Finals Format & Rules

Game Format

• The Finals are played in two 8-minute halves with no scoring limit.
• Regular baskets are worth 2 points and three-pointers are worth 3 points.
• The team with the most points at the end of regulation is crowned that week’s champion.
• The clock will stop on dead balls, fouls, check balls, and out-of-bounds plays.

Starting Possession & Court Selection

• The higher-seeded team may choose either:
  • First possession to start the game, or
  • Which side of the court they want to start on.
• At halftime, teams will switch sides, and the team that did not start the first half with possession will start the second half with the ball.

Overtime & Sudden Death

• If the game is tied after regulation, a 2-minute overtime will be played.
• The higher-seeded team will receive the first possession of overtime.
• If the game remains tied after overtime, the game moves to sudden death, with the first team to score winning the game.
• The team that did not receive the first possession in overtime will receive the ball to start sudden death.

Timeouts

• Each team is allowed one timeout during the Finals.
• Following a timeout, the team with possession will advance the ball to the opposite side of the court and restart play with a check ball.

Coach’s Challenge / Video Review

• Each team is allowed one coach’s challenge per Finals game.
• When a challenge is called, the cameraman will review the available video footage and make the final ruling.
• The cameraman’s decision following a video review is final and cannot be overturned.

Intentional Fouls — Final 60 Seconds

• The intentional foul rule is available during the final 60 seconds when the game is within three possessions.
• To intentionally foul, the defensive player must clearly call “foul” and make contact with/grab the player in possession of the ball.
• Intentionally fouling a player without the ball will not stop the clock.
• The fouled player receives two free throws, with each made free throw counting toward the score.
• There is no rebounding on the free throws. After both attempts, possession is awarded to the opposing team.
• Each team may use the intentional foul rule a maximum of three times during the final 60 seconds.

Disputed Calls — “Shoot For It”

• There will be no designated game manager for the Finals.
• The league’s “Shoot For It” rule applies during the Finals for disputed calls that cannot otherwise be resolved.
• A coach’s challenge may still be used when available in accordance with the video review rules above.

Timeouts/Challenge: Each team will be allowed 1 timeout and 1 coach’s challenege (video review) per finals. After the timeout is called, the team will advance the ball to the other side and checkup the ball. During the coach’s challenge, camera man will review phone footage to determine the call. The final decision is made by the camera man and cannot be overturned by anyone else.  

Close game: If the game is close in the final minute of the Finals (3 possession game or less) an intentional foul rule is in play and can be used. This is to avoid the winning team from dribbling out the clock. To intentionally foul, player must yell out foul and grab the player with the ball (you cannot intentionally foul a player without the ball – this will not stop the clock). The fouled player will be awarded 2 FT’s. Both FT’s are for points. The possession will change to the other team after the free throws. There is no rebounding. Intentional Foul can only be used max 3 times by a team and only in the last 60 seconds of the game. 

The finals will no longer have a game manager. “Shoot for it” rule also applies in the finals.