Rules & Format (Basketball)

GAME FORMAT - FIBA Rules apply unless otherwise stated below.

Game structure: 4 x 9-minute quarters — stop time on all dead balls throughout.
Quarter breaks: 1 minute between quarters.
Half-time: 2 minutes.
Warm-up: Minimum 5 minutes guaranteed prior to tip-off.
Schedule management: If a court falls behind schedule, the Tournament Director may reduce quarters to 8 minutes and/or run time. This will be communicated to both teams and officials prior to tip-off.

TIMEOUTS

1 timeout in 1st half, 2 timeouts in 2nd half.
1 timeout per team in overtime.
Unused timeouts do not carry over between halves or into overtime.

RUN-TIME RULE

In the 4th quarter only, if one team leads by 20 or more points the clock will switch to run-time.
Stop-time will resume only if the losing team cuts the deficit to fewer than 10 points.

OVERTIME

OT1: If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the first team to score 5 points wins, or whoever is leading after 2 minutes expires.
OT2: If the score remains tied after OT1, sudden death — the next team to score wins.
OT rules apply consistently to all games, including pool play and playoffs.
1 timeout per team in overtime. Unused regulation timeouts do not carry over.

TECHNICAL FOULS

A technical foul results in 1 point awarded to the opposing team plus possession — no free throws are shot.
2 technical fouls on any coach or player in a single game results in automatic ejection.
A coach will receive a technical foul for illegal defence after 1 warning from an official.
A player or coach ejected from multiple games may be suspended from further tournament participation at the Tournament Director's discretion.

PERSONAL FOULS

5 personal fouls result in disqualification.
All foul rules follow standard FIBA regulations: 2 free throws awarded on the 5th team foul per quarter and all subsequent fouls.
All rules not otherwise specified in this document are governed by FIBA rules.

ZONE DEFENCE & FULL-COURT PRESSURE

13U / 11U Divisions: No zone defences and no full-court zone pressure permitted. Person-to-person full-court pressure is allowed.
Teams must stop all full-court pressure if leading by 30 or more points.

15U / 18U Divisions: Zone defences and full-court pressure are permitted.
Teams must stop all pressure if leading by 30 or more points.

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

Athletes may not play on more than one team within the same age group/division, but may compete in a separate age group if eligible.
No overage athletes are permitted. If a team has a single overage player, the entire team must move up to that player's age category.
Teams found to have an illegal player will forfeit all games played to that point. This rule will be enforced upon any complaint filed.

FORFEITS & TARDINESS

If a team is more than 5 minutes late, the game may be ruled a forfeit at the Tournament Director's discretion.
A team requires a minimum of 5 players on the court to begin a game.
Forfeited games count as a loss (0–25) and count toward a team's 3-game guarantee.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Main Event Sports is committed to a safe, respectful, and competitive environment. All athletes, coaches, and spectators are expected to uphold these standards.

Officials: Zero tolerance for abuse of officials. Any player, coach, or spectator who verbally or physically abuses an official will be removed immediately.
Spectator responsibility: Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their affiliated spectators. Spectators engaging in disrespectful behaviour will be asked to leave; the affiliated coach is responsible for facilitating this.

Unsportsmanlike conduct: Includes but is not limited to disrespecting officials or opponents, use of profanity, rising from the bench in a threatening manner, or using gestures intended to demean. The Tournament Director may end a game if conduct becomes hostile or dangerous.
Conflict resolution: All concerns regarding officiating or game elements must be directed to Tournament Directors — not addressed on the court.
Fighting: Any player or coach involved in a physical altercation will be ejected for the remainder of the tournament.

TIE BREAKER FORMAT

1. Overall record
2. Better record in head-to-head competition
3. Point differential (max 20)
4. Points allowed
5. Points scored
6. In the case of a 3-way tie, a coin toss will be used to determine advancement.