Game Play Rules

Upward Basketball games are played under several unique rules.  Outside of these rules, the National Federation of High School Associations Rule Book governs play.

• Man-to-man defense is played at all times (except for our junior high league.)  Zone defenses are only allowed in the junior high league.

For man-to-man defense:

• Defensive players must stay within an arm's reach of the player that they are guarding.  (Isolation plays are not part of Upward Basketball because they take away the opportunity for improvement for all players and contradict the spirit of the rules.)
• Double-teaming is not allowed.  However, help defense is encouraged in the following instances:

• In the Lane Area:  If a defender is in the lane, and the player being guarded is within arm's reach, the defender is allowed to provide help by double-teaming.  The intent of this exception is not to encourage a defender to remain near the lane at all times "soft-zone" and to dou ble-team the ball each time it enters the lane.  The intent is to teach a player "already in the lane" to play help defense.
• Off Picks and Screens:  Defensive switching is allowed on offensive picks and screens.  At the appropriate time, players should return to guarding their assigned player.
• During Fast Breaks:  When an offensive player has beaten their defender, another defensive player may help.  Upon stopping the fast break, defenders should return to guarding their assigned player.

• At the beginning of each 6-minute segment, both coaches should line up highest ranked players across from each other without giving verbal cues.
• Full-court presses are not allowed. Defensive players cannot guard their opponents in the backcourt.
• Due to the shortness of the court, backcourt violations will not be called.
• The offense must purposefully attack the defense in every situation. If, after receiving a warning from the referee, the offense does not cross mid-court, a violation will be called, and the ball will be awarded to the defensive team.
• Referees will call and explain all violations, and the penalty is a turnover. These explanations vary according to the age group and understanding of the players and should decrease as the season progresses. 
• When possible, referees verbally advise players of potential violations before a violation actually occurs.
• There are no technical fouls or protest of games.
• No score is given for a basket in the wrong goal. It will be treated as a turnover.
• A player committing two fouls in one 6-minute segment must sit out the remainder of that segment. The next player in the rotation comes in as the substitute. This does not change the normal rotation.  The player who has fouled out does not come back in the game until his turn in the rotation comes up again, while the player who comes in as a substitute gains extra playing time. This extra time does not affect the predetermined substitution pattern. EXCEPTION:  If a team only has five players at a game, the foul-out rule is replaced by a two-point penalty.  In a situation where a player would normally foul out, the opposing team will instead be awarded two points, and play will continue.
• Non-shooting fouls result in the offended team taking the ball out of bounds.  All shooting fouls result in free throws, except in the last two minutes of the game (see below).
• The game clock runs continuously.  In the final two minutes of the game, the following rules go into effect:

• Non-shooting fouls result in the offensive team getting one point and the ball out of bounds.
• Shooting fouls result in the offensive team getting two points. The opposing team then takes possession.
• Players fouled in the act of shooting who make the basket are credited with the basket plus one point. The opposing team then takes possession.