Age/Grade/Division
Rules For all teams
Bring proof of age & grade for all your players to the tournament.
This is important.
1. A player can participate in a maximum of two age/grade divisions and a maximum of two teams per tournament, as long as they meet the age/grade requirements for both divisions. They cannot play on two teams in the same age/grade division. If a team loses, a player cannot switch to another team still in competition.
2. For all divisions, all players participating in bracket play must have participated in at least one of the team’s pool games.
3. Age/Grade Qualifications by Division: Ages are based on the grade players are in during the 2025-2026 school year. Age determining date is 9/1/2022 (September 1, 2022).
TOURNAMENT RULES
1. Normal high school rules with a stop clock on all dead balls.
2. There will be two 15-minute halves for all 15- 17U divisions and two 14-minute halves for all 14U divisions.
3. 3 timeouts total per game—1 full timeout and 2 thirty-second timeouts.
4. One-minute halftime.
5. Guaranteed 3-minute warm-up between games.
6. Overtime is 2 minutes—one 30-second timeout only in the first overtime with no carryovers. Each extra overtime is 1 minute with no timeout.
7. A player fouls out on his 6th personal foul.
8. A team reaches a 1-and-1 bonus on the 10th team foul of each half. There is no 2-shot bonus.
9. The team listed on the right and bottom of the bracket is home and wears a light color. Bring both colors to the game in case a team does not have extra uniforms.
10. Two technicals result in automatic ejection from the game.
11. 9U, 10U, 11U & 12U boys’ teams and all girls’ teams will use a 28.5” ball. All others use a regular-size ball. A 29.5” ball may be used if both coaches agree.
12. Seeding from each pool will be determined by win-loss record in pool play. In case of ties, head-to-head competition determines seed. If 3 teams are tied, a point system comes into effect to determine the 1, 2, and 3 seeds of the pool. There is a maximum of +15 for a win in the pool and -15 for a loss in the pool. All games in the pool are included in figuring point system. In case the 3 teams are still tied, the least total points allowed in pool play will determine the higher seed. In case there is still a tie, a coin toss will determine seeding. In case of disputes, the Tournament Director’s decision is final.
13. Mercy Rule-If a team is up by 20 or more points with 5 minutes or less to go in the game, the clock will run.
NCAA Rules: 15U - 17U
step 1
To obtain a USAB Gold License, go to: https://community.usab.com (*Returning Users should RENEW their previous account and not create one)
Parent/Guardian of Athlete: register new or log in to existing account in the BBCS: Athlete – Registration Start (egain.cloud)
step 2
Create a new account or log into an existing account in the BBCS: Basketball Certification (ncaa.org)
Steps to create a Coach account: Coach – Registration Start (egain.cloud)
step 3
Complete attestations about financial responsibility: Financial Responsibility (egain.cloud)
step 4
Once all athletes are registered in the BBCS, complete your bench: Bench Creation (egain.cloud)
step 5
Respond to any warnings in the BBCS: Justification Process (egain.cloud)
step 6
Create your roster for the event: Roster Creation (egain.cloud)
CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO VIEW ATHLETE ADDRESS REQUIREMENTS
AND DOCUMENTATION OF PROOF FLOW CHART
Age Requirements
Bring proof of age & grade for all of your players with you to the tournament. This is important.
1. A player can participate in a maximum of two age/grade divisions and a maximum of two teams per tournament, as long as they meet the age/grade requirements for both divisions. They cannot play on two teams in the same age/grade division. If a team loses, a player cannot switch to another team still in competition.
2. For all divisions, all players participating in bracket play must have participated in at least one of the team’s pool games.
3. Age/Grade Qualifications by Division: Ages are based on the grade players are in during the 2025-2026 school year. Age determining date is 9/1/2022 (September 1, 2022).
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Players in the 3rd grade can be 9 or 10 years old, but cannot turn 11 before 9/1/2026. Players in the 4th grade who want to play down to the 3rd grade division must not turn 10 before 9/1/2026.
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Players in the 4th grade can be 10 or 11 years old, but cannot turn 12 before 9/1/2026. Players in the 5th grade who want to play down into the 4th grade divisions cannot turn 11 before 9/1/2026.
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Players in the 5th grade can be 11 or 12 years old, but cannot turn 13 before 9/1/2026. Players in the 6th grade who want to play down into the 5th grade division cannot turn 12 before 9/1/2026.
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Players in the 6th grade can be 12 or 13 years old, but cannot turn 14 before 9/1/2026. Players in the 7th grade who want to play down into the 6th grade division cannot turn 13 before 9/1/2026.
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Players in the 7th grade can be 13 or 14 years old, but cannot turn 15 before 9/1/2026. Players in the 8th grade who want to play down to the 7th grade division must not turn 14 before 9/1/2026.
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Players in the 8th grade can be 14 or 15 years old, but cannot turn 16 before 9/1/2026. Players in the 9th grade who want to play down to the 8th-grade division must not turn 15 before 9/1/2026.
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Players in the 9th grade can be 15 or 16 years old, but cannot turn 17 before 9/1/2026. Players in the 10th grade who want to play down into the 9th grade division cannot turn 16 before 9/1/2026.
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Players in the 10th grade can be 16 or 17 years old, but cannot turn 18 before 9/1/2026. Players in the 11th grade who want to play down into the 10th grade division cannot turn 17 before 9/1/2026.
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The boys’ 17U & girls’ Varsity divisions are actually “open divisions,” where unsigned seniors with remaining high school eligibility can play. However, players cannot turn 20 before 9/1/2026. Unsigned seniors can play if they have not committed in writing to play for a college at any level. Unsigned prep school players are also eligible to play in our tournaments. If a player has signed a letter of intent and you think they will not qualify because of grades, they still cannot play. The tournament management has the right to exclude any senior from playing. No player who has attended junior college or college may play in this event.
PROTESTS
All formal protests will be reviewed by the tournament committee, and their rulings will be final. If the protest is concerning age qualification, the protest must be raised PRIOR to the start of the game in question. A $200 fee will be required to file a formal complaint and will be refunded only if the protest is won. No protest will be reviewed until the $200 is paid.
PENALTIES
If a player is found to be in violation of the rules above after an event has started, the situation will be referred to the Tournament Director for an official ruling on the penalty to be assessed – up to and including possible expulsion from the tournament. However –
If any team or player violates any of the above rules, those games where the rules were violated will be deemed as a 15-0 loss. If a game has already taken place in bracket play and the above rules are broken, that team will be eliminated.
Any player who is associated with the breaking of the above rules will have to sit out for at least one game. If a player is found to be over age, they cannot play in that age group. If they have been found to play illegally on two teams and are the correct age, they must sit out at least one game and then play only on one team for the remainder of the tournament.
Any coach, player, or spectator ejected for fighting will be suspended from participating in or watching the remainder of the tournament.
For ejection for fighting, there is no alternative to being removed from the tournament. The Tournament Director will have the final say regarding any disputes. This tournament is for the kids—let’s always keep that in mind. Code of Conduct
There will be no cursing, unsportsmanlike conduct, foul language, physical violence, or berating of fans, players, or officials. These acts will not be tolerated. The game is for the kids. Maintain a positive atmosphere—win or lose. Anyone breaking this rule will incur a technical foul for their team and may be ejected and suspended from the tournament.
Casual Profanity – Casual profanity pertains to expletives and verbal unsportsmanlike language not necessarily directed at officials or opposing players, but is uttered by a player out of frustration. This type of behavior may be penalized by a technical foul against the offending player.
Foul language will not be tolerated by players, coaches, parents/guardians, and/or spectators. An automatic technical foul will be assessed if a player or coach uses foul language. A second violation in a game will result in ejection and a possible suspension of one or more games. Any spectator or parent who uses foul language will be issued a warning and may be ejected from the game and/or tournament.
If the tournament has progressed and a team forfeits for breaking a rule, the tournament director will decide whether another team advances.
No smoking or alcoholic beverages are permitted at any site.
Bouncing balls in the facility hallways is not permitted.
Anyone defacing or damaging the property of the facility, whether before, during or after the game, will be automatically suspended from the tournament and held liable for all costs.
If anyone believes the rules are being violated by any player, coach, parent, or spectator, they may contact the gym supervisor. The supervisor will investigate all complaints received and will take appropriate action, which could include suspension or expulsion from the tournament.
Please keep all young children from running through the schools or facilities.
Please keep all cheering positive and show good sportsmanship.