Gameplay Rules

All games will be officiated by two certified referees, licensed by accredited association at least the high school level or experience equivalent.

Game Ball

  • All girls’ divisions will play with a 28.5 size ball.

  • Boys Grades 2nd-will play with a 28.5 size ball.

  • Boys Grades 6th and up will play with a 29.5 (size 7) size ball.

1. Game Length

  • Each game will consist of two 15 minute halves. Running clock, clock stops on free throws and last 2 minutes of the game (unless mercy rule in affect)

  • 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 Titletown 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

    • Head to Head

    • 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)

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, please be aware that no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure.

4. Mercy Rule

  • The clock will run continuously if at any time the lead is 25 points or more; the clock will resume normal operation once the lead is back below 15 points.

There is no full court defensive pressing allowed when the Mercy Rule is in effect.

Roster Rules

To help ensure fair play at Titletown Basketball events, it’s suggested that all players have proof of grade on hand by carrying a report card or other legitimate proof of grade eligibility.

  1. Teams are allowed a maximum of 15 players on a roster.

  2. A player can play on two teams in the same tournament as long as the following conditions are met:

    • The teams are from the same organization.

    • The teams are not in the same division.

    • The player meets the eligibility criteria for both teams.

    • Once bracket play (elimination play) begins, the player must have played in at least one pool play game in the division in order to compete in that division’s bracket play. A player who has not played in a pool play game is not permitted to compete in bracket play.

  1. A player MUST play in at least one Pool Play game in order to be eligible for Bracket Play.

  2. Title Town Basketball Tournaments are grade based events, players can play up grade divisions but not down.

  3. Challenging the eligibility of an opposing team’s player:

    • Only a Head Coach can challenge the eligibility of an opposing team’s player.

    • Fans, parents, and assistant coaches are not allowed to make an official challenge.

    • Challenges must be made to tournament director before the game starts, no challenges can occur during or after gameplay.

    • There is a $100 challenge fee per player. If challenge is incorrect, the challenging team will lose that fee.

    • If challenge is correct, the challenging team will re-gain $100 fee, ineligible player is disqualified for the remainder of the tourney including other divisions they could be potentially playing in, and offending team is assessed a technical foul.

    • Multiple ineligible player offenses from an organization will result in suspension from Title Town Basketball tournaments.

    • After one unsuccessful challenge by a coach, no player eligibility challenges can be made from that team in that same tournament.

Bench Rules

  1. Teams are allowed 3 bench personnel. (Example: Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Bookkeeper)

    • Teams will receive two complimentary coach’s bands at Team Check-In.

    • Home Team (designated on schedule) will provide official bookkeeper, game ball, and will wear light-color jerseys.

    • Wristbands or stamps must be worn on at all times for the duration of the tournament; entry into gym cannot be permitted without a wristband or stamp.

    • Lost coach’s bands must be repurchased at the going spectator rate.

  1. The following Dress Code will be enforced at Teammate Basketball tournaments:

    • All coaches (including assistant coaches and bench personnel) are suggested to wear a Team Polo or team t-shirt; shorts and jeans are permitted to wear.

    • Excluded apparel includes, but is not limited to: Tank tops, open-toe sandals, flip-flops, pajama-style sweats.

    • Judgment of acceptable attire will be the responsibility of tournament representative.

  1. We ask teams to leave benches cleaned of bottles/trash/spills after every game.

    • We want to help parents teach kids to pick up after themselves. Also, the better we take care of the gyms, the more likely facilities are to welcome us back.

General Rules

Forfeits

  • A 5-minute grace period is allowed for late-arriving teams; failure to have 5 ready players on the court prepared to play by 5 minutes after the official game start time will result in a forfeit. If you call us ahead of time to let us know you are running late, we will do what you can to help if we feel like you’re making an honest effort.

  • If two forfeits by one team occur in the same tournament, that team is not permitted to advance to bracket play.

  • The resulting score of a forfeited game will be 20-0, in favor of the non-forfeiting team.

Team Check-In

  • Teams should arrive at designated check-in area at least 20 minutes prior to teams first game in order to sign-in with a Title Town Basketball staff member.

  • All teams must go through check-in process before taking the floor.

  • All coaches must check in to receive coaches pass.

Sportsmanship Rules

  1. No fighting will be tolerated.

    • Any player, coach, or spectator who is ejected for fighting is immediately suspended for the remainder of the tournament and is ineligible for a refund

  1. Technical Fouls

    • Receiving two technical fouls in a game by coach/player will result in an ejection.

    • Any unruly behavior by a spectator deemed inappropriate by an official will result in an ejection.

    • If a player, coach, or spectator is ejected for any reason, that individual must leave the building for the remainder of that game. It is at the Titletown Basketball tournament director’s discretion if ejected party is welcome to come to the next scheduled game. If ejected a second time, ejected party is dismissed for the rest of the event.

  1. Inappropriate Behavior

    • Title Town Basketball expects all players, coaches, parents, spectators, and staff to act in an appropriate manner.

    • Title Town Basketball officials may remove individuals from the facility or defer to law enforcement for hostile behavior.

  2. Use of Loudspeakers

    • Stereos, boom boxes, & portable speakers are only permitted for use in single-court facilities. Please refrain from using speakers in facilities with multiple courts under one roof.

    The National High School Federation (NHSF) rules & regulations will apply to any rule not specified above. Please note, a Titletown Basketball Tournament Director reserves the right to adjust any gameplay rule if conducive to event.

Refund Policy

Refunds will only be issued if the tournament is canceled or if your division does not make and we do not have another division for you to play in. Otherwise, we have a no refund policy.

Titletown Basketball is not responsible for travel expenses that arise toward an event that does not “make” (e.g. non-refundable hotel/cabin/vehicle deposits, airline tickets, etc).

Copyright 2025 © Title Town Basketball