Tournaments Rules/Age Eligibility

Age/Grade Eligibility

ELIGIBILITY RULES for Hardwood Palace Basketball Tournaments  (2025–2026)

All Non-athletes/coaches are responsible to see that their team meets all eligibility requirements. Competition in  basketball shall be in the following age/grade divisions:

9 & UNDER DIVISION (3rd Grade Division)
An athlete can be no older than 9 on August 31, 2026.

10 & UNDER DIVISION (4th Grade Division)
An athlete can be no older than 10 on August 31, 2026.

11 & UNDER DIVISION (5th Grade Division)
An athlete can be no older than 11 on August 31, 2026.

12 & UNDER DIVISION (6th Grade Division)
An athlete can be no older than 12 on August 31, 2026.

13 & UNDER DIVISION (7th Grade Division)
An athlete can be no older than 13 on August 31, 2026.

14 & UNDER DIVISION (8th Grade Division)
An athlete can be no older than 14 on August 31, 2026.

15U / 9TH GRADE DIVISION
An athlete can be no older than 15 on August 31, 2026.
Grade Exception: An athlete who is in the 9th Grade as of October 1, 2025 and who is no older than 16 on August 31, 2026 is eligible to play in the 15U/9th Grade Division.

16U / 10TH GRADE DIVISION (JV)
An athlete can be no older than 16 on August 31, 2026.
Grade Exception: An athlete who is in the 10th Grade as of October 1, 2025 and who is no older than 17 on August 31, 2026 is eligible to play in the 16U/10th Grade Division.

17U / 11TH GRADE DIVISION (Varsity)
An athlete can be no older than 17 on August 31, 2026.
Grade Exception: An athlete who is in the 11th Grade as of October 1, 2025 and who is no older than 18 on August 31, 2026 is eligible to play in the 17U/11th Grade Division.

Tournament Rules

General Rules

  • Governing Rules: National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) rules apply.

    • Girls follow NFHS Girls’ High School rules.

    • Boys follow NFHS Boys’ High School rules.

  • Exceptions below apply to both boys and girls.

Equipment

  • Ball Size:

    • Girls – 28.5

    • Boys 9U (3rd) through 12U (6th) – 28.5

    • Boys 13U (7th) through 17U (11th) – Men’s regulation (29.5)

Game Format

  • Game Time: Two 20-minute halves with a running clock.

    • Clock stops the last 1 minute of the 1st half and the last 2 minutes of the game.

    • If a team leads by 15+ points at the 2-minute mark, the clock will continue to run.

  • Overtime:

    • 1st overtime – 1 minute (each team gets 1 additional timeout).

    • 2nd overtime – sudden death (first team to score 2 points, no timeouts).

  • Timeouts: Each team receives 2 full and 2 thirty-second timeouts per game.

    • 1 full timeout in overtime (no carryover).

  • Starting Play: Games may begin with 4 players.

Fouls & Free Throws

  • Bonus: 7 team fouls = 1-and-1; 10 team fouls = double bonus. Team fouls reset at halftime.

  • Free Throws: Players may enter the lane upon the shooter’s release.

  • Technical Fouls: Result in 2 shots plus possession of the ball.

Player Regulations

  • Jewelry: No jewelry, plastic bracelets, earrings, etc. allowed during play.

  • Uniforms:

    • Teams are encouraged (but not required) to have both light and dark jerseys.

    • When possible: home team wears light, visitors wear dark.

    • Coaches are expected to resolve jersey conflicts before tip-off.

Standings & Tiebreakers

  1. Head-to-head result

  2. Point differential (maximum 15 points per game)

  3. Total points scored

  4. Points allowed