RULES AND GUIDELINES
DUES
UBL dues are $170 and are payable immediately via mail to 3557 Peterson Avenue, Suite 122 Chicago, IL 60659. Checks should be made out to Madraigos Midwest. You may also bring the check to the Evaluation Night but no later than opening night. Cash is acceptable as well. For credit card, please call the Madraigos office 773-478-6000 x 221.
GAME LOCATIONS AND TIMES
The UBL will play its games at The Oliver McCracken School, 8000 E Prairie Road Skokie, IL 60076. Click here to see a map of its location. You will receive a separate schedule of all of the games dates and times. But as a general rule, the first game will be about 1:30 minutes after Shabbos. The second game will be about 1:00 hour after the first game.
PARKING AND ENTRANCE
Players can park on the street or in the McCracken parking lot. Players must park in legal spaces and any violations incurred are the responsibility of the driver. The Skokie Police can and will write tickets if cars are not parked properly. The entrance to the building is on East Prairie and the gym is opposite the entrance.
STARTING AND FINISHING TIMES
Teams must have a minimum of four players for a game to tip-off. Teams without the minimum four players will be given FIVE minutes for a fourth player to arrive. After five minutes have passed, the team without four players is assessed a forfeit loss. (Note: although a team is allowed to tip-off with four players, all players are urged to arrive several minutes prior to the scheduled tip-off time.) It is the captain’s responsibility to ensure that his team has enough players for every game. Any captain that is not able to attend a game must designate one of his teammates to serve in the role as “captain for the night” to handle any in-game issues that would require discussion with the referees.
PLAYER ROTATION
The coaches have a responsibility to rotate all players into games in each 20 minute half. During the course of the game, coaches will work hard to get every player significant playing time, however, there is no minimum amount of playing time the coaches must abide by.
SUBSTITUTES
Substitute players may be used ONLY when there are fewer than 6 players. All substitutes must be in the UBL. Subs may not start over a player on the team roster and is only meant to be used to give players a rest. Team captains are responsible for finding substitutes and must verify their substitutions with the Commissioner.
TIME-OUTS
Each team receives two 45 second time-outs in the first half, two 45 second time-out in the second half, and one 45-second time-out in overtime. In an effort to keep games progressing according to schedule, time-outs not used in regulation time do not carry into overtime (i.e. there is only one time out per team in each overtime). The clock stops during these time outs.
LENGTH OF GAME
Games are two 20-minute halves with running time (including during free throw), EXCEPT all whistles/fouls during the last two minutes of the second half. Halftime lasts three minutes. Overtime periods last two minutes. All fouls and bonus rules extend over from the 2nd half. Double overtime is 1 minute. Triple OT is the first team to score a point. Beginning with the Semi-Finals, clock stoppage in the second half of games will begin at the five minute mark.
FOULS/FREE THROWS
All shooting fouls will be two shots (three for three-point shots).
The seventh foul activates the bonus (“one and one”). The tenth foul activates the double bonus (two shots). Two free throws are awarded on technical fouls, along with possession of the ball for the shooting team.
Players must “line up” quickly for free throws. Officials will be instructed to minimize time spent “lining up”. Remember, the clock is running. Players may enter the lane to “box out” on free throws upon the ball hitting the rim of the free throw shot.
If a player fouls out and his team has no replacement, the team plays shorthanded. The forfeit rule will not take effect if the game begins with the required number of players.
PLAYOFFS
Every team makes the playoffs. In the first round, The 6th Seed team will play the 3rd Seed and the 5th Seed will play the 4th Seed. Seeds 1 and 2 have automatic byes. The Semi-Finals reseed. Therefore, it will feature the lower remaining seed against the 1st Seed and the higher remaining seed VS the 2nd Seed. The finals will feature the winners of the Semi-Finals games.
Tiebreakers for seeding are as follows:
TWO WAY TIE:
1. Head to Head Record
2. Each team’s record vs. the team or tied teams occupying the highest position in the standings. Continue down through the standings until one team gains an advantage.
3. Coin Toss
MULTIPLE-TEAM TIE (3 or more teams)
Teams are viewed as a “mini-conference” when comparing head-to-head results. The team with the best record vs. the other teams in the mini-conference gains the advantage. The team with the worst record vs. the other teams in the mini-conference is seeded the lowest.
a. If only two teams have the same best winning percentage in the mini-conference, the higher seed goes to the team winning the head-to-head series.
b. If the two teams split their two games, then proceed to Step 2 under Two-Way ties. To seed the remaining team(s) in this mini-conference, proceed to (e) below.
c. If three or more (but not all) teams have the same best winning percentage in the original mini-conference, then those tied teams create a new mini-conference and follow this same procedure beginning of Step 1 (Multiple Team Tie).
d. If all teams in the mini-conference have the same mini-conference record, proceed to Step 2 below.
e. After the top or bottom teams in a mini-conference are determined, the remaining teams are ranked by their record in the original mini-conference.
i. If there are any remaining teams tied by their record in the mini-conference, then head-to-head results will determine the higher seed.
ii. If the teams split two games, then proceed back to the two-way tie breaking procedure.
iii. If there are at least three teams remaining tied by their record in the miniconference, they would then form a new mini-conference and follow the procedure again at the beginning of Step 1 (Multiple-Team Tie).
Compare each team’s record vs. the team or group of tied teams occupying the highest position in the standings. Continue down through the standings until one or more teams gain an advantage. If two teams have the exact same advantage (i.e., having the same and better record against a compared team relative to their mini-conference), they are separated at that point by the two-way tiebreaker procedure. The next step would take you back to Step 1 (e) (Multiple-Team Tie).
CANCELLATIONS
In case of severe weather conditions, we will post it on upwardbasketballeaguel.org, email you, and post on Facebook that our game is cancelled. If you are unsure, email mbl@madraigosmidwest.org and you will receive an email within minutes as to the answer.
KIPPOT/YARMULKES
All players are requested to wear a kippah when playing. Other acceptable forms of head covering include baseball hats (must be worn backwards), bandanas, headbands with a kippah, etc. Coaches will encourage players to play with the proper head covering.
ATMOSPHERE
All players are expected to conduct themselves appropriately and help maintain a safe and appropriate environment.
Specifically:
1. Sportsmanship and fair play are expected of all players.
2. Profanity will not be tolerated and Officials are instructed to call a Technical Foul, resulting in 2 free throw shots and possession of ball for the opposing team.
3. Verbal abuse or other demonstrative behavior from a player directed to the opposing team or to an official will result in a technical foul and violators may be subject to suspension/expulsion from the UBL.
4. It is respectfully requested that no teenage girls attend any UBL games, even if she is a sister of one of the players.
MODESTY
Players should change their clothes in the provided locker rooms.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
All players must be of high school age.
In compliance with local schools affiliation with the Illinios High School Association, please be advised that IHSA rules stipulate that players who participate in non-IHSA approved programs may be ruled ineligible by the IHSA to participate in any school sports program for a period of up to 365 days. Therefore, no player on their school basketball team may participate.
FINAL SAY
The League Chairman and Commissioners reserve the right to make final decisions regarding UBL rules, policies and any necessary disciplinary action. All decisions will be final.
