Here are the BAM Jam 3 on 3 basketball rules.
Who Can Play?
The tournament is open to all players. Divisions start at 10 years old. (We removed 9U in 2023)
Number of Players
Each team may consist of a maximum of 5 players and a minimum of 3 players. A team may have only 3 players on the court at any time. For all co-ed teams (adult divisions in the summer only), a member of the opposite sex must be on the court at all times. Co-ed teams are only allowed to participate in the co-ed division (we are only insured for that division). All games must start with at least 3 players on each team. Any number of players (1, 2, or 3) may complete a game.
Authorized Equipment & Apparel
No player shall be allowed to wear a guard, cast, hard brace, or other potentially dangerous equipment on his or her elbow, hand, wrist, finger, or forearm, including equipment made of hard leather, plastic, plaster, or metal-even if the equipment is covered with soft padding. Soft braces, sleeves, and wraps will be allowed unless they pose a danger to other players. As always, the tournament directors retain the right to disallow any equipment or apparel that it judges to be dangerous or inappropriate.
College Eligibility Issues
All high school and college players are encouraged to check with their coaches and/or athletic directors about participating in BAM Jam and the potential effects on their eligibility. The tournament directors are not responsible for determining a particular athlete’s eligibility under National Collegiate Athletic Association or applicable high school association rules.
Bracket Types
Youth teams will select their own divisions based on age. Adult teams will select the level of competition. Tournament officials reserve the right to verify player entry form data. False information will be grounds for dismissal from the tournament. Each adult player is required to possess personal identification at all times during the tournament.
Basket Height
The basket height will be 10 feet high for all divisions. (new in 2023)
Free Throw Shooting Distance
The distance for free throws will be 10 feet for the 10U division; the distance will be 15 feet for all other brackets.
Three-Point Line Distance
The distance for three-point shots is 16 feet for the 10U division; the distance will be the standard high school distance for all other brackets.
Stealing the Ball
Players in all age categories may steal the ball when it is being passed. 10U divisions will have a no-steal rule when players are either dribbling the ball or holding onto it. Stealing in those situations will be allowed in all other divisions.
Fouls
For the non-OPEN divisions, all non-shooting fouls (defensive and offensive) shall result in a one-and-one free throw situation. Team fouls are not counted with the exception of the OPEN divisions (see below).
For all divisions, players fouled in the act of shooting will shoot free throws. If the field goal is made, the player will shoot one free throw. If the field goal is missed, the player will shoot the number of free throws equal to the value of the field goal. IE a missed two-point field goal attempt will result in two free throws and and a missed three-point field goal attempt will result in three free throws.
During a free throw, opposing team players may not intentionally disrupt the shooter’s unhindered throw. A change of possession will result regardless of whether the final free throw shot is made or missed. After a foul shot, the ball will be placed into play from the backcourt line.
OPEN Division
Team fouls will only be counted in the Open Divisions. Team fouls 1 – 6 will result in a one-and-one free throw situation. Team fouls 7 and above will result in 2 free throws.
Technical Fouls
A technical foul will be called for unsportsmanlike acts such as taunting, baiting, or trash talk. Taunting and baiting can involve derogatory remarks or gestures that incite or insult a player. Trash talk involves a deeply personal, verbal attack directed toward any person involved in the event. In extreme cases, the player may also be suspended from play and a coach or fan removed from the court for the remainder of that game or for the rest of the tournament. The court monitor may also assess a technical foul if the monitor determines that the team is stalling in the interest of preserving a winning margin.
Intentional Fouls
An intentional foul is a foul designed to neutralize an opponent’s obvious advantageous position. It is a foul which, based on the court monitor’s observation of the act, is not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball. A foul shall also be ruled intentional, based on the monitor’s observation of the act, if while attempting to play the ball, a player causes excessive contact.
Flagrant Fouls
A flagrant foul may be of a violent or savage nature, or an act that displays unacceptable conduct. It may or may not be intentional. It may involve violent or savage contact such as striking, kicking, kneeing, moving under an opponent who is in the air, and crouching or hipping in a manner that could cause severe injury to the opponent. It may also involve dead ball contact or dialogue which is extreme or persistent, savage, or abusive. A flagrant foul results in one point for the offended team and possession of the ball, which is taken out at the backcourt line. The player committing the foul will be suspended from play for the remainder of that game or for the rest of the tournament.
A player cannot call technical, intentional, and flagrant fouls. The court official or court marshal will make this call. Their decision is final.
Points for technical, intentional, and flagrant fouls
Technical, intentional, or flagrant fouls will result in an automatic one-point for the infraction (no free throws) and possession of the ball.
Stalling
Stalling is prohibited. Stalling is a style of play in which a team does not actively attempt to advance the basketball toward the basket and shoot the ball at the basket. It is a method used in an attempt to run out the game clock to preserve a win. Stalling is considered an unsportsmanlike act and will result in a technical foul against the offending team.
Which Team Receives the Ball First?
A coin toss prior to each game will determine which team gets the ball out-of-bounds first.
Keeping Score
All made baskets from inside the 3-point arc count for 2-points and made baskets from outside the 3-point arc count for 3-points. Free throws are worth 1-point. Games are generally played to 35 points, win by one (see next rule for exceptions), unless the game exceeds the 25-minute time limit.
Length of Game – ALL DIVISIONS (excluding the OPEN Division)
If a score of 35 is achieved within 25 minutes:
The target score for all games is 35 points, meaning the first team to reach 35 points within 25 minutes of play is declared the winner. The team that reaches 35 points does not need to have a winning margin of 2 points or greater. The 25- minute clock is stopped during team time-outs and if the court monitor stops play for a player injury or other unusual circumstance. If neither team has reached a score of 35 points, the court official shall stop the game after 25 minutes of play. In all situations, the court monitor can declare a technical foul (see the stalling rule above) if the monitor determines that a team is intentionally stalling to run out the clock.
If a score of 35 is not achieved within 25 minutes:
If at this point of interruption a team has a lead of one (1) or more points, that team is declared the winner. If the score is tied, the overtime rule will be activated. In overtime, the first team to score a total of 2 points or reach 35 points, will be declared the winner. A coin toss will determine who gets the ball first in overtime.
Length of Game – OPEN Divisions – OPEN division games are played until a team scores 35 points.
Use these examples as a guideline:
Scores at the beginning of the overtime session
Score of 32 to 32: the first team to score 2 points wins.
Score of 34 to 34: the first team to 35 wins. No game goes beyond 35 points.
Score of 14 to 13: no overtime is needed since there is a team with a lead.
Checked Ball
The ball must be “checked” by an opposing player before it is put into play. The ball must be passed to begin play. In the 9U and 10U divisions, the initial pass after the “check-in” may not be contested. However, the player receiving this initial pass must be behind the 3-point line.
Change of Possession
The ball will change possession after scored baskets and all free-throw attempts with the exception of Technical, Intentional or Flagrant fouls. There will be no “make it, take it” rule.
Taking it Back
The ball will be “taken back” on each change of possession, regardless of whether or not a shot was attempted. Failure to “take it back” results in loss of possession and any points just scored. “Taking it back” means that whoever has possession of the ball touches any part of the 3-point line with the ball or their body.
Ball Out-of-Bounds
A ball out-of-bounds will be taken out from the back-court line.
Boundaries
The basket structure, padding, and structural supports will be played as out-of-bounds. The actual backboard, including its face, top, bottom, and sides, shall be considered in-bounds.
Jump Ball
In a jump ball situation, the ball will first go to the team that lost the opening coin toss, alternating possessions thereafter.
Dunking
Dunking is not allowed at any time, including during warm-ups. Dunking will be construed as an unsportsmanlike act and will result in a technical foul.
Substitutions
Substitutions may be made during a time-out or a “dead ball” situation.
Time-Out
Each team is allowed a single one-minute time-out per game.
Player Injury
A court monitor has the discretion to suspend play for the protection of an injured player. If a player is bleeding or has an open wound, that player will be directed to leave the game and properly bandage the wound. A player with any bloodstained clothing or bandage must remove the stained or saturated material prior to re-entering the game. If it is believed that a player has lost consciousness during a game, or is severely injured, BAM Jam may require a written note from a medical doctor who has examined the player subsequent to the game injury and specifically authorizes that player to continue participation in the tournament.
Game Times
Teams must be ready to begin play at their scheduled start time. Teams not at their court for their scheduled game are given a 5-minute grace period before a forfeit is enforced. Teams are encouraged to remain in contact with the tournament’s scheduling to observe the effects of scheduling changes that could occur mainly due to inclement weather or other unexpected delays. Inclement weather and non-playable situations may result in the modification or cancellation of the event. Under these unlikely circumstances team entry fees will not be refunded.
The Fine Print
Designated tournament officials shall have the power to make decisions on any points not specifically covered in the Rules and Regulations and shall also have the complete authority to interpret the intent and purpose of these Rules and Regulations. BAM Jam officials also reserve the right to disqualify any player and/or team for infractions of tournament policies, including the following:
Use of Illegal Players
The players listed on the team entry form as accepted by BAM Jam are the only ones eligible for play on that team. Player changes must be completed by the player change deadline. Under no circumstances will roster substitutions be allowed after the player change deadline. Before the beginning of each game, every player will sign a Release and Waiver and Sportsmanship Pledge. Any team using a player not properly registered will be disqualified from the tournament.
Duplicate Players
Please note that players may play on only one team per division / bracket. While it is fine for a player to play on multiple teams in different divisions (such as an adult recreational team and a co-ed team) playing on two teams in the same division is not allowed. Any player found to be playing on multiple teams in the same division will be disqualified from the tournament. Scheduling exceptions will not be made for teams on more than one roster. It is up to the team and players to figure this out on their own.
False Information
False information provided on your team entry form or accepted Player Change Form is the basis for bracket scheduling and is expected to be both accurate and complete. Players listing inaccurate information on these forms may be disqualified from the tournament.
Protesting a game or roster
All protests must come from an opposing team member within the first five (5) minutes of your game (ie you cannot wait until the game is over) or within 5 minutes of the infraction. Protests must be made directly to the court official.