Boys: Female players may play in boys' categories with authorization from the Euro Hoop Trophy Office.
Age Restrictions
U16: Only players born in 2009 or later are allowed to play.
Player Participation
Players are allowed to play in only one team per category.
Every player needs an identity card or passport for identification.
The Euro Hoop Trophy Office will check the identity of players from selected teams during the tournament.
Penalties for violating these rules range from the loss of a game to disqualification of the whole team.
General Rules of the Games
Game Time, Time-outs, Breaks
Games are played in 4 quarters of 10 minutes each (running time).
The clock stops during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and the last minute of each overtime, if a referee calls or if a team scores.
The clock also stops during time-outs.
Halftime break: 3 minutes.
Break between quarters: 1 minute.
Each team gets 3 time-outs (1 in the first half, 2 in the second half). Time-outs do not carry over.
No time-outs are given in overtime.
Sudden-Death, Overtime
In group-phase games, tied scores at the end of the fourth period lead to a Sudden-Death (first team to score wins).
In playoffs, playdowns, and finals, 2-minute overtimes continue until a tie is broken.
Substitutions
Substitutions can only occur during a dead ball situation.
Incorrect substitutions: First infraction receives a warning; subsequent infractions incur a “B”-technical foul.
Fouls
A player must leave the game after committing 4 fouls.
Teams enter a penalty situation on the 6th team foul per quarter; subsequent defensive fouls result in free throws.
Disqualified players, team members, or coaches cannot participate in the next game. The Euro Hoop Trophy Office jury may impose additional penalties.
Shot Clock
No official shot clock, but referees may enforce a 10-second warning and countdown if deliberate delays occur.
Team Defense Rules
No full-court press or trap-defense allowed when leading by more than 25 points. Defense must start at the midline.
Penalty for illegal defense: First infraction receives a warning; subsequent infractions incur a “B”-technical foul.
Uniform Colors
If both teams have similar colors, the first-named team in the schedule must change uniforms.
Team List, Warm-Up
Coaches must enter team line-ups in the tournament software before check-in.
No guaranteed warm-up time on the court. Teams can warm up in available space without disturbing ongoing games.
Ball Size
Girls U16: Size 6.
Boys U16: Size 7.
Teams must bring their own balls for warm-up.
Late Arrival
Teams must be ready to play on time. A 10-minute delay results in a 20-0 forfeit.
Delays due to prior games must be reported to the Euro Hoop Trophy Office before the scheduled game time.
Protests
Protest fee: 50€. Must be signed and reported within 5 minutes after the game.
The Euro Hoop Trophy Office Jury decides on protests. The fee is non-refundable if the protest is rejected.
Referees
Games are officiated by 2 or 3 referees from various European countries.
Teams are expected to play fair and show respect to referees, opponents, and spectators.
Game Mode
Group Games, Playoffs, Playdowns
The tournament begins with group games. Teams are ranked based on performance and proceed to playoffs or playdowns.
Group system typically includes 4 teams per group. Top 2 teams advance to playoffs; others to playdowns.
Schedule may vary based on the number of registered teams.
Classification in Group Games
Teams earn 2 points for a win, 0 for a loss.
Tiebreakers: If 2 or more teams have the same win-loss record of all games in the group, the game(s) between these 2 or more teams shall decide on the classification. If these 2 or more teams have the same win-loss record of the games between them, further criteria shall be applied in the following order: - Higher game points difference of the games between them. - Higher number of game points scored in the games between them. - Higher game points difference of all games in the group. - Higher number of game points scored in all games in the group. If these criteria still cannot decide at the end of the group phase, a draw shall decide on the final classification. If at any level of these criteria one or more team(s) are already classified, the procedure above shall be repeated from the beginning for all the remaining teams not classified yet.
Duties of the Teams / Table Officials
Teams must work 3-4 times as table officials (scorer, timekeeper, streamer).
Missing a table official duty incurs a 50€ penalty, deducted from the team deposit.
Jury
A jury (Head of Schedule, Head of Referees, Office Representative) handles protests and disqualifications.
Protests must be reported within 30 minutes after the game.
Disqualifications result in a one-game suspension and possibly further penalties after consultation.
