Gameplay Rules
- The National High School Federation (NHSF) rules & regulations will apply to any rule not specified below. Please note, a Teammate Basketball Tournament Director reserves the right to adjust any gameplay rule if conducive to event.
All games will be officiated by two certified referees, licensed by accredited association at the high school level or higher.
1. Game Length
- 2nd-6th Grade will play two 14-minute, stopped-time halves. (28.5 size ball)
- 7th-12th Grade will play two 16-minute, stopped-time halves. (29.5 size ball; girls use 28.5 size ball)
- Select tournaments will administer a “running clock”. If a tournament applies the running clock format, all divisions will play two 20-minute halves. The clock will run continuously (with the exception of during a timeout) until the last two minutes of both halves.
- Pre-Game Warm-Up time will last 5 minutes; please prepare to play/stretch prior to warm-up
- Halftime will last 3 minutes
- The first and second Overtime will last 2 minutes (stopped-time). 3rd OT will be determined by Sudden Death (first basket to score in 3rd OT period will be declared winner).
2. Timeouts
- Each team will have 4 Timeouts per game: 2 Full & 2 30-second Timeouts
- Each team will have 1 Timeout per Overtime period
- Timeouts from regulation do not carry over to Overtime periods
3. Pool Play / Seeding
- In most Teammate Basketball tournaments, teams will begin in Pool Play and be seeded for Bracket Play based on Pool Play results.
- A team’s seed for Bracket Play will be determined by the following, in order (tie-scenarios below):
- Pool Play Record
- Point Differential (+/- 20 points; the most a team can win by and receive credit for is 20 points)
- Points Allowed (the team with the fewest points scored against them in Pool Play is higher seed)
4. Tie-Breaker Scenarios
- If 2 teams have a tied record after Pool Play, the winner of the head-to-head matchup is awarded the higher seed.
- If 2 teams did not play head-to-head, Point Differential (see above) is applied to determine seeding.
- If 2 teams also have the same Point Differential, the team who allowed the least amount of points in Pool Play would be awarded the higher seed (using this formula, there is no benefit to running up the score, rather the benefit is in stopping the opposing team from scoring).
- If 3 teams are tied, head-to-head matchups are irrelevent in determining seed for Bracket Play.
- If 3 teams are tied, Point Differntial is applied; the team with the highest Point Differential is awarded the high seed.
- If a tie in Point Differential exists, Points Allowed (see above) will determine seed for Bracket Play.
5. Mercy Rule
- The clock will run continuosly if at any time the lead is 20 points or more; the clock will resume normal operation once the lead is back below 20 points.
- There is no defensive pressing allowed when the Mercy Rule is in effect.