The Cranberry League By-Laws

Purpose

The Cranberry League's purpose is to provide youths in grades 6,7 & 8 the opportunity to
play basketball and compete in a travel type format among area towns.  The league shall
be comprised of teams made up entirely from second tier players (i.e.: B level) who reside
in towns currently affiliated with the South Shore Youth Basketball League, the Patriot
League or other established A-level basketball program.  Although the intent is that the
teams be comprised of 2nd tier players, the League will not judge the talent level of those
players selected by their town to participate in the Cranberry League.   At the discretion of
the league's Board of Directors, other area towns not affiliated with an A-level travel
basketball program may be permitted to participate in the league.  This decision shall be
made on a case by case basis following a request by the town wishing to participate.
Participation of a town in this manner shall be reviewed annually and reaffirmed by the
membership.

Organization

The league shall be comprised of a Board of Directors and participating town
representatives. The Board shall consist of 3 town members with one member serving as
Chairman.  The member towns shall elect the Board of Directors at the beginning of the fall
each year. The Board of Directors shall serve as the managing entity for the league .

The league's member towns shall meet a minimum of once per year.  Additional meetings
may occur at the discretion of the Board.  A record of meeting minutes should be kept.  
Member towns may participate in all discussions of league issues, however the Board alone
will make decisions for the league. The record of all voting issues and
action items should be noted in the minutes.

A participating town member may bring an issue for discussion to the table at any time.  A
simple majority of the Board shall decide all votes. In order for a vote to be taken on a
given issue it must be proposed and seconded by another Board member.  The Chairman or
his designated alternate shall run the meeting in accordance with these rules.  

Divisions

The league shall be comprised of three divisions, 6th, 7th and 8th grade.  The age of the
child in a grade level will not be a factor in determining division level unless he/she is two
years above the age considered normal for his/her grade.  Athletes may play up a grade
level but may not be carried on the rosters for more than one grade.

Roster Restrictions

Rosters must be submitted for each team by the first game of the season and shall include
birth dates of the players.   Rosters may be distributed to the member towns at their
request. Roster changes may be made throughout the month of December.  All changes
must be submitted to the Board Chairman.  At the end of the first week of January each
roster shall be fixed for the remainder of the season.  

Players on rosters for their town’s A Level Basketball League are not eligible to play on
teams in the Cranberry League.  The intent of this rule is to prohibit the use of a town’s A-
Level players to fill a roster position which would otherwise go to another player in the
town. Validated violations of roster restrictions shall result in forfeit of the game to the
opposing team.  This determination shall be made by the Board following notification of the
infraction.

Insurance

All participating towns shall pay a fee for insurance in order to play in the Cranberry
League.  The League shall purchase liability ($1 million) and extended medical ($10,000)
insurance to cover all participating teams.  The member towns shall submit the necessary
fees to the Board by the middle of November in order that he may in turn procure the policy
before the start of the season.   

League Fees

Cranberry League fees shall be comprised of the Insurance fee, championship trophy costs,
Internet costs and referee fees.  Other general fees may be proposed by the members and
accepted by vote of the Board.  Gym fees are the responsibility of the home teams.  The
league schedule shall be written to balance the cost of these expenses throughout the
membership.

General Rules

  1. Coaches shall conduct themselves in a professional, and positive manner.  Coaches are
    responsible for the behavior of their players and shall assist the referees if requested,
    in asking parents to maintain decorum in the stands
  2. Each team shall be comprised of players from their town of residence or enrolled in the
    school system of the town that is a member of the Cranberry League.
  3. High School rules shall be used except as noted
  4. Game time shall be 14 minutes per half for grades 6, 7 and 8.  The clock will be
    stopped for whistles and time-outs.
  5. If agreed to by both coaches and the referees, the game may be played as “run time”
    when the score is significantly lopsided.
  6. Two time-outs will be permitted per half.  
  7. Tie games will be given a two minute (stop time) overtime period to resolve the tie.  
    One time-out in the overtime period will be granted to each team. Timeouts do not
    carry over from the regulation time.
  8. 6th grade games shall use a 28.5" ball.  7th and 8th grade levels shall utilize a full size
    basketball.
  9. Any team with a 15 point or better advantage shall play a half court defense.  A
    technical foul may be assessed to a coach who does not suspend the full court press
    with a 15 point or higher advantage.
  10. A player fouled during a three-point attempt shall receive three free throws if the shot
    is missed.
  11. All games should be scheduled with two referees, however the game may be played
    with one referee in the event unforeseen circumstances arise.
  12. Technical fouls count as personal fouls and team fouls.
  13. For 6th grade, the “1 & 1” bonus situation is reached when a team commits 10 team
    fouls.  12 fouls for the double bonus.  High School rules apply for grades 7 and 8.  (7
    and 10 fouls for the "1 & 1" and double bonus respectively)
  14. The Board may suspend a coach/athlete from the league for chronic unsportsmanlike
    conduct.  The decision of the Board is final and not subject to appeal.
  15. A coach assessed a single technical foul in a game must coach from the bench for the
    remainder of the game.   Two technical fouls in a single game will result in the coach
    being asked to leave the gymnasium.  If an assistant coach is not available in this
    event, the game is forfeited.   
  16. If a coach does not abide by these rules, the game is forfeited, and the Town's
    representative will be required to submit the name of a new coach for that division.  
    This determination is the responsibility of the Referees present at the game.
  17. The home team is responsible to provide a score/time keeper
  18. Opposing teams shall wear contrasting uniforms on the court.
  19. All game results must be emailed or called into the Board Chairman by 10:00 pm on
    the Monday immediately following the weekend games.  Towns failing to meet this
    requirement will be fined $10.00 for every instance.  A team with unpaid fines will not
    be permitted to participate in the playoff tournament
  20. The host town shall be responsible to supply a timekeeper and official scorer at each
    game.  The participating towns may be granted permission to sit at or near the official
    scorer's table to assist in obtaining an accurate record of the game. In the event of a
    dispute at the scorer's table, the referee's decision is final.