Official Rules & Regulations

Team registration, payment, and required information must be completed before a team will be placed on the official tournament schedule.

Each registered team will receive two (2) complimentary coach wristbands during the check-in process. Coach wristbands must be worn throughout the entire tournament and are non-transferable. If a wristband is lost, misplaced, removed, or cannot be presented at the entrance, the coach will be required to pay the regular tournament admission fee. Only the two coaches designated by the team will receive complimentary coach admission.

A coach or authorized team representative must report to the designated tournament check-in location with all required eligibility documentation. Teams should arrive early enough to complete the verification process without delaying their scheduled game. The top team listed on the schedule is designated as the HOME TEAM and is responsible for providing the official game ball. Scoresheets will be provided by Tournaments of Champions. Teams must have their team book and eligibility documentation available throughout the tournament.

Tournaments of Champions conducts youth divisions using grade-based competition with age restrictions. Players must participate in the appropriate grade division and satisfy the applicable age requirements. Players may play up into an older grade division. Players may not play down into a younger grade division. If a player exceeds the maximum age permitted for a division, that player must compete in the appropriate higher division.

Teams must be prepared to provide documentation establishing both the player's age and current grade. Acceptable age verification includes: birth certificate, state-issued identification, passport, or other documentation approved by Tournament Administration. Acceptable grade verification includes: current report card, official school record, school ID displaying the student's grade, or signed verification from a school administrator on official school letterhead.

Team rosters must be submitted before the team's first game through the Exposure Events registration portal. If online roster submission is unavailable, the roster must be emailed to tournamentsofchampions@gmail.com. Only properly registered players appearing on the team's official tournament roster are eligible to participate.

If the eligibility of a player is formally challenged, the team must produce acceptable documentation verifying the player's age and grade. Penalties for using an ineligible player may include player removal, game forfeiture, team disqualification, and additional tournament sanctions. Final eligibility determinations are made by Tournaments of Champions Tournament Administration.

A player may not play for two unrelated teams during the same tournament. A player may participate on more than one team only when playing up in age/grade and both teams are part of the same organization/program. A player may never play down into a lower grade or age division.

2nd–8th Grade: Two (2) 14-minute halves. 9th–12th Grade: Two (2) 16-minute halves. The clock will stop according to normal basketball rules for dead balls, free throws, timeouts, and other situations determined by the officials, except when the Mercy Rule is in effect.

Pregame warm-up: 5 minutes. Halftime: 3 minutes. Tournament Administration may shorten warm-up periods when necessary to maintain the tournament schedule.

First Overtime: 3 minutes. Second Overtime: 3 minutes. If the game remains tied following the second overtime, additional overtime periods will be 1 minute until a winner is determined.

Teams are expected to be prepared to play at their scheduled start time. A maximum 5-minute grace period may be allowed. A team that is not prepared to take the court following the grace period may be assessed a forfeit. Teams should not rely upon the grace period when planning arrival times.

Each team receives four (4) timeouts per game — two (2) per half. Unused timeouts do not carry over from the first half to the second half. Each overtime period allows one (1) full timeout per team. Overtime timeouts do not carry over.

A player is disqualified after committing five (5) personal fouls. Technical fouls assessed to a player count toward that player's personal foul total.

7 team fouls — Bonus. 10 team fouls — Double Bonus. Team foul totals reset at halftime.

Any coach receiving a technical foul must remain seated on the bench for the remainder of the game. Any coach or player receiving two (2) technical fouls in the same game will be ejected. Technical fouls assessed to players count toward their five personal fouls. Additional disciplinary action may be imposed for unsportsmanlike behavior.

When a team leads by 20 points or more, the game will operate using a running clock. During the Mercy Rule, the clock will stop only for team timeouts, official timeouts, and injuries. If the lead falls below 20 points, normal clock operation will resume.

The HOME TEAM is responsible for providing the game ball in good, game-ready condition. 6th Grade and Below: 28.5-inch basketball. 7th Grade and Above: 29.5-inch basketball. Tournament Administration may designate an official tournament ball when available.

Player jerseys must display a clearly visible number (00–99) on both the front and back. The home team should wear white or light-colored uniforms. The visiting team should wear dark-colored uniforms. If teams have conflicting uniform colors, the officials and Tournament Administration will determine which team must change jerseys.

When two teams finish pool play tied: (1) Head-to-Head Result. (2) Point Differential — capped at 15 points per game. (3) Least Points Allowed. If teams remain tied after the above criteria, Tournament Administration will determine the next appropriate tiebreaking procedure.

Game officials have full authority over the basketball game. All referee decisions and calls must be respected. Coaches, players, parents, and spectators may not interfere with game officials or delay the tournament by demanding meetings concerning judgment calls. Questions should be directed to Tournament Administration.

The official protest fee is $100 CASH. A protest must involve an issue eligible for review under tournament rules — referee judgment calls are not protestable. If the protest is upheld, the $100 fee will be returned. If denied, the fee is retained by the tournament host. Tournament Administration's ruling on a protest is final.

Any coach ejected for fighting will be removed for the remainder of the tournament. Any player ejected for fighting will be prohibited from participating for the remainder of the tournament. Tournament Administration reserves the right to remove any coach, player, parent, spectator, or team whose conduct threatens the safety or integrity of the event.

Coaches, players, administrators, volunteers, parents, spectators, and all other representatives are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of sportsmanship — courtesy, respect, fair play, self-control, ethical behavior, and genuine concern for others. Winning must never be placed above player safety, character, integrity, or respect for the game.