Constitution

Constitution

Regina Men’s Basketball League

 

Objects: The objects of the League shall be to foster, improve, and perpetuate the game of basketball in the city of Regina, and to encourage any team entered in the League to enter into provincial competition.

 

1) Administration of the League

i) The Executive of the league shall be the President, Vice President and Treasurer

ii) The affairs of the league shall be governed by the Executive. The Executive Officers establish and alter regulations governing championship play and settle all questions not provided for by regulations and by-laws. 

iii) The officers shall be accountable to the membership at large.

iv) The positions of the officers shall be elected at a meeting to be held each spring after league play is completed. The accredited members present shall then elect, by secret ballot by the request of a member, the new officers which shall assume office at the conclusion of the meeting at which it is elected and shall serve for one full year.

v) A retiring member of the Executive shall be eligible for re-election.

vi) The Executive may meet together for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meeting as they determine at any time or place without formal notice.

vii) Two officers and half of the representatives from the teams shall constitute a “quorum” for the purpose of an Executive meeting.

         a) An Executive Officer may also be a Team Representative but has only one vote.

         b) Teams may be represented at an Executive Meeting by more than one representative. However, only two representatives can be verbal and contribute to the functioning of the Meeting. Also, one team can have only one vote, unless, of course, the team is represented by a Team Rep as well as an Executive Officer.

 viii) “First Meeting of Season”     It will be the responsibility of the President to form a General Meeting of the League no later than 30 days prior to the start of league play. The President will be responsible for personally notifying all Executive Officers of the first meeting of the season no later than September 1st prior to the start of League play.

 ix) All teams must be represented at all league meetings. Teams not represented will be fined $100.00.

 

2) Functions of Executive Officers

 i) Locates facilities for all league meetings

ii) Conducts all meetings

iii) Places unassigned players

iv) Records team registration and rosters

v) Takes minutes at all meetings

vi) Maintains financial records for the league

vii) Prepares a financial statement for the league following each season

viii) Receives and maintains all documents and records (or copies) relative to the operation of the league (this includes minutes of meetings, budgets, schedules, and all incoming or outgoing correspondence)

ix) Arranges for gym facilities, minor officials and referees

x) Ensures that scoresheets and a stopwatch are provided at the start of each session and picked up at the end of the season

xi) Draws up the league schedule

xii) Responsible to re-schedule cancelled and/or postponed games and obtain respective officials, referees and facilities

xiii) Responsible for all public relations of the league

xiv) Keeps statistics for the league

xv) Announces initial league meeting

xvi) Arranges the league windup

xvii) Draws up a schedule for tournament

  

ARTICLE II

Amendment of By-laws:

Constitution and by-laws may be amended by two-thirds majority of the Executive Members present at any meeting.

 

ARTICLE III

1) Eligibility of players

      a) An individual will be eligible to play in the league providing that he is at least 18 years of age by December 31 of the year in which the season begins.

     b) An unassigned player, i.e. a player not registered with a team, must apply to the executive and must play on the team designated by the Executive.

     c) In order to be eligible to participate in the league playoffs, a player must be on the team roster (see ARCTICLE IV) and must play at least 1/3 of the regular seasons games. The exact number of games will be established by the Executive immediately prior to the start of the season.

     d) “Ineligibility”  – A player will be deemed ineligible to participate in league play if he participates in three games or more under another organized basketball league structure (which in the view of the Executive has conflicting game times) during the period of regular season play. This excludes games played in tournaments.

     e) Once a player is deemed ineligible, he shall not be allowed to play in this league for the remainder of the current basketball season. Any games played by an ineligible player shall be automatically forfeited to the opposing team.

     f) A player can only be on one team roster

 

ARTICLE IV

1) Registration of Teams and Players

     a) Each team must supply a roster including team name, team colors, & players’ names Additionally, the roster must indicate the team contact. The roster must be supplied to an executive officer prior to the first game.

    If Article IV 1) a) is not met a $50 fine is applied for each game played by a team before a roster is submitted.

     b) Each team must supply uniforms of two colors; minimum requirements include a jersey or T-shirt with regulation numbers. All uniforms must be team uniforms with similar style and color. All uniforms must have a number and no duplicate numbers will be allowed. (ie.. 0 is the same as 00, 000, 0000)

     c) The playing roster must have a minimum of eight (8) players and a maximum of fifteen (15) players and (15) players for masters. A player not listed on the roster will not be permitted to play.

     A team who allows an ineligible player to participate in a game forfeits the game.

     d)”Fees”    Fee to be paid by the team are only accepted in two forms: cheques and etransfer (rmbleaguefinances@gmail.com).

      If paying by cheque, two cheques will be given to the Treasurer at the registration meeting. One cheque, dated for that day, for the amount of $1,500.00 of the fees (plus the performance bond) will be given at the start of the meeting. There will be a fine of $100 per week late.

     Another cheque for the amount of the remainder of the fees owed will be given to the Treasurer and will be submitted before the 2nd Shuffle. A fine of $100 per week will be imposed. If not paid in full before the start of the 3rd shuffle, the team will be removed from the league and put at the bottom of the waitlist.

     The appropriate cash amounts ($2,800.00 for Men’s and $2300 for masters and $3,000.00 for a new team to Men’s division) may be paid on or prior to the dates mentioned above.

     e) Team ineligibility

Any team not complying with ARTICLE IV shall be deemed “ineligible” for league play and immediately rejected from the league.

     f) All teams that are in any way delinquent in paying fees must pay all league fees in full before the following season.

 

ARTICLE V

1) Rules of Play

     a) A team must have five (5) players to start the game.

     b) The clock starts to run at the scheduled time. The late team loses 2 points at the beginning of every minute they do not have 5 players. The minor officials put 15 minutes on the clock, if the clock runs out before a team is able to field 5 players the team loses by a score of 30-0. The game is considered a default (30-0 loss).

      c) A team which cannot start five (5) players automatically forfeits the game.

      d) The FIBA rules will apply to league play except where altered by the Executive.

      e) Automatic Cancellation of Game

No game should commence play, for any reason, later than 15 minutes after it’s scheduled starting time. A game not starting at least 15 minutes after it’s starting time will be automatically cancelled and not rescheduled.

      f) Starting of game

No game should commence play prior to its scheduled starting time.

     g) Profanity/swearing is a technical foul – ZERO tolerance.

      h) Dunking the basketball is not permitted. Dunking will result in a technical foul charged to the player and the team loses the points. The player will still be eligible to play, no disqualification.

      i) Overtime will be played in the Regular Season and Playoffs. In the Regular Season, in the Men’s division, the first team to 7 points wins or 5 minutes, whatever comes first. In the Playoffs, the Overtime will consist of a 5:00 minute period, no set points to determine winner. If the score remains tied after the first Overtime, a second 5-minute period will be played. In the playoffs a winner must be decided no matter how many periods it takes. In Masters Regular Season, the Overtime rule is 7 points or 2 minutes straight time, whatever comes first. In Playoffs 7 points or 2 minutes of stop time. If second is needed, additional 2 minutes stop time will be added. In Playoffs, winner must be decided no matter the additional time taken.

     j) Men’s A division; wins are worth 4 points, losses are worth 2 points.  In the B division; wins are worth 2 points, losses are worth 1 point.  In the C division, wins are worth 1 point, losses are 0.5 points.  In the D division, wins are worth 0.5 points and losses are 0 points. 

Masters elite division; wins are worth are 2 points, losses are 1 point.  For Masters all star division, wins are worth 1 point and losses are 0.5 points.

k) Tie Breaking Formula- When moving up or down to a division after the 5-game shuffle set the following is the tie-breaking formula. The first method is wins (in that shuffle). If two teams have the same number of wins, then head-to-head matchup will determine who moves up. For teams with the least number of wins, they will automatically move down one division down. If two teams are tied in wins, the team that lost the head-to-head matchup will move down.

If three teams are tied -with the same number of wins- head-to-head match-up is the first tie-breaking method. If each team has beaten each other the next tie-breaking method is points for and against in the games (only between the teams tied). The team that has fared the best (+/-) against the teams in question will move up. This will be used for teams moving down as well however it would be the team with the worst (+/-) will move down to the next division down.

      L) Playoff Format- Playoff seeding will be determined by points from wins and losses during all three shuffles. However, in saying this, teams are only eligible for playoffs in divisions that your team played in throughout the season. (i.e. if your team played in Shuffle 1 in B, Shuffle 2 in C and Shuffle 3 in D; your team would be eligible for all three playoff brackets. If your team only plays In C division for all 3 shuffles; C division would be the only bracket you are eligible for) Once teams are situated based on points, then second deciding factor for seeding is wins/losses. Following this if teams are still tied, head-to-head is the next deciding factor and if never played each other it goes to team points scored in all the games.

m) The losing team can request from the officials to have the game to be over any point in the 4th quarter.

 

ARTICLE VI

1) Player Suspension

      a) Technical fouls – Men’s division, any player that receives a technical foul for swearing, acting inappropriately on the floor or on the bench, mouthing off to officials, berating or negatively questioning officials will face a 2-quarter penalty for these actions. If this occurs at 2:00 or higher, the current quarter and the following quarter will be the penalized timeframe. (ie: 4:30 left in the first quarter; the player will be eligible to return for the start of the 3rd quarter) If the technical foul occurs at 1:59 or less; the penalty is the following 2 quarters (ie: 1:27 left in the first quarter; the player is unable to return until the start of the 4th quarter)

     b)Technical fouls – Master’s division, any player that receives a technical foul will be assessed a 15-minute penalty.

i) Any players receiving two technical fouls, two unsportsmanlike fouls or a combination of both during one game will be ejected from the game and then suspended for 1 game as well.

ii) Any player receiving a third technical foul in a season will receive a one game suspension. Every technical foul thereafter is an additional game suspension and a review from the League.

iii) Suspensions from Part i and ii are additive.

iv) Any player ejected from a game will be assessed the equivalency of two (2) technical fouls for that game. All suspensions are to be served immediately and may include the playoffs.

     c)

A player who is charged with fighting will be immediately disqualified from the game and will be suspended for five (5) games. The referee shall note this incident on the back of the scoresheet. The second occurrence of fighting will result in the player being suspended for the remainder of the season. A player who is charged with fighting will have no right to appeal. The referee’s decision will be final.

      d)

A player who is disqualified for any reason other than five (5) personal fouls, two (2) technicals, or fighting will be suspended for one (1) game. The referee shall note this incident on the back of the scoresheet.

     e)

It is the individual player’s and their team’s responsibility to enforce suspensions. The Executive Officers will monitor player suspensions.

 

Player Discipline System

      A player who punches or physically abuses an official will receive a minimum 1 year suspension (calendar year). A second offence will result in a lifetime ban of the player from Regina Men’s Basketball League.

      A player who excessively verbally abuses an official will receive a minimum 2 game suspension or more at the discretion of the executive depending on the situation. If a second offence occurs the player will receive a minimum of a 5 game suspension or more at the discretion of the executive depending on the situation. A third offence will result in a minimum of a full calendar year ban from the league or more at the discretion of the league.

      A player who plays over aggressively and creates excessive contact with or without the intent to injure a player will face a minimum 3 game suspension.

     If a player plays when he is suspended his team will forfeit the game. The opposing team will be awarded the victory. The player is not allowed back until he serves his suspension.

     Fighting. If a fight occurs in a game the players involved will receive a minimum of a 5 game suspension or more at the discretion of the league executives. If a player is in a second fight in a season, he will receive a minimum 1-year suspension minimum.

 

2) Team suspension

     a) A team with seven (7) total personal technical fouls in a season will be automatically reviewed by the Executive Officers.

 

ARTICLE VII

1) Cancellation of Games

No games will be rescheduled for team requests; the only time it will be rescheduled is due to facility or officials not being able to be found for the scheduled games .

     b) Defaults will make the team to lose of the performance bond ($200 for Mens and $100 for Masters) and will require another bond to be posted prior to the team’s next game. Failure to post this additional bond will result in the team being suspended from the league.

     c) During suspension, all games which were scheduled will be forfeited.

     d) Performance Bonds must be in place two (2) days prior to a teams next game to be eligible for any play.

 

ARTICLE VIII

1) Grievance Committee

      a) This Committee will be charged with settling disputes not covered by this Constitution.

      b) The Committee shall consist of the Executive Officers and four (4) team captains selected by random draw.

      c) If a situation arises in which a Committee member plays for one of the teams involved in a dispute or identifies a conflict of interest, that member shall disqualify himself and another team captain of the league will replace him.

 

ARTICLE IX

 1) Protests

     a) Protests must be in writing and must be received by the President within 36 hours of the starting time of the game protested.

     b) Any dispute and/or constitutional interpretation shall be referred to the Grievance Committee for Investigation, analysis and a final binding decision.