Basketball

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Information on the 2025-2026 season will be posted as soon as possible.

Dates and Schedules

Senior Basketball - February 17 to 20, 2026 at Queen's University

Junior Basketball - February 17 to 20, 2026 at Queen's University

Rules

The aim of LESAA is to promote an interest and love for the game, while developing skills in a healthy competitive environment, or recreational environment dependent on the skill level of athletes.

The rules of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) shall govern play at the LESAA Division Tournaments with the following exceptions:

Participants

Team Composition: Teams can carry an unlimited amount of players on their roster and are encouraged to carry at least 10 if possible

A/B Teams: "A" teams must carry at least 10 players during the division tournament. If an "A" team comes to a tournament with less than 10 players, their games will be forfeited. If an “A” team is short a player, add a player from your “B” team. If an injury or an unforeseen departure from a player occurs during the tournament, the team does not need to fill in their roster spot. For intermediate basketball, if an "A" team makes a final, 10 players must be on the roster

Equipment

All Intermediate LESAA tournaments will use a size 6 basketball
All Junior LESAA tournaments will use a size 5 basketball

Procedure

Warm-up: Teams will receive up to 5 minutes on the court before each game
Time-outs: 3 time-outs per game, teams can use up to 2 time-outs per half. If a time-out is used after the opponent scores in the last 2 minutes, the ball may be advanced to half. Coaches can directly request a time-out during the flow of the game as long as their team is in possession of the ball.
Game Length: All games will consist of two 20 minute halves with running time. The final minute will be stop time unless the score differential is greater than 10
Fouls: Players will be eligible to play until the commit their fifth foul. “Bonus” free throws are awarded after the 6th team foul has been committed. According to FIBA rules, these will be a set of two free throws.
Fair Play: In each game, every player has to play in every half.

Tournament Format and Style of Play

Senior

Junior

Competitive

The tournament format will vary depending on the number of teams in a division.

Recreational

Format: Round robin games. No playoffs

Special Defensive Rules

Zone: No zone defense of any kind, including a zone press or half court zone

Person-to-Person: Full court defense is allowed if the score is within 15 points. Switching checks, double team, trapping and “helping out” are all allowed as long as athletes drop back into person-to-person defense.

Free Throw Rules

Intermediate: Players may cross into the key once the ball has released the shooters’ hand. Shooters can not cross the FT line on a shot.

Half Court Violation

Team on offence has 8 second to advance the ball to half court

Overtime

In the event teams are tied at the end of regulation, a 3 minute overtime period will be played. The number of individual and team fouls will be carried over from the second half. Play will start with a new jump ball.

Format

3 Round robin games. No playoffs
Games consist of 9 - 4 minute shifts. A three minute halftime will be provided after the 4th shift
Equal play time (A special score sheet to track substitutions can be found here) until the final shift.
Equal play time - no double shifting, a player can not start a new shift until all players have had the equal number of shifts.
Last shift will be an "open" shift (play whoever you like) - stop time last 1 minute of the second half
No overtime will be played, and substitutions can only be made during shifts in the event of an injury

Special Defensive Rules

Half court person-to-person defense is mandated. Once a team a secured possession of the ball in their end - the opposing team must drop back to half

Free Throw Rules

The shooter is allowed to jump across the free throw line
Coaches can refuse free throws for possession of the ball, except on a shooting foul where the basket counts and the shooter receives a free throw
If a free throw opportunity is refused, teams will receive the ball under the basket on the attacking end

Half Court Violation

Team on offense has 8 second to advance the ball to half court

Tournament Schedules

Results

Coaching Resources

Training and Coaching Resources
The following resources have been collected from various websites. The content included is to provide coaches with a starting point.

Drills

Please note that all of these drills can be modified to fit the skill level of your athletes. These are only sample drills. The best drills are the ones that promote high frequency touches.

Training Plans

Sample Practice Plan

Additional Resources

LDSB Extracurricular Permission Form

Extracurricular Participation Permission Form

First Aid and Concussion Resources

First aid or concussion process

In the event of a potential concussion or first aid incident

After a concussion has been diagnosed, return to complete:

Information and background knowledge

Spectator Guidelines

All spectators at LESAA sanctioned events are expected to adhere to the following expectations:

Students are number one.
Participation and fun, not winning, are everything.
Fans only cheer, coaches only coach, referees only referee.
No yelling in anger.
Respect the volunteer referees (often youth).
No swearing.
Set a proper example for good sportsmanship.

Submit Photos and Videos

Coaches are encouraged to submit photos or videos of LESAA events online. By submitting a photo or video, you are confirming LDSB Freedom of Information (FOI) and Consents are in place.

Limestone Elementary Schools Athletic Association