1. Games will be 20 minute running halves for grades 9-12 and 18 minute running halves for grade 5-8 games. There will be stop time the last 2 minutes of each half. If the lead reaches 20 or more points, the clock will run through the last 2 minutes of the second half, even if the lead drops below 20 points. If the clock is stopped during a free throw situation, it will restart when the ball becomes live; not when the ball is handed to the shooter.

2. All players suited up and on the bench must play in every game. Any player unable to compete may not be listed in the official scorebook and may not be on the bench in uniform.

3. No full court pressing by the team that is in the lead once the lead reaches 20 points.

4. Technical, flagrant, and intentional fouls are not shot. They are an automatic 2 points and ball possession for the non-violating team. If a player or coach is assessed two of these fouls, they are removed from the game and must leave the gym, and must meet with the tournament director before being allowed to coach in subsequent games.

5. Three full time outs per game only! There are no time outs in sudden death overtime. After a time out during a free throw situation, the clock starts when the ball is back in play. This means someone in play must touch the ball after the free throw situation ends for the clock to start.

6. Overtimes are sudden death. First team to score wins. There will be no time put on the clock. There are no time outs in sudden death overtime. The overtime will start with a center jump. Championship games will be a 2-minute overtime, with one minute of running clock and one minute of stop time. There is one full time out in championship overtime, and no carryover of time outs from regulation. All fouls carry over from the second half.

7. All other rules that are not stated above will follow the NHSFA (National High School Federation) rules. Any changes in NHSFA rules made by the spring of each year will also be implemented in our program for that summer.

8. Pool play tie breakers if same records:  Tie breakers will be determined by the following methods if records of teams are the same:
     A.  Record of teams head-to-head.
     B.  Point differential from wins and losses will be added together, with a maximum of 15 points being counted from each win, and the full point total of each loss counting.  The team with the greater point differential in total games will be the tie-breaker winner.
     C.  Coin Flip

9. Pre-game and halftime are usually 3-5 minutes, but may be shortened at the discretion of the referees and tournament officials in order to keep games on time. Come stretched and prepared to play by your scheduled time.

10. Spring tournaments are a minimum of 2 scheduled games. Summer regionals are a minimum of 5 scheduled games. National tournaments are a minimum of 9 scheduled games.

TOURNAMENT RULES:

1. All teams must have a matching set of jerseys with numbers on both the front and back. Numbers are requested to be in accordance with standard National High School Federation rules if at all possible. This means numbers should begin or end with 0 or 5, such as 0, 1, 2, ...10, 11, 12, ...21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, etc...through 55.  Teams are suggested to either buy reversible jerseys or have a home and away set. NAYS will not provide pinneys. Matching shorts are not necessary.

2. EACH TEAM MUST BRING ONE PERSON TO HELP WITH SCOREKEEPING OR TIMEKEEPING. This person will receive a pass for free entry for the entire tournament. It is prefered that the same person perform these duties at each of the team's games. This person MUST be present to receive this pass when the coach checks in his/her team before your first game. Those teams not providing this person will forfeit that game, all subsequent games, and all fees paid. This person MUST be knowledgable of scoring and time procedures.

3. Coaches may not be the scorer/timer and coach on the bench or at the scorer's table at the same time.

4. There are no protests. All referee and NAYS staff decisions are final. Any person-coach/player/parent/fan who berates a tournament official, staff, other coach, player, parent, referee, or fan will be ejected immediately from the tournament. Those who do not leave immediately will be removed by authorities.

5. Disorderly conduct, damage to facilities, or violations of rules in the opinion of the tournament staff will cause you and your team to be ejected from the tournament. You will immediately forfeit all subsequent games and all fees/admissions paid.

6. DO NOT CALL US WITH ROSTER CHANGES! Make these at the check-in table prior to your first game. At this time your roster will be frozen. 

7. ALL PLAYERS MUST BRING A COPY OF A CURRENT YEAR REPORT CARD OR STUDENT PICTURE ID WITH GRADE LEVEL FOR GRADE LEVEL VERIFICATION. If a player in question does not produce a report card when asked, they may not play in any further games until it is produced. If this affects enough of your players where you can not field at least five on the court, you will forfeit that game and all subsequent games, with a loss of any fees/admissions paid.

8. Any challenges of a player's grade level must be made BEFORE game time to a tournament director. A team that challenges MUST have all of their report cards available for their team in order to challenge. The ONLY person who will look at these report cards is the tournament director. Not opposing coaches, parents and players. This is due to privacy concerns. COACHES are responsible to see that their team meets all eligibility requirements. 

9. Awards are given to a minimum of 1^st place, 2^nd place, and either 3rd place orconsolation champion (depending on the type of tournament format in the spring), and for a maximum of 12 players for spring tournaments. There will only be 1^st place awards in three team pool play brackets. In summer regional and national tournaments, awards are given out for a minimum of first and second place.

10. Passes will be issued at the tournament upon check in for a maximum of the uniformed players on the roster, 2 coaches, and 1 scorekeeper per team. Not for ballpersons, managers, cheerleaders, etc…Anyone trying to bypass admission will be removed by the authorities.

11. NAYS will not refund any tournament fees paid if a tournament is cancelled for reasons beyond our control, including, but not limited to, floods, acts of war, bomb threats, gym reservations cancelled without adequate notice to NAYS, natural disasters, etc…

12. You must bring your own balls for warm-ups. One ball will be chosen from the two teams for a game ball.

13. No tournament flyers may be distributed for other tournaments, camps, or clinics at any NAYS event without permission from the NAYS national office. Anyone individual, team, coach, or player caught doing so will be ejected from the tournament.

14. Any forfeits will count as a game towards your two game minimum. Any team which forfeits a game will forfeit all subsequent games and all fees/admissions paid and be removed from the tournament. In case of a first round forfeit, the team receiving the forfeit may play the next game on the winners and losers side of the bracket. However, they may only advance on the winners side. They may not chose which side they wish to play on.

15. NAYS and the host site and all staff members are not responsible for injuries to players, coaches, spectators, or guests. We do not carry health insurance. Injuries are the responsibility of the player's own health insurance.

16. Once the schedule is set or received by you, DO NOT CALL US TO CHANGE GAME TIMES! Do not register if you can't play during the normal tournament hours! NAYS reserves the right to change the schedule at any time. If we need to make changes in your first game time, we will call you. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING FOR CHANGES IN THE BRACKETS OR RULES POSTED AT THE TOURNAMENT AT ALL TIMES! GO BY THE POSTED SCHEDULE….NOT THE BRACKET CHARTS!! NAYS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU MISS YOUR GAME TIME! Remember, you can check on our website for schedule changes right up to the day of the tournament as of 2007.

17. ALL ENTRY FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE once we receive your fee at the NAYS office. If we do not run a bracket and can not combine brackets, only then will we refund an entry fee.

18. Make sure your roster is in agreement with the rules for out-of-season play that are listed by your state athletic association. NAYS is not responsible for your errors if a player loses eligibility.

19. NAYS tournament staff reserve the right to shorten the length of halves, halftime, or time between games to keep the schedule on time, or in cases out of our control, such as a power outage at a gym site.

20. NAYS reserves the right to modify all or any of these rules for the good of all teams involved.

21. YOU MUST COMPLETE A FINAL ROSTER FORM AND PRESENT IT UPON CHECK-IN IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR PASSES. This will be e-mailed with your schedule, or you may copy one from the website. We DO NOT accept faxed rosters, and DO NOT mail the form to us! Do not ask us for a form when you get to the tournament!!!

22. Players may not be more than 2 years older than the age of the players in that typical grade level. For example, 12^th grade players are typically 18 years old. A player who has reached the age of 20 can not play. An 8^th grader is 14 years old. A 16 year old 8^th grader can not play in the 8^th grade bracket.

23. CALL 1-866-352-5915 IF YOU WILL MISS YOUR SCHEDULED GAME!! If you must leave the tournament early, please notify the tournament director.

23. Players may play on more than one team in the tournament, so long as they are in different grade level divisions. They must be on the roster of both teams.

24. The 5^th-6^th grade boys bracket will use the ball size (either regular mens or the womens 28.5" ball) that is typically used in their region of the country. This decision will be made by the tournament director. In case of conflicts between coaches about which ball should be used, the NAYS national policy of using the 28.5" womens ball will go into effect. This ball will be used then by the entire bracket for the entire tournament.

25. Players MUST be wearing their jerseys to be admitted to the tournament at all times. We have no other way of distinguishing who is and is not a player.

26. Teams MUST bring their own medical supplies. This includes ice, bandages, tape, etc….DO NOT ask us or the concession stand to supply these! These supplies cost money, and we do not get them for free! As a coach, please be responsible and bring a medical kit for your team's protection

27. NAYS cannot be responsible for teams that do not show at tournaments or fail to call in advance to cancel. These scheduled games do count toward your guaranteed amount of games. All NAYS tournament directors will work with you to try to make up these games. If NAYS is unable to supply you with a tournament by not having enough teams at the entry deadline, you will receive a full refund. Under no other circumstances are refunds awarded one a tournament schedule is released. If you have any complaints please put them in writing and send them to the national office in care of Mark Garrigan. (National Director)  Only written complaints will be taken from this point forward. He will review all complaints and follow-up with you via mail.

29. If the team fees are paid by check and any check does not clear, your team may not participate until NAYS has received a cashiers check for that amount plus an additional thirty dollars for the expenses incurred by NAYS.