The tournament format will consist of pool play followed by either a single-elimination, or double-elimination tournament. Games will begin Friday evening and conclude Sunday afternoon.

All players must wear jerseys of the same color with numbers on the front and back (2 sets preferred: one light, one dark).  Jerseys are to be provided by the team. Single or double-digit numbers must be clearly visible, and CANNOT be taped. It is prohibited for a player to wear equipment which would be considered dangerous to one’s self or to another player. Examples of this type of equipment include, but are not limited to:

1. Hard casts
2. Jewelry
3. Hard or unyielding items to control hair
4. Any headwear, except for a headband
5. Religious medallions and medical identifications must be removed from chains and taped or sewn under the uniform. An individual may be allowed to wear religious objects if the individual requests prior approval from the Tournament Director.

In all cases, the officials may deem any article illegal equipment if they feel it poses a hazard to either the player or their opponents.

If a team has at least 1 player at their court at game time, they will receive a 5 minute grace period. A team winning a game by forfeit will receive a score of 2-0 when determining advancement from pool play.

Teams consist of 5 players with a minimum of 4 players to start the game. Teams can have a maximum of 15 players on their roster. All players must be listed on the team registration form and a verified Player Certification Form or Athlete Certification Form (Unified Only) and all other forms completed.

All players must present a valid student ID at each game to the game staff and be registered on the team’s final roster.  Any changes to the team’s official roster must be completed by February 13th.  Only players and up to two coaches will be allowed to sit on the bench during games.

Unified Basketball is played with 3 Special Olympic athletes and 2 partners on the court at a time.

1. Four 10 min quarters
2. Clock will stop in the last 30 seconds of Q1-3 and in the last 2 min of Q4
3. Halftime will continue to be 5 minutes, 30 seconds in between the 1st and 2nd quarters and 3rd and 4th quarters. 
4. Two, 60-second timeouts for each team (reducing from three timeouts due to the quarter breaks).5 team fouls per quarter = two bonus free-throws (no more 1 and 1) – team fouls reset per quarter 
5. We will be using the 4 designated spots
6. Mercy Rule: If a team is up by 20 points or more with two minutes left in the game (4th quarter), the clock continues to run for the remainder of the game (even if the losing team gets under 20-point differential).
7. Unified Player Ratios
   • 3 Athletes : 2 Partners

Good sportsmanship is required of all participants. Players, coaches, and spectators are to conduct themselves properly at all times. ZOU JAM staff reserves the right to suspend or disqualify groups or individuals for unsportsmanlike conduct at any time. Unsportsmanlike conduct before, during and/or after a game (event) will not be tolerated. The team captain assumes full responsibility for the conduct of the team and spectators.

Players and teams who accrue a number of unsportsmanlike technical fouls will be disqualified from games and suspended from further participation in tournament games as follows:

• One player receives 2 unsportsmanlike technical fouls or a flagrant foul during the duration of the tournament – Penalty: Disqualification from All-Tournament and/or MVP consideration.
• One player receives 2 unsportsmanlike technical fouls or a flagrant foul during a game – Penalty:
  Disqualification from that game, suspension from the team’s next game played.
• Fighting – Penalty: Disqualification from that game, suspension from the team’s next 2 games
  played MINIMUM.
• One player receives 3 unsportsmanlike technical fouls/flagrant fouls during the tournament –
  Penalty: The player is disqualified from that game and suspended for the remainder of the
  tournament.
• One team receives 4 unsportsmanlike technical fouls/flagrant fouls during the game. Penalty: The team forfeits the game and probation for the remainder of tournament pending approval from the tournament director to continue.
• One team receives 5 unsportsmanlike technical fouls/flagrant fouls during the tournament.
  Penalty: The team is dropped from the tournament.

In the case of a misapplication or misinterpretation of a rule by the game official, teams will have the ability to call a timeout and protest the decision.

• Protests concerning player eligibility must be made to Tournament Director immediately
  upon discovering there may be an eligibility issue. The Tournament Director will rule on this type
  of protest.
• Teams may not protest the fact that a player was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Teams may not protest a judgment call of an official.
• All decisions made by the protest committee will be final.