TEAM ELIGIBILITY

·         The St. Thekla Basketball Tournament ‘24 is exclusive to teams representing Malankara Churches.

·         The tournament committee reserves the right to make final decisions on the eligibility of a team.

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

·         The tournament committee reserves the right to make a final decision on all player eligibility matters.

·         All players must be over the age of 13.

·         Players must be registered members of the parish represented by the respective team and final roster must be approved by the Parish during registration.

·         Only players who are part of the final team roster are eligible to participate.

·         Players may be asked to prove their membership in their respective parishes if the need arises.

·         The tournament committee reserves the right to deny the registration of a player who fails to produce sufficient proof of parish membership in a timely fashion.

·         Roster changes can be made by the team until October 30, 2024, after which no changes (including swapping of players) can be made and team rosters are considered final.

o   Any requests for roster changes due to injury or unforeseeable circumstances can be made by the team captain to the tournament committee. The tournament committee reserves the right to make final decisions on the aforementioned request.

·         Protest to the eligibility of a player must be declared before the start of the tournament.

·         Related to ringers playing during the games

o   Protest to the eligibility of a player must be declared before the start of the respective game.

o   Results of the games played prior to the protest will not be changed

o   Protests made after the final whistle of a game will not alter the result of the game.

·         If the protest/contest is proven valid to the tournament committee, the player-in-question will not be allowed to participate in the tournament any further.

o   Teams with ineligible players may be disqualified from continuing in the tournament if the committee deems that a disqualification is warranted.

o   Proof of fraud in player eligibility will result in automatic disqualification of a team.

o   The tournament committee reserves the right to make a final decision in such matters.

GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES

·         Each team must appoint a captain who will represent his team and is also responsible for his team’s conduct.

·         The captain is responsible for sending information to the organizers as well as making sure all the information is correct, and inform their team members of the Rules & Guidelines.

·         Each team must wear their assigned uniforms

o   A two shot technical will be assessed for each team member that does not wear their uniform.

·         Each team participating must fill out the registration form and the waiver form.

·         There is a maximum of 20 players allowed on each team roster.

·         Team members involved in a fight (pushing, punching, spitting, cursing) will be ejected from the game and may be suspended from the tournament.

·         Team members leaving the bench onto the court during a fight will face possible ejection from the game and the tournament. Same will apply for any incidents that occur on the premises, including the parking lot.

·         There will be no refund for the teams whose members are involved in a fight.

·         Teams may also be disqualified from the tournament and may be asked to vacate the premises if the organizers deem it warranted.

·         Alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, or weapons found on any player will result in the disqualification of the team. The tournament committee will immediately notify local law enforcement agencies as well as the priest/pastor of the respective parish about the findings.

·         Forfeit time is 5 minutes after scheduled game time. If a team forfeits, the other team will win and get 10 points.

·         Tournament representatives will keep the official score.

·         Only one person without the team jersey can be at the team bench during a game. For any such aforementioned infraction to this rule, the referee can assess a technical foul.

·         Game time decisions made by the referees and officials are final. All decisions made by the tournament committee are final.

BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT

·         Violation of the listed or otherwise acknowledged conduct rules will result in a technical foul.

o   Conduct that results in a technical foul: (this list is not all inclusive)

§  Cursing at anyone including referees, opposing players, and coaches.

§  Taunting players.

§  Hanging on the rim except in an instance to prevent injury.

§  Calling timeouts when all have been exhausted.

§  The presence of more than five players on the floor once the game is in session.

§  The second of a delay of game violation.

·         A technical foul by a single player will be assessed as a personal foul.

·         A technical foul on any team personnel (player, coach, bench, etc.) results in the opposing team receiving one free throw.

·         The receipt of two technical fouls by a single player or a team personnel result in an automatic ejection from the game.

·         Any intentional foul will be assessed as a flagrant foul. If a player plays defense on the ball and fouls the opposing player that will be assessed as a personal foul.

·         Any player receiving two flagrant fouls in a given game will also be automatically ejected from the game.

·         A flagrant foul by a single player will also be assessed as a personal foul.

·         The officials of each game have the authority to penalize (a) player(s) and/or team personnel for inappropriate behavior, body language, and/or inappropriate conversation, at their discretion.

·         If a player(s) or team personnel(s) continues to act or conduct himself in an inappropriate manner, he (they) may be disqualified from further participation in the tournament.

·         The referee has full discretion to call a technical foul for reasons, which may or may not fit within the listed items above.

·         Teams are encouraged to shake hands with opponents before the games as well as after the games.

·         If the medical staff does not give clearance to an injured player to play, the Referee will not allow that player to play

GAME RULES

NCAA RULES TO APPLY

·         NCAA rules shall govern all play except as determined by the officials in their discretion in light of special circumstances that occur.

·         Shot clocks will not be used in this tournament

·         The official(s) shall determine and advise the team captains of any special rules of play that may be required by virtue of the unique architecture of the facility prior to a game. Such "house rules" shall be binding only as to the specific game being played and may be altered as to any subsequent game.

·         If play is interrupted by an injury to a player or the loss of a contact lens, the referee may, in his discretion, stop the clock but in that event shall assess a time-out to the team responsible for the delay in play.

·         In the event of a tie at the end of the second half, an overtime period of two minutes shall be played. Second and third overtimes, both two minutes each, may be played if necessary to break the tie.

·         A team shall be allowed to commence and play a game with four players if a fifth is not available, but cannot start or play a game with 3 players.

THREE-POINT GOALS

·         The three-point goal shall be used in the facility equipped with a three-point line, subject to the discretion of the officials.

FOULS AND FREE THROWS

·         A player will be disqualified upon committing his fifth foul of any type (including technical fouls), or his second technical foul. Any flagrant, unsportsmanlike foul shall result in two free throws for the opposite team, and loss of possession. A second flagrant foul by the same player will result in automatic ejection, two free throws for the opposite team and a loss of possession.

·         A player may use no more than ten seconds to shoot free throws.

·         Three Second Violations: If an offensive player has both feet in the paint for three (3) seconds, a violation will be called.

·         The seventh team-foul in a half result in a one-and-one situation for the opposing team player that was fouled.

·         The tenth team foul and every foul after that, in a half result in a two shot opportunity for the opposing team player that was fouled.

·         If in the unfortunate event of a team player that is fouled is not able to shoot the ensuing foul shots; any of his teammates may shoot them in his place.

·         Any shot made behind the three-point arch results in three points for that player’s team; therefore if a player is fouled in the act of shooting a three-pointer, such player is given the opportunity to shoot three free throws if the shot is missed. If the fouled player makes the three pointer then the player only receives one free throw.

·         If an offensive player is fouled in the act of shooting and he makes the shot, the basket is counted and the offensive player receives 1 free throw. If the player doesn’t make the initial shot then he receives 2 free throws.

·         3 Second violation will be called on any offensive player in 3-second lane for more than the allotted time.

·         The game ball must be inbounded within 5 seconds after receiving it from the referees.

SUBSTITUTIONS

·         Substitutions may be made following whistles in accordance with NCAA Rules but only after the substitute has sought permission to enter the game and has been "waived in" by an official.

OFFICIALS AND PROTESTS

·         The officials have authority and control over all aspects of the game, as defined by the NCAA Rules. Officials’ decisions are final, even if made in error, and cannot be contested.

·         Team captain must sign the score-keeper’s sheet at the end of each game.

LATE PENALTY

·         Teams unable to produce at least four players on court by the referee’s whistle at the start of the game will be penalized two free throws every thirty seconds. Officials’ will start the clock under the discretion of the tournament committee or court manager. The clock will not be restarted after the late team produces five players.

TIME-OUTS, AND FORFEITS

·         Teams will be assessed a technical foul (1 shot and loss of possession) if an illegal time out is called.

·         Time-outs not used do not carry over to the next half or overtime.

·         Forfeit time is 5 minutes after scheduled game time

·         If a team forfeits, the other team will win and get 10 points.

FOULS AND FREE THROWS

TEAM FOULS

·         Fouls of any kind assessed to any member of the team will be counted as team fouls.

·         From the 7th team foul in a half, it will be a 1-and-1 situation for the opposing team player that was fouled.

·         From the 10th team foul onwards in a half, the opposing team shoots 2 free throws for the opposing team player that was fouled.

·         Teams will be assessed a technical foul (1 shot and loss of possession) if an illegal time out is called.

PLAYER FOULS

·         Players have 5 personal fouls

·         A player will be disqualified upon committing his fifth foul of any type (including technical fouls), or his second technical foul.

·         Players have 2 technical fouls; technical fouls are counted as both personal fouls and technical fouls.

·         A technical foul on any team personnel (player, coach, bench, etc.) results in the opposing team receiving one free throw.

·         Players have 2 flagrant fouls; flagrant fouls are counted as both personal fouls and flagrant fouls.

·         Any flagrant, unsportsmanlike foul shall result in two free throws for the opposite team, and loss of possession.

·         A second flagrant foul by the same player will result in automatic ejection, two free throws for the opposite team and a loss of possession.

·         If in the unfortunate event of a team player that is fouled is not able to shoot the ensuing foul shots; any of his teammates may shoot them in his place

·         A player may use no more than ten seconds to shoot free throws.

·         Only one person without the team-jersey can be at the team bench during a game. For any such aforementioned infraction to this rule, the referee can assess a technical foul.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT – (16 TEAMS)

1.       There will be four brackets for this year’s tournament.

A.      Teams will be placed in a four-team bracket.

B.      Every team in each bracket will play each other.

C.      Each team is guaranteed 3 games.

D.      Brackets will be determined by the average of all teams rankings and games will be determined prior to the tournament date.

2.       In case of a tie, tie-breakers will be applied in the following order to determine the advancing teams for playoffs from each bracket. (NOTE: TEAMS THAT FORFEIT OR GET EJECTED WILL LOSE ALL TIE-BREAKERS HERE AND THE REMAINING TWO TEAMS WILL ADVANCE)

A.      Head to head (if only 2 teams)

B.      Point differential among the tied teams

C.      If two teams are tied after the point differential, the head-to-head matchup between the two teams is looked at to determine the advancing team.

D.      Least points allowed per team in their respective brackets can be used if necessary.

E.       Most points scored per team in their respective brackets can be used if necessary.

3.       Schedules for the upcoming rounds will be posted at the tournament location at the end of the season game round.

PLAYOFF FORMAT

1.       The top 8 teams with the best records will advance to the playoffs (regardless of bracket). All the teams that advance to the playoffs will be reseeded in the following manner to determine the (1-8) seeding.

A.      Head to head (if only 2 teams)

B.      Point differential among the tied teams

C.      If two teams are tied after the point differential, the head-to-head matchup between the two teams is looked at to determine the advancing team.

D.      Least points allowed per team in their respective brackets can be used if necessary.

E.       Most points scored per team in their respective brackets can be used if necessary.

2.       After each round of the playoffs, teams will be re-seeded based on playoff ranking (i.e. if Teams 1, 2, 6, and 4 win in quarterfinals, then Semi’s will be #1vs#6 and #2vs#4)

GAME FORMAT

·         Shot clocks will not be used in this tournament.

·         Regular Season: Two 12-minute halves, where clocks will be running with the exception of the last 2 minute of the second half. Half time will be 1 minute. Each team is permitted 2 twenty-second timeouts per half.

·         Quarter Finals (QF): Two 12-minute halves, where clocks will be running with the exception of the last 2 minutes of the second half. Half time will be 2 minutes. Each team is permitted to take 2 twenty-second time outs and one full (1 minute) timeout per half.

·         Semi-Finals (SF): Two 12-minute halves, where clocks will be running with the exception of the last 2 minutes of the second half. Half time will be 2 minutes. Each team is permitted to take 2 twenty-second time outs and one full (1 minute) timeout per half.

·         Finals: Two 12-minute halves, where clocks will be running with the exception of the last 2 minutes of the second half. During the last 2 minutes of the second half, the clock will stop at each whistle. Half-time will be 5 minutes. Each team is permitted to take 2 twenty-second time outs and one full (1 minute) timeout per half.