Rules & Policies
Official Future 360 League™ rules governing game play, uniforms, brand exclusivity, eligibility, and league authority.
Game Play Rules
- Four 8-minute quarters.
- Clock runs continuously except for timeouts, injuries, official reviews, free throws when directed, the final two minutes of Q4, and the final minute of overtime.
- Halftime: 5 minutes. Quarter breaks: 1 minute.
- Overtime periods: 2 minutes; additional OT continues until a winner is determined.
- 4th Grade: 28.5-inch basketball.
- 5th Grade: 28.5-inch basketball.
- 6th Grade: 28.5-inch basketball.
- All divisions play on regulation 10-foot baskets.
- Two full timeouts per game. Two (30 seconds) timeouts per game.
- One additional timeout per overtime period.
- Unused timeouts do not carry into overtime.
- Bonus free throws begin on the fifth team foul of each quarter.
- Team fouls reset every quarter.
- Players foul out after five personal fouls.
- Man-to-man and zone defenses are permitted.
- Full-court pressure permitted unless restricted by the sportsmanship rule.
- No full-court press when leading by 20+ points.
- Once the lead drops below 15, full-court pressure may resume.
- Every active player must participate in each game.
- Coaches must provide meaningful opportunities to all players.
- League may set a minimum participation standard pre-season.
- Time may be reduced for injury, illness, discipline, missed practices, or conduct violations.
- Substitutions occur during any dead ball.
- Players must report to the scorer's table before entering.
- Substitutions may not delay the game.
- 25+ point lead in the second half → clock runs continuously.
- Clock only stops for injuries and official timeouts.
- Full-court pressure is prohibited while active.
- Taunting, fighting, or threatening language.
- Excessive arguing with officials.
- Leaving the bench during an altercation.
- Disrespectful gestures.
- Unsportsmanlike social media activity related to the league.
Players, coaches, parents, and owners may be warned, suspended, removed, or dismissed for violations.
Uniform Policy
- Official franchise jersey.
- Official franchise shorts.
- Approved socks and basketball shoes.
- Any required league warmup during introductions or designated events.
- Cutting sleeves or shorts.
- Removing logos or adding personal logos.
- Adding unofficial patches.
- Changing jersey numbers.
- Adding names, slogans, or messages.
- Modifying the fit in a way that changes official appearance.
- Players wear the number assigned on the official roster.
- No exchanging jerseys without approval.
- Duplicate numbers not permitted on the same team.
- Number changes require league administration approval.
Permitted: compression shirts/shorts, leg sleeves, arm sleeves, tights.
All visible undergarments must match the team's approved color palette, be solid-colored, worn consistently with the uniform, and comply with the league's brand policy.
- Headbands, wristbands, protective sleeves.
- Mouthguards.
- Prescription sports eyewear.
- League-approved protective equipment.
- Jewelry, watches, chains, earrings.
- Hard hair accessories.
- Unsafe or unapproved equipment.
Officials may require any item to be removed if it presents a safety concern.
Brand Exclusivity & No Brand Crossing
Future 360 League may establish official relationships with apparel, footwear, equipment, and presenting partners. Players, coaches, owners, and staff must respect those partnerships during official league activity.
During games, media day, draft night, championship events, official appearances, and league-produced content, participants must wear:
- League-issued apparel.
- Franchise-issued apparel.
- League-approved accessories.
- Approved footwear and equipment.
- Competing-brand shirt under jersey with visible logo.
- Competing-brand shorts with the official jersey.
- Unauthorized warmups over the official uniform.
- Covering or removing an official sponsor logo.
- Adding a competing-brand patch or logo.
- Unauthorized branded headbands, sleeves, socks, or accessories.
- Apparel from another youth program, travel team, school team, or league.
- Promoting another organization during official league media.
- Basketball shoes may be governed separately from apparel.
- Unless a footwear-exclusive agreement is announced, players may wear the basketball shoes of their choice.
- Shoes must be safe and appropriate for indoor basketball.
- No alterations displaying offensive, political, discriminatory, or unauthorized promotional content.
If an official footwear agreement is adopted, requirements will be published before registration or the season begins.
Coaches, team staff, franchise owners, scorekeepers, and league personnel must wear approved league or franchise apparel while working official events.
Consequences may include:
- Verbal warning.
- Requirement to remove or replace the unauthorized item.
- Player held out until compliant.
- Team or owner fine.
- Suspension.
- Loss of league privileges for repeated violations.
No child should be publicly embarrassed over an apparel violation — issues are handled privately with the parent or responsible adult.
Player Eligibility
The league is divided into 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Divisions.
A player must be enrolled in the grade division for which they register during the current academic year.
Acceptable documentation may include:
- Birth certificate.
- Passport.
- State identification.
- School enrollment record.
- Official school document.
- Other documentation approved by the commissioner.
Grade-specific age cutoff dates may be established each season.
Players must be actively enrolled in a public, private, charter, approved homeschool, or another recognized educational program. Proof of grade may be required.
The league primarily serves Memphis and the surrounding Mid-South area, including:
- Memphis, Cordova, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville.
- Lakeland, Arlington, Millington.
- Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, West Memphis.
- Other communities approved by the league.
The commissioner has final authority over geographic eligibility.
- Registration form.
- Parent or guardian information.
- Proof of age and grade.
- Medical information and emergency contact.
- Liability waiver.
- Media consent or opt-out.
- Code of conduct.
- Payment or approved payment plan.
- Combine participation.
- League approval.
All new players must attend an approved league combine unless excused by the commissioner. Missing the combine does not guarantee placement; makeup evaluations may be held.
Draft eligibility requires: registration approved, documentation verified, payment satisfied, combine completed, and conduct requirements accepted.
- One Future 360 League roster per season.
- May not play for two franchises.
- May not participate in a different grade division without written approval.
- Playing up requires commissioner and basketball ops approval.
- Playing down is not permitted absent a documented league exception.
Players may participate on school, travel, AAU, church, or recreational teams unless a conflict or exclusivity policy is published. Future 360 League obligations take priority during scheduled games, playoffs, championships, and mandatory league events.
Players must remain in good academic and behavioral standing and comply with attendance standards and conduct codes.
- Player removal.
- Game forfeiture.
- Coach suspension.
- Owner discipline.
- Loss of draft privileges.
- Franchise fine.
- Additional commissioner sanctions.
Final Authority
The Future 360 League commissioner and basketball operations department have final authority over:
Player safety · Fair competition · Youth development · Sportsmanship · League integrity.
These rules should be reviewed by legal counsel, the facility operator, and the league's insurance provider before the first season.