Here's some rules to compare

[Mark Padgett]

Here's a rules matrix for our local kids rec league. I think it shows a good balance.

http://www.tigardbasketball.org/docl...s%20Matrix.pdf

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Here's a rules matrix for our local kids rec league.

I hate the no zone defense rule. I understand the reason, to teach kids how to play man to man defense, but when my daughter played under such rules she would occasionally leave her man to help a teammate who got beat and then she would be called for a zone defense violation. That was one of the reasons why we decided to switch from recreation ball to a travel team the next season.

Another reason was that our recreation program had a no free throw policy (shorter side courts in the gymnasium didn't have lane lanes painted on the floor). She would get hammered going to the basket and not get any free throws, just a throwin from under the basket.

It wasn't a total waste of time. She had a great coach, and made some new friends, but the move over to travel the next season was the right move.

[just another ref]

No zone defense rule is counterproductive, especially if doubling the ball is not allowed. It turns into a game of one on one involving only the best two players.

[Mr.C]

I like the running time for 3rd and 4th grade. I'm going to suggest that we go to that down here. We get complaints often about not calling enough violations. Although I think the majority of our group does an excellent job in that area, more would probably be called if the clock was running. Not many at a watching young beginners play can stomach an hour and 10 minute game of traveling and double dribble.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Mr.C

I like the running time for 3rd and 4th grade. I'm going to suggest that we go to that down here. We get complaints often about not calling enough violations. Although I think the majority of our group does an excellent job in that area, more would probably be called if the clock was running. Not many at a watching young beginners play can stomach an hour and 10 minute game of traveling and double dribble.

3rd and 4th grade? Even with a running clock if you called all the violations the parents wanted you to call, it would be 25 minutes of throw-in plays.

[Mr.C]

actually the 4th grade games have gotten a lot "cleaner" in the last year or two----can't say the same for the 3rd grade games. But when you are trying to get 3 in on a school night, running time would be the way to go. And as for parents, they are the same everywhere. No rules knowledge and less common sense!

[bas2456]

Originally Posted by Adam

3rd and 4th grade? Even with a running clock if you called all the violations the parents wanted you to call, it would be 25 minutes of throw-in plays.

This.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by just another ref

No zone defense rule is counterproductive, especially if doubling the ball is not allowed. It turns into a game of one on one involving only the best two players.

Our one Rec League allows the zone D and it does manage to keep some of the lessor teams in the game longer.....plus, it's a referees friend (tick, tick, tick; creates decent flow; less fouls; less one-on-one).

[just another ref]

The fact is, at this age, it is often difficult to tell what kind of defense they're playing.

[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by just another ref

The fact is, at this age, it is often difficult to tell what kind of defense they're playing.

I think the *purpose* of no zone rules is that one cannot learn to play zone properly without first learning to play man. It's a good *development* rule. (The varsity coach at my high school forbid the freshman teams from playing zone for the first part of the season for exactly this reason.)

And I think the *purpose* of the no double team rule is to enable players to pass and move the ball rather than to have traps all the time and no ability to run an offense. (And to prevent the aggressive double team of weaker players who have no chance to do anything.) But when winning becomes more important than development (which sadly seems to happen in most kids sports - and sometimes the younger they are the worse it is), it gets mushy. And coaches caring more about winning than developing give the ball to the best player for one and one rather than actually trying to teach team basketball.