FSBL Weeknight Practice Schedule

Click here for Practices scheduled for Week of January 25, 2021

This season, NO SPECTATORS are permitted to attend the FSBL High School Basketball League games.  This is a directive from Loudoun County and applies to the FSBL games played in the high schools.

Players and Coaches will only be permitted into the schools on Sundays for games.  Players should show up no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of their game.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Parents, Coaches, and (most importantly) Players:

The LCPR Facility Attendents, the FSBL Board Members, and the Coaches in the league will enforce the following rules:

6f.  On game day NO basketballs are allowed in the gym other than those in the coach’s possession.  Translation:  Players should not bring their personal basketball to the gym!  (unauthorized basketballs will be confiscated and will not be returned that day) 
 
6g.  Shooting at any of the baskets in the gyms or dribbling on the court (which includes the out of bounds area around the court) is not permitted by any individual(s) not playing in the current game during any stoppage of play. This (ibnlt) time-outs, half-time intermissions, end of each quarter and between games.
 
Please help us by letting all players know these rules that will prevent khaos from taking place during every time out and between all games!

Emmanuel Mensah

FSBL Rules Coordinator

A Suggestion on Wearing a Mask during FSBL Practices & Games

The FSBL will be restarting league practices starting on Monday, January 4^th.  The first games of the season will soon follow on Saturday, January 9^th.  Due to a mandate by Loudoun County, all players must now wear mask during practices and games. 

Here is a suggestion on how to wear a facemask that is much more comfortable than wearing the bands on the ears.  Using a plain sports headband, sew one 1 inch button to each side of the headband just in front of the ears.  You can attach the mask bands around the buttons on the headband.  Because the buttons are hard, the mask actually stays on even while running and jumping.  It also doesn’t hurt the ears!  Many medical professionals already use headbands in the hospitals and use this tip.  I would suggest that you try this for your FSBL player.  Headbands can easily be thrown in the washing machine after each game and practice.

As the FSBL currently has a rule that if players on the team wear a headband, that the headbands for everyone be uniform color.  Just coordinate with your team so that everyone will wear the same color headband during league games.  You can definitely find headbands on Amazon,com 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J8HKS4/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1;

at Dick’s Sporting Goods (an FSBL sponsor), or at many of the Leesburg Outlet stores (Adidas / Nike / UnderArmor / Reebok / Puma).  

Happy New Year to All ….. and we’ll see you on the courts soon!

all black shorts = an essential component of a proper uniform!

The following rules should be shared with the game officials in the pre-game conference. The referees won't enforce these rules if you don't explain them in your pre-game conference. These rules are FSBL-specific.

Back Court Pressure & Defense

a.  Coaches may choose to teach the skills associated with either person to person (PTP) defens 03/15/2021 e or zone defense as stipulated in the rules.  FSBL urges coaches and their teams to use both PTP and zone defense during the season. 

b.  Back court pressure is allowed as follows:
 
Girls 34 Division and Boys 34 Division
         
Rule is the same for the entire season

No back court pressure is allowed ….. except for in the last minute of the second (2nd), fourth (4th) & OT quarters.  Defense must remain at the top of the key extended until the offense crosses the half court line.

Player-To-Player (man-to-man) defense only.  Zone defenses are not permitted in our youngest divisions.

A defensive player who is not guarding the player with the ball must remain outside the box (3 second lane) unless the offensive player which they are guarding is inside the box or within a yardstick from the box.  Any Player on the court may pursue a “loose ball” - however once possession is established all players must return to the player they are guarding.  Help defense allowed “in the box only”.  Trapping is not allowed

Playing a Zone Defense will result in a warning for the first (1st) offense and a technical foul for each succeeding offense.
 
Girls 56 Division and Boys 56 Division

Beginning with the First (1st) game in January
No backcourt pressure is allowed in the first (1st) half of the game except in the last minute of the second (2nd) quarter.  Choice of pressure in the second (2nd) half of the game and OT periods.

Player-To-Player defense in the first (1st) half of the game.  A defensive player who is not guarding the player with the ball must remain outside the box (3 second lane) unless the offensive player which they are guarding is inside the box or within a yardstick from the box.  Any Player on the court may pursue a “loose ball” however, if playing PTP defense, once possession is established all players must return to the player they are guarding.

Playing a Zone Defense in the first half of the game will result in a warning for the first (1st) offense and a technical foul for each succeeding offense.

Choice of defense in the second (2nd) half of the game
 
To further clarify this rule:

If I am guarding a player who is stationed on the sideline twenty (20) feet from the basket, I just need to be “Outside the Lane” and "On the same side of the Court” as the player I am guarding.  I do not have to be closely guarding my player (especially when they are away from the basket and not a threat to score). If my defensive player is away from the lane and I have one (1) foot or both feet in the lane - playing a pseudo one (1) man zone defense - that is illegal!

The referees will issue a warning to the team violating this rule the first time. The referees will issue technical fouls for each subsequent violation of this rule.

If you run a spread offense then the defense may look like it is in a zone defense but in this case it is legal as long as no one is in the lane if the player they are guarding is out on the wing.  However, If I am guarding my player and the offensive player I am guarding is in the lane or just outside the lane them I can be in the lane.

If four (4) offensive players are on one side of the court, the defensive players guarding these players must be on the same side of the court outside the lane (if their man is away from the lane).

Finally, once an opposing player has beaten their player on a drive to the basket, the defense can then “help” stop the offensive player “in the lane”.  They may not help outside the lane as that would be defined as double teaming or trapping.  It is legal for players to switch on defense.

Girls 78 Division and Boys 78 Division

Beginning with the First (1st) game in January
Choice of pressure for the entire game.
Choice of defense for the entire game.
 
High School Divisions

Choice of pressure for the entire game.
Choice of defense for the entire game.

(Loose balls are defined as a rebound, lost dribble or bad pass)
 
c.  No house league team (3rd - 8th grade) can back court press if they have a lead of twelve (12) points or more.  High School teams can not back court press if they have a lead of sixteen (16) points or more.

The FSBL Code of Conduct Agreement will pertain to all Players, Coaches, Spectators, Parents & Guardians.  The intent of this Code of Conduct Agreement is to promote sportsmanship and respect for other people and property.  The FSBL Board of Directors, Game Officials, and Loudoun County Parks & Recreation Facility Attendants have the authority to remove an individual from an FSBL playing facility.  Individuals ejected from a playing facility due to violations of the FSBL Code of Conduct Agreement are subject to a minimum of seven (7) days suspension and possible year-long expulsion from FSBL activities.  The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department will also be notified of any extreme incidents. 
1. Good sportsmanship is expected and required from all Coaches, Players and Spectators at all FSBL games.
2. Foul language and/or profanity is strictly prohibited during FSBL activities.
3. Yelling at Referees, Coaches or Players is not acceptable and will lead to ejection from the facility.
4. Interference with the game by a parent, guardian, or spectator  is not acceptable.
5. Vandalism of property at any FSBL facility is grounds for immediate expulsion from the league.
6. Players have an obligation to their team and are expected to attend all practices and games.  Players missing three (3) or more practices or games without an excused absence may be released from that team for the remainder of the season.  Definitions for excused absences can be found on the FSBL website.
7. Intending to cause harm and / or causing harm to Players, Coaches, Referees or FSBL Board of Directors (including verbal threats) is grounds for immediate expulsion from the league.  Confronting coaches, referees or FSBL Board of Directors in a hostile manner either before, during or after a game will lead to immediate expulsion from the FSBL.
8. Children participate in the FSBL to improve their basketball ability and to have FUN!  The league is for the kids and not for the adults.
9. I will insist that my child treat other players, coaches, & officials with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.
10. I will demand a sports environment that is free from drugs, tobacco and alcohol and will refrain from their use at all FSBL events.

FSBL Participant Health

Screening Questionnaire

FSBL Uniformity!

All players must be appropriately dressed to play in each game.  Each player must wear the league issued jersey.  One of the uniform requirements is that each player wear solid black shorts with NO horizontal or vertical stripes, NO words or markings unless the entire team wears the exact same design shorts.  We're seriously talking solid black!  A small, thumbnail-sized, branding logo such as a Nike “swoosh” is permissible.   A team may choose to wear team-logo shorts or other design shorts that match the Jersey as long as everyone on the team wears the same style, design and color shorts.

Players who show up to play without solid black shorts will not be permitted to play in the game (unless their team has decided to go with an entirely different color of shorts)!  Before leaving home to come to the gym, make sure that your son or daughter is properly dressed.  One of our FSBL sponsors, Cheers Sports, carries all-black shorts.

FSBL has received some questions regarding the wearing of shorts with pockets. FSBL players must wear plain solid black shorts with no other colors or designs. The preference is that these shorts have no pockets. Players who wear shorts with pockets are required to keep the pockets empty while participating in games. If items are discovered in the pockets during the game, the player will be removed for the remainder of the game. Repeated violations will lead to further discipline.

All Coaches must wear the league Coaches Polo or a NBA or WNBA Branded shirt of the team they coach.

Players on a team may wear undershirts.  The undershirt should match a color in the jersey or must be white tee shirts.  All players wearing undershirts on a team must wear the same color undershirt.  Players are not required to wear an undershirt under the jersey.  No jewelry, wrist bracelets, watches, necklaces or earrings may be worn by players at all during the game.  Finally, if a player wears eyeglasses - they must wear "rec specs" or a similar product - to play in games.  Regular metal framed glasses are no longer permitted in games.

The FSBL has developed some guidelines we will enforce for all FSBL activities.  Please read the guidelines before attending any FSBL activity.

FSBL COVID-19 Policy

*Revised December 1, 2020