The following rules have been designed to ensure fair play for all participants. Each player is expected to understand these rules before participating in the tournament. Any questions concerning these rules should be directed to the UNITE Event Staff.

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Before the Game
Each team must have three to five players on its roster who have registered their team by the predetermined entry deadline. Additions and/or changes to any roster must be approved by an Event Staff member and completed before starting a team's first game of the event. No substitutions are allowed once a team has played its first game of the event.  A player is allowed to participate for only one team in each division for the duration of the tournament.

THE TEAM CAPTAIN WILL REPRESENT HIS/HER TEAM AS A SPOKESPERSON AT ALL TIMES AND MUST VERIFY THAT THE SCORE SHEET HAS THE RIGHT ROSTER BEFORE EVERY GAME.

All games must start with three players on each team, unless a team with three players agrees to allow the opposing team to play with only two players.

If a team with at least three players does not allow the opposing team to play with two players, or if the opposing team has zero or one player, that team will be penalized one point per minute after the designated start time up to 10 points. The game is forfeited after 10 minutes.

A coin flip prior to the start of the game will determine which team has the initial possession.

Each player must have a number on their shirt/uniform (numbers made with masking tape are acceptable).

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Throw In/Starting Play
The ball must be thrown (not dribbled) in from the check box at the rear of the court.  First Violation: Warning from the referees or court monitor, Second Violation: change of possession.  The ball must be thrown in within the 5-second count or the team loses possession.   

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After the Game

Winning teams are responsible for delivering the scorecard to the United Headquarters to be entered.

 

(Sunday Only Bracket)

THE MASTER SCOREBOARD CONTAINS THE OFFICIAL SCHEDULE FOR THE TOURNAMENT. AFTER EACH GAME, EACH TEAM MUST CHECK THE MASTER SCOREBOARD FOR FUTURE SCHEDULING AND INFORMATION.

 

Game Play

Length of Games: First team to score 20 points, or 25 minutes. Championship Games in each division: No Time Limit except for divisions 14 and under. The referee, court monitor, or Event Staff member may institute a time limit in the championship game before or during the game.

Overtime: if the score is tied at the end of 25 minutes, the game goes to overtime. A coin flip determines which team has the initial possession. The game winner is the first to score 2 points in overtime.

No Make It Take It for all divisions: the ball changes possession after each scored basket.

Stalling: No stalling is allowed. The referee, court monitor, or Event Staff member may institute a 30-second shot clock at any time. After a team has been warned about stalling, failure to attempt a shot within 30 seconds will result in loss of possession.

Jump Balls: All jump balls become the possession of the defensive team.

Time-outs: Each team is allowed three 45-second timeouts per game. The game clock does not stop during timeouts, and no timeouts are permitted in the last three minutes of the game.

Taking It Back: When in play, the ball must be "taken back" on each change of possession. "Taking it back" means BOTH feet must be behind the two-point arc. Failure to "take it back" is a violation.
Each Individual Violation: Change of Possession

Throw In/Resuming Play: The ball must be “checked” after every out-of-bounds or opposite team score.  The ball must be thrown in (not dribbled) from the check box at the rear of the court.  No face guarding the box – stay behind the line.
First Violation: Warning from referee or court monitor
Each Additional Violation: Change of possession

Out of Bounds/Resuming Play: The ball must be “checked” every out of bounds.

No Parking Zone: This zone is the box in front of the basket. An offensive player CANNOT remain stationary (i.e.,, “post up”) with both feet in this box AND receive the ball when guarded by an opposing player. A foot on the line of the no-parking zone counts as a foot in the zone.
First Violation: Warning from referee or court monitor

Each Additional Violation: Change of possession

 

Dunking: Dunking is allowed during play only.  If teams/players are seen dunking during non-play, they may be disqualified from the tournament.  Hanging on the rims is not permitted at any time.  Participants will be held responsible for broken equipment.

Scoring: Baskets made from inside the arc count one point. Baskets made when the shooter has BOTH FEET behind the arc count two points. Court monitors or referees will call "two points". If there is any doubt by the court monitor or referees as to whether the made basket is worth one or two points, the basket will count as one point.

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Free Throws: Free throws count as one point. When fouled in the act of shooting, free throws are awarded to the fouled shooter only when the basket was not made (1 for one pointer, 2 for two pointer). All free throws are dead balls. Regardless of whether the free throw(s) are made, the opposing team checks the ball from the check box. The try for goal shall be made within 10 seconds after the ball has been placed at the disposal of the free thrower. All other players will remain behind the two-point arc while the free-throw attempt is being made.

• Any time a basket is MADE and a foul is called:
  ·    The basket counts.
  ·    The referee or team representative records the foul.
  ·    Defending team receives the ball.

 

Basketball Goal Information
The ball is out of bounds if it:

• Passes over the top edge of the backboard or touches the back side of the backboard

• Touches the arms attached to the back of the backboard.

The ball remains in play if the ball:

• Touches the pad ("garage door") in front of the basket.

• Touches the bottom edge of the backboard

• Touches one of the side edges of the backboard

• Touches the top edge of the backboard but does not pass over the top edge of the backboard

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Personal Fouls: The referee will record each personal foul. Each team member is allowed four personal fouls. Upon receiving the fourth personal foul, the player is disqualified. If a player is fouled in the act of shooting and a basket is not made, the player must attempt a free throw (2 free throws if fouled in the act of shooting behind the arc).

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RECORDED TEAM FOUL #                        RESULT (for a team that was fouled)

Team Fouls 1 through 4                               Check the ball from the check box, unless fouled in the act of shooting (see above)

Team Fouls 5+                                              One free throw, unless fouled in the act of shooting (see above).

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Intentional Foul

The referee, court monitor, or Event Staff member will call all intentional fouls, resulting in one free throw for the player fouled AND his/her team retaining possession. The ball must be thrown (not dribbled) in from the check box at the rear of the court. An intentional foul is a personal or technical foul designed to stop or keep the clock from starting, to neutralize an opponent's prominent advantageous position, contact away from the ball, or when not playing the ball. It may or may not be premeditated and is not based on the severity of the act.

 

Flagrant Foul

A flagrant foul is a foul that involves unnecessary contact or excessive contact.

Penalties:

• The offended team receives two free throws.

• The offended team retains possession of the ball after the last free throw.

• A flagrant two foul results in the immediate ejection of the offending player.

Unsportsmanlike Foul vs. Flagrant Foul:

While both involve excessive contact, an unsportsmanlike foul is defined as any flagrant unsportsmanlike action by players, substitutes, or coaches. A player can be disqualified for two unsportsmanlike fouls.

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Disqualifying Foul:

A disqualifying foul is a more serious foul that results in the immediate ejection of the offending player.

Initiating an assault on a player, coach, tournament official, or any person in attendance will result in team forfeiture and dismissal from the tournament.

It applies to violent language or violent contact.

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Tournament Administration
Any questions or disputes will be discussed only with the team spokesperson. Disputes will not be heard after the game has been completed.

Event Staff reserves the right to disqualify any team for infractions of the following policies:

 

Use of illegal players: The players listed on the roster when an entry form is submitted are the only players eligible without the consent of the UNITE Event Staff. (Changes must be noted on the first game played after that, the roster is locked in.) 

 

Proof of Age: The UNITE Event Staff reserves the right to request player identification at any time during the tournament. All participants are encouraged to bring picture identification and a birth certificate to the tournament if they have been accused of being the wrong age. You must show proof of age before your next game. Example…You must be 13 years old on the Sunday of the tournament if you are in the 13-year-old division.

 

False information: information provided to UNITE on your entry form is the basis for division breakdowns. Any false information is grounds for disqualification.  Please note that the 6’ and under division will be measured before play.  Any participant over 6 feet will not be allowed to participate in the 6 feet and under division.

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Unnecessary vulgarity or abusive conduct: Good sportsmanship is expected. An UNITE Event Staff member may assist at any time, including officiating games, immediately implementing the shooting of foul shots, terminating a game, and/or escorting the player or team from the premises.  ANY PLAYER EJECTED FROM A GAME WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE FOR THE TOURNAMENT'S DURATION.

 

This is a family event.  No profanity or abusive behavior toward officials, tournament administrators, or each other will be tolerated from players or fans.  Players/fans violating this rule will be ejected for the duration of the tournament.  Unruly fan or player behavior may also result in a game being stopped and a potential forfeit if deemed necessary.  If a fan or parent is ejected from the tournament, the player or child associated with the fan or parent will also be ejected for the duration of the tournament.  If an entire team is ejected, tournament entry fees will not be refunded.