Playing Rules
Updated August 13, 2024
General Rules
Florida State University does not provide accident insurance coverage for injuries received by Intramural Sports participants. Each participant should make sure that they have coverage either through family policies or the student insurance plan.
Florida State University PROHIBITS possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on University property. Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco is also prohibited at Campus Recreation facilities. This includes the Rec SportsPlex, Main Campus Fields, Westside Courts, and Tully Gym. Violators will be asked to leave the area. Failure to do so can result in forfeiture of the contest, suspension of individuals and/or teams, and appropriate action by the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards and/or the FSU Police.
Sport Rules
Current National Federation (High School) Basketball rules will govern play with the following modifications:
I. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
1. Participation is limited to currently-enrolled, fee-paying FSU students, faculty members, and full-time staff. FAMU & TCC students and members of the community are not eligible.
2. In order to participate in an intramural contest, each player must present their current, valid FSUCard. Check-in takes place at designated sign-in locations at the facility, not at the fields or courtside.
3. Additional information regarding player eligibility, team rosters, and participant check-in is available in the Seven Principles of Intramural Sports, available online at the FSU Intramural Sports web site and in the Intramural Sports Office at the Main Campus Fields (1001 W. St. Augustine Street). Requests for exceptions to any policy must be directed to the IM administrative staff during regular weekday business hours in the Intramural Sports Office. No exceptions are granted at the fields or courts.
4. Participants must be able to access the Leach Center (when applicable). A valid FSUCard is required to enter the facility. Faculty and staff must have a Leach membership or purchase a guest pass in order to participate.
II. TEAM COMPOSITION
1. Games are 3-on-3. Only 5 players may sign-in per team for a single game. Team rosters are unlimited; thus you may have a different five players represent your team each game.
2. A team must have two (2) players to begin a game for single gender leagues. Co-ed teams must have three (3) players to begin a game with at least 1 man and 1 woman. One (1) players constitute a default. No players signed-in at game time will result in a forfeit. Substitutions may be made after a basket, a foul or stoppage of play.
3. All players on a team should wear similar colored shirts or jerseys. Pinnies are available at the court for each team.
4. Appropriate gym footwear must be worn. Running shoes or all-purpose cleats are not appropriate for basketball.
5. No participants may wear caps or do-rags while playing.
6. Each team is responsible for supplying their own ball for warm-up. Basketballs are available for check-out from the sign-in attendant in Tully Gym. The game ball will be chosen from the warm-up balls. The court monitor shall be the sole judge of the legality of the ball and shall select the best ball available.
7. Select jewelry is allowed to be worn during intramural competition.
Below is a list of jewelry that is not allowed:
• Hard plastic / metal jewelry including rings, watches, bracelets, etc.
• Jewelry with loose hanging loops / hoops
• Non-stud piercings
If a finger could fit through the space of a loose piece of jewelry, then it must be taken off. Sport specific Jewelry Policies may still apply. There is absolutely no jewelry allowed beneath the elbow in the following sports:
• Flag football (7v7 & 4v4)
• Basketball (3v3 & 5v5)
• Volleyball (Indoor & Sand)
If necklaces are worn, they must be tucked in and always remain tucked in. Individuals wearing religious or medical alert jewelry will be allowed to participate while wearing jewelry containing necessary information. In such cases, the jewelry should be taped to the skin with the medical information visible. The Intramural Sports Staff and Supervisors have the final say on approved jewelry for each sport.
III. GAME TIME & SCORING
1. The game will consist of two 10-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime intermission. The clock will run continuously for the entire game. All games will begin simultaneously with the buzz of the scoreboard horn. Game time kept on the large scoreboard for all games.
2. There are NO timeouts. In case of injury, time will be kept by the court monitor for the affected game.
3. Winners need only win by one point. If a game is tied at the end of regulation, the winner will be determined in overtime. Please read the overtime section for specifics.
4. All baskets made from inside the 3-point line will count as one point. All baskets beyond the 3-point line will count for two points. All converted foul shots will count as one point.
5. Each team will be required to take a shot at the basket within 15 seconds after taking possession. The rule has been implemented to eliminate a team from stalling to retain possession near the end of the game. Violations of this rule, including non-legitimate shots, will results in an offensive turnover and possession for the defending team.
IV. OVERTIME
1. There will be a two-minute overtime with a running clock throughout the overtime period.
2. Rock paper scissors between the captains will determine who gets the ball first going into the overtime period.
3. Each team will be required to take a shot at the basket within 20 seconds after taking possession. The rule has been implemented to eliminate a team from stalling to retain possession near the end of the game. Violations of this rule, including non-legitimate shots (a “shot” that is really a pass), will result in an offensive turnover and possession for the defending team.
4. The team in possession of the ball can turnover the ball by:
a. Committing an offensive foul,
b. Having the ball go out of bounds whilst they were the last ones to touch the ball,
c. Not taking a legitimate try at the basket within the 20 seconds allowed,
d. Having the other team steal the ball,
e. Missing a shot and the other team grabs the rebound, or
f. After making a shot. The opposing team will now have possession of the ball.
If the game is still tied after the two minutes has expired, the same format will be used until a winner is determined.
V. COURT MONITORS
1. Fighting and excessive arguing will not be tolerated and can result in team dismissal from league or tournament play. A court monitor (when present) or site supervisor may penalize any player, substitute or coach for poor sporting behavior by immediate ejection and banishment from the playing area and gym.
VI. GAME RULES
1. Possession to start a game will be determined by a coin toss.
2. Ball possession changes after a made basket unless a foul is awarded. (not make it take it)
3. The imaginary “check line” is the three point line. To start a game/overtime, after a score or when a foul is awarded, a player must pass the ball in from this check line. On defensive rebounds or steals, the ball need only be taken anywhere beyond the line.
4. The defense must take the ball behind the check line on any play in which they gain possession. Whether or not the ball has been shot or has touched the rim does not affect this rule. In the event that the defense obtains possession and does not take the ball behind the check line AND then attempts a shot, the shot and any related activity will be disregarded and a turnover will result. The “new defense” is awarded the ball behind the check line.
VII. FOULS
1. Teams will call their own fouls. An individual player cannot foul out of the game, but may be ejected for any cause by the court monitor or an IM supervisor.
Common fouls (non-shooting) result in loss of possession for the offending team.
Offensive fouls shall result in disallowing any converted basket and loss of possession.
Shooting fouls with a missed basket shall result in retained possession for the shooting team (recheck).
Shooting fouls with a converted basket shall result in the basket counted and loss of possession (no penalty, play continues as if there was no foul with the defense taking the ball).
VIII. SUBSTITUTIONS
1. Substitutions may be made after a basket, a foul or stoppage of play.
IX. PLAY FAIR OR GO HOME
Sporting behavior violations, cheating, and other blatant rule violations including repeated intentional fouling or flagrant fouling will not be tolerated. The Intramural Sports staff (site supervisors or administrative staff) reserves the right to stop any game at any time and disqualify one or both teams for such violations.
1. When a single team is facing disqualification, an instant appeal to the disqualified team’s opponent will occur. The game-site team captain of the opposing team may select to take the awarded victory or continue playing the game.
2. When both teams are facing disqualification, the IM staff will meet with both team captains to determine if the match shall continue.
The game clock will continue to run during all disqualification proceedings and discussions. There is no appeal of a double disqualification or any further appeal of a single disqualification (no postgame protest or office appeal).
X. SPORTING BEHAVIOR
1. The mission of Intramural Sports is to provide a recreational environment for the University community which is safe and enjoyable. While the game atmosphere is often competitive, ensuring participant safety, providing a fun, social atmosphere, and promoting good sporting behavior among participants, spectators, and team followers are our primary concerns. The game atmosphere should remain good-natured at all times. Participants shall maintain good sporting behavior throughout their participation in all facets of the intramural program.
2. The Sporting Behavior Rating System is intended to be an objective scale by which teams’ attitude and behavior can be assessed throughout the intramural sports league and playoff seasons. Behavior before, during, and after an intramural sports contest is included in the rating. The team captain is responsible for educating and informing all players and spectators affiliated with their team about the system.
3. A team is responsible for the actions of the individual team members and spectators related to it. Additionally, FSU Intramural Sports does not recognize the use of coaches. Only the team captain shall speak to the officials regarding administrative matters (protests, ejections, disqualifications, etc). Furthermore, the team captain’s efforts in assisting officials/staff to calm difficult situations and to restrain troubled teammates are key to controlling team conduct.
4. Good sporting behavior is vital to the conduct of every Intramural contest. In order to encourage proper conduct during games, officials, administrative personnel, and supervisors shall make decisions on whether to warn, penalize or eject players or teams for poor sporting behavior. These decisions are final. The Intramural Sports administrative staff will rule on further penalties as a result of a sporting behavior conduct penalty.
5. Each participant should choose their team members carefully, as all team members will suffer the consequences of any disciplinary action taken by the Intramural Sports staff against that team for violation of the intramural rules and sporting behavior guidelines. Protests or appeals of sporting behavior ratings will not be recognized. The Intramural Sports administrative staff reserves the right to review any rating given to a team.
6. Additional information regarding team and participant sporting behavior including the rating method, factors, and scale is available in the Sporting Behavior Principle of the Seven Principles of Intramural Sports, available online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.
