Policies & Rules

Policies

  • Participation in the league will be open to any person who, in good faith, wishes to participate with an established team, and submits the annual registration form prior to a designated registration date and within the predetermined player capacity limit, as well as the non-refundable participation dues prior to the first scheduled game.

    Each player will be required to sign a waiver and release of liability prior to playing with any league team or participating in any league activities, agreeing not to hold the WBGBL liable for any injuries or harm that may result from their participation.

    Players are expected to attend the majority of games and to communicate with their captain/team regarding their game attendance each week.

    Players who miss three consecutive games or otherwise do not consistently attend games (especially in the first half of the season), and/or do not communicate with their captain/team, are subject to being removed and replaced per the captain’s discretion.

    Players who are removed will be contacted by the League Commissioner and they cannot play on any team for the remainder of the season.

    The League Commissioner will seek a replacement player of comparable experience, height, and position from the waitlist (as available).

  • Cisgender and transgender persons display a great deal of variation in physical size and ability, and the range of skills within the league is what makes it so special. The WBGBL is an all-inclusive organization and we ensure teams are made as equitable as possible via an annual draft system. The legitimate privacy and safety of all players should be protected and preserved - no one who identifies as a woman, or within the LGBTQ+ community, should be questioned about their gender or gender identity. Any player with unsafe behavior will be addressed, regardless of their gender identity.

Rules & Procedures

  • Games have two 20-minute halves with a running clock, for a total game time of forty minutes. The only times the clock stops is for fouls and dead balls in the last minute of the first half and the last two minutes of the second half. There is no shot clock in the WBGBL.

    Standard scoring rules apply: Shots from inside the arc that designates the three-point line on the court are worth two points, shots from outside the arc are worth three points, and each free throw is worth one point.

    Only five players per team on the court. More than 5 players per team on the court will result in loss of possession of the ball.

    If a team has four or less players, they will be forced to forfeit (resulting in a loss and a score of 2-0), unless the opposing team agrees to play them with less players. If so, the opposing team may play with 5 players or play the same number as the other team (e.g., 4 vs. 4).

    Only players on a team’s roster can play. Team’s cannot recruit players outside their team to play, for example, if they are short on players for a given game.

    Personal and team fouls: Players get 5 fouls per game. Team’s enter “bonus” (one and one) at 7 team fouls and “double bonus” (two free throws) at 10+ team fouls.

    Each team gets two timeouts a half. Timeouts cannot be carried over from the previous half or into overtime play.

    Games have two referees. Players are expected to treat our referees with kindness and respect, including accepting all their calls/decisions and speaking to them in a courteous manner. The referees have the authority to rule promptly on any situation not specifically covered in the rules. These decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game.

    Games have two players (from other teams) that are responsible for running the scoreboard and clock, as well as keeping track of points, timeouts, and fouls in a scorebook (Video: Basketball Scorebook 101). Team’s are assigned book/clock duty each week at a time either before or after their scheduled game, and it’s up to the team/Captain on determining the two players responsible for fulfilling book/clock duty as assigned.

    Overtime Rules

    Total of five minutes with a running clock. The clock stops for fouls and dead balls in the last minute of overtime.

    Each team has one timeout in each overtime period. Timeouts cannot be carried over from the second half, nor to any additional overtime periods.

  • At the conclusion of regular season play, the top 8 teams make the playoffs.

    Playoffs follow the 8-4-2 format, with two rounds of games and the final two teams playing in the season championship game.

  • Games begin the first weekend of January and end in March or April (when playoffs and the championship game are played). 

    Games are played on Sundays, typically between 12-4 PM, with the occasional weekday or doubleheader weekend. 

    We try not to schedule games over MLK and Presidents’ Day weekends. 

    During regular season play, each team typically plays each other once. The top 8 teams make the playoffs and the final two teams play in the Championship game.

    At the end of the season, there is a banquet with trophies and awards.

  • The league will conduct a draft each year consisting of players who registered prior to a designated registration date and up to a predetermined player capacity limit as determined by WBGBL leadership. As a result, new teams will be formed annually.

    Players who register after the registration date or after the predetermined player capacity limit has been reached will be waitlisted and contacted if any spots open up.

    After the draft, players will be contacted with information about their captain, teammates, and schedule.

  • CAPTAINS

    Each team will have an assigned captain as approved by WBGBL leadership prior to the start of each season.

    Captains are responsible for drafting players during the annual league draft and communicating league affairs, such as the schedule of games and activities, to their team, and may delegate coaching and team responsibilities as desired.

    Captains must notify WBGBL leadership of any changes to their team’s participation and roster, including the removal of any of their players due to attendance and/or communication issues.

    TEAMS

    10 players maximum per team, including the team captain.

    A player can only play on the team that they were drafted to play on.

    Each team is responsible for knowing and adhering to league rules, including the game and playoff structure.

    Each team will be required to participate in fundraising activities as instructed by WBGBL leadership.

    Each team will be required to provide two players to fulfill the team’s book/clock duty as assigned during the season.

    Each team may be sponsored by a person, business, association, or other organization without limitation.

    Each team shall organize its own internal affairs without league interference, as deemed reasonable and consistent with league policies and rules.

    If a player drops from a team, gets injured, or is removed for a lack of attendance and/or communication, a replacement player of comparable experience, height, and position will be selected from the waitlist (as available).