Rules

The tournament will consist of two parts: a group stage followed by a single-elimination bracket round. Except for the score required to win, rules are the same for both parts of the tournament. Teams may have between three and five players, with three players on the court and one or two substitutes. In the spirit of charity, parity, and reasonably even competition, each team may include only two “elite” players, meaning only two players who’ve played at the college level or higher. If you’ve played at that level, select “elite” on the sign-up page (or make sure your captain/organizer does that for you). Everyone else – regular people – should choose “amateur.” If you played college ball but haven’t played for 30 years and you wear three knee braces, use your best judgment in the spirit of a charity tournament.   

Teams will shoot from the three-point line to determine which team gets the ball first. Play starts when the defending team checks the ball back to the offensive team. The ball is live immediately after check, meaning the offensive player who receives the ball can dribble, shoot, or pass right away. During play, teams must take the ball back to the three point line after any change of possession, including steals, missed shots, and airballs. After one team scores a basket, the opposing team gets the ball and checks it in at the top of the key to resume play. Teams may substitute players during any dead ball situation, meaning after a made shot, a foul call, or the ball going out of bounds. Players should call their own fouls. 

GROUP STAGE

Each team will be assigned to a group and will play mainly teams in that group, and potentially a few inter-group games, round-robin style. Scoring by twos and threes, the first team to 21 points wins. Play to 21 straight up – no need to win by two. The team with the best record will win the group and automatically advance to the single-elimination bracket round, with point differential as a tiebreaker if needed. Depending on the number of teams, some wildcard teams may also make it to the elimination round. 

ELIMINATION ROUND

Teams that advance out of group play will face the other advancing teams in a single-elimination bracket. Rules are the same as the Group Stage, except teams play to 25 points. The first to 25 wins, playing by twos and threes (again, no need to win by two). The team that wins the bracket wins the Mike Madness tournament.