National Junior Classic

PLAYING RULES

2016 Medibank National Junior Classic

RULES

1.         Introduction

1.1       The National Junior Classic (NJC) is a seeded tournament consisting of U/12, U/14, U/16 and U/18 Boys and Girls, with 16 teams in each section.

1.2       The NJC is conducted by the Melbourne United Victorian Junior Basketball League JRC Commissioners.

1.3       The NJC will be conducted on the Queen’s Birthday Weekend in June of each year.

2.         Running of the Classic

2.1       The MUVJBL Manager shall run the NJC on behalf of the MUVJBL.

2.2       The MUVJBL Manager in co-operation with the VBRA will appoint a referees co-ordinator for each venue.

2.3       The MUVJBL Manager may appoint a person to act as tournament supervisor over the duration of the classics weekend.

3.         NATIONAL JUNIOR CLASSIC – SELECTION CRITERIA

Once the MUVJBL has received all of the nominations for the NJC, the NJC Sub Committee will make the final decision on the teams they believe will be competitive and should attend the Classic.

The Classic is a MUVJBL invitational tournament and the NJC Sub Committee will have the final ruling on all entries.  The NJC Sub Committee hold the right to use their discretion in exceptional circumstances throughout this qualifying process.

All teams that the NJC Sub Committee select will be asked to provide team lists to make sure that the teams attending will be the same as the teams who qualified for selection.

No further correspondence will be entered into once the NJC Sub Committee have selected the 16 teams based on the following criteria which will be reviewed annually.

3.1       Victorian Team Selection 

The National Junior Classic is the most prestigious junior tournament in Australia, therefore the MUVJBL and the NJC Sub Committee reserves the right to only select the best teams from around Australia to compete.

The NJC Sub Committee has agreed that the following criteria will be used to decide which MUVJBL teams will be selected into the JNC.

  • The MUVJBL teams shall be ranked on their performance in the Victorian Championship League (VCL) Competition. 
  • Based on head to head the top four teams in each VCL pool, at the end of Round 9 will be selected to participate in the Junior Classic. (8 MUVJBL teams may be selected) 
  • If a VC selected team consists of players who are also registered with the Country Championship winner, the player must nominate if they will participate with the Country Championship winner or the VC team. 
  • If the player chooses to represent the Country Championship winner, the MUVJBL will request the VC team provides correspondence explaining why they should still be able to participate.  The MUVJBL COMM will review the explanation and reserves the right to refuse entry based on the fact the team being entered is not the same team that participated in VCL. 
  • If additional teams are required outside of the top four from VCL, the MUVJBL reserves the right to choose the team that they believe is most qualified. 

3.2       Country Championship Team Selection 

The NJC Sub Committee has agreed that the following criteria will be used to decide which Basketball Victoria Country Championship winners will be selected into the National Junior Classic. 

Country Championship Winner Not Participating in the MUVJBL:           

  • If the Country championship winner isn’t participating in the MUVJBL, they must provide a team list of who will be attending the tournament with their expression of interest. 
  • If the Country Championship winner consists of players who are also registered with any MUVJBL team, the player must nominate if they will participate with the Country Championship winner or the MUVJBL team. 
  • If the player chooses to represent the MUVJBL team, the MUVJBL will request the Country championship Winner provides correspondence, explaining why they should still be able to participate.  The MUVJBL COMM will review the explanation and reserves the right to refuse entry based on the fact the team being entered is not the same team that participated in Country Championships. 

Country Championship Winner Participating in the MUVJBL: 

  • If the Country Championship Winner currently plays in the MUVJBL and failed to qualify for VC they will not be invited to the National Junior Classic. 
  • If the Country Championship Winner currently plays in the MUVJBL and qualified for VC, but doesn’t finish in the top 4 of their pool they may not be invited to the National Junior Classic. 
  • If the Country Championship Winner currently plays in the MUVJBL and doesn’t meet the above criteria, the team may put in an appeal to the MUVJBL COMM for special selection. 

Appeals may include a player who has played in the Country Championship winning team that doesn’t participate in the MUVJBL that changes the dynamics of the team.  In this case score sheets from Country Championships will be viewed and the MUVJBL COMM will make their final decision. 

3.3       Interstate - Overseas Selection 

The NJC Sub Committee has agreed that the following criteria will be used to decide which Interstate/overseas teams will be selected into the National Junior Classic. 

  • The MUVJBL COMM will select a maximum of 8 interstate teams to compete in the Junior Classic. 
  • A.C.T will be allocated one position for Basketball ACT if they wish to nominate. 
  • If possible New South Wales teams will be selected after the halfway point of their current competition however we will only consider teams that are in the top four at that time. 
  • Teams from South Australia are to be selected from the South Australia State Championships and we will only consider teams that are in the top four at that time. 
  • If Northern Territory, Tasmania, Queensland or Western Australia wish to enter teams into the National Junior Classic they must be ranked first or second in their age group. 
  • Should an overseas team(s) express an interest in participating in the tournament the MUVJBL COMM will consider their entry and if accepted the interstate quota will be reduced by that number. 

4.         Expressions of Interest

4.1       Expressions of interest must be received from all associations within Australia and Overseas. The expressions of interest forms will be placed on the MUVJBL website no later than the 28th February 2016.

4.2       The expressions of interest must be returned to the MUVJBL Competition Manager by the nominated date. 

5.         Qualifying Period

5.1       A selection point for the Victorian Associations/Clubs shall be determined by the MUVJBL Administrator if ladders from Round 9 can’t be used.

5.2       For Interstate Associations/Clubs each State Association shall determine qualifying procedure. 

6.         Final Invitations

6.1       The NJC Sub Committee shall select and submit to MUVJBL JRC Commissioners, the Associations/Clubs who fit the qualifying criteria.

6.2       The selected teams will be notified by the MUVJBL administration by the nominated date. 

7.         Withdrawal

7.1       Should a selected team withdraw at the final invitation stage, the deposit will not be refunded and the next eligible team shall be informed and acceptance must be within 24 hours.

7.2       Should a selected team withdraw between the release of the fixture and the first day of the tournament, the next teams shall be informed and acceptance must be immediate. There will be no refund of the entry fee of $635

7.3       Should a selected team withdraw on any day of the tournament then all matches will be forfeited. A penalty of $800shall be imposed and eligibility of the team in the following year will be subject to non-attendance.

PLAYER QUALIFICATION

All teams may nominate up to 12 players, all of whom must be registered members with the same association/club and appropriate state body.  All but two must be regular members of the team that qualified for selection, according to the criteria of the appropriate state association. You must provide documentation that the two players have been registered with your association for 6 months prior to the tournament. 

Player lists must be provided online, two weeks prior to the tournament. The nominated players are those appearing on the Player List. The Player List must include full name and date of birth of each player, and a declaration of eligibility by an association/club official. 

Only the nominated players are permitted to play. To qualify for finals, players must participate in one round game. 

If player nominations are not received by the due date a fine of $100.00 shall apply. 

In the case of a dual nomination of a member by two association/clubs then the player shall determine which team the player shall represent. 

If a nominated player is injured (or becomes otherwise medically unfit) prior to the commencement of the first match of the tournament then a replacement must be approved by the NJC Sub Committee The notification of withdrawal and replacement must be in writing to the MUVJBL Manager and be accompanied by a medical certificate. 

Should a nominated member withdraw for any other reason than injury or illness, then the NJC Sub Committee shall review the situation and make a decision as to whether a replacement should be permitted.

PLAYING CONDITIONS

Matches for Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 sections shall consist 4 x 8 minute quarters.

Matches for Under 12’s sections shall consist of 4 x 7 minute quarters.

The clock shall stop on all whistles according to the FIBA rule book. 

The 24 second rule shall apply in all U14, U16 & U18 games. Where a shot clock is not working or unavailable the referees shall be responsible for making the call, giving the team a 10 and 5 Second Verbal warning. The 24-second shot clock will not be used in any Under 12 games.  Please note there will be no 14 second reset. 

Shot Clock Rules for Under 14’s shall be as follows:

The 24 second device will not be started until the Ball goes into a team’s frontcourt. 

The ball goes into a team's frontcourt when: (as per Fiba Rules Art 28)

• It touches the frontcourt.

• It touches a player or an official who has part of his body in contact with the Frontcourt.

• During a dribble from backcourt to frontcourt, both feet of the dribbler and the ball are in contact with the frontcourt. (This applies to the player only as long as they are dribbling.) 

In the Under 12 & 14 Boys sections and all Girls sections a size 6 ball shall be used. In the Under 16 & 18 Boys a size 7 ball shall be used. The free-throw line for Under 12's shall be advanced by 1 metre. 

The Under 16 & 18 Age groups shall use the extended 3 point line (6.75m). The Under 12 & 14 age groups shall use the existing 3 point line (6.25m) 

A five minute warm-up period shall be allowed prior to the commencement of each game. Half-time of all matches shall be two minutes. Quarter and three quarter time breaks shall be one minute. 

In the event of a tie, an extra period of 3 minutes will be played. If required, a further extra period of 2 minutes will be played. Any subsequent extra periods will each be of 1 minute duration. One minute is allowed before each extra period. 

Each team is required to supply a competent score bench official. The first named team will supply the Clock and 24-second clock operator; the second named team shall do the scoresheet. At the conclusion of each match, the scoresheet shall be left on the bench. Independent score bench officials will be appointed to major semi-finals (SF1 & SF2) and grand-finals of the tournament. 

All teams shall be attired in appropriate uniform with legal numbers being: 1 - 99.

0 and 00 are only permitted as blood singlets. Duplicate numbers are not permitted

Players out of uniform will not be permitted to take the court. In a case of an issue about a player being out of uniform, the Court Supervisor or Tournament Supervisor shall make the decision. 

In the event of blood on the uniform, the player must leave the court. The player may resume playing in a non-standard uniform provided in the referees' opinion there is no confusion of colours. 

If the referees determine that there is a clash of colours between teams, then there shall be a toss of the coin and the winner of the toss may elect to change uniforms or have their opposition change uniforms. All teams are required to have alternate sets of uniforms available. 

If a team does not appear with the minimum of five players within 10 minutes of the scheduled time of commencement, as shown on the fixture, then the match shall be a walkover and no points shall be awarded to the offending team. The match will be awarded to the opposing team and the score recorded as a twenty (20) points to nil (0) win. If a team appears within the ten minutes, but after the commencement time of the match as shown on the fixture, then the opposing team shall be awarded a score of two (2) points for each minute the offending team is late. 

The New Fiba rules and specific adaptations that will be in effect for the National Junior Classic Tournament for 2016 are the same as the Victorian Junior Basketball League competition for 2016 and can be found on the MUVJBL website http://www.vjbl.com.au/index.php?id=209 

Please note that at no stage is a Zone defence permitted in any of the Under 12 or Under 14 Competitions. 

CO-ORDINATION DURING THE TOURNAMENT

The NJC Sub Committee shall appoint a Venue Supervisor for each venue. The Venue Supervisor shall be responsible for seeing that the rules and regulations of Junior Classic Tournament are upheld. 

At each venue, the Venue Supervisor may appoint a Court Supervisor for each court used in the tournament at that venue, who is delegated to make decision in lieu of the Venue Supervisor as required. 

DISPUTES AND APPEALS DURING THE TOURNAMENT

The interpretation of normal playing rules of a referee shall not be considered as grounds for a dispute. 

In a case of a team considering grounds for a dispute, a recognised official of the team shall put the matter in writing at the tournament office, not more than two hours after completion of the match in which the dispute occurred. 

The Venue Supervisor and two available NJC Sub Committee members shall determine if there is a case for a dispute hearing. If there is a dispute hearing:

(a)        All affected parties shall have right to representation;

(b)        No person from an affected party shall be on the disputes committee;

(c)         The Tournament Supervisor shall select three people which will be chosen with recognition of experience and interstate representation if an interstate team is involved;

(d)        The findings of the disputes committee will be final.

REPORTS AND TRIBUNALS

Reports may be made by any referee or any member of the NJC Sub Committee.

The tribunal shall consist of authorised tribunal members and include an interstate representative where appropriate.  The tribunal shall be convened by the BV State Tribunal Convenor. 

The tribunal shall endeavour to deal with any report before the next game of the relevant team. 

The decision of the tribunal shall not be subject to appeal for the duration of the tournament. 

Should a person reported be from interstate, then a copy of the report and hearing minutes shall be sent to the appropriate state association for further action.

RESERVE POWERS

The NJC Sub Committee and the venue supervisor on their behalf shall have the power to make necessary additional rulings provided these are not contrary to the regulations of those of BV.