WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (WBDA)
2019 OFFICIALS’ GAME RULES
The WBDA season runs May through August
(Women’s NCAA rules apply as DEFAULT to items not listed)
“The chart below lists the members of the committee who voted on and approved the rules
included in this edition of the book.”
Rules Committee
Crystal Weeks Atlanta, Ga. David Thompson St Louis, MO
Tyrone Jones Macon, Ga. Kenzell Hendricks Columbia, SC
Earl Richards W. Columbia, SC
RULE 1 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
1. Participating teams must have at least 5 players to begin games.
2. Team Roster is limited to 15 players and each eligible player is allowed to dress-out and
play.
3. Teams may add a player if their roster falls below 7, due to signings or injuries (Not to
exceed 7 players)
4. Jersey numbers 00 – 99 are permitted
5. Anytime there is a potential forfeiture situation, the host team or visiting team must
contact the WBDA immediately. Teams must contact the WBDA office at least a day in
advance of the forfeiture.
RULE 2 OFFICIALS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section 1 The Officials
Art 1. The officials shall be:
a. 3 WBDA Registered Officials
b. A referee and two umpires;
c. The table crew consists of one timer, one scorer, and a shot-clock operator, who shall
assist the referee and umpires. The table crew must be trained personnel.
8
© WBDA 2019 | Confidential & Proprietary
Subject to Revision. This Operations and Resource Manual, and all policies and procedures contained within, are
subject to revision at any time in the sole discretion of the WBDA. If revisions are made, the WBDA will issue
replacement pages for the manual for team owners and staff to insert or formal written notice of the changes will
be made via email.
Art 2. The officials’ uniform shall be a WBDA league approved shirt and black pants. No
variation in the color or style of this uniform is permitted.
Art. 3. The scorers, timers, and shot-clock operator shall be located at the scorers’ table at
courtside, as near to the division line as possible. Note: It is recommended that the official
scorer be seated next to the official timer.
RULE 3 SCORING AND TIMING
Section 1. Regulation Time
Art 1. The game will consist of 4 – 10-minute Quarters
Section 2. Halftime
Art 1. Halftime will be 15 minutes
Section 3. Overtime
Art 1. Overtime will be 5 minutes.
Note: Complete Regulation Clock during overtime; no running clocks
Section 4. Starting Clock
Art 1. Clock will restart upon the dropping of referee’s arm or when the player touches a live ball
inbounds.
Section 5. Jump ball or Held Ball
Art 1. A held ball occurs when an opponent places her hand(s):
a. So firmly on the ball that control cannot be obtained without undue roughness; or
b. On the ball to prevent an airborne player from throwing the ball or attempting a try and
both players return with both hands on the ball or the airborne player returns to the
playing court never losing control of the ball.
Section 6. Alternating Possession Arrow
Art 1. The alternating possession procedure is a method of putting the ball in play with a throw-
in rather than a jump ball.
Art. 2. The ball shall be put in play by the team entitled to the alternating-possession throw-in at
9
© WBDA 2019 | Confidential & Proprietary
Subject to Revision. This Operations and Resource Manual, and all policies and procedures contained within, are
subject to revision at any time in the sole discretion of the WBDA. If revisions are made, the WBDA will issue
replacement pages for the manual for team owners and staff to insert or formal written notice of the changes will
be made via email.
a designated spot nearest to where:
a. A double or simultaneous free-throw violation occurs unless another free throw or a
throw-in is to follow.
b. After both teams commit a free-throw violation, or a technical foul occurs when there is
no team control.
c. A live ball lodges between the backboard and the ring or comes to rest on the flange.
d. The ball becomes dead when neither team is in control and no goal or infraction, or end
of a period, is involved.
e. An inadvertent whistle occurs, and there is no player or team control.
The ball was last touched simultaneously by two opponents, both of whom are inbounds or out
of bounds, or when the officials are in doubt as to who last touched the ball.
Section 7. Shot Clock
Art. 1. A shot clock is one of the two official visible timepieces that display the amount of time
the team in control has to release a try for a field goal so that it hits the ring or the flange.
a. A 24-second shot clock(s) are required.
Section 8. Horn Usage
Art 1. The horn will be used for the following reasons:
a. Used when substitution is made
b. Used to contact Referee after a Whistle or to stop clock
c. Player fouling out (6 fouls)
d. Auto at the end of period
e. Team fouls limit – Scorekeeper to signal 7 and 10 if not displayed on scoreboard.
Section 9. Last Minute of half and Overtime
Art 1. At 59.9 seconds in the 2 nd , 4 th and overtime quarters the game clock shall stop after a made
basket and/or whistle. The clock will restart when the legal throw-in is complete
Section 10. Timeouts
Art 1. Regulation Game Timeouts
a. There will be 3-30 second timeouts and 1-60 second timeout per half.
Art 2. Media Timeouts
10
© WBDA 2019 | Confidential & Proprietary
Subject to Revision. This Operations and Resource Manual, and all policies and procedures contained within, are
subject to revision at any time in the sole discretion of the WBDA. If revisions are made, the WBDA will issue
replacement pages for the manual for team owners and staff to insert or formal written notice of the changes will
be made via email.
a. There will be 2 media timeouts. Each shall occur at the first dead ball after 8 minutes and
after 4 minutes. When either team uses a timeout before 9 minutes or 5 minutes that timeout will
automatically become the media timeout.
Art 3. Overtime Timeouts
a. Each team is allowed 2-30 seconds timeouts
Section 11. Advancement of Ball
Art 1. If a timeout is charged to the team in control of the ball or to be awarded the ball for a
throw-in during the last 59.9 seconds of the fourth period and/or any extra period and
a. After securing the ball from a rebound in the backcourt and before any advance of the
ball, or
b. After the offensive team secures control of the ball from a change of possession any
before any advance of the ball.
The team granted the timeout shall have the option of putting the ball back into play by a throw-
in in its frontcourt 28 feet from the end line on either side of the playing court.
RULE 4 FREE THROWS
Section 1. Bonus Free Throws
Art 1. On the opponents 5 th team foul, team A will be awarded 2 bonus free throws
For any questions about the above rules and guidelines please contact the Director of Officials.
WBDA 
