Format/Rules

GENERAL RULES

1. Teams must be of all one gender.
2. Team rosters shall be limited to a maximum of ten (10) players, including non-playing coaches, non-playing captains and nonplaying bench personnel. Teams are no longer limited to the number of out-of-state players on their rosters; however roster changes shall be allowed only as permitted under Rule F.
3. Additions or deletions to the team roster may be made up to the team’s first contest.  However, any roster changes made following the entry deadline date shall not result in a change in the team’s Age Division.  All players must be eligible for the age division in which the team is entered.
4. Athletes may participate on only one basketball team per age group. At the National Senior Games athletes may compete on up to two teams per sport, providing that the teams are in different age divisions that are scheduled to play in completely separate sessions.
5. Competition will be conducted in six (6) age divisions for both men and women: 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+ and 75+.  Age divisions for all team competition will be determined by the age of the youngest team member as of December 31, 2020.
6. It will be the responsibility of the team captain to inform his/her team of all rules and amendments.  The team captain is the sole spokesman for his/her team.
7. Team clothing must be like design and color.  Teams must have both “home” and “away” numbered shirts.
8. In cases where teams finish pool play with identical records, the following steps will be used in the order listed to break ties:
   • Head-to-head competition between the teams that are tied.
   • If three teams are tied, the margin of victory or loss up to a maximum of ten (21) points shall be determined for each game played.  The total marginal points for all games played will then be determined by adding those figures for games won and subtracting those for games lost.  No team will add or subtract more than one (1) point for any overtime game.  The teams(s) tallying the largest number of marginal points shall be ranked above the other team(s).
   • Forfeits shall be scored 21-0.

GAME RULES

1. Teams must have a minimum of three players on the floor to start a game.  Teams may continue/finish with a minimum of two players on the floor.
2. The game shall be played on half court by two teams of three players each and a maximum of seven substitutes.
3. The winner of the coin toss shall take first ball possession.  Possession at the start of the second half shall be determined by the possession arrow.  Ball possession changes hands after each basket unless a technical or personal foul is called.
4. Officials do not put the ball in play, except at the start of each half. The referee will handle the rebound of the first free throw (first and second free throws if three shots are being taken) and then will not handle the ball after the last free throw
5. Scoring and Timing Regulations:
   • Playing time shall be two halves of 12 minutes for age groups 75+, and 15 minutes for age groups 50-74. There shall be a continuously running clock with an intermission of five minutes for half-time. In the last two minutes of each half, the clock will stop in accordance with normal basketball rules. The clock also stops after a made basket during the last minute of the second half.
   • A tie score at the end of regulation time will result in a three-minute overtime period. During the first overtime period, the clock will stop in accordance with normal basketball rules. If the game is still tied at the end of the first overtime period, subsequent three-minute periods shall be played until the tie is broken. After the first overtime period, all additional overtime periods will have a running clock except for the last minute in which the clock will stop in accordance with normal basketball rules. The clock also stops after a made basket during the last minute of all overtime periods. Ball possession will be determined by a coin flip for each overtime period. There will be a one-minute intermission before each overtime period. All individual and team fouls carryover into overtime.
   • Two time-outs are permitted per team, per half. Timeouts do not carryover from one period to the next. If a game proceeds to overtime, each team shall receive no more than one additional time-out, regardless of the number of overtimes. Time-outs shall be 60 seconds in duration. The clock will not run during timeouts.
   • Three point shots are allowed. The three-point line distance for both men and women will be 19 feet, 9 inches. 6.
6. Throw-In Area and Ball In & Out of Play:
   • The game shall be played using the three-point line as the “check line.” The ball shall be returned to a point behind the check line after each change of possession as follows:
     • After a made basket and all dead ball situations, the ball shall be placed in play from the top of the key (‘throw-in area”). The ball must be advanced into play by means of a pass to a teammate. Violation of the throw-in area by the offense results in loss of possession.
     • After a turnover or defensive rebound, the ball may be returned to any point behind the check line. The player returning the ball behind the check line shall be in possession of the ball with both feet behind the line. The ball does not have to pass behind the 3-point line; only the player’s feet.
     • The penalty for attempting a shot before returning the ball successfully behind the check line shall be loss of possession.
     • The player who returns the ball behind the three-point line may maintain possession and attempt to score.
7. Player Restrictions When Inbounding Ball:
   • Following a made basket or dead ball, the ball shall be put in play within five seconds from the time the ball is in the “throw-in area”, regardless of whether or not the inbounder has taken possession of the ball. If the ball is not put in play within five seconds it shall be a violation, and possession shall be awarded to the defense with no change in the possession arrow.
   • The inbounder must be within 3 feet of the three-point line and must stay within the free throw lane extension area (12 feet wide), the area referred to as the “throw-in area”.
   • The defense may defend anywhere on the court, however, no player (offensive or defensive) may enter the ‘throw-in area”, which is considered out-of-bounds.
   • The inbounder may not hand-off the ball to a teammate.
   • The inbounder’s teammates may not enter the three-second lane to receive a pass or set a screen until the inbounding teammate actually takes possession of the ball at the throw-in area; they may cross and exit the lane to reposition themselves prior to the inbound pass.
   • The 3 second lane count and the 5 second closely guarded count shall not begin until the defensive team (now the new offensive team) takes the ball behind the three point arc.
   • Violations of the throw-in area by the offense result in loss of possession.
   • Violations of the throw-in area by the defense result in a warning followed by a technical foul and loss of possession.
8. Substitutions:
   • Substitutions may be made after a basket, foul shot, stoppage of play, and any time an official beckons the player onto the court.
   • Players MUST be beckoned onto the court by the referee. Entering the court without being beckoned will result in a warning from the official; all subsequent violations will result in a technical foul and loss of possession.
   • Both the offensive and defensive team may substitute after the first free throw of a two shot foul, and after the second free throw of a three shot foul.
   • The defensive team can only substitute after a made basket or free throw, (when it is the final free throw taken) and ONLY if the offense is substituting at that time. Violating this rule will result in a warning from the official; all subsequent violations will result in a technical foul loss of possession.
   • On all stoppage of play (i.e., violations such as traveling, double dribble, three seconds, or out of bounds, etc.) either team can substitute as long as they request to sub prior to the inbounder having the ball in the throw-in area.
9. Fouls and Penalties:
   • A player is disqualified on his/her fifth foul. Technical fouls will be assessed in accordance with NCAA rules.
   • Team fouls carry over into the second half and overtime periods.
   • Any shooting foul with a missed basket shall result in two free throws (three for a three-point attempt), and the offended team shall retain possession.
   • Any shooting foul with a converted basket shall result in the basket being awarded along with one free throw, and the offended team will retain possession.
   • Any player control foul shall result in disallowing a converted basket, recording the foul and a change in possession.
   • Prior to the seventh team foul, any common foul shall result in loss of possession for the offending team.
   • All personal and technical fouls shall be counted against a team total (except for unsporting technical infractions-see below). On the seventh team foul, a bonus shall be awarded for the remainder of the game.
10. Bonus Situations:
    • Beginning with the seventh team foul, any common foul shall result in a single free throw plus a bonus free throw if the first free throw is made, and the offended team shall retain possession.
    • Beginning with the 10th team foul, any common foul shall result in two free throws, and the offended team shall retain possession.
11. If a shooting foul occurs during the running time part of the game:
    • All players will remain behind the arc and the offense will re-gain possession of the ball, even if the clock goes to the two minute mark. At that time, the clock will stop until the ball is put in play again from the throw-in area.
    • All the players behind the arc may cross the arc once the shooter releases the ball. The shooter may cross the free throw line after the ball strikes the rim, flange or backboard or retrieve the ball upon completion of the last free throw.
12. During the stopped time portion of the game:
    • During the last two minutes of each half, and during any overtime period, the automatic awarding of team possession after free throws does not apply (live rebounding will be in effect)
    • During live rebounding all players on both teams are allowed to line up along the free throw lane when the free throws are shot.
    • The free-throw shooter shall not break the vertical plane of the free-throw line with either foot until the ball strikes the rim, flange or backboard or until the free throw ends.
    • No player shall enter or leave a marked lane space or contact any part of the court outside the marked lane space until the free-throw shooter has released the ball.
    • If the shooter makes the last awarded free throw, the opposing team will inbound the ball.
13. Unsporting Technical Infractions:
    • An unsporting technical infraction shall be when a player or substitute commits any unsportsmanlike act set forth in accordance with the NCAA rules and guidelines, and when outlined herein. Additionally, the act of stalling, or delaying the game intentionally, will be treated as such an infraction, and will first result in a warning issued to the penalized team. A second and any subsequent violation will result in a technical foul being issued and a penalty of two free throws shall be awarded to any member of the offended team, and possession of the ball following the free throws. This rule will not apply in the final two minutes of the first half of each game.
    • Note 1: Technical fouls for stalling will be issued as administrative, and do not apply toward individual or team-foul total, toward disqualification or ejection.
    • Delay of game or stalling shall be defined as: the deliberate and obvious intention of using the delay to a team’s advantage (except inside the final two minutes of the end of the regulation period and all subsequent time thereafter in overtime periods).
14. Uniforms:
    • Team clothing must be of like design and color.
    • Teams must have both “home” and “away” uniforms with permanently attached numbers. The numbers must be 4” on the front and 6” on the back in the center of the jersey.
    • Sponsors may be added to uniforms, but cannot interfere with number placement.
    • Uniforms shall be free of inappropriate symbols or wording.

 

NSGA QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 2023 NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES

The 2022 Missouri State Senior Games will be the only Missouri Qualifying site for the 2023 Summer National Senior Games to be held in Pittsburgh, PA.

In Basketball, all first-, second- and third-place winners at a 2021 NSGA qualifying games will qualify for the 2022 National Senior Games.

Each 2020 NSGA qualifying games may qualify all basketball teams that compete in the 80+ and 85+ age divisions.  Competition must take place in accordance with Rule H in order for teams to be qualified.

Event Codes

Event Code	Event Name
BB001	3on3 Basketball - 50+ Men
BB002	3on3 Basketball - 55+ Men
BB003	3on3 Basketball - 60+ Men
BB004	3on3 Basketball - 65+ Men
BB005	3on3 Basketball - 70+ Men
BB006	3on3 Basketball - 75+ Men
BB011	3on3 Basketball - 50+ Women
BB012	3on3 Basketball - 55+ Women
BB013	3on3 Basketball - 60+ Women
BB014	3on3 Basketball - 65+ Women
BB015	3on3 Basketball - 70+ Women
BB016	3on3 Basketball - 75+ Women

Results