2025-26 SEASON OFFICIAL RULE BOOK
Apply to all SGB Tournaments
Apply to all SGB Tournaments
PDF is available for download here
FORMAT: Four quarters, 10 minutes each.
TIMEOUTS: Each team has TWO timeouts per half. Each timeout is 60 seconds. Timeouts do NOT carry over from the first half to the second."
BONUS: The opposing team will shoot two free throws ON the 5th team foul (so after the 4th team foul, the next one will be bonus). There is no 1-and-1 rule.
STOP CLOCK: Running clock except the last 2 min of the fourth quarter.
QUARTER BREAK: 1 Min; HALF-TIME BREAK: 3 Min (SGB may adjust the break time in the event of significant delayed)
OT: 2 min OT is applied with a stop clock.
SHOCK CLOCK: SGB will use a physical 30-second shot clock for all games. The shot clock shall reset to 30 seconds under standard NCAA Women’s Basketball conditions. No 20-second partial reset.
COACH'S CHALLENGE: Each team will have ONE Coach’s Challenge for ONLY score errors or incorrectly recorded fouls/timeouts. The team cannot challenge anything that is a referee’s judgement call. See below for details.
READ OFFICIAL JERSEY POLICY BELOW: No tapping; the entire team must provide matching, clearly distinguishable light/dark jerseys.
TABLE OF CONTENT
EVENT COMMITTEE AND ADVISORY BOARD
2025-26 SEASON EVENT COMMITTEE
Lin Yang, Event Committee Co-lead
Charlotte Hu, Event Committee Co-lead
Lily Jiang, Event Manager
2025-26 SEASON TOURNAMENT ADVISORY BOARD
Ethan Nam, Co-commissioner of JP League
Jack Lau, New York Lady Rockits Coach, IAABO certified referee
Kailey Boyd, Assistant Director of Athletics, The Nightingale-Bamford School
2025-26 SEASON PLAYER ADVISORY BOARD
Jiayi Lu, University of Michigan
Nafeisha Aini, University of Southern California
Xiaodong Zhang, Duke University
Zhao Li, Boston Funwee
Latest Update: November 2025
The She Got Buckets (SGB) Chinese Women’s College Basketball League exists to promote high-level competition, personal growth, teamwork, and sportsmanship among collegiate women in China and North America. These Official Rules and Guidelines govern the administration and conduct of gameplay for the 2025–2026 season.
All participants, coaches, team representatives, and officials are responsible for reading and understanding these rules before competition. Unless otherwise specified, any matter not covered in this document shall follow the 2025–26 SGB Women’s Basketball Rules Book. SGB reserves the right of final interpretation and may issue supplemental clarifications for any event or tournament.
For questions, please contact: info@shegotbuckets.org
1. Number of Player
Before the start of the match, when the number of players present for a team is equal to or greater than 4, the match will proceed according to the scheduled start time. If at the scheduled start time a team is not present or has fewer than 4 players, the team with fewer players must wait until the fourth player arrives at the venue before the match can proceed. During this period, the match time will still start counting down according to the original schedule. For every minute of delay, the opposing team earns 1 point. If by the end of the first half a team cannot reach 4 players, that team will be judged to have lost with a score of 0:20.
During the match, if a team has fewer than 5 players ready to play on the court due to player injuries or other reasons, but still has 2 or more players, the match will continue. If there are fewer than 2 players, the team should forfeit the match due to insufficient players. If the team judged to be winning at the time of the match's interruption, their score at the moment of interruption shall stand. If the team judged to be winning is not leading, the score shall be recorded as 2:0 in favor of the opposing team.
Withdrawal: If a team withdraws from the match temporarily, their opponent will win with a score of 20:0.
2. Uniform Requirements
See Official Jersey Policy Below.
3. Bench Conduct
Only the head coach is permitted to address game officials or the scorers’ table regarding rule interpretations, administrative matters, timing concerns, or corrections.
Assistant coaches, bench personnel, and players may not communicate with officials or table staff during the game except when authorized.
Failure to comply with this policy may result in a bench technical foul assessed to the offending team. All teams are expected to maintain professional decorum consistent with the principles of sportsmanship.
4. Substitution Procedure
All substitutes must report to the scorers’ table prior to entering the game and shall not step onto the court until beckoned by the officials. Failure to follow proper reporting procedures shall result in a team warning for the first violation.
Any subsequent violation shall result in a team technical foul. A substitute who enters without proper authorization during a live ball or dead-ball situation shall be subject to a delay-of-game penalty.
5. Gym Conduct
Food and Drink: Unless permitted by the facilities, please refrain from bringing food/drinks inside the gymnasium. In addition, please throw all garbage in their proper receptacles. Repeated violations will be penalized accordingly at the discretion of the SGB Team.
5. Check-In
All players must present photo identification (passport, driver’s license, or photo student ID) at check-in. ID must match the name on the roster. Players who do not complete check-in will not be permitted to participate.
1. Game Format
Beginning with the 2025–2026 season, SGB will adopt the four-quarter format used in SGB Women’s Basketball. Quarter length, game timing structure, and interval procedures shall follow SGB-modified standards. The league has incorporated sufficient timeouts and timing allowances to support the transition to this quarter-based system and ensure smooth administration of the game.
In summary:
FORMAT: Four quarters, 10 minutes each.
TIMEOUTS: Each team has TWO timeouts per half. Each timeout is 60 seconds. Timeouts do NOT carry over from the first half to the second."
BONUS: The opposing team will shoot two free throws ON the 5th team foul (so after the 4th team foul, the next one will be bonus). There is no 1-and-1 rule.
STOP CLOCK: Running clock except the last 2 min of the fourth quarter.
QUARTER BREAK: 1 Min; HALF-TIME BREAK: 3 Min (SGB may adjust the break time in the event of significant delayed)
OT: 2 min OT is applied with a stop clock.
SHOCK CLOCK: SGB will use a physical 30-second shot clock for all games. The shot clock shall reset to 30 seconds under standard NCAA Women’s Basketball conditions. No 20-second partial reset.
COACH'S CHALLENGE: Each team will have ONE Coach’s Challenge for ONLY score errors or incorrectly recorded fouls/timeouts. The team cannot challenge anything that is a referee’s judgement call. See below for details.
READ OFFICIAL JERSEY POLICY BELOW: No tapping; the entire team must provide matching, clearly distinguishable light/dark jerseys.
2. Shot Clock
SGB will use a physical 30-second shot clock for all games.
The shot clock shall reset to 30 seconds under standard NCAA Women’s Basketball conditions.
** In future, SGB may adopt a 20-second partial reset in situations where the offensive team retains possession following an offensive rebound or any designated event that warrants a shortened shot clock reset. The 20-second reset shall be applied consistently in accordance with league administration and officiating guidelines.
3. Timeouts
Each team shall be granted TWO 60-second timeouts per half, and timeouts shall not carry over from the first half to the second half.
During each overtime period, a team shall receive one 60-second timeout, in addition to any unused timeouts remaining from the second half.
During the final 59.9 seconds of the fourth quarter or of any overtime period, if a team in legal backcourt possession calls a timeout before the ball has been advanced into the frontcourt, that team may elect to inbound the ball at the 28-foot mark on either sideline. The advance-the-ball option may be used only once per team.
4. Game Administration & Statistics
A central statistics table shall maintain the official scorebook and serve as the authoritative record for score, fouls, timeouts, and game data. Each team shall maintain its own stat sheet for verification and comparison.
5. Coach’s Challenge
Each team will have ONE Coach’s Challenge for ONLY score errors or incorrectly recorded fouls/timeouts. The team cannot challenge anything that is a referee’s judgement call.
To call the challenge, the team must show YOUR COPY of the score sheet. Without it, the challenge cannot be initiated.
A team may challenge without needing a timeout. If the challenge is unsuccessful and the team has no timeouts, the team is charged an Excessive Timeout Technical Foul.
When a Coach’s Challenge is initiated, the game will enter a one-minute review period. The stats table will review the situation internally and may use video if available.
The stats table may extend the Coach’s Challenge review period to a maximum of three minutes. If the table cannot reach a consensus decision within three minutes, the referee will make the final determination regarding the outcome of the challenge.
1. Correctable Errors
Correctable errors involving timing malfunctions, score discrepancies, or timeout-counting errors shall be administered in accordance with SGB-modified procedures.
Officials may consult the official scorebook, the team’s version of the book, or video recordings when necessary to determine the correct outcome.
Corrections shall be made as soon as the error is identified and verified.
2. Administrative Stoppages
When play is interrupted for administrative purposes—including injury timeout, scorebook review, Coach’s Challenge review, or timing correction—the game shall resume at the Point of Interruption unless specific league procedures mandate an alternative inbound location.
Advance-the-ball situations shall follow the conditions and restrictions outlined in Section II.
3. Delay Situations
Administrative delays necessary to ensure accuracy of timing, scoring, or stat-keeping shall not result in penalty unless the delay is deemed intentional or unsporting by the officials.
Delays at the start of the game or during player check-in shall be handled under the grace-period and free-throw penalty structure detailed in Section V.
1. Personal Fouls
Each player receives FIVE (5) PERSONAL FOULS for the game. A personal foul shall involve illegal contact that affects the opponent’s freedom of movement, balance, speed, or rhythm.
The principles of legal guarding position, verticality, and displacement shall apply as defined under SGB Women’s Basketball standards.
2. Technical Fouls
Technical Fouls will follow NCAA Women’s Basketball Rule
Technical fouls may be assessed for illegal substitution procedure, bench misconduct, unsporting behavior, improper communication with the table, delay of game, or uniform violations.
Penalties shall be administered according to SGB-modified technical foul procedure.
3. Flagrant Fouls
Flagrant fouls will be penalized in accordance with the NCAA Rules of Play.
Flagrant fouls will be reviewed by the Committee and may result in a player disqualification from the tournament.
A flagrant foul is defined as excessive or severe contact or behavior that poses danger to an opponent or violates the spirit of sportsmanship.
A player assessed a flagrant foul shall be disqualified from the contest. Additional league discipline may be issued at the discretion of SGB.
4. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Unsportsmanlike conduct—including taunting, verbal abuse, disrespect toward officials, or actions that escalate conflict—shall be penalized in accordance with SGB standards. Officials may issue technical fouls or eject individuals as necessary to maintain the integrity of the game.
Teams, please be prepared ahead of time and remind each other to bring jerseys and check your roster. If you are a first-time tournament player, the easiest/cheapest is just search “reversible numbered pinnies” on Amazon and you should find options ~$40 for 12 jerseys.
All players must wear the exact registered jersey number with (i) no taping or temporary alterations, (ii) consistent with the numbers submitted during registration, (iii) the entire team must provide matching, clearly distinguishable light/dark jerseys for fair play and accurate stat tracking, (iv) Home team must wear white and Away team must wear black.
Penalties are $50 per player per game (max $100 per player per tournament), with 50% going to the opponent teams and 50% to administration—applied solely to maintain fairness and raise awareness
1. PURPOSE OF THE POLICY - This policy is not profit-driven. Penalties exist solely to:
Encourage teams to prepare properly so no player is prevented from competing.
Maintain competitive fairness,
Compensate the opposing team when uniform issues cause disadvantage,
Support administrative and stats operations, and
2. Standard Jersey Requirements
2.1 Matching Team Uniforms
All players on a team must wear jerseys that:
Match in color,
Display permanent printed numbers (no tape, markers, stickers, or temporary alterations),
Present clean and legible numbers that referees and scorekeepers can clearly see.
2.2 Two-Jersey Requirement
Each team must bring: One Light-colored set, and One Dark-colored set.
Teams may negotiate among themselves, but the default assignment is:
Home Team → Light Jerseys
Away Team → Dark Jerseys
If both teams mutually agree to swap color responsibilities, SGB will allow it with no issue.
3. Matching Jersey Color
Teams need to have matching jersey color. We allowed minor discrepancies and designs difference, but the jersey color should be mostly matching.
The Stats Table has final authority on whether the jersey color is mostly matching.
4. Jersey Number Protocol
4.1 Registration Number = Jersey Number
Each player must wear the same number they registered with for all games in the tournament.
This ensures efficient preparation of stat sheets and prevents technical issues on the tournament website and tracking system.
4.2 Number Requirements
NO TAPPING!!
Permanent and professionally applied
Clearly visible front and/or back
No partial numbers, obscured digits, or numbers altered with tape
5. Exceptions & Penalties (When Jersey Issues Occur)
We understand unexpected issues can happen (lost luggage, forgotten jerseys, travel delays).
To maintain fairness, the following structure applies:
5.1 Player Wearing Incorrect Number / Wrong Jersey Color / Missing Jersey
$50 per player, per game
50% goes to the opposing team to compensate for the disruption.
50% supports administrative/statistics work required to adjust records.
This fee is intended as deterrence, not revenue.
5.2 Maximum Penalty Cap
If a player must use an incorrect jersey for the entire tournament: Maximum total charge: $100 per player
6. SGB Emergency Reversible Jersey Program
If a player cannot locate any appropriate jersey that matches the team colors and number requirements, SGB may provide a black-and-white reversible jersey.
6.1 Conditions
Fee: $100 total for the entire tournament per team
Jerseys come in One Size and Size L women’s adult sizing only — sizes cannot be customized.
Provided solely to ensure the player can still participate and the game can proceed cleanly.
The emergency jersey is at first come first serve basis.
6.2 Free Emergency Jersey Option
If the team’s color matches black or white and the emergency jersey number matches the player’s registered number (1-12 only), SGB will lend the jersey at no cost.
The jersey must be returned by the end of the tournament, or the player must pay for the full set (receipt provided).
6.3 No Alternatives
If a player fails to meet any conditions (wrong number, missing jersey, color conflict) and no emergency jersey is available, there are no alternative solutions (e.g., borrowing a teammate’s jersey), and the player cannot participate in the game unfortunately.
7. Advance Jersey Changes (No Penalty)
If a team needs to change a player’s jersey number before the tournament begins, notify SGB at least 48 hours in advance.
Approved changes made 48+ hours before tip-off incur no penalty.
Last-minute changes after that time may require manual adjustments and thus fall under Section 5 penalties.
8. Additional Restrictions
No taped numbers
No makeshift or handwritten numbers
Jerseys must be clean, readable, and professional
SGB staff and referees have final approval on color validity and number visibility
DISCLAIMER
All specific in-game rulings shall be subject to the judgment and discretion of the officiating referees. The She Got Buckets (SGB) League retains the sole and final right of interpretation for all rules and policies contained in this document. Depending on the nature, level, or operational needs of a given event, SGB may implement adjustments or provide event-specific clarifications to certain provisions. Prior to competition, SGB will issue captain’s instructions and staff instructions to highlight points of emphasis and ensure consistent rule administration.Any rules or procedures not expressly addressed in this Rulebook shall follow the most recent edition of the SGB Women’s Basketball Rules, which can be accessed at: https://ncaapublications.com/products/2025-26-and-2026-27-ncaa-womens-basketball-rules-book-online-only