PINOY BARKADA INTERCOLOR
BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Goals and Objectives

The League believes that there is more to life than winning; that good health, good character, and mutual support in the spirit of bayanihan are the guideposts to a meaningful life. The League is committed to the promotion of these virtues by engaging in a friendly, yet competitive, basketball tournament that: promotes sportsmanship, physical fitness and teamwork; develops individual skills and team performance; and provides opportunities for building camaraderie in a competitive atmosphere.

The League will faithfully bring these goals and objectives to bear on all its games and activities.

The League will do everything humanly possible to balance all teams. But, if one or two teams appear to be stronger at the end of the process, this is a non-issue as far as the organizers are concerned.

• Players cannot choose their own team simply because "I don't know anybody in my team". Part of building camaraderie and networking is precisely to meet new friends and learn how to socialize with them before, during and after games.
• There is no place for dirty tactics (in order to win) during games because they will just create tensions among players and adversely affect what the league is trying to promote. However, we expect everybody to play hard and really have fun.
• We encourage all players to socialize with as many individuals as possible.
• While bad calls made by the referees may be legitimately questioned, they should never be used as opportunities to disparage or slight the referees, who are liable to make mistakes. The league has a mechanism in place for "incorrigible" referees.
• The threefold objectives of the league can still be met even in defeat. Thus, while winning is emotionally fulfilling and cathartic, it should never blind us from what the objectives of the league are.
• It is safe to assume that when certain individuals are referred to or express their intention to join the League, they probably do not know the objectives of the league. To help them decide whether PBA/IBL is the league that meets their needs, we should give them an early "headstart" by explaining our objectives and how we differ from other leagues.
• Team Coordinators and team captains are expected to be pro-active and in control of the situation to prevent unnecessary confrontation among the players.
• All players are encouraged to bring their family, relatives and friends to the games.

League Policies  

Level of participation: Team coordinators shall make every effort to give every player the opportunity to play regardless of his playing ability. It is the responsibility of the team coordinator acting as coach to assist every player on his team to maximize his talents and potentials so that at the end of the season, he will feel fulfilled and accomplished in meeting new friends and keeping his body in shape. The League recommends that each player be given the chance to play a minimum of 5 minutes over the course of the game. However, a coach may exercise his sound discretion during playoffs if he believes that it is in the best interest of the team not to use them. Coaches must always accentuate the positive, win or lose. Comments on specific performance should always be in the context of an honest, hearfelt feeling of pride in the player's performance.

Level of competitiveness: The primary goal of the League is to offer quality athletic basketball experience to young and not so young, regardless of their abilities. It provides a program, which is a mixture of fun and competitiveness, with emphasis on fun. Thus, the organizers have worked out a formula that insures that all teams are more or less balanced. Height, skill level and age are considered when drafting the team players.

Organizing Committee: At this point in time there is only one person organizing the whole state of affairs. Election of 6 committee members will be held sometime this year to do the following:

1. Recruits and drafts new players.
2. Determines eligibility of players.
3. Prepares league schedules and games.
4. Decides on rule changes in keeping with the overall policy of PBA/IBL.
5. Rules on all properly submitted technicalities.
6. Manages finances.
7. Arranges tournament venue.

Team Coordinators: Each team shall be assigned a team coordinator whose tenure ends at the end of each season. Any player whom the Organizing Committee deems responsible will be asked to be a team coordinator at the start of every season. The team coordinator will be the team's official recipient of all information related to the league and will be responsible for disseminating them to the players. The responsibilities of the team coordinator are the following:

1. Represent the team at some meetings, if necessary.
2. Collect entry fees before and after the season.
3. Explain game rules to all team players.
4. Provide copies of game schedules to the players.
5. Schedule team practices, if needed.
6. Act or designate a team coach.
7. Provide orientation to any player who misses the general orientation at the start of the season.
8. Strongly encourage all players to attend all games, especially during the playoffs.
9. Monitor players' playing time and insure that the recommended minimum 5-minute playing time of all players is adhered to.
10. Remain pro-active and in control of his players to prevent any display of inappropriate behaviors that may lead to the game getting out of hand.

Game Officials: Referees for all scheduled games shall be members of duly recognized basketball referees of Basketball Victoria, the governing body of referees in the state of Victoria. The game referees will be responsible for starting the game on time. If an appointed referee(s) fails to show up, the game in question may be played provided both opposing team coordinators mutually agree prior to the start of the game for an alternate referee(s). Such a contest will be recognized as an official game. Game officials are empowered to enforce the League’s Code of Conduct. In addition to the referees, the League appoints an official scorekeeper and a timekeeper who is responsible for time management of the game.

Uniforms: All teams are required to wear uniform of their own choice.

Game Equipment: The League is responsible for providing all the necessary equipment needed for the games. It provides the official game ball, official scorebook and a first-aid kit which includes ice packs. The stadium will provide the game clock.

Waiver: Each player will sign a waiver form releasing the organizers, players, referees, timers, scorekeepers, and anybody involved in the league from any game-related accidents. No player or game official will be allowed to play until he signs the waiver form.

Tournaments: Presently, the League holds two tournaments per season: 1st Conference from Feb to June and 2nd Conference from July to November. The game format is usually a three-round robin elimination series. The top four teams after the elimination round qualifies for the semi-finals playoff with the top two teams having twice-to-beat advantage (1 vs. 4 and 2 vs 3). If it is a non-elimination tournament, the AFL preliminary finals format will be adopted. The championship is a best-of-three series.

Number of Players: Each team will carry a maximum of ten players and a minimum of eight. Players may be added up until the third week of competition upon the approval of the Organizing Committee. Only waitlisted players can be added to a team. After the third week, no movement of player is allowed. Teams will be kept for the entire seasons. Players will keep the same uniform for two conferences.

Absences and Removal: A paid player who misses the first three consecutive games without any acceptable excuse may be removed by a majority of the team. No refund is given to a player removed by the team. A player who consistently shows a pattern of not showing up during games may be dropped from the league the following season.

Perpetual Shield:  The champion team's name and the player roster will be engraved in bronze shield. The team coordinator of the champion team gets to keep the shield until another champion emerges in the next conference. Once the shield is filled with championship plates, the trophy will be retired and displayed at a designated community venue. To attain a degree of tradition, the Organizing Committee has decided to make the design of future perpetual shields the same.

Team Awards: Members of the champion team shall each receive first place trophies; so do the members of the second and third place teams, respectively. 

Fees: the Organizing Committee sets individual entry fees for each conference. The fees are to cover cost of referees, court rentals, other miscellaneous expenses, etc. Entry fees must be paid in full by the first round of the elimination.

Refund of Entry Fees: Any player who quits by the team's second game will be entitled to a refund equivalent to 50% of the entry fee. However, no refund will be made if:

• A player quits after the second game for whatever reason.
• A player fails to inform the Organizing Committee the day after the first game of the season that he will not play.

Public Liability Insurance: In addition to the regular fees, cost of public liability insurance may be added to the commitment fees. Public Liability Insurance is now required by the city council for the use of their facilities.

Player Eligibility: In order to preserve and promote the Filipino cultural values of samahan and barkadahan, only individuals of Filipino ancestry are eligible to join the league. This is an open age tournament but the minimum age required is at least 16 years old with parental consent. The League reserves the right to refuse an applicant who does not meet the criteria listed above. All new players are required to attend a general orientation at the opening of the season. A special orientation for those who cannot attend the general orientation will be conducted a week before the general orientation at a place and time that will be determined by the Organizing Committee. A player who fails to attend any of these orientations will not be allowed to play during the team's first game. Eligibility to play in the succeeding games requires that the player receive orientation from the team captain.

Code of Conduct: Unsportsmanlike conduct is not tolerated in the league. Unsportsmanlike conduct is any action, whether physical or verbal, that interrupts the flow of the game, for example, throwing the ball, badmouthing players, officials or spectators, arguing with referees, elbowing other players, use of obscene language and gesture, etc. These offenses violate the spirit of the league and are sufficient grounds for technical fouls to be called by the referees without any warning. Physical confrontation is strictly prohibited. Individuals who directly cause personal injury, like punching or kicking a player or pushing a player to the floor, shall be automatically ejected by the referees and banned from the league. No appeal process is available. Player misconduct displayed during games will be subject to Organizing Committee sanctions regardless of whether or not technical fouls are called by the referees during the game. Sanctions include suspension or banishment from the league. The League expects all players to act as role models, especially to the children, the youth, family members, and supporters watching the games.

Game Rules: All teams will play according to the current Basketball Australia rules, unless otherwise specified.

reserve

Introduction

Pinoy Barkada sa Australia Inter-Color Basketball League, herein referred to as “The League”, was founded in 1999 with the intention of promoting cultural awareness within the Filipino community in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. The League aims to promote health, fitness and unity within the Filipino community. It gives Filipinos of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to interact and meet others, while showing off their basketball skills and entertaining supporting spectators.