Malbas Madness is played according to the rules and guidelines described in this document. In other aspects, FIBA's official competition regulations and rules apply.

AGE GROUPS

The tournament is played in the following 2 age groups for girls and boys:

  • U16 - Born 2009 or later
  • U15 - Born 2010 or later
  • U14 - Born 2011 or later
  • U13 - Born 2012 or later
  • U12 - Born 2013 or later (Easy Basket rules)

The team/club must be registered in the national basketball association of their country. The players in the team must be members of the club.

Each team may line up with a maximum of 12 players in each game. It may be different players in different games.

All players must register no later than 2 weeks before the start of the tournament.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

GROUP STAGE GAMES

The teams are divided into groups where everyone plays against each other in single series. The order between the teams is decided by points. Victory gives 2 points, loss gives 0 points. If two or more teams have the same score, the order is determined as follows:

1) The result of games between the teams that are tied.

2)  Point difference in games between the teams that are tied.

3) The team that has scored the most points in games between the teams that are tied.

PLAY OFFS / ELAM ENDING

The top two teams in the group will proceed to the A-finals (competing for 1-4th place in the tournament). The other teams in the group will proceed to the B-finals (competing for 5-8th place). 

The playoff will be played with 'The Elam Ending' in all age categorys but U12. That means that t he teams then play to a target score instead of a gameclock. The first team to meet or exceed the target score wins. 
Read more about 'The Elam Ending' here.

The target score is determined by taking the leading team's score and adding 6 or 8 points depending on the age group.

Target score:
U16 (+8p)
U15 (+8p)
U14 (+8p)
U13 (+6p)

Example:
Team A is leading the game with 32-30 after the third quarter in the U14 age category. We’re adding 8 points to the Team A’s score which makes the target score 40 points. The first team to reach the target score is the winner! 

NO CHECK RULE

If the referee blows the whistle and the team to receive the ball has it in their backcourt, they do not need to check the ball with the referee. Just do the throw-in directly. Applies only in cases where the referee does not need to communicate with the secretariat (i.e. not in case of fouls).

MVP's

A game MVP from one of the two competing teams will be announced after every game in the group and in the playoffs.

A tournament MVP will be selected for each category and  5 players will be selected and joined in an All-Star Team. They will be  announced at the prize ceremony when the tournament is concluded.

BALL SIZES

The games in Malbas Madness are played with the following ball sizes:

  • Boys U15-U16 play with size 7
  • Girls U13-U16 play with size 6
  • Boys U13-U14 play with size 6
  • Boys and girls U12 play with size 5

SCHEDULE

Malbas Basketball Invitational reserves the right to change the game program both in terms of group division, times and venues.

GAME SUITS

All player suits must be numbered.

The numbering must be on the back of the player's shirt. Two players on the same team may not have the same number on the shirt during the same game.

If two teams have the same suit color, the team that is the away team according to the program will change. In case of mutual agreement, the home team can change color.

Each team must bring 2 different coloured game suits.

GAME TIME

All games in the groupstage are played 4 × 7 minutes.  The break between quarters are 1 min and the halftime break is 3 min.

Each team is entitled to 1 time-out per half (2 periods). Time-outs can not be saved for the next half and is considered used up when the half is finished playing.

During group stage, the referee will keep count of the 24 second rule. During playoffs a 24 second clock will be used.

DEFENSE

All forms of defense are allowed for U15-U16. For U13-U14, zone defense is allowed in the front half of the court. When the ball gets over half court, you have to play man-man defense. In case of violation of this rule, the coach is awarded a technical foul.


GENERAL RULES

1. PROTESTS AND PENALTIES

1.1 Any protests shall be submitted in writing to the respective hall manager no later than 15 minutes after the end of the match, at the same time as a protest fee of 50  EUR  is paid (the fee is refunded if the protest is approved). The protest is being processed by the competition jury, whose verdict cannot be appealed.

1.2 Disqualifications and warnings

  • Disqualified player is automatically suspended for the next match. The suspension applies even if the next match is included in the playoffs. PLEASE NOTE: that it is the TEAM's responsibility that suspended players do NOT play. 
  • The team will automatically be disqualified if a suspended player is allowed to play. The competition jury can also decide on suspension in further game/s in the event of a serious expulsion. 
  • Serious offenses can be reported to the relevant district association in Sweden and regarding foreign laws to the relevant national association.

NOTE! Players who participate in a game when he/she is actually suspended are considered unauthorized and thus the team loses the game by 0-20.

2.  WALKOVER AND INTERRUPTED GAME 

2.1 It is important that all teams are in time for the each game. The team roster has to be filled in and presented to the game secretariat,  no later than 20 minutes before the start of the game.

2.2 Teams that are late will be called for as soon as possible, so it is very important that the correct contact number is registered in the registration for the tournament.

2.3 Teams that have not appeared 15 minutes after the start of the game are considered absent. Teams that are absent from a game will lose the game by 0-20 unless there are special circumstances for them being late.

2.4 In the event of repeated absences, teams can be excluded from the tournament. The competition jury may, however, decide that teams shall be excluded already at the first occurrence if special circumstances exist, e.g. that a deliberate WO benefits one's own team or disadvantages another team in the group.

2.5 For teams that are completely absent from the game, a WO fee of 100  EUR    is paid - this fee is invoiced at the end of the tournament. If there are special reasons that prevent the team from playing, these reasons must be submitted to the competition office, which will make a decision on the matter.

2.6 If a game is interrupted and cannot be finished, the competition jury decides whether the game should be replayed from the start or continued from the time the game was interrupted or whether the result of the game should be determined or if one or both teams lose the game.