For a PDF version of the tournament rules, click HERE.

READINGTON HOLIDAY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

2018 TOURNAMENT RULES

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY AND ROSTERS

1.       1. Teams may have a maximum of 12 players on their roster. (Extra players must be approved by the Tournament Director).

2.       2. All players MUST reside in the same township or parish.

3.       3. Players must be rostered to be eligible to play. Rosters are due to Readington Recreation by December 20. If a player does not appear on the roster by December 20, he or she is ineligible to play in the tournament.

4.       4. Copies of birth certificates must be produced prior to the end of the tournament if a challenge is issued. Challenges must be issued through the Tournament Director or Site Director.

GAME PLAY

5.       5. Play is conducted under high school rules (as established by the National Federation for High School Sports – NFHS) except where as modified by these tournament rules.

6.       6. Games are four quarters of eight minutes each. The clock stops on all dead balls. Half time is four minutes.

7.       7. Teams will be allotted a five-minute warm-up period prior to the game. (This may be shortened by the Tournament Director in the case of extreme scheduling scenarios.)

8.       8. Overtime periods will be played if necessary. The first overtime period shall be four minutes. A second over time period (if necessary) shall be three minutes.

a.       In round robin/pool play, if a third overtime is necessary, it shall be played a sudden death.

b.       In championship game play, if a third overtime is necessary, it and all subsequent overtimes shall be three minutes.

 BASKETBALLS

9.       9. All girls’ divisions, and boys 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade will use a 28.5” basketball.

10.   10. Boys 7^th and 8^th grade will use a 29.5” basketball.

11.   11. Game balls shall be supplied by the participating teams. The referee will decide on the game ball.

PLAYING TIME

12.   12. Teams are requested, by not required, to play each of their players for at least eight minutes each game.

FULL COURT DEFENSE AND PRESSING

13.   13. Full court defense is permitted if a lead is 15 points or less. If team leads by more than 15 points, they cannot press.

14.   14. 4th Grade Boys & Girls: Pressing is permitted only in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter.

15.   15. 5th Grade Boys & Girls: Pressing is permitted only in the fourth quarter.

16.   16. 6th Grade Boys & Girls: Pressing is permitted only in the second half.

17.   17. 7th Grade, 8th Grade Boys & Girls: Pressing is permitted the entire game.

18.   18. All teams may play full court defense in overtime, assuming the point differential condition is met.

FREE THROWS

19.   19. 4th Grade Boys & Girls and 5th Grade Girls can go over the foul line when shooting free throws but cannot rebound the ball until the ball hits the rim.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

20.   20. Teams are guaranteed three games in round robin or pool play.

21.   21. In brackets with four teams, each team will play each other team once. The top two teams advance to the championship game.

22.   22. In brackets with two pools, each team will play each other team in their pool once, and if necessary, a crossover game to meet three games. The crossover games will count in the standings. The winners of each pool advance to the championship game.

23.   23. Standings shall be determined in the following manner:

a.       Win-loss record in round robin/pool play (crossover games, if played, count toward standings)

b.       Head-to-head record

c.       Points allowed in round robin/pool play

d.       Point differential in round robin/pool play (up to a maximum of 15 points per game)

e.       Coin flip

PROTESTS

24.   24. There shall be no protests. The decision of the referees is final.

PLAYER, COACH, AND PARENT/SPECTATOR CONDUCT

25.   25. Head coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, coaches, and parents/spectators at all times during the tournament.

26.   26. Coaches and parents/spectators who are ejected from the game must leave the gymnasium. In certain cases or extreme circumstances, the Tournament Director or Site Director may ask to leave the building.