Fall back (mercy) rule

The fall back (mercy) rule is where, when a team is leading by 20 points or more (10 points or more in U10's), the leading team is required to fall back behind their three (3) point line following a successful shot attempt, or whenever the opposition team in-bounds the ball. No defence may be played until the ball is dribbled or passed across the centre line. The penalty for non-compliance is a violation called by the referee with possession going to the opposing team.

The mercy rule:
  • Only applies during regular (home and away) season
  • Does not apply during grading rounds or finals
  • Is only enforced at the discretion of the losing coach when the score difference hits 20 points (10 points or more in U10's), if you are the losing coach and don’t want to apply it you don’t need to, the referee cannot force the other team to do it if you are the losing coach and don’t want it invoked
  • Can be revoked at any stage throughout the game if the losing coach changes their mind, as a losing coach you may decide to have it applied when you reach a 30 point difference and then you score a few baskets closing the gap to 20 points (10 points in U10's) so you ask for it to be revoked. This can continue all game or you may decide not to invoke at all. As the losing coach with a margin of 20 or more points (or 10points or more in U10's) the choice is yours to make
  • Automatically stops being applied once the margin drops to less than 20 points (except U10's which is less that 10 points)
  • When invoked changes the “clock stops for all whistles in the last two minutes of the game” ruling as per KBA bylaw 9.1 below -
9.TIMING RULES
9.1 Games shall consist of two halves of twenty (20) minutes. The game shall stop for timeouts in the last two (2) minutes of the second half only. The clock shall stop for all whistles in the last two (2) minutes of the second half, except where the mercy rule is in force as per bylaw 6.13 and 6.14 the clock will only stop for timeouts. No timeouts will be taken in the last one (1) minute of the first half. Where a timeout is in progress prior to the one minute point of the first half, that timeout out will cease at the one (1) minute point and the players will be called to resume play immediately.