2011 Rules and Regulations
Updated 06.03.11

1. ELIGIBILITY

1.01 Players are eligible for PCAL if they fit one of the following criteria:
• Are baptized in the Coptic Orthodox Church
• Take communion regularly in the Coptic Orthodox Church for any reason AND their church is in communion with the Coptic Orthodox Church
• Intend to be baptized in the Coptic Church in the next 365 days
1.02 Preference is given to players from ages 18-35. A team may not have players outside this age limit if they have more than 10 players.

2. GAME RULES

2.0 RULES
2.01 All on-court play, unless otherwise noted, will be guided by the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rulebook for the current year.
2.02 Airballs: Players cannot catch their own airballs (defined as a shot that makes contact with no players, nets, backboards, or rims).
2.03 One referee: If only one referee is present, he or she may ask players to help with calls that are out of view.
2.04 In case of persisting uncertainty, the officials will make a call of best judgment.
2.05 The official game ball is a 29.5” Spalding TF-1000 ZK Microfiber Composite Basketball.

2.1 GAME CLOCK
2.11 Halves: Each game will be divided into twenty-minute (20) halves.
2.12 Overtime: If necessary, overtime will consist of three-minute (3) periods until one team is ahead at the end of a period.
2.13 Halftime: Halftime is three (3) minutes long. It may be shortened by an official if games are behind schedule.
2.14 Running clock: A running clock will be used for the first thirty-eight (38) minutes of each the game as well as the first two (2) minutes of each overtime period.
2.15 Pro clock: A stopping clock (also known as a “pro clock”) will be used for the last two (2) minutes of the second half as well as the last minute of each overtime period.
2.16 Mercy rule: Play will follow a running clock during the last two minutes of the second half if a fifteen-point (15) lead is achieved at ANY TIME during the final two-minute period. At this point, a running clock will be used for the remainder of the game. If this occurs, all foul and clock rules will follow those of the first 38 minutes of the game.
2.17 Game pauses: A running clock will be temporarily paused in case of an extended break in play, such as for an injury or rule clarification.

2.2 PERSONAL FOULS *updated - starting in 2011, there are no free points for fouls*
2.21 Personal foul limit: A player will be removed from the game upon his sixth (6th) personal foul of the game, regardless of if it occurs in regulation or overtime.
2.22 Team foul limit: All personal fouls become shooting fouls upon a team’s tenth (10th) personal foul of the half or the fifth (5th) foul of an overtime period.
2.23 Fouls in last two minutes: In pro clock time, all possession fouls (when the fouled team has the ball) result in two foul shots.
2.24 Shooting fouls during a running clock: In running clock time, shooting fouls will result in two uncontested foul shots, which are defined as foul shots that may only be rebounded by the opposing team. Players do not need to line up on the key. If the free throw is made, it is still considered in-play; the ball does not need to be taken out-of-bounds.
2.25 Shooting fouls during a pro clock: A shooting foul during a pro clock will be treated according to NCAA rules, except teams will line up from the first key position.
2.26 If a player is fouled in the act of shooting and makes the shot, the shot counts as long as the shooter completes the shot using a continuous motion started before the foul. If a player is fouled before he picks the ball up, or stops and shoots after a foul, the basket will not count as it is not considered a continuous shooting motion. *This is sometimes referred to as the "continuation" rule. While this is not an official rule change, it will be enforced as stated this season.*

2.3 SPIRITUAL FOULS/TECHNICAL FOULS
2.31 Spiritual foul: Any play deemed to be unchristian will be penalized with a spiritual foul. This includes, but is not limited to: trash-talking, verbal or physical assault, vulgarity, arguing with the officials, and flagrant fouls.
2.32 A spiritual foul does not count as a personal foul unless it is a foul in itself.
2.33 Ejections: Two (2) spiritual fouls in one game results in an ejection as well as a possible suspension, subject to league review. An official may decide that a strong spiritual foul is enough to warrant an ejection from the game.
2.34 A spiritual foul may be given to a player, coach, or team.
2.35 Point values: A spiritual foul will result in two automatic points for the opposing team, two foul shots for any player on the opposing team, as well as possession for the opposing team.
2.36 Technical fouls: Technical fouls that are not behavioral in nature, such as six men on the court, are treated as NCAA technical fouls (one foul shot and possession).

2.4 SUBSTITUTIONS
2.41 Substitutions may be made at any stoppage in play but must be initiated by the referee.
2.42 All subs must check in at the scorer’s table and wait to enter the game from a designated area.
2.43 Subs and exiting players must quickly enter and exit the court as to not delay the game. Delay of game will result in a technical foul.
2.44 There is no limit to the amount of subs that may be made in a game.
2.45 Jewelry: Players asked to remove jewelry by officials MUST sub out of the game.

2.5 TIMEOUTS
2.51 Timeouts per half: Each team is granted the use of three (3) timeouts per half. Unused timeouts do not rollover into the next game segment.
2.52 Timeouts per overtime: One (1) timeout will be awarded for each overtime period. Unused timeouts do not rollover.
2.53 Timeouts are 30 seconds maximum. Teams taking longer may be penalized with a technical foul.

2.6 THREE IN THE KEY
2.61 3-seconds-in-the-key is in effect on offensive players only.

2.7 SHOT CLOCK
2.71 Last two minutes: There is a twenty-four (24) second shot clock during the last two minutes of the game as well as the last minute of each overtime period. This will be enforced by either the scorer’s table or a referee when possible.
2.72 Unofficial shot clock: There is an unofficial thirty-five-second (35) shot clock during the first 38 minutes of the game. Officials may start a countdown from ten (10) seconds at their own judgment.

2.8 STARTING THE GAME
2.81 Teams must have a minimum of four able-bodied players on the court to be considered ready and to start a game.
2.82 A 4-minute pre-game countdown will start at the end of the previous game. At the end of this first countdown, another 60-second countdown will be started to mark the exact moment at which the officials will throw the ball up for the opening tipoff. If one of the teams is not on the court at this moment, see rules 2.83 and 2.84.
2.83 If a team is not present and ready by game time (or if games are behind schedule, three minutes after the end of the last game), the opposing team will receive possession at half court when the game starts. *This rule is not new in 2011 but will be strongly enforced this season.*
2.84 If a team is not present and ready three minutes after game time, the first half will start. Starting at 19:40 and continuing every 20 seconds afterwards, a member of the opposing team will be given the ball for a free throw. A player may not shoot a second free throw until every player present on his team has taken a free throw. This will continue until the other team is ready, or until 8:00 left in the first half, at which point the game will be forfeited to the shooting team.

3. SEASON STANDINGS

3.11 Playoffs: the top four teams in the final regular season standings qualify for playoffs. The 1st adn 4th seeds play, followed by the 2nd and 3rd seeds. Following a short break, the winners of both games play for the championship
3.12 Forfeits: A forfeit counts for 2 losses in the standings, effectively making it the first tiebreaker between two teams that would have otherwise finished with the same record.
3.13 Two-team tiebreakers: If two teams finish the regular season with the same record, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: 1) head-to-head record, 2) fewer number of spiritual fouls, 3) more trivia questions answered in spiritual quiz, administered after the last game.
3.14 Three-team tie-breakers: If three teams finish the regular season with the same record, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: 1) head-to-head record against all three teams involved, 2) fewest number of spiritual fouls, 3) more trivia questions answered in spiritual quiz, administered after the last game. If one team is separated (e.g., head-to-head records are 3-1, 2-2, and 2-2), the two-team tiebreaker as stated in rule 3.12 is then applied, starting with head-to-head record. This does not include situations in which all three teams are separated in the same tiebreaker application (e.g., head-to-head records are 3-1, 2-2, and 1-3).

Previous rules (2005-10)

2.25 Uncontested free throws: In running clock time, shooting fouls during a running clock will result in an uncontested free throw, which is defined as a foul shot that may only be rebounded by the opposing team. Players do not need to line up on the key. If the free throw is made, it is still considered in-play; the ball does not need to be taken out-of-bounds.
2.24 Shooting foul values: A shooting foul during a running clock will result in the following values:
• Missed two-pointer: one point plus one uncontested foul shot
• Missed three-pointer: two points plus one uncontested foul shot
• Made two-pointer: two points plus one-uncontested foul shot
• Made three-pointer: three points plus one-uncontested foul shot
2.25 Shooting fouls in last two minutes: A shooting foul during a pro clock will be treated according to NCAA rules, except teams will line up from the first key position.

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