• All players participating in any Top Tier Sports event must be listed on your team roster (in the Top Tier app) no later than midnight prior to the start of the event. Rosters will lock at that point, and no changes can be made for that specific tournament.
• Players who do NOT appear on a team roster in the Top Tier app are considered ineligible players. If an opponent recognizes that a player is playing in the game without being listed on a team’s roster, they are able to protest that players’ eligibility through our protest protocol (listed in the Protests & Ejection Policy section of the rules). The consequence for playing an ineligible / non-rostered player is a player and coach ejection
• Players may appear on multiple rosters without penalty
• Players are eligible to participate on multiple teams in any given event as long as they are competing in different age divisions – players cannot participate on two teams in same age division if split gold and silver.
  (EX) A player can compete on separate 6th, 7th and 8th grade teams in a given event as long as they are age-eligible. However, they cannot appear on two different 6th grade teams (i.e. Team Red 6th Grade and Team Blue 6th Grade) on the same weekend.
• Any violation of this rule will result in an immediate forfeit of the current game, along with a player & head coach suspension for the remainder of the event.

Determining a Player’s Tournament Age

• Top Tier Sports will uses graduation class in regards to tournament play
  • A players current grade in school as of the fall (August) of the season. (Ex) all events played from August 2025 through July 2026 are considered their current grad class.
• A player’s grad class determines the youngest level that they are eligible to play in. For example, a player determined to be tournament age 6th grade based on their current season would be eligible to play in the 6th grade division or any older division. However, that player would be ineligible to participate in any divisions 5th grade or younger
• Top Tier Sports reserves the right to allow exemptions to the age rules in specific cases

• All games will start as scheduled (will never start early). Warm up time may vary based on when the previous game concludes. We ask that all teams and spectators clear their areas in a timely manner to allow the next teams to prepare.
• All games will be played with 7 minute quarters.
• Half time will be 3 minutes.
• Clock stops on all dead balls.
• Overtime
  • The first overtime is a 2 minute quarter (fouls carry over).
  • The second overtime is sudden death.

Teams are required to supply their own basketball for games. Please find the referees for your court prior to the start of the game to get this secured.

• 3rd Grade Boys & Girls: 27.5″
• 4th – 6th Grade Boys & Girls: 28.5″
• 7th & 8th Grade Boys: 29.5″
• 7th & 8th Grade Girls: 28.5″

Each team is allowed two (2) full-time outs per half. Time outs are one (1) minute each. Unused timeouts do NOT carry over to the second half

Full Court Pressing is allowed at every age division of our events

• For 3rd & 4th grade divisions, teams are NOT allowed to full court press while up 10 points
• For 5th grade divisions and up, teams are NOT allowed to full court press while up 15 points

Pool Play

• The home team be listed on the bottom of the schedule. Home team should wear white / light jerseys. Away team should wear dark jerseys.

Bracket Play

• The higher seed (1 is considered higher than 2) will be the home team throughout the entire bracket.
  • If both teams are the same seed from their respective pool (I.E. A #1 vs. B #1), tiebreakers will be used to determine which team is home and away.

• 3rd & 4th grade free throw mark is the middle distance of the last two hashes closest to the free throw line and beyond.
• 5th grade may cross the line, but need to start their shot behind the free throw line. If the line is crossed, the shooter cannot get the first to rebound.
• 6th grade and older, it is a violation if they cross they line while shooting

1. Head-to-Head – If two teams are tied, the winner of their head-to-head game is awarded the higher

seed.

2. Point Differential vs. Common Opponents – If three or more teams are tied, compare the point

differential only in games against common opponents.

3. Overall Point Differential – If still tied, the overall point differential across all pool games is used

(cap of +20 per game).

4. Fewest Total Points Allowed – If still tied, the team that has allowed the fewest total points in pool

play earns the higher seed.

5. Most Total Points Scored – If still tied, the team that has scored the most total points in pool play

earns the higher seed.

6. Least Points Allowed in a Single Game – If still tied, the team with the lowest points allowed in any

single game earns the higher seed.

7. Most Points Scored in a Single Game – If still tied, the team with the highest single-game scoring

total earns the higher seed.

8. Least Technical Fouls – If still tied, the team with the fewest technical fouls during pool play is

awarded the higher seed.

9. Coin Flip – If teams remain tied after all the above, a coin flip will determine seeding.

Team No Shows

• Teams are expected to honor their commitment to the tournament and play in all scheduled games. Teams that no show games that result in their opponent’s not reaching their game minimum may be billed the amount of the refund owed to the opponent who fell short of their tournament game guarantee
• If it is possible for the tournament director to adjust the schedule (within reason) to get all teams their games rather than any forfeits, this will become the new tournament schedule and you are expected to participate in your game. This is the tournament directors discretion.
• Teams who “no-show” or cancel once the schedule has been released, will not receive any refund or credit to future event. If unpaid and a team removes themselves after the schedule is released, they will not be allowed to participate in future events until this fee is paid in full.

Forfeits

• Teams who are unable to attend a game during the event will be required to take a forfeit; all forfeits will be scored 20-0.
• Teams that end up forfeiting games will receive no refund. Additionally, they will be expected to cover the costs of any refunds that need to be sent to their opponent due to their opponent not meeting their minimum game guarantee for the event. 
• Teams who forfeit a pool play game will NOT be allowed to participate in a bracket, regardless of where they finish in the standings. Teams must play all games in order to advance to the bracket. Teams will not be penalized for receiving a forfeit win.

Protests

• Protests can be made on rules interpretations only – judgment calls are not subject to protest
• All protests must happen immediately prior to the game moving on. A coach can call timeout, present the $100 cash protest fee and the referees will notify a tournament director. Once play resumes, the opportunity to protest is lost
• To initiate a protest, coaches should calmly request time out and inform one of the referees that you would like to file a protest. At that moment, the game will stop and a Top Tier Sports tournament director will be contacted to resolve the protest
• $100 cash is required for all filed protests. The cash will be refunded if the protest is deemed successful. For all denied protests, the $100 is non-refundable. Coaches will receive their timeout back for successful protests.

Ejection Policy

• Players / Coach Ejections
  • Any player or coach ejection will result in a one-game suspension, to be served in the next tournament game
    • For all player ejections, the player should remain on the bench unless otherwise noted.
    • For all coach ejections, the coach must leave the complex immediately and be out of sight from game officials. Failure to comply with this directive will result in forfeiture of the game. 
  • If the same player or coach is ejected for a 2nd time (either in the current tournament or any future Top Tier Sports event), he or she will be suspended for the remainder of the tournament
  • If the same player or coach is ejected for a 3rd time, that player or coach will be suspended for the remainder of the current tournament season

• Fan / Parent Ejections
  • Any fan or parent ejections will result in removal from the complex. The fan or parent in question will not be permitted back into the complex for the remainder of the tournament
  • A second fan or parent ejection for the same team will result in the removal of ALL FANS for that given team. This fan restriction will remain in place for that team for the remainder of the current event

• Alcohol Policy
  • Alcohol will not be permitted within the complex at any Top Tier Sports event. This offense will result in immediate removal from the complex, and the above fan ejection policies will apply

Zero Tolerance Policies

• Alcohol – Top Tier Sports is committed to providing a positive and safe experience for all participants at our events. Alcohol has no place at a youth sporting event, and we will have zero tolerance if anyone is found to be consuming alcohol at any complex being used for a tournament. Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in a lifetime ban from any Top Tier Sports events, not just basketball tournaments.
• Violence and Aggressive Behavior – from any coaches, players or fans will result in a lifetime ban from Top Tier Sports events. All issues that arise during tournament play can be resolved by notifying tournament staff and directors on site. Violence would be considered but not limited to any physical altercation or verbally yelling at players, coaches, referees or other spectators. Agressive behavior would be anything that our staff or referees consider to make others feel threatened or uncomfortable by your actions and / or words.

Conflict Resolution

• Top Tier Sports is committed to ruling on all conflicts in a way that is both (1) fair to the teams involved and (2) good for the tournament as a whole. All conflicts will be discussed amongst our staff to determine the best course of action