Coptic League Basketball Rulebook – 2025 Season

Coptic League Basketball Rulebook

2026 Season
Last Revised: February 14, 2026
Contents
  1. Authority & Governance
  2. Eligibility
  3. Divisions & Age Requirements
  4. Uniforms & Dress Code
  5. Sportsmanship & Discipline
  6. Game Operations
  7. Game Rules & Timing
  8. Playoffs
  9. Appeals, Protests & Interpretation
  10. Appendix A – Division Age Eligibility Table (2026)

Article 1 – Authority & Governance

Rule 1.1 – Ecclesiastical & Organizational Authority

1.1.1 The Coptic League operates under the Coptic Orthodox Sports Ministry, which is currently part of the Department of Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles.
1.1.2 The Department of Youth is headed by Fr. Antony Paul, who reports directly to His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion.

Rule 1.2 – League Authority

1.2.1 All League Committee members are appointed and responsible for organizing, coordinating, and supervising League activities.
1.2.2 Appointed League Committee members retain authority over all coaches, assistant coaches, players, site coordinators, spectators, and any individuals present at League events.

Rule 1.3 – Acceptance of Authority

1.3.1 Participation in the Coptic League constitutes agreement to comply with all League rules, policies, and decisions.

Rule 1.4 – Game-Day Authority

1.4.1 League-appointed referees and attending League Committee members have full authority to enforce League rules and impose penalties.
1.4.2 Referees and Committee members may modify game setup or operations as necessary to ensure safety, sportsmanship, and fair play.
1.4.3 League-appointed referees have final authority regarding in-game rulings, subject to League rules.

Article 2 – Eligibility

Rule 2.1 – Parish Oversight & Authority

2.1.1 All teams participate under the authority of their parish priest.
2.1.2 Each parish priest is responsible for approving all rosters and all coaching staff representing their church across all divisions.
2.1.3 All coaches and players are expected to register with the knowledge and approval of their parish priest. The League reserves the right to request parish confirmation at any time. If a coach or player is found to be ineligible or not approved by their parish priest, they may be removed from the roster. Any games in which an unapproved or ineligible individual participated may be subject to forfeiture.

Rule 2.2 – Baptism & Church Attendance

2.2.1 All coaches and players must be baptized members of the Coptic Orthodox Church or one of its recognized sister churches: the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch (including the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church of India), the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Eritrean Orthodox Church, or the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
2.2.2 All coaches and players should also be actively attending a Coptic Orthodox Church at the time of participation. Players from recognized sister churches are expected to be actively attending a Coptic Orthodox Church.

Rule 2.3 – Coach Eligibility

2.3.1 – Appointment & Standards

2.3.1.1 All Head and Assistant Coaches must be formally appointed by the parish priest.
2.3.1.2 Coaches serve as servants and role models and are held to a higher standard of conduct.
2.3.1.3 Coaches must be the same gender as the team they are coaching.

2.3.2 – Coaching Presence & Dual Roles

2.3.2.1 A registered member of the coaching staff must be present for the duration of each game, subject to division-specific provisions.
2.3.2.2 Coaching and playing dual-role eligibility varies by division:
  • Men's and Women's Divisions: A registered coach may also be a player, but may serve either as a coach or as a player in a given game, not both.
  • Geezers (Old Timers) Division: A registered coach may also be a player, and no additional non-playing coach is required.
2.3.2.3 Failure to meet applicable coaching presence requirements results in forfeiture without rescheduling.
2.3.2.4 For all divisions, a registered coach from the same parish, including from a different division, may substitute on a limited, non-recurring basis with League approval.

Rule 2.4 – Player Eligibility

2.4.1 – Registration & Team Assignment

2.4.1.1 Coaches are responsible for verifying that all players are properly registered and eligible.
2.4.1.2 Use of an ineligible or unregistered player results in game forfeiture.
2.4.1.3 Once a player is registered and the registration period closes or the season begins (whichever occurs first), the player may not switch teams for any reason.

2.4.2 – Identification Requirements

2.4.2.1 A valid player must appear on the official team roster published on the League website.
2.4.2.2 Government-issued identification verifying date of birth is mandatory during registration.
2.4.2.3 Acceptable forms include a passport, passport card, birth certificate, driver's license, or state identification card.
2.4.2.4 School-issued identification is not accepted.

Article 3 – Divisions & Age Requirements

3.1 Division eligibility is determined strictly by year of birth.
3.2 Specific age cutoffs, overlap provisions, and division definitions are published annually in Appendix A.

Article 4 – Uniforms & Dress Code

Rule 4.1 – Uniform Standards

4.1.1 Each player must wear an approved team uniform with a registered jersey number.
4.1.2 Jersey numbers may not be duplicated on the same team.
4.1.3 Jerseys should display the team name rather than the church name. New teams must submit their team name and jersey concept to the League for approval to avoid duplication or conflicts in naming or design.

Rule 4.2 – Jersey Consistency & Apparel Compliance

4.2.1 Players must wear their registered jersey number for the entire season.
4.2.2 Teams must have reversible or alternate jerseys available at all games.
4.2.3 By default, home teams are expected to wear lighter-colored jerseys and away teams are expected to wear darker-colored jerseys. However, coaches are encouraged to coordinate jersey colors with their opponents in advance of each game. If teams arrive wearing similar colors and referees determine the game cannot be officiated effectively, the team that did not make a reasonable effort to coordinate may be asked to change or may forfeit at the discretion of the referees.
4.2.4 Jerseys should be tucked in. Violations may result in a warning followed by a two-shot technical foul.

Article 5 – Sportsmanship & Discipline

Rule 5.1 – Christian Conduct & Sportsmanship

5.1.1 The League seeks to promote Christian behavior, respect, and sportsmanship at all times.
5.1.2 Profanity, taunting, or unsportsmanlike conduct by players or coaches is prohibited.
5.1.3 Such conduct may result in a two-shot technical foul, subject to referee judgment.

Rule 5.2 – Fighting

5.2.1 Fighting by players results in a minimum three-game suspension.
5.2.2 Fighting by coaches may result in suspension up to and including permanent ban from the League.
5.2.3 Spectators engaging in misconduct will be removed from the premises. Repeated misconduct by spectators associated with a particular team may result in disciplinary action against the team, up to and including forfeiture of games or suspension from League events, as determined by the League Committee.

Rule 5.3 – Bench Conduct

5.3.1 Only registered players and coaches may occupy the bench.
5.3.2 Players must remain seated unless instructed otherwise by a referee.

Rule 5.4 – Disciplinary Review

5.4.1 All suspensions and major disciplinary actions are subject to League Committee review.
5.4.2 Where available, game recordings or video footage may be used to determine severity and duration of discipline.

Article 6 – Game Operations

Rule 6.1 – Start Time & Forfeits

6.1.1 Teams are granted a five-minute grace period.
6.1.2 Failure to comply results in forfeiture without rescheduling.

Rule 6.2 – Scheduling

6.2.1 Schedule changes are not permitted except approved game swaps.
6.2.2 All swaps require written approval from all teams involved and League confirmation.

Rule 6.3 – Facility Conduct

6.3.1 Food, drinks, and noise-making equipment are prohibited in gymnasiums.
6.3.2 Teams playing the final game must ensure the facility is left spotless.

Article 7 – Game Rules & Timing

Rule 7.1 – Governing Rules

7.1.1 All gameplay follows official NFHS High School Basketball Rules unless modified herein.

Rule 7.2 – Game Length

7.2.1 Regulation consists of two 20-minute running-time halves.
7.2.2 Clock stoppage rules apply only in designated end-of-game scenarios.

Rule 7.3 – Overtime Procedures

7.3.1 First & Second Overtime: 4 minutes running time.
7.3.2 Third Overtime: 2 minutes running time.
7.3.3 Fourth Overtime: First team to score three (3) points wins.

Rule 7.4 – Fouls & Penalties

7.4.1 Technical fouls result in two free throws and possession.
7.4.2 Two technical fouls in a game result in ejection and one-game suspension.

Article 8 – Playoffs

Rule 8.1 – Qualification

8.1.1 Playoff inclusion and format are determined annually by the League.

Rule 8.2 – Seeding & Tiebreakers

8.2.1 Standings are determined by overall winning percentage during the regular season.
8.2.2 When two teams are tied in the standings, the regular season head-to-head record is used as the tiebreaker. If one team won both head-to-head matchups, that team takes the higher seed.
8.2.3 When three or more teams are tied, the combined record of each team against the other teams involved in the tie is used to break the tie. If the teams involved have not played each other an equal number of times, winning percentage among those matchups is used instead of total wins.
8.2.4 If the procedures above do not resolve the tie, the point differential in games between the tied teams is used.
8.2.5 If the tie still remains, overall season point differential is used as the final tiebreaker.

Rule 8.3 – Admission Fees

8.3.1 A nominal entrance fee applies to all non-participating individuals during playoffs and finals.

Article 9 – Appeals, Protests & Interpretation

Rule 9.1 – Authority of Interpretation

9.1.1 The League Committee retains sole authority to interpret and apply all rules contained in this Rulebook.
9.1.2 Any situation not explicitly covered herein shall be decided by the League Committee in alignment with the spirit and mission of the Coptic League.

Rule 9.2 – Game Protests

9.2.1 Protests regarding rule misapplication (not judgment calls) must be submitted in writing by the Head Coach within twenty-four (24) hours of the conclusion of the game.
9.2.2 Judgment calls made by League-appointed referees are final and are not subject to protest. For example, a referee's decision to call or not call a foul during live play is a judgment call and cannot be protested. However, a technical foul resulting in ejection and potential suspension is a disciplinary action subject to League Committee review under Rule 5.4.1 and may be protested accordingly.
9.2.3 The League Committee may review game footage, reports from officials, and written statements when evaluating a protest.

Rule 9.3 – Eligibility Disputes

9.3.1 Eligibility concerns must be submitted in writing to the League Committee.
9.3.2 The League Committee may request documentation, parish confirmation, or additional verification when reviewing eligibility matters.
9.3.3 Decisions regarding eligibility are final.

Appendix A – Division Age Eligibility Table (2026 Season)

A valid government-issued ID with birthdate is required for all players (passport, birth certificate, driver's license, or state identification card).
Division Birth Year Requirement
Junior High Boys Born September 1, 2011 or later. Those born Sept 1, 2011 – Aug 31, 2012 may choose Junior High or High School.
High School Girls Born September 1, 2007 or later. Those born Sept 1, 2007 – Aug 31, 2008 may choose High School or Women's.
High School Boys Born September 1, 2007 or later. Those born Sept 1, 2007 – Aug 31, 2008 may choose High School or Men's.
Women's League Born 2009 or earlier. Those born in 2009 may choose High School or Women's.
Men's League Born 2009 or earlier. Those born in 2009 may choose High School or Men's.
Geezers League (35+) Born 1991 or earlier. If born 1992 or later, you are ineligible.
Exception for Women's & Men's Divisions: Players born after 2009 who don't have HS teams available in their churches to join, and have agreement with coaches, may participate but assume the risks of playing with older competition.
End of Rulebook · The Coptic League · Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles