San Jose Zebra Tournament Rules

revised December 2023

 

All games will be played according to the current-for-the-year, National Federation of State High School Associations’ basketball rules with exceptions, recent changes, or emphases stated below.

 

Participating teams and players agree that the tournament host will not be held responsible for any injury or loss of property to any participants.

 

GENERAL RULES

1.) The Division Coordinator must approve any addition to the original submitted team roster made after the roster change deadline.   Regardless if placed on the originally submitted roster, or added by the Division Coordinator’s approval after the deadline, all players must be of Asian or Pacific Islander descent. Proof of ethnicity will be the burden of each team and/or organization upon request of the Tournament Director or Division Coordinator.

2.)  Players must be in the stated division grade level or below unless approved by the Division Coordinator.

3.) Teams must have two (2) sets of regulation uniforms, one dark jersey and one light color jersey. Home Team jerseys will be light color and Visiting Team jerseys will be dark color with an exception if the hosting Zebra team specifies.   Uniform numbers will correspond to the submitted roster for player identification and any correction must be approved by the Division Coordinator or Gym Manager.

4.) Each player and parent/guardian must have signed a Player’s Waiver of Liability Agreement form to participate. This completed agreement form must be submitted at the latest, 30-minutes prior to the first game.

5.) Non-rostered players added after the roster change deadline (non-impact only) may only be included if there are less than 8 players on the roster and are subject to acceptance by the Division Coordinator.

6.) Awards: A limit of ten (10) individual awards will be given per Team. Awards will be given to first, second, third, and consolation placing teams if applicable per respective division.

7.)  An adult over 21 years of age will be responsible for the conduct of the team and must be on the bench during the game

8.)  A player may not appear on two rosters unless pre-approved by the Division Coordinator(s) of all affected brackets.  Violation of this rule without the Division Coordinator’s pre-approval will result in both teams forfeiting games.

9.)  No worn jewelry is allowed by any player during the game.

10.)  All boys brackets will utilize a regulation full sized 29.5” basketball.  All girls brackets will utilize a regulation 28.5” basketball.

11.)  Tournament Division Coordinator has complete on-site authority for all tournament situations, including any interpretation of any given rule.

 

GAME CLOCK:

6th through 8th grade:

1.) 7-minute stop time quarters

2.) No shot clock

3.) 5-second closely guarded rule:  For boys this includes both held ball (picked up or not dribbled yet)  and while dribbling, for girls only applies to held ball.

 

9th through 12th grades:

1.) 8-minute stop time quarters

2.) 35-second shot clock for boys divisions with 

10-second backcourt rule

3.) 30-second shot clock for girls divisions; no 10-second backcourt rule

4.) 5-second closely guarded rule:  For boys this includes both held ball (picked up or not dribbled yet)  and while dribbling, for girls only applies to held ball.

5.) Zebra Gym Coordinators of each division will confirm use of a shot clock with each participating team.

 

All Divisions

1.) Stop time

2.) 1-minute rest period between quarters

3.)  5-minute rest period between halves

4.) Warm up and half times may be shortened if games times are behind schedule.

 

SHOOTING FOULS

Two free throws are awarded for a common foul beginning at the team’s fifth foul in each quarter, and team fouls are reset at the end of each quarter.

 

INBOUNDING:

When a team is retaining or gaining team control in it’s frontcourt due to a violation, a common foul prior to the bonus, or other stoppages in play other than out of bounds, the ball will be inbounded from one of the four designated throw-in spots (the nearest 28-foot mark along each sideline or the nearest spot 3 feet outside the lane line on the end line).

 

TIME OUTS:

1.) All divisions will have three one-minute and two 30-second timeouts per game

2.) One additional 1-minute time-out for the first overtime; any unused timeouts will not carry into

overtime

 

OVERTIME:

1.) First overtime period will be a three-minute stop time period. Jump ball starts all overtime period(s).

2.) Second overtime period will be sudden death (except for Championship games which will be decided by as many overtime periods as needed).

3.) In sudden death, the first team to score at least two-points wins (e.g.  two or a three-point shot or two-free throws). No additional time outs given in sudden death.

 

FORFEITURE:

A game is forfeited if a team scheduled to play fails to take the floor or has less than four (4) players ready to play within ten (10) minutes after the scheduled game time. No rescheduling or return of entry fee will be permitted in the event of forfeiture.

 

MERCY RULE:

6th through 8th grades:

30 point lead and running clock will continue even if lead drops below 30 point lead

 

9th through 12th grades:

40 point lead results in running clock in 4th quarter even if lead drops below 40 point lead

 

UNSPORTSMANLIKE BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

 

TECHNICAL FOULS:

1.) Technical fouls for “trash-talking” will be assessed at the discretion of the referee without warning. A technical foul for “trash-talking” disqualifies a player for the remainder of the half in which the infraction occurred (with a minimum of 4 scoreboard minutes on the bench, carrying over to the next half if necessary.  If the technical foul is within the last 4 scoreboard minutes of the game, the remainder will be served at the beginning of the next scheduled game)

2.) Two technical fouls given to a player or coach will cause ejection from the game and will serve a minimum of one game suspension.  Ejected player or coach must leave gym and remain at least 100 feet from the gym

3.) If a technical foul is called, the opposing team will be awarded two free-throws and ball possession

4.)  Any spectator may be ejected by the referee, Division Coordinator, or Gym Manager for unsportsmanlike conduct and any consequences determined by the Division Coordinator or Gym Manager.

 

FIGHTING:

Any fighting, property damage, illegal or inappropriate behavior during the tournament or any tournament function will disqualify a player(s), coach(es), or fan(s) for the rest of the tournament and/or jeopardize being invited to future tournaments.  Any player or coach ejected for fighting must leave the gym and remain at least 100 feet from the gym and further disciplinary action(s) to be at the discretion of the Division Coordinator.  Failure to comply will result in team’s forfeiture of the game.

 

PROTESTS:

There are no provisions for protesting games.  Any complaints regarding the tournament that aren’t satisfactorily solved by the tournament Division Coordinator, should be directed to your own organization who can contact the appropriate Zebra official for resolution.

 

CONCUSSION:

Athletes suspected of having sustained a concussion must be immediately removed from play for the remainder of the day. Athletes who have been removed may not return to play until evaluated and received written clearance from a licensed health care provider trained in the management of concussion acting within the scope of his or her practice.