Boys & Girls 5th–Varsity League Rules

General Information

• Maximum 15 players per team

• All players must wear a Bolden Mack–issued uniform (top & bottom) to participate

Player Eligibility

• Grades 5–8: Based on the last completed school grade

• JV Division: Players may not have been on a Varsity roster during the 2025–26 season

• Varsity Division: Players may not be Class of 2026 Prep graduates

• Players are limited to one team only

• Players must participate in at least one regular season game to be eligible for the playoffs

Game Format

JV & Varsity (High School)

• 4 quarters — 10 minutes each (running clock)

• Clock stops during the last 2 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters

• Overtime: 5-minute periods until a winner is determined

5th Grade – Middle School

• 4 quarters — 8 minutes each (running clock)

• Clock stops during the last 2 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters

• Overtime: 4-minute periods until a winner is determined

Fouls & Free Throws

• Players foul out after 5 personal fouls

• After 5 team fouls in a quarter, opponents receive 2 free throws (bonus)

• Technical fouls: 2 free throws + possession

Gameplay Rules

• Substitutions: Allowed during dead-ball situations only (must check in at scorer’s table)

• Game Start: Jump ball

• Possession: Alternating possession after held balls

Timeouts

• 5 timeouts per game total

  • 3 full timeouts (1 minute)

  • 2 short timeouts (30 seconds)

Protests

• Player eligibility protests must be made before the game begins

• No protests will be accepted after the game clock starts

Referee Fees

• A collateral referee fee is due at the start of the season to cover missed or forfeited game

• If unused, the fee will be applied to the team’s first playoff game

• Game referee fees are due before each game