Rules – Tallinn Nord Cup

Rules

Competition rules

Tallinn Nord Cup is played under FIBA rules. Where the FIBA rules and these regulations conflict, these regulations apply.

Only the official Tallinn Nord Cup partner may stream games from the tournament.

Game rules

Game time and rules: U9–U11 and U12 Challenge

Game time is 2 × 15 minutes of running time. The last two minutes of the second half are clean game time.
Halftime is one minute.
Man-to-man defence is mandatory and defending starts from half court.
Each team has one one-minute timeout per half.
Team fouls fill up at five fouls in each half, after which free throws follow.
A tie is decided in overtime on the sudden death principle.
Mini hoops are used.

Game time and rules: U12 regular series

The U12 (2014) regular series plays by the same rules as U13–U19, except that the game time is 2 × 15 minutes. Full-size hoops and ball size 5 are used.

Game time and rules: U13–U19

Game time is 4 × 8 minutes of running time. The clock stops during free throws and the last two minutes of the final quarter are clean game time.
The break between quarters is one minute.
Each team has one timeout in the first half and two in the second half.
When the difference is more than 30 points, the team that scored starts defending from its own half.
Team fouls fill up at four fouls in each quarter, and from the fifth foul free throws follow.
A tie is decided in overtime on the sudden death principle.
Full-size hoops are used.

Ball sizes

No 7: boys U15, U16, U17 and U19.
No 6: girls U14, U16, U17 and U19, and boys U13 and U14.
No 5: age groups U9–U12.

Team and registration

Team roster

A team may have up to 14 players, two of whom may be one year older than the age group.

Playing in more than one age group

A player may only play in one age group. If this rule is broken, the player is disqualified from the tournament and the offending team’s game is annulled. The result is recorded in the table as +/−.

Tournament format

Teams are split by age into groups of three to six teams, so that each age group can use a suitable format.

In group games a win is worth 2 points, a loss 0 points and a forfeit 0 points.

If teams in a group are level on points, the order is decided by:

the result of the game between them;
with three or more teams, the points from the games between them;
the basket difference in those games;
the basket difference in the whole group;
drawing lots.

If lots are needed, team representatives are called to the secretariat. The head referee or their representative decides it with a coin toss.

All places are played out. Depending on the number of entries, the organiser may merge regular and Challenge series age groups.

Number of games

Every team is guaranteed at least five games.

Team check-in

The team representative gives the tournament secretariat a completed registration form. If required, identity documents for all players must be handed in with it. A passport, ID card or student card is accepted.

A player who is not on the registration form may not play, and neither may a player whose identity document has not been given to the tournament office in person or by email.

The team representative signs the registration form. At the secretariat each team receives an envelope with wristbands, the tournament rules, schedules and, where needed, bus timetables.

Please note. A team that has not met these requirements cannot play in the tournament.

Before the game

A team must be at its court at least 15 minutes before its game starts.

From 10 minutes before a game until 10 minutes after it, a team must be able to show the referee documents proving its players’ ages.

Conduct, protests and liability

Referees and the disciplinary committee

All referees are approved by the Estonian Basketball Association or the tournament head referee.

Disagreements and protests are settled by a three-member disciplinary committee: the tournament head referee and two organisers.

Protests

A protest challenges the validity of a game result. It must be based on a player’s eligibility, a significant breach of the rules by a referee, or another incident that affected the result. A protest that is not recorded in the game protocol will not be considered.

A protest must be submitted in writing by the team representative (the person named as representative on the registration form) no later than 30 minutes after the end of the game.
The protest must be submitted to the tournament secretariat.
Any protest against conduct that breaches the rules must be raised with the game referee before they leave the court.
A general protest against an entire opposing team is not accepted. Protests cannot be made against factual decisions taken by a referee.

The protest handling fee is 75 EUR. The amount is refunded if the protest is upheld. The final decision of the disciplinary committee cannot be appealed.

Warnings and disqualifications

A player sent off the court is disqualified for the team’s next game at the Tallinn Nord Cup. The referee must submit a written statement to the tournament head referee, who takes the final decision. The head referee’s decision is final and cannot be appealed. The decision is communicated to the team representative named on the registration form.

In cases of racism, violence or bullying the organiser has the right to remove a team, its representative or a player from the tournament, or to impose another sanction.

Prizes

Teams finishing first, second and third are awarded cups and medals.

First aid

The organiser is not responsible for health problems or sports injuries during the tournament. First aid is available at every venue.

Accepting the rules

By taking part, a team confirms that it is aware of all Tallinn Nord Cup rules and requirements.

Changes

The disciplinary committee may change venues and game times when necessary or when an unavoidable event requires it.

Please note. The organisers are not liable for thefts occurring during the tournament.

Cancellation and force majeure

If the tournament cannot be held or is postponed because of events outside the organisers’ control (force majeure), or because of events not connected to intent or gross negligence on the part of the organisers, the organisers cannot be held liable for damages or other costs incurred by delegations (transport costs, accommodation costs, costs of additional orders, financial costs and so on).

In such circumstances the organisers reserve the right either to retain all payments made for registration and accommodation and use them towards the cost of a future tournament, or to reimburse delegations after deducting costs that have arisen from organising the tournament and that cannot be recovered from third parties.

Tallinn Nord Cup is in no way liable for injury or financial loss caused by war, war-like situations, civil unrest or intervention by the authorities, strikes, lockouts, blockades or similar events.