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League Rules

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

  • To ensure fair competition and a safe, competitive environment, participants in Boston Hoops must be 18 years of age or older. This age requirement helps maintain a level playing field and supports the integrity of the league.

  • All players must be registered and paid before participating

  • No walk-ons or unregistered substitutes are allowed

  • Players may only play for one team per season

DRAFT PROCESS

  • Boston Hoops operates as a Draft League. Players register individually, and team rosters are formed through a structured draft prior to the start of the season. This format ensures competitive balance, fairness, and equal opportunity across all teams. No pre-formed teams are allowed.

  • Drafts are done twice a year - the specific season when  it the draft  will be done will be announced prior.

  • Roster Replacements Before Season Start:

    • If, prior to the start of the season, multiple teams are short on players, team captains will be permitted to select replacement players from the official waiting list.

    • To ensure competitive balance, the selection order will follow a reverse seeding format:

      • The last-seeded team from the previous season will receive the first pick in Round 1.

      • The remaining teams will follow in ascending order of seed.

      • If additional replacement players are needed, subsequent rounds (e.g., Round 2, Round 3, etc.) will continue in the same reverse seeding order, unless otherwise determined by league administration.

  • Boston Hoops reserves the right to oversee and finalize all roster adjustments to maintain fairness, transparency, and league integrity.

GAME FORMAT AND STANDINGS

  • Games consist of two halves

  • Running clock, except:  Final 2 minutes of the game (clock stops on whistles), Overtime (if applicable)

  • 2 minute OT period

  • Standings are determined by:

    • Win–Loss Record

    • Point Differential

    • Head-to-Head Result

PLAYOFFS QUALIFICATION

  • All 6 teams qualify for the playoffs

  • Teams are seeded #1 through #6 based on regular-season standings

  • Final seeding is determined by:

    • Win–Loss Record

    • Head-to-Head

    • Point Differential​

Tiebreaker Rule (Standings)

  • To ensure fair and sportsmanlike competition, ties in the standings will be broken using the following order:

    • Head-to-Head Record between the tied teams

    • Point Differential

    • Total Points Scored

    • Coin Toss (if still tied)

  • Head-to-head results are prioritized to reward the outcome of the actual matchup between teams, while point differential is used only as a secondary measure.

  • For three-way (or more) ties: a mini head-to-head record among the tied teams will be evaluated first. If still tied, point differential will be calculated only from the games played among those teams.​​

PLAYOFF STRUCTURE (SINGLE ELIMINATION)

  • The playoffs follow a single-elimination format — lose and you’re out.

  • First Round (Play-In Games)

    • #3 Seed vs #6 Seed

    • #4 Seed vs #5 Seed

      • This rewards the top two teams with  a bye in the first round

  • Semifinals

    • #1 Seed vs Winner of #4/#5

    • #2 Seed vs Winner of #3/#6​​

  • Championship Game

    • Winners of the semifinals play for the Boston Hoops League Championship

    • One game, winner takes all 🏆

PLAYER ELIMINATION AND BANNING POLICY

1. Grounds for Suspension or Ban

Boston Hoops League reserves the right to suspend or permanently ban any player whose behavior is deemed detrimental to the league, including but not limited to:

  • Fighting or physical altercations

  • Threatening or intimidating behavior

  • Repeated technical fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct

  • Verbal abuse toward referees, staff, or other players

  • Use of discriminatory or hateful language

  • Deliberate attempts to injure another player

  • Damage to facilities or equipment

  • Failure to comply with league or facility rules

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2. Immediate Ejection

  • Any player involved in a fight or physical confrontation will be:

    • Immediately ejected

    • Automatically suspended pending league review

  • Ejected players must leave the playing area immediately

  • Failure to comply may result in additional penalties or a permanent ban

​

3. Permanent Bans

  • A permanent ban may be issued for:

    • Fighting

    • Threats of violence

    • Repeat offenses after prior warnings or suspensions

    • Any behavior that jeopardizes player safety, referees, facility or league operations

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4. Team Responsibility

  • Teams are responsible for the conduct of their players

  • Teams that knowingly play a suspended or banned player may face:

    • Game forfeiture

    • Loss of playoff eligibility

    • Team suspension from the league

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5. Zero Tolerance Reminder

  • Boston Hoops League prioritizes:

    • Player safety

    • Respect for officials

    • A positive, competitive environment

  • If you can’t play with respect, you won’t play.

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WEBSITE OWNED & MANAGED BY: BOSTON HOOPS LEAGUE, LLC

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