Rules

2015 Bitovi 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament – Official Rules

• The team listed first on the schedule is considered the home team. As home team, there is a choice of (1) taking the first possession or (2) deciding on the starting lineup after the other team commits to theirs. During the playoffs, the higher seeded team is considered the home team.

• On any change of possession, the offense must bring the ball past the designated “take-back line” (i.e., college three-point stripe) before a shot can be attempted. Both feet must be completely behind the line. If a team forgets to take it back and makes a basket, the basket will not count (for either team), and the opposing team will take possession. If the team forgets to take it back and shoots and misses, it’s a live ball and the rebounding team must still take it back.

• Successful shots taken from inside the line will be worth 1 point, while baskets made from outside the line are worth 2 points. Both feet must be clearly behind the line (when the shot is attempted) for the shot to count as two points. To avoid potential controversy, when a shot goes up, somebody on the court should immediately check the feet of the shooter and yell if it’s a “1” or a “2” if it’s not obvious.

• The team that makes a basket will be on defense on the subsequent possession (this is not “make-it, take-it”). After a dead-ball, the offensive team takes possession behind the line and must pass it in before a shot can be attempted.

• When the ball is checked inbounds, the defender guarding the player who’s inbounding the ball must be positioned within the three-point arc. He cannot get in the face of the inbounder.

• As is the usual custom of 3-on-3 basketball, the player being fouled must call the foul… not a teammate and not the player committing the foul. The player must call out the foul immediately in a loud and clear manner. If the defensive player calls a foul on himself, the offensive player may ignore the call and keep on playing even if the defense stops playing. In other words, if you are on defense, keep your mouth shut. If a foul is committed on a shot attempt and the shot is made, then the basket counts just as if the foul had not occurred. Fouls can occur away from the ball as well. A foul is defined as making contact in such a way to gain an unfair advantage. Examples: a push in the back of an opponent trying to rebound the ball or setting an illegal pick. Please note that when setting a pick, you must stay motionless with elbows and knees not protruding out. That means the person setting the pick must absorb the contact, not instigate the contact. Keep in mind that this is supposed to be fun, so please do not foul your opponent on every possession. At the same time, do not call a foul every time you're touched either.

• There is an imaginary 24-second shot clock. Each team must attempt a shot within that time period. At any time during the game, either team may ask the court monitor to enforce this rule if it appears that a team is stalling. This is especially important at the end of the game. If a losing/tied team is fouled in the last 10 seconds of a close game (2-points or less), then the clock will be re-set to 10 seconds and re-started when the ball gets passed inbounds. In this instance, the court monitor has the right to overrule a foul call if, in his opinion, a foul was not committed.

• A game ends at the earliest of: (1) One team has scored at least 15 points and has a lead of 2 points or more, (2) One team has scored 21 points regardless of margin, (3) 15 minutes have elapsed from the game clock with either team leading by any margin. The championship game will last 20 minutes.

• If the score is tied after the time has elapsed, then the game goes to a 2-point sudden death format. The first team to score 2 points wins the game. The team that had possession at the end of regulation gets the ball first in overtime. If neither had possession, then flip a coin.

• Each team will get one 30-second timeout. The game clock will not be stopped. The timeout may be used at the start of overtime before play begins. No additional timeouts are given in the event of OT.

• The playoff teams are determined on W-L record over the 5 rounds. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head record, the second tiebreaker is point differential in head-to-head games. The third is overall point differential. On ties between three or more teams, all tied teams will be included in the tiebreaker calculations until all places are determined.

• Team rosters are subject to change based on player attendance and/or injuries.

• Each team will have 1 byes. Players on bye are asked to help out by being court monitor. Court monitors are responsible for starting the clock and keeping score of the game, as well as mediating any disputes on the court. If neither team can agree on a particular call, then the court monitor has the authority to make the decision. If he can't decide, then a coin flip will determine the outcome of that call.

• This is a friendly game, for charity. If you swear at another opponent, throw a ball at them, or be an ass, your team loses one point. If it happens again, you will be asked to leave.