(Revised December 11, 2007)

I.   General

This by-law is written to govern the league and provide procedures to be followed in the decision making process by the regulatory body.

II. Purpose

The purpose of the Northern California Church League (NCCL) is to provide a positive activity and experience for youth and adults of the Northern California Asian American Church community. To encourage and expand their religious awareness and culture. To encourage good sportsmanship and respect for others. To build self-esteem and the development of interrelationships through a sports league.

III. Organization

The structure of the Board of Directors (B/D's) for the Northern California Church League (NCCL) shall be as follows:

A.    The B/D's will consist of a representative from each participating chapter and the selection of the officers shall be from representatives. The chapters shall advance in office the subsequent year (in order listed in B below.)

1.    Chairperson
2.    Vice Chairperson
3.    Secretary

B.    The NCCL shall consist of the following chapters and each chapter shall have one representative vote in the decision-making process. Additionally, new chapter(s) may enter the league with the B/D's majority approval. The participating chapters and colors are:

1.    Sac. Japanese United Methodist Church - Green and White
2.    Stockton Buddhist Church - Gold and Black
3.    Sacramento Nichiren Church - Black and White
4.    Stockton Calvary Presbyterian Church - Blue and Gold
5.    Florin Buddhist Church - Blue and White
6.    Parkview Presbyterian Church - Gold and Blue
7.    Chinese Community Church - Maroon and Gold
8.    Sacramento Buddhist Church - Red and White

C.    All decisions shall be made by majority vote except as noted in this policy. The majority vote shall be based on those present at the meeting.

D.   Duties:

1.    Chairperson - Call and conduct meetings and assign duties to representatives as required.
2.    Vice Chairperson - Assist the Chairperson and conduct meetings in the event the Chairperson is not present.
3.    Secretary - Takes minutes of each meeting, prepares amendments, supplement(s) and minutes of the meetings and distributes to the chapter representatives. Also, the incumbent will maintain results of the games.

IV. General Rules And Regulations:

A.    Eligibility of Players

1.    Must have been a registered Sunday School student the prior year (from the fall of the prior year to fall of current year). First year "D" and "E" team players are exempt from this rule.
2.    Must be a regular Sunday School student with an attendance record of sixty percent (60%) or better, exclusive of summer vacation.
3.    A player is ineligible to play in the NCCL while the person is on the roster of a High School Varsity, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman, YBA or NAU team as of the start of and during the current NCCL season. The player shall remain ineligible throughout the duration of the NCCL season.
4.    For all divisions, if a player is on a NCCL chapter roster the previous year, they are not eligible to play for another NCCL chapter the following year unless:

a)   A written request from the parent(s) or Legal Guardian is submitted to the NCCL immediate past chairperson or current chairperson on or before August 1 or written requests to both affected organizations' representatives on or before August 1.
b)   All player(s) submitting the required documents on or before August 1st must be approved by each program, and then by a majority vote by the NCCL B/D's. If either affected program objects to the transfer, then the transfer will be disallowed.
c)    Previous year chapter roster player(s) includes those player(s) who were not eligible to play in the NCCL because that player(s) was on a High School Varsity, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman team roster in previous year or years or players who played for another church because there was not a team in their division at their original church. (i.e. Player(s) must return to the church program that they last played for regardless of years or submit the proper written request for switching.)
d)   Any player(s) not eligible for league play will not be allowed on the league roster.
e)   All players shall play for the NCCL church they attend (added February 2001, effective 2001-2002 season.)

B. Specifications for all Divisions (Girls and Boys)

1.    "B" Division - Grade 12 and under as of the current school year.
2.    "C" Division - Grade 9 and under as of the current school year.
3.    "D" Division - Grade 6 and under as of the current school year.
4.    "E" Division - Grade 4 and under as of the current school year.

C.    Team Roster

1.    Approved team rosters are due by the first league game to the NCCL Secretary and must contain the following:

a)   Division Level
b)   Team - coaches name and telephone number
c)    Name of players, birth date and grade
d)   Asterisk preceding the name(s) of the player(s) who are not Sunday School students of the participating church
e)   Name of the representative, telephone number and address
f)    Signature of the representative

2.    Revised team rosters are due January 1st of that season to the NCCL Secretary.

D.   Waivers and Additions of Players

1.    Waivers, for the ineligible player, will be granted to a player upon approval by the B/D's:

a)   One-year over-age/grade preseason waiver for an ineligible player may be granted but no over-age/grade waiver shall be approved after the season starts.
b)   No waiver shall be granted to a player without an official team roster.

(1) Preseason Meeting

(a) Chapter representatives shall request a hearing from the B/D's Chairperson.
(b) Representative of each chapter shall participate in the hearing as well as the requesting coach and/or representative to state their reason(s) for the waiver.
(c) B/D's shall vote by secret ballot. The passage of a waiver shall require a ¾ vote of approval by all chapters present. The vote is final with no review for reversal.
(d) This procedure applies to all divisions.

(2) Addition of Player(s) During the Season

(a) The addition of a player may be approved only to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of a player. The number of players cannot exceed the team roster approved at the preseason meeting.
(b) The requesting representative must contact all representatives of each participating chapter for their concurrence in writing or e-mail. A decision of approval will require a ¾ vote of support by all chapters, then the player is eligible to play.
(c) All contacted representatives must inform the Chairperson of their decision. Note: The Chairperson shall advise the requesting representative of the result.
(d) The waivered player must sit out fourteen (14) days after the postmark date of the request.
(e) After the approval, the requesting representative must provide an updated team roster reflecting the change(s) of player(s) to each participating chapter representative.
(f) This procedure applies to all divisions.

Any of the above guidelines may be modified under extraordinary circumstances when approved by a majority of the B/D's.

E.    Scorekeeper, Timekeeper and Referees

"B", "C", and "D" division.

• Home team will be responsible to furnish an official scorebook, scorekeeper and timekeeper (i.e. parent volunteer). Time clock is mandatory for all league games.
• The NCCL's Board of Directors will hire a referee association to schedule game referees; costs will be allocated to each organization based upon number of team/games.

"E" division

• Home team will be responsible for a timekeeper and statistician for tracking fouls, timeouts, ball possessions, etc. (i.e. parent volunteer). Time clock is mandatory for all league games.
• Home team and visiting team will each be responsible to provide one volunteer referee (i.e. parent volunteer).
• "E" division will not keep score.

F.    Schedules

1.    Games will be played according to the master game schedule. The team causing the nonperformance of the scheduled game will automatically forfeit the game.
2.    No more than fifteen (15) minutes tardiness will be allowed. Automatic forfeiture will be charged to the team causing the delay of the game.
3.    Exception will be allowed if the delay is caused by the host team gymnasium facility/equipment failure that may be a safety hazard to the players.
4.    Each player will have a last minute contact person(s) in the event of a last minute change for unforeseen reasons.

G.   Dispute

In the event of a dispute, the NCCL Chairperson shall be advised by the dissenting representative no-later-than three (3) days after the game. The Chairperson will call a meeting to furnish details of the dispute.

H.   Uniforms

All players must wear uppers of uniform color with numerals for identification. No sponsored logos allowed on uniform jerseys.

I.    The Player(s) Inciting Fight(s) or Altercation(s) Among Players

1.    Shall be suspended for three (3) consecutive league games.
2.    Further altercation shall result in suspension for the remainder of the season.
3.    If the altercations are continued in the last two (2) games of the season, the player(s) shall be suspended from the first three (3) games of the following season or suspended from future play.
4.    Taunting, trash talking and foul language will result in a technical foul. If a second incident occurs in the same game, the player will be ejected from the game and will be required to sit out the next game.

J.    Coaches, Players, Parents and Supports - Before, During and After Game Conduct

1.    Proper respect, good sportsmanship, and honoring of the standards or purpose set forth by the NCCL are expected at all times.
2.    Any documented cases (NCCL By Laws - Section G) of conduct detrimental to the NCCL and its goals will be reviewed by the NCCL B/D's within two weeks of said case. The NCCL B/D's will determine sanctions and their determination of action is final. These actions can include but are not limited to forfeitures, suspensions, termination and or banning from the league for any and all individuals involved.
3.    Coaches and players receiving two technical fouls resulting in ejection from game will not be allowed to coach or sit on or near bench at the next game.

V. Game Rules

A.    Players in all divisions must play a reasonable amount of time (at least the equivalent of one quarter of playing time). Exception to this rule shall apply only to the handicapped, injured, or player(s) under disciplinary action and the opposing coach must be advised of these exceptions.
B.    Current high school rules and regulations shall apply at all times. This shall apply to both girls and boys divisions.
C.    Exceptions to high school rules:

1.    Playing time for regular season games

"B" Division

• 10 minute quarters, running time.
• Stop time for the last three (3) minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters.
• One (1) minute break between quarters, five (5) minute break at halftime.
• Teams are allowed two (2) timeouts per half. Time outs are one (1) minute and are not cumulative.

"C", "D", Division

• 9 minute quarters, running time
• Stop time for the last two (2) minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters.
• One (1) minute break between quarters, three (3) minute break at halftime.
• Teams are allowed two (2) timeouts per half. Time outs are one (1) minute and are not cumulative.

"E" Division

• Games must start on the hour and end five (5) minutes before the hour.
• 9 minute quarters, running time.
• Stop time for the last two (2) minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters.
• One (1) minute break between quarters, three (3) minute break at halftime.
• Teams are allowed two (2) timeouts per half. Time outs are one (1) minute and are not cumulative.

2.    Extra Period (Over-time)

a)   Starts with jump ball. Subsequent overtime period, the alternate possession rule applies.
b)   After a one (1) minute intermission before each extra period, the first extra period shall be three (3) minutes stop time. Second extra period shall be two (2) minutes stop time. The third extra period shall be sudden death; the team that scores the first point, wins (includes free throws).
c)    Each team shall be permitted one (1) additional time out for each extra period of play.

3.    Free Throws

"B", "C", Division

• Bonus free throw situation (1 & 1) shall be applied on the 7th team foul per half.

"D" Division

• Bonus free throw situation (1 & 1) shall be applied on the 7th team foul per half.
• The free throw line will be the regular line, however the shooter may jump over as the person shoots.

"E" Division

• Will shoot free throws from the bottom line of the circle.
• Bonus free throws only during the last two (2) minutes of each half.

4.    Backcourt Pressure

"D" Division

• No defensive pressure in the backcourt. The basketball must be in the forecourt before any press in the dead ball situation. After the first warning by the referee, it will constitute a modified technical (at discretion of referee, i.e. If done for advantage - then impose) automatic one point for violation and possession to non-offending team.

"E" Division

• No defensive pressure in the backcourt. The basketball must be in the forecourt before any press in the dead ball situation.

5.    Ball

A leather ball or high quality synthetic ball (Wilson Jet, Spalding ZK, or similar) will be used for all divisions. "D" and "E" boys as well as "D" girls will use a women's ball (28.5"), and the "E" girls a youth size ball.

6.    Technical fouls result in automatic 2 points and possession of ball to non-offending team.

VI. The entry fee shall be determined annually by the B/D's.