SXSWBall 2013 Rules & Regulations

In addition to the rules below, in an effort to stay on schedule and finish the tournament, we ask everyone to respect the strict time constraints. Game time is forfeit time. If a game goes long on the court you are scheduled to play on it will not extend the time you have to warm up. Officials will be starting games on time. Thank you for your help and cooperation.

1. Who Can Play - Employees, founders, investors and interns of each company are all eligible to be on rosters. Free Agents may be acquired to complete a team or to add an alternate from the approved free agent list. Team members must be at least 18 years of age at time of tournament.
2. Number of Players - Each team may consist of a maximum of 4 players and a minimum of 3 players. A team may have only 3 players on the court at any time. All games must start with at least 3 players on each team. Any number of players (1, 2, or 3) may complete a game
3. 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. SXSW Ball Officials retains the right to disallow any equipment or apparel that it judges to be dangerous or inappropriate
4. Two Point Shooting Distance - The distance for two-point shooting is 19 feet.
5. Fouls - Basketball officials will referee all games. All called fouls, whether shooting or non-shooting, shall result in one free throw shot, except on a successful field goal, in which case the basket counts and no free throw shot is awarded. However, if a player is beyond the two-point arc and is in the act of shooting when fouled, two free throw shots will be awarded, except on a successful field goal, in which case the basket counts and no free throws are awarded. A change of possession will result regardless of whether the free throw shot(s) is (are) made or missed. During a free throw, opposing team players may not intentionally disrupt the shooter’s unhindered throw. After a foul shot, the ball will be placed into play from the back-court line. Incidental contact between opponents shall not result in a called foul unless such contact results in a meaningful disadvantage. The following fouls will result in additional sanctions
   • Technical Fouls - A technical foul will be called for unsportsmanlike acts such as taunting, baiting, or trash talk. Taunting and baiting can involve derogatory remarks or gestures that incite or insult a player. Trash talk involves a deeply personal, verbal attack directed toward any person involved in the event. In extreme cases, the player may also be suspended from play and a coach or fan removed from the court for the remainder of that game or for the rest of the tournament. A player who aggressively comes into contact with or assaults a court official or other tournament official shall be automatically ejected from the game and for the remainder of the current tournament. Additional suspension for such acts will be determined by SXSW Ball on a case by case basis. The court official may also assess a technical foul if the official determines that the team is stalling in the interest of preserving a winning margin. A technical foul results in one point for the offended team and possession of the ball
   • Intentional Fouls - An intentional foul is a foul designed to neutralize an opponent’s obvious advantageous position. It is a foul which, based on the officials’ observation of the act, is not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball. A foul shall also be ruled intentional, based on the officials’ observation of the act, if while attempting to play the ball, a player causes excessive contact. An intentional foul results in one point for the offended team and possession of the ball
   • Flagrant Fouls - A flagrant foul may be of a violent or aggressive nature, or an act which displays unacceptable conduct. It may or may not be intentional. It may involve violent or aggressive contact such as striking, kicking, kneeing, moving under an opponent who is in the air, and crouching or hipping in a manner which could cause severe injury to the opponent. It may also involve dead ball contact or dialogue which is extreme or persistent, aggressive, or abusive. A flagrant foul results in one point for the offended team and possession of the ball. The player committing the foul will be suspended from play for the remainder of that game and possibly for the rest of the tournament
6. Stalling - Stalling is prohibited. Stalling is 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 (see rule 5a)
7. Which Team Gets the Ball First - A coin toss prior to each game will determine which team gets the ball out-of-bounds first
8. Keeping Score - All made baskets from inside the two-point arc count for one point and made baskets from outside the two-point arc count for two points. The first team to 21 points is the winner. (see rule 9 for exceptions)
9. Length of Game -
   • If a score of 21 is achieved within 15 minutes - The target score for all games is 21 points, meaning the first team to reach 21 points within 15 minutes of play is declared the winner. The team that reaches 21 points does not need to have a winning margin of 2 points or greater. The 15 minute clock is stopped during team time-outs (see rule 18) and if the court official stops play for a player injury (see rule 19) or other unusual circumstances. If neither team has reached a score of 21 points, the court official shall stop the game after 15 minutes of play.
   • In all situations, the court official shall declare a technical foul (see rules 5a & 6) if the official determines that a team is intentionally stalling to run out the clock.
   • If a score of 21 is not achieved within 15 minutes - The team with the most points wins.
   • In the event a game is tied at the end of regulation, the game will go into overtime consisting of 2 minutes being put on the clock. This will continue until one team is the clear winner at the end of the clock.
10. Checked Ball - The ball must be “checked” by an opposing player before it is put into play. The ball must then be passed to begin play. The person inbounding the ball must be standing out-of-bounds at the back-court line.
11. Change of Possesion - The ball will change possession after scored baskets and all free-throw attempts with the exception of Technical, Intentional or Flagrant fouls (see rule 5 a, b, c). There will be no “make it, take it” rule
12. Taking It Back - 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. “Taking it back” means bringing your whole body and the ball behind the 2 point arc.
13. Ball Out-Of-Bounds - A ball out-of-bounds will be taken out from the back-court line
14. Boundaries - The basket structure, padding, and structural supports will be played as out-of-bounds. The actual backboard, including its face, top, bottom and sides, shall be considered in-bounds
15. 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
16. Dunking - Dunking is permitted. Hanging on the rim is not allowed and will be considered a technical foul (see 5 a) whether it occurs in warm ups or actual game play
17. Substitutions - Substitutions may only be made during a time-out or a “dead ball” situation
18. Time Out - Each team is allowed a single one minute time-out per game. The clock will stop running during a time-out
19. Injuries - A court official has the discretion to suspend play for the protection of an injured player. If a player is bleeding or has an open wound, that player will be directed to leave the game and properly bandage the wound. A player with any bloodstained clothing or bandage must remove the stained or saturated material prior to re-entering the game. If it is believed that a player has lost consciousness during a game, or is severely injured, SXSW Ball may require a written note from a medical doctor who has examined the player subsequent to the game injury and specifically authorizes that player to continue participation in the tournament
20. Game Times - All printed schedules are effective through only the first game for all teams. Following the tournament’s first game, each team is required to check the Master Scoreboard for all official schedules, times, courts, revisions, and general game information. Teams MUST be at their court at their scheduled time, even if games are “running behind”. Teams not at their court for start of their scheduled game forfeit that game. Teams are encouraged to remain in contact with their court to observe the effects of scheduling changes that could occur mainly due to unexpected delays.
21. Team Captains - Team Captains roles are as follows:
    • Keep teammates and fans up -to-­date on all current rule changes and policies.
    • Act as the sole voice for your team.
    • Keep control of all players and fans.
    • Ensuring all teammates are eligible under the SXSW Ball Rules and Regulations.
22. The Fine Print - Designated tournament officials shall have the power to make decisions on any points not specifically covered in the Rules and Regulations and shall also have the complete authorization to interpret the intent and purpose of these Rules and Regulations. SXSW Ball officials also reserve the right to disqualify any player and/or team for infractions of tournament policies, including the following:
    • Use of Illegal Players - The players listed on the team entry form as accepted by SXSW Ball are the only ones eligible for play on that team. Player changes submitted to and accepted by tournament officials, must be completed and approved by 9:30 a.m on Sunday, March10, 2012. Under no circumstances will roster substitutions be allowed after the tournament begins. Before the beginning of each game, every player will sign a Release and Waiver and Sportsmanship Pledge. Any team using a player not properly registered will be disqualified from the tournament.
    • False Information - Information provided on a team entry form or accepted Player Change Form is the basis for bracket scheduling and is expected to be both accurate and complete. Players listing inaccurate information on these forms may be disqualified from the tournament.

Thank you for your participation in SXSWBall 2013!

DUTIES OF COURT REFEREE

1. The team captain is the sole spokesperson for his/her team.
2. Any questions, complaints, or comments shall be taken up with the Court Referee.
3. The judgment decisions of the Court Referee cannot be changed by higher authority. Only questions concerning rule interpretation or eligibility are able to be appealed.
4. Once play resumes after a disagreement or appeal, the decision is considered to be final. No further appeals will be allowed on that incident.
5. Make sure the games are moving in a timely manner. Games should be starting on time at the same time on each court.