
1. GENERAL
St John’s College hosts the U13 Prep basketball teams for four days of fun at the St John’s College Basketball Tournament in a Festival format For this reason, ST JOHN’S COLLEGE has drawn rules and regulations which must be followed by all participants in the tournament. These rules and regulations are aimed at ensuring fair play as well as an organized tournament for all to enjoy. The tournament will run over a period of four (4) days, i.e., from Thursday 23 February 2023 at 15h00 to Sunday 26 February 2023 in the afternoon.
2. PARTICIPATION
- A total of Fourteen (14) Under 13 primary school teams will take part.
3. ELIGIBILITY
Only players that are currently registered in Grade 6 or 7 at the participating school are eligible to play.
U14 players that are currently in Grade 7 are permitted to play. There is no limit to how many may be on the court at one time.
Coaches are asked to manage fixtures and rotate their squads and substitutions in the spirit of the game.
4. TEAM COACHES/MANAGERS
- Each participating team must have a coach/manager on the bench during each game and ensure they have at least one (1) Captain.
- Each coach/manager is entirely responsible for ensuring that their players fully understand the rules and regulations of the tournament.
- By participating in this tournament, each coach/manager agrees to abide by the rules and regulations stipulated herein.
- The coach/manager further understands that St John’s College is not responsible for any injuries or accidents that may occur during this tournament OR for lost/damaged/misplaced/stolen items. By participating in the tournament, the coach/manager/players hereby waive any and all liability against St John’s College as a result thereof. For purposes of indemnity, this clause is applicable to any staff or players who may be at the tournament.
5. PLAYING FORMAT
- There will be two pools for the U13 Teams. Pool A and Pool B.
- Teams will play a round-robin within their pools.
- Each pool will play a total of six (6) group games and one cross-pool match. That match will be classified as a strength-to-strength match-up.
- Teams will be playing a total of seven (7) matches throughout the festival.
- There will be no playoffs.
- No awards will be given to boys. Only participation will be recognised.
6. KIT
- All teams must abide by Rule 3, Art.4.3 of the FIBA (OBR).
- The home team will always be featured first on the fixture and will wear a light colour, and the away team will wear a darker kit.
- Please liaise with your opponents before your game to avoid colour clashes.
7. PLAYING RULES
- ALL games will be played according to the latest FIBA (OBR) rules unless stated in this document. In the event that there is a conflict between the FIBA rules and the Tournament rules: then the Tournament rules will supersede the FIBA rules:
- Games will consist of four-quarters of ten (8) minutes on the running clock. Each team will be allowed a maximum of two (2) timeouts in each half 30 seconds long. The game clock will be stopped during any time out.
- The Halftime interval will be strictly three (3) minutes for all the games.
- If the score difference is less than ten (10) points at any time in the final two minutes of the game, then the clock will change to start-stop.
- In case of a tie at the end of regulation time, an overtime period of three (3) minutes will be played with the first two minutes running time.
8. FORFEIT
- A grace period of three (3) minutes from the scheduled time or the end of the previous game will be given. Any team that fails to be on the playing court with five players ready to play at the scheduled time will lose the game by forfeit.
- If, for any reason whatsoever, a team refuses to play, shows unsportsmanlike behaviour, or causes a game to be disrupted, the Crew Chief shall end the game and record it as a forfeit by default, and that team will immediately cease to participate in the tournament.
9. TOURNAMENT DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
- The Disciplinary Committee will comprise the Head of Technical and a minimum of two members elected by the St John’s College Technical Organising Committee.
10. SOCIAL MEDIA
- All athletes and coaches are urged to apply serious caution on what will be posted on all St John’s College social media platforms.
- Any serious offences or infringement of the rights of individuals, teams or even the institution can result in the expulsion or disqualification of a team or individual.
- Coaches and Managers are advised to monitor their athletes’ activity on social media.
- All teams should promote good spirit and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

1. GENERAL
St John’s College hosts a highly competitive basketball tournament and offers great value to participating teams and spectators. For this reason, ST JOHN’S COLLEGE has drawn rules and regulations which all participants must follow in the tournament. These rules and regulations are aimed at ensuring fair play as well as an organised tournament for all to enjoy. The tournament will run over a period of four (4) days, i.e. from Thursday 23 February, at 15h00 to Sunday 26 February 2023.
2. PARTICIPATION
- A total of twenty (20) u19 and u15 high school teams will be taking part.
- Teams will be officially registered after full payment of registration fees and sending the proof of payment to [email protected].
- Registration fees are non-refundable.
3. ELIGIBILITY
- u19 players must be strictly born on or after the 1st of January 2004. Each school may register fifteen (15) players in this category.
- u15 players must be strictly born on or after the 1st of January 2008. Each school may register fifteen (15) players in this category.
- The Headmaster must sign and stamp the team list that includes these players.
- An age verification process with original ID, passport or Commissioner of Oaths stamped copy (stamped and signed in 2023); will occur at any time during the tournament or when the need arises. Team managers are encouraged to carry the same every time they play.
- Age cheating is a serious offence, and any team that transgresses this rule will be disqualified immediately from the tournament pending further action.
- No document, no play and strictly no exceptions.
4. TEAM COACHES/MANAGERS
- Each participating team must have a coach/manager on the bench during each game and ensure that they have at least one (1) Captain.
- Each coach/manager is entirely responsible for ensuring that their players fully understand the rules and regulations of the tournament.
- By participating in this tournament, each coach/manager agrees to abide by the rules and regulations stipulated herein.
- The coach/manager further understands that St John’s College is not responsible for any injuries or accidents that may occur during this tournament OR for lost/damaged/misplaced items. By participating in the tournament, the coach/manager/players waive any and all liability against St John’s College as a result thereof. For indemnity purposes, this clause applies to any parent/s, fans or spectators who may come to the tournament.
5. PLAYING FORMAT
- Teams will be grouped into four (4) pools. The top two (2) teams from each pool will advance to the quarter-finals which will lead to the semi-finals and then the finals, respectively.
- Advancement from the pools to the quarter-finals will be determined by a point system, that is:
- WIN = 2 points
- LOSS = 1 point
- FORFEIT = 0 points
PLAY-OFF FORMAT
QUARTER FINALS |
SEMI FINALS |
FINALS |
QF 1 – A1 vs C2 |
(Semi 1) QF1 vs QF2 |
W-Semi 1 vs W-Semi 2 |
QF 2 – B1 vs D2 |
||
QF 3 – D1 vs B2 |
(Semi 2) QF3 vs QF4
|
|
QF 4 – C1 vs A2 |
6. PLAYING RULES
- ALL games will be played according to the latest FIBA rules and interpretations unless stated in this document. In the event that there is a conflict between the FIBA and the tournament rules: then the tournament rules will supersede FIBA.
- Games will consist of four quarters of eight (8) minutes on the start/stop clock. Each team will be allowed a maximum of two (2) timeouts in each half 30 seconds long.
- Halftime interval will be strictly two (2) minutes for all the games.
- In case of a tie at the end of regulation time, an overtime period of two (2) minutes.
7. FORFEIT
- A grace period of FIVE (5) minutes from the scheduled time or the end of the previous game will be given. Any team that fails to be on the playing court with five (5) players ready to play at the scheduled time will lose the game by forfeit.
- If for any reason whatsoever, a team refuses to play, shows unsportsmanlike behaviour, or causes a game to be disrupted, the Chief Crew shall end the game and record it as a forfeit by default, and that team will immediately cease to participate in the tournament.
8. PROTEST
- The correct procedure should be followed within five (5) minutes after the game has ended. To make the protest valid, the team manager must give confirmation of this protest in writing. The team manager shall then deposit a fee of R1 000 to the tournament Technical Director. Protest in writing should be delivered to the tournament Technical Director no later than ten (10) minutes after the concerned game is finished for it to be valid.
- The deposit shall be paid back only if the protest is found to be valid and in favour of the team that has protested.
9. RAIN / LIGHTNING PLAN & PROCESS
- Any lightning warning has a minimum of 30-minute delay. All members should move to cover during the lightning warning. Approved waiting for are as during lightning strikes:
- Pre-Prep Hall
- School Gym
- School hallway or classrooms
- Squash courts
- All areas above should be occupied with strict supervision.
- Process to follow in case of rain/lightning.
- Matches may be delayed for about 30-60 minutes.
- Matches may be reallocated per court to catch up at the school premises.
- Match time may be shortened to catch up, as well as switching to a running time [instead of stop/start] format.
- Matches may run into the night till about 22h00 at school to catch up after the delay.
- All matches will be concluded on school premises. No matches will be moved away from St John’s College.
10. TOURNAMENT DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
The Disciplinary Committee (DC) will comprise three (3) members i.e.: the tournament technical member and a minimum of two coaches/managers elected by the St John’s Staff or Technical organising committee.
11. SOCIAL MEDIA
All athletes and coaches are urged to apply serious caution on what will be posted on all St John’s College/any other social media platforms. Any serious offences or infringement of the rights of individuals, teams or even the institution can result in the expulsion or disqualification of a team or individual. Coaches and Managers are advised to explain the effects of the POPI Act fully to their players and are requested to monitor their athletes’ activity on social media. All teams should promote good spirit and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.