Coaches Notes

2025 Santa Clara Basketball Regional  

Coaches Notes 

COMPETITION FORMAT 

Divisions Red and Orange Pool 

Teams will play 2 Round Robin Games in respective Red or Orange Pool 

• 1st Place teams in each pool will play in the Red Gold Medal Game 

• 2nd Place teams in each pool will play in the Orange Gold Medal Game 

• 3rd Place teams in each pool will play in the Orange Bronze Medal Game 

Divisions Green and Blue Pool 

Teams will play 2 Round Robin Games in respective Green or Blue Pool 

• 1st Place teams in each pool will play in the Green Gold Medal Game 

• 2nd Place teams in each pool will play in the Blue Gold Medal Game 

• 3rd Place teams in each pool will play in the Blue Bronze Medal Game 

Divisions Yellow, Purple, Teal and Pink 

Three Full round robin games, teams will be awarded based on record. 

Individual Skills Contest 

Will take place on Courts 3 and 4 in the MacDonald Auxiliary Gym (Gym 3) at 9:00am. 

RULE CHANGES 

SECTION A – GENERAL RULES 

SONorCal has a strict Animal Policy for Practices, Competitions and Events, which must be followed by all athletes, volunteers, parents and spectators at all times. Please visit sonc.org/resources/coach-athletes-resources/coach-resources/policies-procedures-forms for the full policy. 

A Regional Entry Form must contain a minimum of six players and a maximum of 12 players. Teams wishing to become eligible for the 2026 USA Games must have a roster of 8-10 athletes. Only Level 3 teams will be eligible to qualify for USA Games. 

GAMEPLAY (adjustments may be made due to time constraints) 

1. Teams will warm up and start the game shooting at the basket farthest from their team bench. 

2. All other games will consist of four, eight (8) minute quarters. The clock will run except for timeouts and the last two minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters. Clock operation will change if a team leads by more than 25 points, see rules for details. 

1. There will be a one-minute break between the first and the second quarter and between the third and the fourth quarter. Halftimes will be eight minutes long unless coaches, referees and volunteers want to shorten.  

2. Time-Outs- Each team is entitled to three full (60 seconds) and two 30-second time-outs during a regulation game. Unused time-outs accumulate and may be used at any time in regulation play and overtime. In overtime, teach team is entitled to one additional 30-second time-out during each overtime period 

3. Overtime- Overtime periods will be 2 minutes in duration with clock stopped on all dead ball situations.  Overtime will only be used for Medal Games if necessary. All other games can end in a tie. Multiple overtimes will be played if necessary.    

4. Jump balls- will be used to start the game and in each overtime period for Level 4. Level 5 games will open with a coin toss, where the visiting team will make the call and the winner will choose possession. An alternate possession arrow will be used after initial possession has been established for all levels. 

5. Teams will switch baskets at halftime for all levels. 

6. Foul shots will be enforced throughout the game. 

VIOLATIONS 

Level 3 – Fouls and violations will be called in accordance with the NFHS standards.  

Levels 4 and 5 - Calling of fouls and violations will be relaxed for the lower division games.  The following modifications will be allowed: 

1. The three-second lane will be eased. Officials will look at whether or not a player is gaining an advantage.

2.  

1. Double Dribble- Players will be allowed continuous one or two hand dribbles with minimal hesitation.  Once the ball is picked up and held, the player must shoot or pass.  An attempt to dribble again will be a violation.  

2. Traveling- Players will be allowed two extra steps in starting or stopping a dribble.  A stationary player will be allowed to shuffle his/her feet as long as no offensive advantage is gained.  A player may take steps beyond what is allowable.  However, if the player scores or escapes the defensive pressure as a result of these extra steps, an advantage has been gained. Therefore, a violation is called immediately. 

3. Backcourt pressure will NOT be allowed.  1st offense= warning; two warnings allowed per half; 3rd warning= technical foul.  

4. Defensive team must retreat completely to its side of mid-court without attempting defensive resistance.  

5. Any attempt to guard an offensive player, most importantly, the player with the ball, prior to them completely crossing half court, will be considered pressing. 

1. The referee will stop play (and null any resulting turnover or fouls), give a warning to the defensive team’s bench and coach and award the offensive team possession via an inbound play in the offensive team’s backcourt. 

PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES 

1. A team may start the game with four players. 

1. Coach must submit to the official scorekeeper their line-up, at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled game time. 

2. Players must report to the scorer’s table and must wait for the referee to motion them onto the court. 

3. Each team is required to play all team members in every game played or notify scorers’ table prior to game of any injury or behavioral issue that will keep an athlete out of the game.  PENALTY- forfeit 

FOULS AND PENALTIES 

1. Technical fouls will be assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct by any coach, player, team attendant or follower.  Technical fouls committed by a player shall result in two free throws and possession awarded to the opposing team.  If the foul is flagrant (violent, vulgar, or abusive), two free throws and ball possession shall be awarded and the offender shall be ejected from the game.  Any second technical foul for the above reasons is considered a flagrant foul and will be treated as such. 

a. Two technical fouls will result in ejection from the game and suspension for the next games.  

b. Ejected players are allowed to sit on the team bench for the remainder of the game and any games for which they have been disqualified.  

1. The game will be forfeited when a team fails to report for play within 10 minutes past the scheduled game time. 

1. Referees shall have the power to make all decisions on any point not specifically covered in the rules. 

COACHES AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Coaches shall remain within the designated “coaches’ box” while the game is in progress.                        1st offense – Warning, 2nd offense – Technical Foul. 

1. Coaches will be allowed to accompany a player to the scorer’s table when substituting. 

2. Level 5 Only- Each team may designate one registered coach to be the “Baseline Coach” to be positioned on the baseline, from one sideline to the other, on the same side as their team bench.  This coach may only provide verbal queues from beyond the boundary of the court. See page 8 in rules for diagram. 

TIE BREAKERS for ROUND ROBIN DIVISIONS: In Order (from 2024 SONC Basketball Rules) 

A. Head-to-Head: counting only games between the teams that are tied, if still tied proceed to B.  

B. Lowest total defensive points allowed, counting only games (not including divisions, leveling, or play-in games) between the teams that are tied; if still tied, proceed to c. 

See rules for further breakdown. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES: 

Registration: 

All teams may register starting at 7:30am Saturday morning.  Coaches are responsible for registering their team at least 40 minutes prior to their first game.  PLEASE BE EARLY TO YOUR COURT! 

Jewelry, Glasses, Hats: 

-Glasses/goggles must have a strap for safety reasons.   

-Jewelry, such as watches, earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets are prohibited during game play (unless they are for medical purposes). Wristbands are allowed. 

-Headwear is not allowed during game play (unless it is for medical purposes).  Headbands can be worn by athletes.  

Meals: 

Lunches will be served from 11:00am-1:00pm for registered athletes, coaches, and volunteers. NO FOOD IS ALLOWED INSIDE THE GYMS!! 

SMOKING IS NOT ALLOWED.  Smokers must do so off school grounds.   

Water/hydration: 

Igloos will be available for athletes and coaches.  Please encourage your athletes to bring bottled water and refill them during their games to stay hydrated.  The facility has several drinking fountains near the courts. 

Volunteers: 

Over 40 individuals will generously donate their time to help ensure a quality tournament.  Please be considerate during your interaction with all of the tournament volunteers.  We will expect the same from them.   

Officials/Scores: 

Certified officials will be working all games during the tournament.  They will be familiar with our rules, but we recommend meeting with them prior to each game to run through any questions you may have.   Let GMT know if any of them fail to listen/respect your concerns.  Feel free to have a coach keep score and check it against the scorekeepers score sheet.  If there are any discrepancies, only registered coaches may address the scorekeeper or court manager at the appropriate time.  The score sheet at the scorer’s table is the official score sheet regardless of the score shown on the electronic/manual scoreboard.  Please keep this in mind when checking scores.