2007 - 2008 Basketball Guide

Regular Season Guide
Tournament Season Guide
Forms

The V.P.A. Basketball Committee will develop and edit guidelines and establish practices to promote the best interest of member schools and students in the sport of basketball. The Committee will recommend policies for season and tournament participation, establish tournament dates and sites and govern the events.

Volunteer V.P.A. member principals and athletic directors will be selected to represent various division size schools and regional districts of the state.

2007-2008 NFHS Rules Change (Points of Emphasis)
In the front of the NFHS Rules Book (page 2) the Rule change, Editorial Changes and Points of Emphasis are listed. Please make sure you have reviewed them. Note: #1 players are required to wear colored mouth guards. The mouth guard should be of a readily visible color, other than white or clear. Note# 2 as of winter 2007, home uniforms must be white.

Regular Season:

1. Official National Federation rules will be used during the regular and tournament season.
2. Winter Season - The winter season for girls & boys basketball shall open Monday, November 12th, and ends March 8th (March1st Boys end, March 8th Girls).
3. There is a twenty game limit in varsity basketball excluding end of season state tournament. (J.V. and Freshmen teams are limited to 20 games maximum).
4. To qualify for post season play, a team must have played a minimum of twelve games. The first three games of a regularly scheduled series with any one opponent, and no more than three opponents, are all that will be counted, unless principals of the competing schools have agreed upon which three games shall be counted, and should so inform the Basketball Committee through the Executive Director.
5. Scrimmages are not counted. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SCRIMMAGES DURING THE REGULAR SEASON IS FOUR. During tournament time only schools in the tournament may scrimmage.
6.MOUTHGUARDS: Required of all players during all games and practices. Players in violation during game play will be asked to leave the contest and such player may not re-enter the contest until the next opportunity to substitute.
7. During a full time-out cheerleaders should be limited to one cheer per school. A coach should be with cheer leading squad at all times.
8. If a school receives more than two ejections, by coaches or players during the regular season and/or tournament, the coach, AD and/or principal will be required to meet with the Activities Standards Committee before being allowed in to continue in the tournament.

Tournament Information

1. Selection Procedure:
a. Teams must file an application with the V.P.A.
b. Teams must play in the division for which they have been classified by the Activities Standards Committee according to policy.
2. All regular season games played away from the home court will be awarded "away points" in the index system for seeding to VPA Tournament. When completing application, under the space marked Place, use H for Home Games, A for Away games.
3. FOR (BOYS): FINAL APPLICATIONS MUST BE ELECTRONICALLY FILED NO LATER THAN 10:00 A.M. (FEBRUARY 14, 2008.) PLEASE LIST THE ENTIRE SEASON'S SCHEDULE WITH RECORD AND INDEX POINT TOTALS ON THE APPLICATION.
FOR (GIRLS): FINAL APPLICATIONS MUST BE ELECTRONICALLY FILED NO LATER THAN 10:00 A.M. (FEBRUARY 21, 2008.) PLEASE LIST THE ENTIRE SEASON'S SCHEDULE WITH RECORD AND INDEX POINT TOTALS ON THE APPLICATION.
The regular season ends (February 13, 2008) for boys and (February 20, 2008) for girls, and only the first three games between the same opponents will be counted.
4. Required starting time for tournament games not hosted by Barre and UVM:
Evening, single game: Start at 7:00 P.M.
*Afternoon, single game: Start at 2:00 P.M.
*Afternoon, double-header: Start at 1:00 P.M., 2nd game approximately 3:00 P.M.
*Evening, double-header: Start at (6:00) P.M., 2nd game approximately (8:00) P.M.
*Subject to change by agreement with tournament hosts.
If for any reason a starting time is changed, approval must be granted by the Executive Director in advance of any public announcement. If local conditions demand a change in starting time, approval must be granted by the observers on the spot. Care and caution must be taken in changing any time, especially where teams have to travel. Starting times should never be made earlier unless adequate announcement has been given. In general, the higher paired team will play the second game during all two-game events. This practice may be varied upon special request from far distant schools competing on school nights.
5. Sites and officials for all games will be assigned through the V.P.A. office by the Basketball
Committee. The higher paired team will be host for play down and quarterfinals if the gym is suitable.
a. Suitable floors must be wood surface, 84' x 50' minimum, and have a seating capacity of 300 minimum. Waivers may be granted if written request to the VPA office is made prior to (December 1, 2007). A sub-committee has been established to hear appeals.
b. The VPA Basketball Committee has voted not to approve the following courts:
Peoples
Whitcomb
Twin Valley
Rocheste
Proctor
Craftsbury
Thetford
Cabot
South Royalton

6. After the tournament pairings and sites of semi-final and final games have been officially announced, none of the competing teams may practice or scrimmage on these courts. Any violation of this regulation will mean immediate disqualification for the remainder of the tournament.
(Tournament sites refer to Barre Auditorium and UVM).
7. Through the quarter finals, with prior arrangements made the day before, participating teams may request a minimum of 15 minutes of floor time to be completed 40 minutes before game time.Half-time may be up to 15 minutes in length (semi-finals and finals at Barre and UVM).

8. PLAY DOWN DATES:

BOYS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday- Feb. 18, 19,20

GIRLS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday- Feb. 25, 26,27

QUARTER-FINALS:

BOYS: Friday and Saturday-February 22 and 23.

GIRLS: Friday and Saturday, February 29 and March 1.

Playdown and quarter-final dates are subject to change by the VPA.
Every attempt will be made to develop tournament dates and sites well in advance, but with the understanding due to circumstances beyond the control of the Vermont Principals' Association, such tournament dates and sites may be subject to change and/or tournament games may be in conflict if a school has more than one team participating in post season play.

Application for admission to a tournament is made with the understanding that if selected for a tournament, the team will participate in said tournament under the conditions as stated above.

2008
VERMONT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TOURNAMENTS
BARRE AUDITORIUM AND UVM SCHEDULE

Monday-February 25 (BA)
6:30 PM-Division IV (Highest Seed) Semi-Final
8:15 PM-Division II Semi-Final

Wednesday-February 27 (UVM)
7:00 PM-Division I Semi-Final
9:00 PM-Division I Semi-Final
*Travel consideration will determine who plays first.

Wednesday- February 27 (BA)
6:30 PM-Division IV Semi-Final
8:15 PM-Division Il Semi-Final

Thursday-February 28 (BA)
6:30 PM-Division lIISemi-Final
8:15 PM-Division III Semi-Final
*Travel consideration will determine who plays first.

Monday-March 3 (UVM)
7:00 PM - Division I Final (PENDING FINAL UVM SCHEDULE)

Saturday-March 1 (BA)
Noon-Division IV Final
3:45 PM-Division II Final
7:30 PM-Division III Final

2008
VERMONT HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS
BARRE AUDITORIUM AND UVM SCHEDULE

Monday-March 3 (BA)
6:30 PM-Division IV Semi-Final (Highest Seed)
8:15 PM-Division II Semi-Final

Tues., March 4 (UVM)
7:00 PM-Division I Semi-Final
*Travel consideration will determine who plays first.
9:00 PM-Division I Semi-Final

Wednesday-March 5 (BA)
6:30 PM-Division IV Semi-Final
8:15 PM-Division IISemi-Final

Thursday-March 6 (BA)
6:30 PM-Division III Semi-Final
8:15 PM-Division III Semi-Final
*Travel consideration will determine who plays first.

Friday, March 7 (UVM) 7:00 PM-Division I Final
(PENDING FINAL UVM SCHEDULE)

Saturday-March 8 (BA)
12:00 noon- Division IV Final
3:45 PM-Division II Final
7:30 PM-Division III Final

9. SIZE OF SQUAD: Each team will be allowed to dress a maximum of fifteen (15) players for any contest. Nineteen team chairs will be the maximum number permitted, including a combination of coaches, players, statisticians and manager. It is the tournament director's responsibility to see that the seating on the benches includes only these people named.
10. The higher paired team will be designated at the time of the pairings, and will be the home team. The rule book indicates an official uniform. In our tournament, the higher paired team will wear the white uniform and will be designated as the home team and the visiting team will wear the colored uniform. In the event there is not enough contrast in the color of the uniforms between the two teams, the referee is directed to INSTRUCT THE VISITING TEAM TO APPEAR ON THE FLOOR WITH BIBS IN A COLOR CONTRASTING TO THEIR UNIFORM AND NUMBERED. The higher paired team will wear the light colored jersey throughout the tournament. Teams maintain original seed throughout the entire tournament.
11. The game ball will be furnished by the host school for playdowns and quarter-finals. Rawlings will be the tournament ball in 2008. Each team should bring its own towels, fruit, gum, etc.
12. The principal of the participating school is responsible for the knowledge and implementation of crowd control procedures for spectators from that school. He/she should report their presence to the Tournament or Site Director.
13. Confetti, etc. is forbidden. Violators will be asked to leave. School officials should explain to students the objectionable abuses of confetti. Serious efforts should be taken to prevent its being carried to game sites. (Horns and other loud devices are also prohibited.)
14. Pep bands are allowed through the quarter-finals.
15. TICKETS: Winning coaches may request one pair of complimentary tickets for scouting purposes. This request must be made directly to the tournament director by the principal. Two and only two
tickets will be issued and held at the window.
A limited number of general admission tickets are available for members of the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association. They can be purchased through their Ex Dir., Dave Fredrickson at 442-8075 and must be reserved at least 24 hours prior to the semi final or final game. The officials association will be responsible for any orders not picked up.

Teams eliminated from the competition may request blocks of seventeen tickets to be purchased
upon arrival at the tournament site. Tournament directors must receive the block purchase request at least one day before the game. The head coach of any team eliminated in the playdown, quarter-final tournaments may obtain two complimentary tickets for the next game in which the team would have been involved. The head coach of any team in any division eliminated in the semi-finals is entitled to two (2) complimentary tickets for that division of the state finals. The request for tickets must be made to the tournament director. Tickets will not be sent unless they are requested. It is intended for everyone to know that no player or coach is entitled to free admission at a tournament site except when their team is playing on that occasion. One exception: The coach of a team eliminated may receive two tickets for the next game in that division.

Tickets for the next game. Check with director immediately following the game. Take home with you the next game supplies.
Parents of students competing in the tournament are allowed to purchase two (2) tickets at the school site.

STUDENT TICKETS: School officials must exercise care to insure that only students are sold student tickets. Schools receive tickets on a pro rata basis depending on the total enrollment of the school. It is the duty of the principal to request and obtain the number of tickets desired (you cannot exceed your quota which will be announced by the local tournament director). Schools will be charged for the exact number of tickets ordered, unless those unsold tickets are returned to the tournament director by the prescribed deadline. It will be the duty of the local tournament director to contact the schools in the event that all student tickets have not been utilized; in this event, schools may exceed their quota. Principals should cooperate with the tournament director especially on unsold tickets. The winners of the Division I boys quarter final games should contact the UVM Ticket Office as soon as possible about obtaining authorized tickets. The winners of the Division I girls quarter final games should contact UVM as soon as possible about obtaining authorized tickets. The winners of semi-final games should obtain the tickets the night of the game.

16. TOURNAMENT AWARDS: In the State Finals, winners in each division will receive a trophy emblematic of the championship of their division. The finalists in each division will receive a plaque. In the finals the game balls will be presented to the coaches of the winning teams. Twenty
individual awards will be given to the teams in the finals.
The winner of the Division I Girls championship game will be awarded, for one year, the rotating Vermont State Board of Approved Basketball Officials' Trophy. Jim Hoag Memorial Trophy
The winner of the Division II Girls championship game will be awarded, for one year, the
Rutland Herald Rotating Interscholastic Trophy.
The winner of the Division III Girls championship game will be awarded, for one year, the
Lou Cassani Rotating Interscholastic Trophy.
The winner of the Division IV Girls championship game will be awarded, for one year, the
Robert F. Pierce Memorial Rotating Trophy.
The winner of the Division I Boys championship game will be awarded, for one year, the rotating Roger Sheridan Memorial Trophy, provided by the Vermont State Board of Approved Basketball Officials.
The winner of the Division II Boys championship game will be awarded, for one year, the Times' Argus Rotating Interscholastic Trophy. Jim Hoag Memorial Trophy.
The winner of the Division III Boys championship game will be awarded, for one year, the Times Argus Rotating Interscholastic Trophy.
The winner of the Division IV Boys championship game will be awarded, for one year, the Robert F. Pierce Memorial Rotating Trophy.

17. CHEERLEADERS: If the cheer leading team is going to be in uniform at the semis and finals, 20[Barre] 20 [UVM) cheerleaders and their coach will be admitted at the team gate. The coach should be available to identify the cheerleaders to be admitted. During a time-out cheerleaders will be limited to one cheer per school. In the event that a cheer has not been completed when the buzzer sounds, the cheerleaders are to leave the floor immediately. In each tournament game, one school is designated as the visiting team, and the other as the home team. The amount of cheerleaders that may be on the sidelines will vary due to space.
CHEERLEADERS MAY NOT USE PAPER SHAKERS WHEN THEY PERFORM ON PLAYING SURFACES. Keep cheers as brief as possible. In the event of a school using more time for cheerleading than is practical, the observers shall instruct the cheerleading squad to shorten its cheers. A coach must supervise the cheerleading squad at all times. Due to space limitations, the number of cheerleaders allowed on the sidelines may be limited.