The home team must wear light colored uniform tops and the away team must wear dark colored uniform tops.
Game officials have the authority to eject players and coaches for poor sportsmanship at their discretion. All ejections are reviewed by the referee assignor and tournament director(s).
Coaches are responsible for controlling team spectators and fans. Referees and tournament officials have the authority to ask a player or fan to leave for unsportsmanlike conduct. Teams can receive technical fouls for the actions of their coaches, players and spectators for any distractions ruled as unsportsmanlike conduct by the tournament staff.
If a coach, player, or spectator is ejected from the game, he or she may be suspended for the next game during tournament play at the tournament director’s discretion. The suspended coach, player or spectator may not be allowed on the property for the game in which they are suspended if the tournament director feels it is necessary. An ejected coach, player, or spectator must leave the vicinity of the playing court and must be out of earshot and out of sight of the officiating staff.
Any tournament participant (player, coach, fan, or referee) that has a physical interaction with another player, fan, coach, or referee will be suspended for not only that weekend’s event, but also indefinitely. A return to the facility is at the discretion of the Breakthrough Circuit tournament staff. Fighting will not be tolerated at Breakthrough Circuit events.
Breakthrough Circuit does not condone the use of racial slurs from players, parents, or coaches. Use of racial slurs is grounds for ejection from the event.
For any game that results in a forfeit, the score will be 15 – 0. The winning team receives a +15 and the losing team receives a -15.
All other rules, not specifically mentioned herein, will be in accordance with CIF “Southern Section” high school basketball rules.
Breakthrough Circuit Game Rules
All games will consist of two 20-minute halves.
All games will be running clock unless game is within 10 points or fewer in the final two minutes of the game in which a stop clock will be used.
Teams will be in single bonus at seven (7) team fouls and will shoot one-and-one at 7 fouls. When a team reaches ten (10) team fouls for the half, the other team will shoot double bonus.
Each team receives three full timeouts per game and one additional timeout per overtime. Unused timeouts do not carry into overtime periods.
Players foul out if they receive six personal fouls.
Each game will have a minimum of five minutes of warm-up time and halftime will be three minutes.
Overtime periods will be two-minute stop clock time. If there is a third overtime period, the game’s result will be decided by sudden death (first team to score would win).
If two players on the same team have duplicate numbers and it is caught by either the referee or the scorekeeper, a technical foul will be assessed. If a player shows up late to a game with a duplicate number, a technical may be assessed then as well. If it is not caught by halftime by any party, it cannot be called in the second half of the game.
Players cannot play on two teams during the same game time slot, regardless of program. Once a player has checked into a game, they cannot leave that game to play for another team.
In all divisions, players may enter the lane when the ball is released out of the shooter’s hand.
The home team is responsible for providing the game ball.
Only one coach is allowed to stand at a time per team and must stay in the designated coaching box.
All boys divisions 6th Grade / 12U and up will use the full size 29.5 regulation basketball. All girls divisions, and boys divisions in 5th Grade and below will use the 28.5 size basketball.
Jewelry including necklaces, rings, and metal bracelets are not permitted. Stud earrings are only permitted if they are properly taped and as long as the official can confirm that they do not pose a risk for harm or injury.
Any team which does not have five players (or their head coach) by the start of the game will be given a grace period of ten (10) minutes before the game starts. After ten (10) minutes, the team may choose to play with four players, utilize an assistant coach or parent to supervise the kids, or Breakthrough Circuit reserves the right to enforce a forfeit.
In divisions 11U/5th Grade and younger, teams that have a lead of 20 points or more may no longer use a full-court press defense.
Rules that are not listed here will be in accordance with NFHS basketball rules.
Certification Rules
Players are not allowed to play for multiple teams at the same grade/age level, regardless of whether they are playing in different divisions (Gold, Silver, Bronze, etc). Players may play for multiple teams only if they are not in the same grade/age level.
Example: If a 7th Grade/13U player is on a “Gold” division team, she may not play for a 7th Grade/13U “Silver” division team. She may, however, play for an 8th Grade/14U team in any division.
If a player plays for two teams from different programs in the same division, the first team they play with will be their primary team. When caught, the secondary team will forfeit any future games in which the player in question plays.
If a player plays for two teams from the same program in the same division, the first team that they play for is considered their primary team and the secondary team will forfeit any games in which the player in question plays.
All teams must be certified thirty minutes prior to their first game at the designated team check-in.
All players must be on the roster at the team certification before their first game. Any player not listed on the team roster will not be eligible to play in the playoff/bracket round. If a player misses the first day of the event, she may still play the next day if they are listed on the certified roster sheet.
Youth teams (8U/2nd Grade through 14U/8th Grade) must abide by the 2024-2025 age/grade based guidelines (see our “Certification Age Birthdates” document for reference). Teams will be allowed to have three (3) grade exceptions per team. For the correct definition of a grade-exception, please also see our “Certification Birthdates” document. High school players are not allowed to participate in the 14U/8th Grade division, regardless of whether they make the age cutoff or not
Players who are born in the correct birth date range for a division but are in an advanced grade, are still eligible to play in that particular division. Ex. If a player hoping to play 10U/4th grade is in 5th grade, but was born on 8/15/2014 or later, they can still play in that division. Players who qualify age-wise are eligible for their respective division they qualify for.
“Reclassifying,” or being held back a grade, does not go into effect until August 15. For instance, players who just finished 7th grade and plan on repeating CANNOT play in 6th grade during the summer months.
High school divisions will be “Frosh/Soph,” “Junior Varsity,” and “Varsity.” Juniors and Seniors may NOT play Frosh/Soph, and Seniors may NOT play Junior Varsity.
Per CIF Rules, “A student whose 19th birthday is attained prior to June 15 of the prior school year shall not participate or practice on any team in the following year. A student whose 19th birthday is on or before June 14 is ineligible.” Junior college players are not allowed to participate in Breakthrough Circuit events.
If a team does not follow the certification process they may be removed without a refund.
An opposing coach can submit a challenge of a player’s grade or age exception with a $100.00 deposit. Parents or fans associated with a team may not protest. The protest must come from the head coach or the one assistant coach who is allowed on the bench per team. A protest of a player’s age or grade must be submitted before the game starts, or within 30 minutes of the game’s completion.
Certification Age Breakdown
All divisions are age-based with three (3) grade exceptions allowed per team.
Example – A player playing 13U/7th grade who shows proof that they are currently in 7th grade regardless of their birthdate is eligible to play.
However, birthdate is still relevant. For example, please note that a player who is in 8th grade could still conceivably play 13U/7th Grade division if he fits into the correct age range. Players who are born in the correct birth date range for a division but are in an advanced grade, are still eligible to play in that particular division.
See the ranges below for age exceptions:
8U / 2nd Grade
An athlete can be no older than 8 on August 14, 2025
Birthday Range: August 15, 2016 – Present
If a player was born before 8/15/2016 BUT is in the 2nd grade, that player is eligible for 8U as an exception
9U / 3rd Grade
An athlete can be no older than 9 on August 14, 2025
Birthday Range: August 15, 2015 – Present
If a player was born before 8/15/2015 BUT is in the 3rd grade, that player is eligible for 9U as an exception
10U / 4th Grade
An athlete can be no older than 10 on August 14, 2025
Birthday Range: August 15, 2014 – Present
If a player was born before 8/15/2014 BUT is in the 4th grade, that player is eligible for 10U as an exception
11U / 5th Grade
An athlete can be no older than 11 on August 14, 2025
Birthday Range: August 15, 2013 – Present
If a player was born before 8/15/2013 BUT is in the 5th grade, that player is eligible for 11U as an exception
12U / 6th Grade
An athlete can be no older than 12 on August 14, 2025
Birthday Range: August 15, 2012 – Present
If a player was born before 8/15/2012 BUT is in the 6th grade, that player is eligible for 12U as an exception
13U / 7th Grade
An athlete can be no older than 13 on August 31, 2024
Birthday Range: August 15, 2010 – Present
If a player was born before 8/15/2010 BUT is in the 7th grade, that player is eligible for 13U as an exception
14U / 8th Grade
An athlete can be no older than 14 on August 14, 2024
Birthday Range: August 15, 2010 – Present
If a player was born before 8/15/2010 BUT is in the 8th grade, that player is eligible for 14U as an exception
Additional Note:
All rosters must be completed via the Passport prior to the first game. If the roster for your team is not completed by the first game, the first game for your team will be a forfeit.
