Tournament Rules

Unless otherwise stated below, the 2025-2026 National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Basketball Rules will govern play. 

Game Format

1. A game will consist of four 10-minute quarters. There will be an intermission of 30 seconds between the 1st and 2nd, and 3rd and 4th quarters. An intermission of five (5) minutes will take place between the 2nd and 3rd quarters. 

2. Timing: There will be a running clock, except for the last 30 seconds of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters, where the clock will stop for all dead-ball situations. There will be a running clock except for the last two (2) minutes of the 4th quarter, where the clock will stop for all dead-ball situations (except in mercy rule situations see Rule 4). 

3. Time-outs:  Each team is permitted two (2) time-outs per game and one (1) time-out per overtime period (one minute in duration). Time-outs DO NOT carry over from regulation to  overtime or from overtime to overtime. Each timeout is one (1) minute in length. The clock stops during all time-outs. 

4. Overtime:  If the score remains tied at the end of regulation play, an overtime period of three (3) minutes will be played.  A jump ball will be administered at center court to start the overtime period. The overtime period shall consist of a running clock for the first two (2) minutes and will stop on every dead-ball situation for the last minute. This procedure will be repeated until a winner is determined. 

5. Mercy Rule: The Mercy Rule will be in effect when a team is ahead by 20 or more points with two (2) minutes or less remaining in the game. During this time, there will be a continuously running clock.  If the margin becomes less than 20 points, the clock will stop for all dead-ball situations.  

6. To start the game, a jump ball will be administered at center court.  Alternating possession will be in effect once control is obtained after the jump ball. The alternating possession arrow will determine possession of the ball at the start of the second half. 

7. Substitutions:  A substitute must report to the scorekeeper and be recognized by a game official before he/she may enter the game.  A substitute can only enter the game during a dead-ball situation.  In a multiple free throw situation, a substitute may only enter immediately before or after the last free throw attempt.  Failure to properly report will result in a technical foul being assessed to that player.

Court Policies

1. Dunking will only be permitted during the game.  Hanging on the rim (except to prevent injury) will result in that player receiving a technical foul.  No dunking will be allowed before or after the game or during intermission periods.  Any violation of this rule will result in a technical foul being charged to          the head coach/captain or player. 

2. A team is permitted a maximum of two (2) coaches on its bench during a game.  Each coach must be listed on the scoresheet prior to the start of the game. Conduct of team coaches is the responsibility of the team before, during, and after the game. Any other non-players must be in the designated spectator areas. 

3. Players that are considered bench personnel must remain seated during play and may only stand to spontaneously react to play before immediately being re-seated. One (1) designated head coach or captain is permitted to stand during play within the confines of the bench area. 

4. Cameras are not permitted on the court.

Fouls and Penalties

1. A player will be disqualified (foul out) when he/she has accumulated 5 fouls (any combination of personal or technical). 

2. One free throw will be awarded for a player fouled in the act of shooting and the two or three-point try is successful. 

3. Two free throws will be awarded for a player fouled in the act of shooting whose two-point try is unsuccessful, and three free throws will be awarded for an unsuccessful attempt beyond the three-point line. 

4. Two free throws will be awarded for every foul on or after the 5th team foul of each quarter. 

5. When one free throw attempts remains (not the first of a two-shot sequence), offensive and defensive players in marked lane spaces may enter the lane upon the release of the ball by the free throw shooter.  The shooter and all players outside the three point line are restricted from entering until the ball hits the rim. 

6. During a free throw, marked lane spaces may be occupied by a maximum of four (4) defensive and two (2) offensive players.  The bottom spaces below the blocks shall not be occupied.  

7. Any player who does not occupy a marked lane space must be behind the free-throw line extended and behind the three-point line. 

8. No free throws will be awarded for the following:

   1. 1. Each common foul before the bonus rule is in effect 

      2. A double foul 

      3. A double technical foul 

      4. A player control foul 

      5. A team control foul 

9. Technical Fouls:  On all technical fouls, two (2) free throws will be awarded to the offended team, plus the ball at the division line for a throw-in. Technical fouls are counted towards each player’s disqualification total (five fouls) and the team’s bonus situation.  

10. Intentional Fouls: Two (2) free throws and possession of the ball at the designated spot nearest the foul will be awarded to the offended team for all intentional fouls during an unsuccessful two-point try. An intentional foul during an unsuccessful three-point try will result in three (3) free throws and possession of the ball. For a successful two-point or three-point try, the basket will be counted and two (2) free throws and the ball will be awarded. 

11. Flagrant Fouls:  On all flagrant fouls, the offended team will be awarded two (2) free throws and possession of the ball at the division line for a throw-in.  The offending player will be ejected from the game. 

Players and Equipment

1. Each Men’s and Women’s team shall consist of 5 players.  Each team must have a minimum of 4 players in order to begin a game. NFHS rules apply regarding the number of players needed to finish a game. 

2. All teams must check in at their scheduled court at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to their scheduled game. Game time is forfeit time. 

3. Men shall use a Size 7 basketball and Women shall use a Size 6 basketball. A game ball will be provided for each game.  

4. Jerseys:  Each team is required to wear numbered shirts of one distinguishable color.  Teams must provide at least one (1) set of numbered jerseys for play.  Numbers must be clearly legible on the front and/or back of each jersey.  No taped-on numbers will be allowed.  

5. Shoes worn must be tennis/court shoes.  No black-soled shoes that may mark the court are permitted.  Street shoes, loafers, flip flops, or boots are not allowed.  

6. No jewelry or any other item deemed dangerous by the Tournament Staff may be worn during play.  Any player wearing exposed permanent jewelry (i.e. body piercings) will not be permitted to play. 

7. There will be no hats, bandanas, or hard barrettes worn during play.  Cloth (elastic) bands may be used to control the hair. 

8. Players may wear soft , pliable pads or braces on the leg, knee, and/or ankle.  Braces may not have any protruding metal and/or screws. Braces made of any hard material (including plastic) must be covered with a padded sleeve or at least one-half inch padding for safety reasons. Under no circumstances will a player wearing a cast or splint be permitted to play.

Conduct of Players, Coaches, and Spectators

1. Coaches, captains, or playing captains are responsible for the action of their team and for any spectators directly related to the team before, during, and after the game. 

2. A coach may only enter the playing area to attend to an injured player. 

3. Any player or coach who acts in a manner not showing good sportsmanship shall be penalized with a technical foul and possible ejection from the game.  The official(s) shall have the authority to warn, penalize, or disqualify any player(s), substitute, or coach for violations of sportsmanship including, but not limited to the following:

   1. 1. Disrespectfully addressing an official or IM staff member. 

      2. Questioning the official’s judgment or decisions. 

      3. Showing disgust with official’s decisions. 

      4. Using profane or insulting language or gestures toward an official/opponent. 

      5. Baiting or taunting players of the opposing team. 

      6. Disrupting the game so that it may not be continued in an orderly fashion. 

4. Any player/team that is disqualified / ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike behavior must meet with the Tournament Director prior to being reinstated to play. 

5. Players and team which accrue a number of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls will be disqualified from games and/or suspended from further participation as follows: 

   1. 1. Each receives 2 unsportsmanlike conduct fouls or a flagrant foul 

Penalty:  Disqualification from that game, suspension from the team’s next game played, and probation for remainder of the tournament  

5. 1. 2. A player/coach receives 3 unsportsmanlike conduct/flagrant fouls during the tournament 

Penalty:  Disqualification from that game and suspension from participating for the remainder of the tournament 

5. 1. 3. One team receives 4 unsportsmanlike conduct/flagrant fouls during a game 

Penalty:  The team forfeits the game and probation for the remainder of the tournament. The team captain must meet with the Tournament Director to determine the team’s eligibility for the remainder of the tournament.  The score of the contest will be recorded as 2-0 or as the actual              point differential, whichever greater benefits the winning team. 

5. 1. 4. One team receives 5 unsportsmanlike conduct/flagrant fouls during the tournament 

Penalty:  The team is dropped from the tournament 

5. 1. 5. Ejection from a game due to fighting: each player/coach will receive 2 unsportsmanlike conduct fouls for the game 

Penalty:  Disqualification from that game, suspension from the team’s next two (2) games played, and probation for the remainder of the tournament.  Note:  Player may be suspended for the remainder of the tournament.

Miscellaneous

1. If the clock or game is stopped due to injury, the injured player must leave the game until the next available opportunity to substitute. In accordance with NFHS rules, a team may “buy” a player back in the game by using a time-out, provided that player is ready to play at the end of the time-out. 

2. A player that is bleeding must leave the game immediately.  The bleeding must be stopped and the wound securely covered with a bandage before the player may re-enter the game. Clothing soiled with blood must be removed and may not be taped over. 

3. If a player is deemed ineligible at any time during the tournament, his/her team will forfeit all games in which the ineligible player participated.  In addition, the ineligible player is suspended for the tremainder of the tournament. 

4. A team winning a game by forfeit will receive a score of 2-0 when determining advancement from pool play.

Protest Procedures

Rule Interpretations

Protests involving a misapplication or misinterpretation of a rule will be considered, but judgment calls will not receive any consideration. 

A player, directed by the team captain/coach may request and be granted a time-out for the purpose of the team captain/coach and the game officials reviewing a decision, which may have resulted from misapplication or misinterpretation of a rule.  Such requests must be made upon gaining possession or during any dead ball period and must occur no later than during the first dead ball a er the clock has been properly started following the play that is to be reviewed.  If a period has officially ended, the request must be made before the next period begins. 

When a time-out is granted, the game official will confer with both team captains/coaches in front of the scorer’s table.  The captain/coach will inform the officials that he/she would like to protest and state specifically the “correctable error” that he/she believes has been made.  If the officials agree a protest is valid, the Director of Officials and the Officials’ Committee Staff member on that court will be called upon to make a final decision. 

If the error is correctable, the error will be corrected and the protesting team will not be charged a timeout.  If the error is not correctable, the protesting team will be charged with a timeout. NOTE: If a team has no timeouts remaining, the protesting team will be charged with a technical foul. 

All decisions made by the Officials’ Committee will be final.

Player Eligibility

Protests concerning player eligibility must be made to the Tournament Staff or game officials immediately upon discovering there is an eligibility issue. The Tournament Staff will assume responsibility for investigation of the eligibility of all participants upon request. 

An ineligible player is any person who does not meet the NIRSA Region Basketball eligibility requirements and/or whose name and identification number does not appear on the team’s roster. All participants must present a valid picture ID card prior to each game they are scheduled to play.  If an individual in question cannot provide valid identification, then he/she will not be allowed to participate in that particular game. Any person participating in the tournament found to be ineligible will be suspended from the tournament. Any team using an ineligible player shall forfeit ALL games in which the ineligible player participated. 

NOTE:  If this occurs during pool play, teams that may have lost to the said team will be awarded a win.  If this occurs during single-elimination play, teams that have already been eliminated will not advance in the tournament. 

A player competing under an assumed name and his/her team will be suspended from the tournament for the remainder of the tournament. 

All teams using ineligible players will be reported to their respective institutions and NIRSA.