Nashville Sports Leagues
Basketball

Nashville Sports Leagues uses TSSAA basketball rules in governing all league and tournament games. The following rules have been modified or added to fit our Nashville Sports Leagues.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS (MENS)
Games will be played with 5 men on the court.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS (COED)
Games shall be played with 3 men and 2 women on the court. 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO START AND FINISH (MENS)
Teams may start and finish a game with four players.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO START AND FINISH (COED)
Teams may start and finish a game with four players. Minimum of 1 female for COED. No more than three men on the court for each team at any time.

GAME CLOCK
The length of the game is forty minutes, divided into two halves of twenty minutes with the clock running except for the last TWO (2) minute of each half. The clock will run as a regulation clock during the final two minutes of each half. This means that the clock is stopped whenever the ball goes out of bounds, a foul is called, free throws are being shot, and during time outs. The clock will not stop after a made basket during the last 2 minutes of a game.

The clock will stop on all time-outs. Game time is forfeit time.

During the running clock portion of the game, the clock will start after a time out once the ball is put into play.

SCORING (COED)
FEMALE FG: 3 Points
FEMALE 3PT FG: 4 Points

FOULS
Each team will be in the bonus at seven team fouls and the double bonus at ten team fouls. Players will be removed with five fouls in any one game.

FOULS (COED)
Foul in the act of shooting (missed shot): He/She awarded free throws based on the point system in "SCORING"

Foul with no shot: He/She awarded free throws based on RULE "FOULS"

HOME TEAM
The Home Team is the team located on the right of each scheduled game.

DEFENSE (COED)
There are no constraints on the type of defense a team may play.

DUNKING
No Dunking is allowed. Points will not be awarded. The opposing team will receive a technical free throw and possession of the ball.

JERSEYS
Players participating in NSL's basketball leagues are required to wear shirts with numbers a minimum of six inches high permanently affixed to the back of each jersey.
Each team is required to bring both light and dark colored uniforms to each game to avoid jersey issues.

JEWELRY
Players will not be permitted to play with jewelry including but not limited to knotted bandanas, hard billed hats, necklaces, anklets, rings, watches, or earrings. Fitbits and Apple Watches with sport bands are allowed. 

OVERTIME
Overtime periods will be three minutes each and the clock will only stop for free throws during the final minute.  Each team will be awarded one time out not to be carried over in each overtime period.

MERCY RULE
When a team is winning by fifteen points within two minutes remaining in either half, the clock will not stop.

TIMEOUTS
Each team is awarded two timeouts per half and one timeout per overtime. Timeouts do not carry over.

PRESS RULE
For recreational leagues only: No press allowed until one-minute remaining in regulation play and overtime - if applicable.