Join us for the Houghton 3 on 3 Indoor Basketball Tournament on March 23rd. A 1 day double elimination bracket tournament with competitive competitions for ages 8 to 18. Teams will play at least 3 games.

8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.   Team Check-In
 9:00 a.m.                     Round 1 Starts
 *Awards will be given out following each division Championship Game

8-10 Year Old Boys and Girls Divisions

11 -12 Year Old Boys and Girls Divisions

13 -15 Year Old Boys and Girls Divisions

16-18 Year Old Boys and Girls Divisions

*All teams registered before March 2nd will receive a free T-Shirt for each registered team member
*Registration closes on March 17th
*Purchase is non-refundable, but fully transferable

3 on 3 Event Rules

1. Prizes
   • Students in school, 12th grade or below, are not eligible to win cash prizes.
   • Cash prizes accepted by college students may or may not effect current athletic standings/scholarships/or other school/organization rules and or contracts.  It is the responsibility of the college student to either accept or deny prizes. 
   • Houghton College will not hold any liability for repercussions to participants who are reprimanded or damaged as a result of accepting cash prizes or participating in this event.
2. Team rosters
   • Each team must have (3) players on their roster and be registered as a team by the predetermined entry deadline (recommened to have 4 players as a sub or in case of injury).
   • Players may appear on only one team roster for the tournament. Any player appearing on more than one team roster may be disqualified from participation in the tournament.
2. Roster Changes
   • Changes on rosters for all divisions must be made no later than 5:00pm on the Monday prior to the tournament.
   • Only (1) roster change/substitution may be made per team
   • The ‘new’ player added to the roster must be of the same age bracket
   • Under no circumstances will roster substitutions be allowed after the tournament begins.
3. Proper Identification
   • Every player must have available, for each game at their designated court, acceptable documentation to verify their age and birthday. If a player’s eligibility is challenged, the player must produce appropriate documentation to a tournament official
   • If any of a player’s personal information listed on the team application is inaccurate (e.g. age, height), the player may be eliminated from participation in the tournament.
   • If a player does not produce acceptable documentation, the player may be disqualified from further participation in the tournament, at the sole discretion of a tournament official. Any false or misleading information provided on a player or a team will also be grounds for dismissal of the player and team from the tournament.
4. Authorized Equipment & Apparel
   • No player shall be allowed to wear a guard, cast, hard brace or other potentially dangerous equipment on his or her elbow, hand, wrist, finger or forearm, including equipment made of hard leather, plastic, plaster or metal—even if the equipment is covered with soft padding. Soft braces, sleeves and wraps will be allowed unless they pose a danger to other players. In addition, jewelry, hair bands and clips will not be allowed. Tournament officials retain the right to disallow any equipment or apparel that is judged to be dangerous or inappropriate.

5. Eligibility
   • All high school and college players are encouraged to check with their coaches and/or athletic directors about participating in the tournament and the potential effects on their eligibility. Event organizers are not responsible for determining a particular athlete’s eligibility under National Collegiate Athletic Association or applicable high school association rules.

6. Basketball Size
   • An intermediate size ball will be used for all female-only games and 8-10yr old bracket. A full size ball will be used for all other games.

7. Free Throw Distance / Two-point Arc / Basket Height
   • The basket height will be 10 feet in all brackets.
   • The distance for the two point arc will be 19 feet in all brackets.
   • The distance will be 15 feet in all brackets.

• BRACKETS
• All teams may be placed in smaller groupings, called brackets, by tournament officials who will consider individual player and team characteristics including age and gender obtained during the team registration process.
• Individual teams may consist of male and female players. Any co-ed teams registered to play will automatically be scheduled in a male division based on criteria listed.
• Mixed gender teams may be placed in identified co-ed brackets only if event organizers determine there are a sufficient number of co-ed teams to form a specific co-ed bracket in a particular grouping. Otherwise, mixed gender teams will be placed in a male bracket.
• Teams are placed into male and female divisions according to pre-established age brackets, as follows: 8-10, 11-12, 13-15, 16-18.

1. The age of the players is determined as of the day of the event.
2. To ensure proper placement of team, all players must fit within the established age category. If a player does not meet the age requirement, your team will be placed into the category of the oldest player.

• Every effort will be made to place teams into these age categories. Tournament officials will change or combine age categories only when not enough teams have entered to complete an age division. In a few instances, officials may have to create co-ed within these age categories.

PRE-GAME

9. • All games may start with a minimum of 2 players on each team. Any number of players (1, 2, or 3) may complete a game.
   • Both teams will warm-up at the same time prior to the start of the game.
   • Only those teams scheduled to play are allowed to occupy the court at the scheduled time.
   • Teams must be at their court at the scheduled game time, even if games are “running behind” for any reason (slow play, injury, etc...). The final point of reference for scheduling procedures shall be the bracket area. The players are ultimately responsible for obtaining accurate scheduling information and being at their court to play when their game is to begin. Game time is forfeit time. (A forfeit will be scored 20-0)
   • SPECIAL NOTE: It is suggested that you be at your court 10 minutes before the scheduled game time and stay there until game is played.
   • Any game that begins more than one hour after the original scheduled time, the game winning scores will be reduced by five (5) points, until a time where games begin within one hour of the scheduled start time. The rule will be applied on a court by court basis. The tournament staff will have the authority to implement its use. (This rule will be utilized under certain circumstances, due to slow play).
   • No dunking allowed. Any participant registered to play in the tournament observed dunking on any basket may, at minimum, result in a technical foul and may result in dismissal from the tournament. Entry fee will not be refunded.
10.  Which Team Receives the Ball First?
    • A coin toss prior to each game determines which team first gets the ball.
11. OFFICIALS AND DUTIES

• There will be one or two officials on each court as determined by tournament officials. Court officials will call all fouls and violations and has absolute authority to control play on his/her court
• Only disputes or questions on interpretation of rules will be settled by tournament officials.
• Once play resumes after a disagreement or appeal, the decision is considered to be final. No further appeals will be allowed on that incident.

12. GAME SUBSTITUTIONS

• Player substitution is permitted during any “dead ball” situation. Players must “check-in” at the scorer’s table prior to entering the game.
• If play is stopped by a teammate or official to attend to an obvious injury, then the injured player must sit out at least until the next dead ball.

13. TIME LIMIT / SCORING / OVERTIME

• A field goal is worth 1 point.
• A successful goal from beyond the two-point arc is worth 2 points. The player shooting must have both feet completely behind the arc when initiating the attempt.
• The first team to reach 20 points within 20 minutes of play is declared the winner. The team must win by 2, up to a maximum of 25 points (example: 20-18, 23-21, 25-24)
• All games will have a 20-minute time limit. The Official starting time will be recorded by the court official on the scoresheet. The Official Time will be under the jurisdiction of the Official. (The Official Time will be stopped only during timeouts – regular and/or injury.)
• If a score of 20 is not achieved within 20 minutes, the team leading at the end of the 20-minute time limit will be declared the winner.
• If the game is tied after 20 minutes of play and no team has reached the required number of points to win the game, the Official will flip a coin to determine team possession. The first team to score will win the game.

14. TIME-OUTS
    • Each team is allowed (1) one minute time-out per game.
    • The clock will be stopped during this time
    • If play is stopped by a teammate or official to attend to an obvious injury, then the injured player must sit out at least until the next dead ball.

15. Change of Possession
    • The ball must change possession after scored baskets. There is no “make it, take it” rule.

16. Taking It Back / Checking
    • The ball will be “taken back” on each change of possession, regardless of whether or not a shot was attempted. Failure to “take it back” results in loss of possession and any points just scored. When taking the ball back, the player must bring his/her whole body and the ball behind the dashed “take back” line, and not the sidelines or two point arc.
    • The ball must be “taken back” to the marked line on the court on every change of possession. “Taking back” means both feet and the ball behind the take back line.
    • Violation occurs only if a basket is made by the team failing to properly “take it back”, and will result in loss of point scored and possession of the ball will go to the other team. If the ball is not “taken back” and then advanced, any other violation, common foul, offensive foul, intentional, flagrant or technical foul called by the official will be honored. Exception: If a player is fouled in the act of shooting and makes the basket prior to properly “taking it back”, the foul will be honored; however, no points will be awarded.
    • After all successful shots, the ball must be checked by the defense and passed in by the offense at the top of the court to begin play.
    • All fouls and violations will be played out-of-bounds at the top of the court

17. Jump ball
    • In a jump ball situation, the ball will first go to the team which lost the opening coin toss, with alternating possessions thereafter.

18. Ball Out-of-Bounds
    • A ball out-of-bounds will be taken out at the top of the court

19.  Boundaries
    • The basket structure, padding and structural supports will be played as out-of-bounds.

20.  Stalling
    • Stalling is prohibited at all times. Stalling involves a style of play in which a team does not actively attempt to advance the basketball toward the basket and shoot the ball at the basket. It is a method used in an attempt to run out the game clock to preserve a win.
    • Stalling is considered an unsportsmanlike act and will result in a technical foul against the offending team.
    • A player shall have ten (10) seconds to put the ball into play. A player shall also have ten (10) seconds to initiate any free throw attempt. In either case, the court official is responsible for determining when a violation occurs, which will result in loss of possession of the ball. Any infraction of these regulations will result in loss of possession of the ball.

20. FOULS AND FREE THROWS

• Basketball officials, acting as court monitors, will call fouls for all games.
• One (1) free throw will be awarded to the fouled player, even if fouled in the act of attempting a shot from behind the 2-point line.
• All Shooting fouls will be handled in the following manner:
  • When the basket is made – whether the ensuing free throw is made or missed, possession goes to the defensive team.
  • When the basket is missed – if free throw is made, possession goes to the defensive team. If the free throw is missed, the offensive team retains possession.
• Non-shooting fouls – on or after the 7th team foul – will be handled in the following manner:
  • If the free throw is made, possession goes to the defensive team.
  • If the free throw is missed, the offensive team retains possession.
• If a foul is committed as time runs out, a free throw will be awarded to the fouled player.
• During a free throw, opposing team players may not intentionally disrupt the shooter’s unhindered throw.
• After the last free throw shot, the ball will be placed into play from the top of the court behind the “take back” line.
• Players will foul out of the game on his or her 5th personal foul.
• All free throws are dead balls.
• Technical fouls result in one point awarded and possession given to the offended team (See Rule 21)
• All technical fouls will be counted as a team foul

21. TECHNICAL FOULS – PLAYER MISCONDUCT, FLAGRANT AND INTENTIONAL FOULS

The Official may assess a Technical Foul for any misconduct, flagrant, or intentional fouls committed by a player(s).This may include:

1. A contact foul intended to hurt an opponent, fan or official
2. Vulgar or verbally abusive behavior
3. Other misconduct deemed inappropriate by the official (e.g. intentionally kicking the ball, etc...)
4. A contact foul designed to neutralize an opponent’s obvious advantageous position.
5. Fighting and/or ‘Throwing a Punch’ automatically results in a Technical Foul assessed against the players(s) involved. This also may result in immediate dismissal of the player(s) from the tournament.
6. A Technical Foul will be counted as a Personal Foul and Team Foul.
7. Any player ejected from a this tournament for misconduct, intentional and/or flagrant fouling, fighting or throwing a punch, will be automatically banned from participation in future tournaments for a period of one (1) year.
8. Dunking in games may, at minimum, result in a technical foul and may result in dismissal from the tournament

PENALTY:

• A technical foul results in one point and possession of the ball for the offended team.
• NOTE: Continuous misconduct, intentional and or flagrant fouling by a team or player may result in dismissal from the game or tournament at the discretion of the Official or other Tournament Official.​

SPECIAL NOTE: Houghton College tournament officials have the power to make decisions on any points not specifically covered in these Tournament Rules, and also have the complete authorization to interpret the intent and purpose of these rules.

In the event there is not enough teams to fill a competitive division, the appropriate teams will be notified and given the option to play in the next division up or cancel their registration and receive a full refund.

Inappropriate language and/or behavior directed at players or officials will not be tolerated. Only one warning will be given. If the incident reoccurs, the adult involved will be asked to leave. Please help make this a positive event. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.