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VHAC  |  Rules & Regulations

2025    

Download PDF of Rules & Regulations:

Team Rosters

  1. All athletes must be actively homeschooled in compliance with VA laws.

  2. Players may cannot dual rostered and must participate in the appropriate age bracket.

  3. All teams must provide the date of birth of each athlete prior to the tournament. Age requirements are as follows:

    • Varsity – The player must be 18 yrs or younger as of August 1 at the beginning of the 2024/2025 season

    • Junior Varsity – The player must be 17 yrs or younger as of June 1, 2025, for the 2024/2025 season

    • Middle School – The player must be 14 yrs or young as of June 1, 2025, for the 2024/2025 season

  4. All teams must wear basketball jerseys during their games. Each jersey must have the same color, and they must have unique numbers. Basketball shoes must be worn. All jewelry must be removed. Necklaces, earrings and watches cannot be worn during the game.

  5. The team coaches are entirely responsible for making sure that their players are fully compliant with tournament rules and regulations.

Playing Rules

  1.  Teams are to report to designated court 30 mins prior to game start and ask to immediately clear the court once their game has ended.

  2.  Games are subject to early start.

  3.  Home Team (always listed first) is the official scorekeeper.

  4.  Visitor is the official clock keeper and bears the responsibility of reporting game score to VHAC.

  5.  Game Clock: Games will consist of four (4) quarters. There is no shot clock.

    • Middle School – Six (6) minute quarters with three (3) minutes in overtime.

    • JV – Seven (7) min quarters with three (3) minutes and 30 seconds in overtime.

    • Varsity – Eight (8) min quarters with 4 minutes in overtime

    • **There will be no ties. Additional overtimes must be played until a final result is achieved.

  6.  Time Outs: Each team will be given three (3) full time outs (1 minute) and two (2) half time outs (30 seconds) per game. In the event of overtime, one (1) extra full time out will be given. Any unused time outs will carry over into overtime.

  7.  Grace Period: Games are subject to start early. There will be no grace period for a game starting at the regularly scheduled time. If a team is not present with four players at the start of a game, the first quarter clock will begin, and the tardy team will be allowed to present four players during this time. The team ready and waiting will begin amassing two points per minute up to the end of the first quarter. If at this point a team does not have four players to start, a forfeit will be declared.

  8.  Team Fouls: Players will be given 5 fouls per game. Bonus shots (two) will be given upon the fifth team foul, per quarter. There is no 1 and 1.

  9.  Technical Fouls: All technical fouls will count as a personal foul. A player or coach that generates two technical fouls in a game will be ejected from a contest and will be disqualified from the next tournament game.

  10.  Berating Officials: Unruly fans will not be tolerated. Fans may be asked to leave at the discretion of the Tournament Director or staff.

  11.  Team Bench: Bench areas shall be limited to coaches, staff, and rostered players for each team.

Conduct 

  1.  All participants, coaches and spectators shall refrain from using profanity or verbal abuse towards other players, coaches, spectators, referees and the tournament staff.

  2.   This is a Drug and Alcohol Free Event. No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed on the premises. Any coach or player(s) engaged in the use of alcohol or drugs will be disqualified from further participation in the tournament.

  3.   Team coaches will be responsible for the conduct of their players. Teams and spectators shall abide by the tournament rules and regulations. 

  4.   Food is allowed in the Horizon Gym,  HOWEVER, TEAMS MUST PICK-UP THEIR TRASH

  5.   Fans are asked to not play basketball on the courts during game breaks.  The scheduled teams take priority in use of the court at all times.  

  6.  The Tournament Director and the tournament staff are not responsible for any personal items that are left behind, lost or stolen.

Fighting 

  1.  Fighting is an attempt to strike an opponent with the arms, hands, legs, feet or a combative action by one or more players, a coach or other team personnel. Any member or team personnel who participates in a fight shall be immediately suspended from the game for the duration to be determined by the Tournament Director and their Associates. Length of suspension will be assessed on an individual basis. 

  2.  Let it be known that spectators and visitors who too elect to involve themselves in a fight during a game, will be suspended from the facility for a length of time to be determined by the Tournament Director and their Associates.

  3.  Should any team, player(s) or coach be disqualified from tournament play, there will be no refunds.

 

Violation on Rules:  If a team is found to be in violation of eligibility rules, the Tournament Director shall review the violation and determine an appropriate sanction, up to forfeiture of all tournament games, on a case-by-case review.  In the event of a sanction, there are no refunds.

 

Weather

  • In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director may make adjustments to the tournament rules and schedule and may allow for exceptions on a case-by-case review.  

Note:  2025 VHAC basketball rules are based upon prior rules for VA homeschool athletics and common tournament rules. If you have additional suggestions for future tournaments, please consider join the VHAC board.  

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