Rules

Diocese of Pittsburgh Girls Basketball - 2025-2026 Season

1. League Directors
 
Matt Marchione
Varsity League Director
107 Danube Drive
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15209
mbmarchione@comcast.net
423-303-9982		 Sammie Guy
JV League Director
310 Gardner Street
McKees Rocks PA 15136
sunger28@yahoo.com
412-499-0629

2. Regional Reps
 
North
Vanessa Hubbell
athleticdirector@holysepulcher.org
724-816-4596		 Central
Chris Kovell
ackovell@comcast.net
412-582-9951		 South
Jennifer Weinzierl
girlsbasketball@sldm.srces.org
724-413-0888

3. Referee Assigner
 
Russ Caprio
rjcapr08@gmail.com
724-612-2219

4. Diocese of Pittsburgh Athletics Handbook 2025-2026

The rules and guidance in the DOP Athletics Handbook 2025-2026 cover any rules not specifically stated below. Coaches and Athletic Directors should review the handbook before the season begins.

5. DOP Basketball Structure

The DOP Basketball will consist of two leagues - the Cardinals League and the Bishops League - designed to create balanced, fair, and competitive opportunities for all programs. Both leagues will operate under the same rules but differ in their level of competition and developmental focus.
  1. Cardinals League
    1. The Cardinals League is a competitive league where all teams, regardless of school size, compete in a ten-game regular season.
    2. Following the regular season, teams will be placed into playoff brackets based on their overall record to ensure fair matchups and balanced competition. The playoffs will have three brackets: A, B, and C, representing top, mid-level, and developing teams.
    3. All playoff games will be played at Catholic high schools or other neutral sites, with the championships held at Oakland Catholic on March 1.
  2. Bishops League
    1. The Bishops League follows the same playing rules as the Cardinals League but is designed primarily for development and growth. It provides an opportunity for players and teams to build experience in a competitive yet supportive environment.
    2. An optional end-of-season tournament(s) will be offered, with the dates to be announced.
  3. For both leagues, dynamic scheduling will be used throughout the season to ensure flexibility and competitive balance, while also trying to minimize the distances teams need to travel.
  4. For both leagues, schools are welcome to schedule as many additional non-league games as they want. They must contact their Regional Rep so the game can be added to the website schedule, and the Diocesan Referee Scheduler can be notified.
  5. All players must be rostered on only one team, either in the Cardinals or the Bishops league.
  6. To maintain consistency and fairness, if a school has both a JV and a Varsity team and chooses to enter one into the Cardinals League, both teams must participate in the Cardinals League.
  7. For schools that have multiple JV and Varsity teams in the Cardinal League:
    1. Each JV team must be paired with one Varsity team.
    2. This means that the Varsity team can only call up players from the JV team they are paired with.
    3. This rule does not apply to “orphaned” JV or Varsity teams. Players on orphan teams cannot play on other Cardinal League teams.
  8. Varsity players are not permitted to play down in the JV division.
  9. Players registered for a Cardinals League team are not permitted to on another Cardinals League team.
  10. Players registered for a Cardinals League team are not permitted to play down in the Bishops League.
  11. Players competing in both leagues will not be tolerated. However, players in the Bishops League may play up if a Cardinals League team needs additional players for a game (example: injuries, illness).
  12. Schools are encouraged to place their teams in the league where they best fit competitively to promote balance and a positive player experience.
6. Before Play Begins

A complete players roster must be signed by the school’s Athletic Director or principal and mailed to the appropriate League Director no later than November 15, 2025

7. League Fees
  1. The Varsity league fee is $75.00 per team. Make checks payable to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and mail them to the Varsity League Director (Matt Marchione) no later than November 10, 2025.
  2. The Junior Varsity league fee is $75.00 per team. Make checks payable to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and mail them to the JV League Director (Sammie Guy) no later than November 10, 2025.
8. Eligibility
  1. Varsity - 8th grade students and under; JV - 6th grade students and under.
  2. No player can be 15 years of age for Varsity and 13 years of age for JV before September 1, 2025. (Request exceptions through appeal to the League Director.)
  3. Each player must be enrolled in a Catholic Elementary School.
  4. Players cannot play on high school junior varsity teams. (Or any other team's roster.)
  5. If a school does not have enough players to field a Varsity or JV team and wants to merge with another school in the same situation, both schools must have written permission from both school's principals sent to the League Director before the players are added to the school's roster.
9. Equipment
  1. Players must have numbered jerseys of the same color. There is no penalty for illegal numbers or different style shorts of the same color.
  2. The Home Team must provide the game clock and should have a back-up clock available.
  3. Adults should operate the game clocks when possible. An adult shall be considered a high school sophomore or above. (After the start of the game, no protest will be honored regarding the qualifications of the clock operator.)
  4. The Home Team will keep the official clock and official book.
  5. The Home Team will make space available for the opponents next to the official clock and book.
10. New Players

New players may be added to the roster by notifying the League Director by phone and a confirming email.

11. Games
  1. All games being played on weekdays (M-F) should not start before 6:00 PM or after 8:15 PM on a school night.
  2. Sunday games cannot begin before 1:00 PM
  3. Multiple games (JV and Varsity) are to be scheduled at one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minute intervals. However, if the JV game ends early the Varsity game should begin 15 minutes after the end of the JV game.
  4. League games or playoff games take precedence over tournament games.
  5. The Home Team will send the final scores of completed games to their Regional Representative to be recorded. The Visiting Team may also report the final score.
12. Varsity and JV Grade School Basketball Rules

Official High School Basketball Rules shall apply (PIAA) with the following exceptions:
  1. Clock
    1. Varsity - Six (6) minute periods. Clock stops on all whistles.
    2. JV - Six (6) minute periods. Clock stops on all whistles.
    3. Overtime is three (3) minutes.
  2. Floors are to be played as they are.
  3. All league games will use an official leather ball. The circumference of the ball should be 28.5" (Size 6).
  4. Two certified referees are assigned to each game. However, the game may be played as a league game with only one certified referee if both coaches agree before the game starts. A game will be forfeited if the attending referees are not certified.
  5. A female chaperon must be present with the team at all games and in locker rooms. Teams are not permitted in locker rooms without a female chaperon. The Home Team is responsible for compliance.
  6. Uniforms must be same color for the entire team
  7. Under-shirts/spandex/dri-fit shirts and pants must either be one of the teams colors or white, black, or gray
  8. The entire team is not required to have matching under-shirts/spandex/dri-fit shirts
  9. The Home Team is responsible for:
    1. Appointing a Building Official for each game
    2. Crowd control - The Home Team must remove a disruptive person that is requested by referee.
    3. Referee safety - The Home Team is responsible for ensuring that the referees can enter and exit the gym without interference from fans, coaches, players, etc. (Note: failure to adhere to this rule will be reported to the League Director and can result in a closed gym for future games.)
  10. Practice shall not begin before October 15, 2025.
  11. A team is permitted to play only one game each day. A player is allowed to play six (6) quarters of organized basketball in one day, with overtime considered part of the fourth quarter. Any time played during a quarter will count as 1 full quarter. Exceptions can be requested in writing and schools will be notified as to exceptions which would be an additional 2 quarters.
  12. A student transferring from one Catholic school to another is not eligible to play basketball for the remainder of the school year unless parents change residence. Transfers from a public school to a Catholic school will be approved by the League Director, and a decision rendered within ten days.
  13. Head coaches only are permitted to Stand-In-Place in front of their chair/bench seat for the purpose of coaching their team only. If a coach is assessed a technical foul they will lose all Stand-In-Place privileges and must remain seated. If a 2nd technical foul is assessed the coach will be removed from the gym.
  14. Proven violation of the above rules will result in the immediate termination of the coach for that basketball season.
13. Referees and Fees
  1. Teams that choose to use the designated officiating chapters for the league will have their referees assigned and managed through the league system to ensure coverage and consistency.
  2. Teams that prefer to use their own referees must schedule them independently through Arbiter and are responsible for confirming referee assignments for all home games.
  3. All DOP Basketball officiating will be done through Arbiter starting on December 1, 2025.
  4. A representative of the school should greet the referees at the door and introduce the Building Official. (Note: If problems occur during the game the referees will advise the Building Official)
  5. Fees:
    1. The referee fee is $55/game/referee.
    2. All fees for league games will be paid through Arbiter.
  6. The Home Team must notify the League Director immediately if there were not two certified referees at the game.
  7. Russ Caprio (724-617-2219, rjcapr08@gmail.com) assigns game officials for ALL DOP sports teams games (League, Non-League, Section, Tiebreaker, Tournament, Playoff and Scrimmage games). If your school schedules non-league games and you use referees you must contact Russ to schedule them.
14. Cancellations
  1. The Regional Reps must be notified of any cancellations. The the League Directors (Varsity or JV) may be cc’d on any cancellation notifications.
  2. Inclement weather:
    1. Games may be canceled by either coach’s request.
    2. For weather reasons a proposal for cancellation must be made at least 2 hours before the game’s starting time on the day of the game. Direct contact only - you must speak with the League Director personally. Phone messages or emails are not acceptable.
    3. Referees will receive their FULL fee if not notified 2 hours prior to the game. 
  3. Emergencies:
    1. This includes situations like sudden power outages, water shutoffs, etc.
    2. If possible, notify the League Directors at least 2 hours before the game’s starting time on the day of the game. Direct contact only - you must speak with the League Director personally. Phone messages or emails are not acceptable.
    3. Referees will receive their FULL fee if not notified 2 hours prior to the game. 
  4. All other cancellations:
    1. The Home Team will use the Game Change Request Form to notify the League Directors of the cancellation.
    2. Referees will receive their FULL fee if not notified 4 hours prior to the game.
  5. No scheduled games may be canceled based on sickness unless the entire school is closed because of widespread illness.
  6. Make-up games - Both teams must agree as soon as possible after the cancellation (preferably on the day of cancellation) so a new game can be set up and referees notified; but no longer than one (1) week. After one (1) week there can be a forfeiture of league games.
15. Forfeit
  1. A game is subject to forfeiture if a team has not taken the floor within 30 minutes after the scheduled start time.
  2. If a team refuses to play or complete a league game that game becomes a forfeit for that team. The team that refused to play or continue playing will be barred immediately from the league for that season and will lose playoff eligibility for that season. Repeated forfeits may result in the team not being eligible to participate in the league for future seasons.
16. Protests
  1. All protests are to be submitted in writing by the coach to the League Director.
  2. All protests must be accompanied by a $50.00 fee. The fee will be returned if the protest is upheld.
  3. The protesting coach must notify the referees and opposing coach at the point of discussion with their intention to protest. Referees must sign the book noting the reason for the protest and list the game time remaining.
  4. No protests on "Judgment Calls" by referees.
  5. Time allowed for filing protests:
    1. On player eligibility - until end of season.
    2. On the game itself - within three (3) days.
  6. The League Director will appoint a Protest Board consisting of coaches, Athletic Director, regional representatives and referees.
17. Play-Offs
  1. All Cardinals League teams will qualify for the postseason, with placement in A, B, or C brackets based on final records.
  2. In the event of a tie, playoff seeding will be determined first by head-to-head results, followed by bracket expansion, and if needed, a randomized wheel spin.
  3. The details of the playoffs are to be worked out by the League Directors.

Updated Sunday, December 21, 2025














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