At minimum, teams must wear matching colored shirts to clearly distinguish sides.
  • Numbers are recommended but not required.

2. Player Eligibility

2.1 Church‑Affiliated Players

Players are eligible to compete for a team if they:

  • Attend the sponsoring church, or
  • Volunteer in the church, or
  • Are staff members of the church

2.2 Outside Players

  • Each team may include up to two (2) outside players who do not meet the church‑affiliation requirement.

2.3 Age & Education Requirement

  • All participants must have completed high school.

2.4 Roster Commitment

  • Once a player is listed on a team’s roster at the start of the season, he must remain with that team for the entire season.
  • No switching teams after the season begins.
  • Exceptions may only be made by the League Board in rare circumstances.

3. Game Format

3.1 Game Length

  • Games are not timed.
  • First team to 30 points wins, but the team must win by at least 2 points.

3.2 Scoring

  • Standard 2‑point and 3‑point baskets.
  • Free throws are simplified (see Foul Rules).

3.3 Referees

  • Each game is officiated by one player from each team who is not currently on the court.
  • These are volunteer refs, not professionals.
  • Grace, patience, and respect are required from all players.
  • Idea to discuss: Maybe utilize a possession arrow style system for close calls to alternate between the two teams. This could be for situations where it can’t be determined who the ball was out on, whether it was a charge or blocking foul, etc). A related idea would be to just start the play over for close calls.

4. Sportsmanship Standards

4.1 Zero‑Tolerance Behaviors

The following will result in immediate removal from the game and possible suspension:

  • Profanity
  • Yelling at players, referees, or spectators
  • Taunting, trash‑talking, or disrespect
  • Arguing calls
  • Any physical aggression (pushing, shoving, striking, or threatening behavior)

4.2 Fan Conduct

  • Each team is responsible for the behavior of its fans and supporters.
  • Disruptive behavior toward officials, players, or opposing fans will not be tolerated.
  • Officials or the facility supervisor have full authority to remove disruptive spectators from the gym.

4.3 Expected Conduct

  • Encourage teammates and opponents
  • Show humility in victory and grace in defeat
  • Respect volunteer referees
  • Prioritize safety and fellowship over competition

5. Foul Rules (Simplified)

5.1 Team Fouls Only

  • All fouls — including technicals — are recorded as team fouls, not individual fouls.
  • No player “fouls out,” but players may be removed for misconduct or dangerous play.

5.2 What Counts as an Obvious Foul

Referees should only call clear, undeniable fouls, such as:

  • Obvious contact that affects the play
  • Hitting a shooter’s arm
  • Grabbing, holding, or wrapping an arm around a player
  • Shoving or displacing a player
  • Undercutting on rebounds or contests

If it’s questionable or borderline, play on.

5.3 Excessive or Dangerous Fouls

  • Immediate substitution
  • Possible ejection
  • Review for suspension

5.4 Referee Discretion

  • Officials have full discretion in all situations.
  • Their decisions are final and must be respected.

6. Game Flow

6.1 Check Ball

  • All games begin with a check at the top.
  • After fouls, out‑of‑bounds, or dead balls, play restarts with a check.
  • Defense must allow reasonable space.
  • No “quick steals” during the check.

6.2 Out‑of‑Bounds

  • Standard court boundaries apply.
  • If unclear who touched it last, the ball goes to the defense.
    • We choose peace over perfection.
    • Note: consider using the possession arrow to determine possession in this scenario.

7. Substitutions

  • Allowed on any dead ball.
  • Teams are encouraged to rotate players to keep games safe and competitive.

8. Dispute Resolution

  • Referees’ decisions are final.
  • Players may ask a respectful question, but may not argue.
  • If the two refs disagree:
    • Re‑do the play, or
    • Give the ball to the defense, or
    • Use common sense to keep the game moving

9. League Discipline

9.1 Player Ejections

  • Any player ejected from a game is ineligible for his team’s next two games.
  • All ejections will be reviewed by the League Board.
  • Additional disciplinary action may be taken beyond what is listed in league rules.

9.2 General Discipline

The league may:

  • Remove players from games
  • Suspend players for repeated misconduct
  • Remove players from the league if necessary

Protecting the environment matters more than the scoreboard.

10. Our Commitment

Fellowship Leagues is built on:

  • Community
  • Respect
  • Fair play
  • Christian character

We play hard, we play fair, and we play with joy.