Rules of Play

Who Can Play:
The tournament is open to players (boys and girls) currently in grades 3 through 12, as well as adults. A designated coach is required for all youth teams. A player may not participate on multiple teams within the same bracket.
 

Number of Players:
Each team may consist of a maximum of 5 players and a minimum of 3 players. A team may have only 3 players on the court at any time. All games must start with at least 3 players on each team. Any number of players (1, 2, or 3) may complete a game.
 

Authorized Equipment & Apparel:
No player shall be allowed to wear a guard, cast, hard brace or other potentially dangerous equipment on his or her elbow, hand, wrist, finger, or forearm, including equipment made of hard leather, plastic, plaster or metal—even if the equipment is covered with soft padding. Soft braces, sleeves and wraps will be allowed unless they pose a danger to other players. In addition, jewelry, hair bands and clips will not be allowed. As always, we retain the right to disallow any equipment or apparel that it judges to be dangerous or inappropriate.
 

Eligibility Issues:
All high school and college players are encouraged to check with their coaches and/or athletic directors about participating in this tournament and the potential effects on their eligibility. Baker AAU is not responsible for determining a particular athlete’s eligibility under National Collegiate Athletic Association or applicable high school association rules.
 

Bracket Types:
Teams will be divided into tournament brackets according to its players’ ages or immediate school grades, playing experience, and competition level, in accordance with the information on each team entry form. Tournament officials reserve the right to verify a player’s entry form data. False information will be grounds for dismissal from the tournament.
 

Basket Height:
Baskets will be 10 feet high for all teams.
 

Basketball Size:
The intermediate size ball will be used for all female games and any players currently in grades 3 through 6. The full size ball will be used for all other games.
 

Free Throw Shooting Distance:
The distance for free-throws will be 15 feet for every bracket.
 

Two-Point Shooting Distance:
The distance for two-point shooting will be 19 feet for every bracket.
 

Stealing the Ball:
Players in all age categories may steal the ball when it is being passed, dribbled, or held.
 

Fouls:
In all brackets, the referees will call fouls. All called fouls shall result in one free throw shot, except on successful field goals, in which case the basket counts and no free throw shot is awarded. During a free throw, opposing team players may not intentionally disrupt the shooter’s unhindered throw. Team fouls 1-6, the team is allowed to shoot one free throw. Team fouls 7 and above will result in two free throws. If a player is fouled and makes a field goal during a bonus situation, they are awarded the points and a free throw. After any free throw, the ball will be placed into the backcourt and a change of possession will take place regardless if the free throw is made or missed.
 

Technical Fouls:
A technical foul will be called for unsportsmanlike acts such as taunting, baiting, or trash talk. Taunting and baiting can involve derogatory remarks or gestures that incite or insult a player. Trash talk involves a deeply personal, verbal attack directed toward any person involved in the event. In extreme cases, the player may also be suspended from play and a coach or fan removed from the court for the remainder of that game or for the rest of the tournament. A player who aggressively comes into contact with or assaults a court monitor or other tournament official shall be automatically ejected from the game and for the remainder of the current tournament. Additional suspension for such acts will be determined by the Baker AAU organization on a case by case basis. The court monitor may also assess a technical foul if the monitor determines that the team is stalling in the interest of preserving a winning margin. A technical foul results in one point for the offended team and possession of the ball.

 

Intentional Fouls:
An intentional foul is a foul designed to neutralize an opponent’s obvious advantageous position. It is a foul which, based on the court monitor’s observation of the act, is not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball. A foul shall also be ruled intentional, based on the monitor’s observation of the act, if while attempting to play the ball, a player causes excessive contact. An intentional foul results in one point for the offended team and possession of the ball.
 

Flagrant Fouls:
A flagrant foul may be of a violent or aggressive nature, or an act which displays unacceptable conduct. It may or may not be intentional. It may involve violent or aggressive contact such as striking, kicking, kneeing, moving under an opponent who is in the air, and crouching or hipping in a manner which could cause severe injury to the opponent. It may also involve dead ball contact or dialogue which is extreme or persistent, aggressive, or abusive. A flagrant foul results in one point for the offended team and possession of the ball. The player committing the foul will be suspended from play for the remainder of that game and possibly for the rest of the tournament. Technical, intentional, and flagrant fouls cannot be called by a player. A court monitor will make this call. Their decision is final.
 

Length of Game – All Divisions:
If a score of 20 is achieved within 25 minutes The target score for all games is 20 points, meaning the first team to reach 20 points within 25 minutes of play is declared the winner. The team that reaches 20 points does not need to have a winning margin of 2 points or greater. The 25 minute clock is stopped during team time-outs and if the court monitor stops play for a player injury or other unusual circumstance. If neither team has reached a score of 20 points, the court monitor shall stop the game after 25 minutes of play. In all situations, the court monitor shall declare a technical foul if the monitor determines that a team is intentionally stalling to run out the clock if a score of 20 is not achieved within 25 minutes. If at this point of interruption a team has a lead of 2 or more points, that team is declared the winner. If neither team has at least a 2 point advantage, the overtime rule will be activated. In overtime, the first team to score a total of 2 points more than the leading team’s score at the beginning of the overtime session, or reach 20 points, will be declared the winner. A coin toss will determine who gets the ball out of bounds first in overtime. Use these examples as a guideline:
 

SCORES AT BEGINNING OF THE OVERTIME SESSION Score of 19 to 18: the first team to 20 wins (no game goes beyond 20 points) Score of 16 to 16: the first team to 18 wins Score of 8 to 7: the first team to 10 wins. A coin toss determines possession.
 

Checked Ball:
The ball must be “checked” by an opposing player before it is put into play. The check-in must occur behind the dashed take back line and not the out of bounds or end line. As always, the ball must be passed to begin play. The pass may occur anywhere on the court, but the on-ball defender must remain behind the two-point arc. In games consisting of players entering grades 3 and 4 played on an 8 foot basket, the initial pass, if made behind the free-throw line extended, may not be contested by the opposing team. If the initial pass is made in front of the free-throw line extended, towards the basket, full defense may be played.
 

Change of Possession:
The ball will change possession after scored baskets and all free-throw attempts with the exception of Technical, Intentional or Flagrant fouls. There will be no “make it, take it” rule.
 

Taking It Back:
The ball will be “taken back” on each change of possession, regardless of whether or not a shot was attempted. Failure to “take it back” results in loss of possession and any points just scored. “Taking it back” means bringing your whole body, and the ball, behind the dashed “take-back” line, not the sidelines or 2 point arc.
 

Ball Out-of-Bounds:
A ball out-of-bounds will be taken out from the back-court line.
 

Boundaries:
The basket structure, padding, and structural supports will be played as out-of-bounds. The actual backboard, including its face, top, bottom and sides, shall be considered in-bounds.
 

Jump Ball:
In a jump ball situation, the ball will first go to the team which lost the opening coin toss, with alternating possessions thereafter.
 

Substitutions:
Substitutions may only be made during a time-out or a “dead ball” situation.

 

Player Injury:
A court monitor has the discretion to suspend play for the protection of an injured player. If a player is bleeding or has an open wound, that player will be directed to leave the game and properly bandage the wound. A player with any bloodstained clothing or bandage must remove the stained or saturated material prior to re-entering the game. If it is believed that a player has lost consciousness during a game, or is severely injured, Baker AAU may require a written note from a medical doctor who has examined the player subsequent to the game injury and specifically authorizes that player to continue participation in the tournament.
 

Game Times:
All printed schedules are effective through only the first game for all teams. Following the tournament’s first game, each team is required to check the Master Scoreboard for all official schedules, times, courts, revisions, and general game information. Teams must be ready to begin play at their scheduled start time. Teams not at their court for their scheduled game are given a 5 minute grace period before a forfeit is enforced.
 

Which Team Receives the Ball First:
A coin toss prior to each game will determine which team gets the ball out-of-bounds first.
 

Keeping Score:
All made baskets from inside the two-point arc count for one point and made baskets from outside the two-point arc count for two points. The first team to 20 points is the winner.
 

The Fine Print:
Designated tournament officials shall have the power to make decisions on any points not specifically covered in the Rules and Regulations and shall also have the complete authorization to interpret the intent and purpose of these Rules and Regulations. Officials also reserve the right to disqualify any player and/or team for infractions of tournament policies, including the following: Use of Illegal Players The players listed on the team entry form as accepted by Baker AAU are the only ones eligible for play on that team. Player changes submitted via text to Jebron Jones at (541)910-1727, must be completed and approved by 5:00 pm on Thursday, November 7, 2024. Under no circumstances will roster substitutions be allowed after the tournament begins. Any team using a player not properly registered will be disqualified from the tournament.

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Stalling:
Stalling is prohibited. Stalling is a style of play in which a team does not actively attempt to advance the basketball toward the basket and shoot the ball at the basket. It is a method used in an attempt to run out the game clock to preserve a win. Stalling is considered an unsportsmanlike act and will result in a technical foul against the offending team.
 

Time-Out:
Each team is allowed a single one minute time-out per game. The clock will stop running during a time-out.