Rule Number Four: We Play Four-on-Four Here

Yes, genius, we are aware that basketball traditionally has five man teams, but this court is smaller than regulation size so it is too small to accommodate ten players at once. If there are ten people waiting to play, the first eight who showed up shoot free throws; the first four that make their free throws are a team and have "first outs" against the second four. The other two guys have winners and either pick up two new players (if they show up before the game in progress ends) or two from the losing team (again determined by free throws). So in a nutshell, we play four on four here; live with it or play somewhere else.

Rule Number Three: Seniority Rules

OK yes, you're right. El Retiro is a public park and anybody can play there. But, if you want to play with us on Sundays, you have to be respectful. Of yourself and of the people that created that "fun Sunday run" we all love so much.

Think about it. The reason why you play here is because every other park is full of idiots that argue and fight and don't pass the ball. Why aren't those idiots here? Because the Senior players at the court won't allow them to come in and ruin the camaraderie that we have built over nearly thirty years of playing at El Retiro.

So when a senior player makes a call, respect it. Some day you might be a senior player at the court and want to get the same respect. And oh yeah, one more thing, have some respect for yourself too. Don't be an idiot or you will find yourself playing somewhere else on Sunday mornings.

Rule Number Two: Let's Not Get Injured Here

Getting hurt in a pick up basketball game is never fun but probably inevitable, so let's do what we can to minimize the chances that we hurt one another by exercising courtesy and knowlege. Later rules will address specific issues that deal with injury avoidance, but in general let's agree that limping around Europe as a result of an opponent's careless play is no one's idea of fun.

Rule Number One: Play for Fun

We are here playing basketball first and foremost because it is FUN! All subsequent rules are intended to maximize the fun. We are not here to foster your hoop dreams or to be the supporting cast to your internal fantasy. Anything that detracts from the group enjoyment of the game is to be frowned upon and, to the extent possible, ruled out!

The Reason For This Blog

We have created this blog to solicit, track, discuss, debate and decide upon the rules that will be posted at our beloved El Retiro Park basketball court. For too many years, in addition to showing the younger generation how to play the beautiful game of basketball, we OG's have been burdened with explaining the etiquette and nuance of the pick-up game. Most ballers come to understand these elements intrinsically over time, and so for most outdoor courts these rules can thankfully remain unwritten. But over the past couple years, in a classic example of subtraction by addition, the collective basketball I.Q. at ElRo has dipped precipitously. It is our fervent hope that, by committing these previously "unwritten rules" to writing and eventually posting them courtside for all to see, we can increase the joy of the sport by ending potential arguments before they begin, thus maximizing the game's most precious commodity: Playing Time!