GUIDELINES
I. OBJECTIVE
Through the establishment of a statewide basketball tournament, promote worship through recreation in a Christian atmosphere for the Youth of all the churches and charges of The South Carolina United Methodist Conference, large or small, rural or urban, involving youth and adults in a spirit of Christian Sportsmanship.
II. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
A. The conference is divided into four (4) areas as follows:
Area I Churches/charges: Columbia, Rock Hill and Greenwood Districts
Area II Churches/charges: Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg Districts
Area III Churches/charges: Florence, Marion and Hartsville Districts
Area IV Churches/charges: Charleston, Orangeburg and Walterboro Districts
B. Conference Committees:
1. The UM State Basketball Tournament Design Team will meet as necessary to plan and
coordinate the South Carolina United Methodist Basketball Tournament.
2. The Coordinator for the Conference Basketball Tournament shall be appointed by the Conference Council
or Youth Coordinator and The Chairman of the Conference Council on Ministries. This person may serve
as chairperson of the Steering Committee or the Steering Committee may elect a chairperson or co-
chairpersons.
3. There will be four (4) divisions for tournament play: (1) Senior High Boys (2) Senior High Girls
(3) Junior High Boys (4) Junior High Girls.
D. Tournament Dates
1. The Conference office on Connectional Ministries shall determine the dates and deadlines for each
Tournament. The dates are currently the fourth weekend of January.
E. Conference Tournament
1. The Conference Tournament shall be played on a rotating basis taking place in each area once every four
years if possible.
2. The State Basketball Tournament Design Team may determine the site(s) of the tournament games.
3. Each team will play games on Friday and Saturday using a pool play format. Pool champions will play
semifinals on Saturday evening and the championship game will be played on Sunday afternoon.
F. Entry Forms
1. Entry forms shall be developed by the conference and posted online to be filled out online and processed by the conference office.
2. Entry forms and fees shall be received by the conference by the published dates.
G. Accidents
1. Accidents, injury or loss of clothing or personal articles shall not be the responsibility of the conference
Tournament Coordinator or the State Basketball Tournament Design Team members.
2. Churches are encouraged to provide accident insurance coverage for their teams.
3. Any person(s) causing damage to gyms or locker rooms during tournament play shall be responsible to
pay repair costs.
H. Finances
1. Each team playing in the tournament will pay an entry fee in the amount stated in the communication to
the pastor and listed on the entry form.
2. If any church has need for help with funding, the conference office on Connectional Ministries must be
contacted.
3. There will be a donation or gate fees taken once each day to the tournament from everyone except
coaches, players, and game officials.
4. The amount of the donation shall be determined by the Conference Committee for the tournament.
III. TOURNAMENT RULES
A. Church Eligibility
1. Any United Methodist Church or Charge in South Carolina may enter one or more teams in the tournament.
2. Any United Methodist Church or Charge may combine with other United Methodist Church or Charge for
the purpose of fielding a team if any of the churches or charges is unable to field a team individually.
3. Any institution in South Carolina owned or sponsored by the United Methodist Church, may petition for
approval to the Conference Tournament Committee to enter a team or teams in the South Carolina United
Methodist Basketball Tournament, provided team members comply with "Player Eligibility" and age
requirements.
B. Player Eligibility
1. All players must be active participants in the worship service, the church school, or the United Methodist
Youth Fellowship (UMYF). Active is defined as 50% of any one activity. An active participant does not
qualify simply by being involved in the recreational aspects of the youth fellowship, such as a basketball
team or scout troop.
2. A player's participation should calculate from October 15th 2015 to January 6th, 2016.
3. Once a roster is submitted, no other players maybe be added to the roster.
4. The minister and administrator's and coach's signatures on the official entry form certify that these
standards are being met.
5. No player shall be eligible for state tournament play if he/she has participated in interscholastic or other
organized school basketball leagues during the current year.
6. If a team plays an illegal player, there will be immediate disqualification of games played.
7. Age requirement shall be as follows:
a. Any junior division participant shall not have reached age 15 before Sept. 1 of the current year
and must be enrolled in school.
b. Any senior division participant shall not have reached age 19 before Sept. 1 of the current year
and must be enrolled in a secondary school program prior to Sept. 1.
c. Co-ed teams are not allowed.
8. Appeals can be made turned in to Chris Conley. Appeals will be heard by the UM State Tournament
Design team
9. All players will be required to supply proof of identity and birth date at the tournament. ID's will be
checked before they can play. A driver's license will suffice and, for Junior Highs, a school photo
ID and a birth certificate will be accepted.
C. Miscellaneous
1. A team must have a minimum of six (6) eligible players in order to enter the tournament. There is no
maximum numbers of players a team may have.
2. Uniforms are not required. However, matching shirts with numbers are required.
3. A team that is ahead by 20 or more points shall not be allowed to use a full court-pressing defense. One
warning shall be given before the referee assesses a technical foul.
4. Officials in both area and conference tournament games will be sanctioned officials of the South Carolina
High School League or the South Carolina Independent School Association.
5. Teams should check in 15 minutes prior to game time to insure games run on schedule. A technical foul
may be assessed at the discretion of tournament officials for failing to check in on time.
6. AWARDS - Identical awards will be given in all four divisions.
7. No housing will be provided for the conference tournaments. Each team is responsible for making their
own arrangements for overnight stay.
8. Each team shall have a mature and responsible adult coach of at least 21 years of age and must be in compliance with that home United Methodist Church Safe Sanctuary policy It is suggested that each
team have at least two adults on the bench during all games. There should be at least one adult controlling the bench and players in case of injury.
9. If a game must be forfeited, the Coordinator is to be notified as far in advance as possible.
10. Failure of a team to appear without justifiable cause in the conference tournament will result in the team
being disqualified from the South Carolina United Methodist Basketball Tournament for one year.
11. During the Tournament, the State Basketball Tournament Design Team has the right to interpret the
Guidelines and make a ruling regarding a decision in that tournament.
12. A coach shall be allowed to serve on a State Basketball Tournament Design Team provided he/she not vote in any protest involving a team in his own team's division.
13. Referees have all final decisions on in game disputes. After game appeals can be placed in writing to the
State Basketball Tournament Design Team and handed in by the on-site gym coordinator.
14. In the case of extreme unsportsmanlike conduct or illegal use of players, the State Basketball
Tournament Design Team may recommend that a team be disqualified from participation in the
tournament for one year.
15. The State Basketball Tournament Design Team has the authority to stop a game after a warning has
been given for flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct. The offending team or church will be disqualified for the remainder of the tournament.
lV. Worship Activities
All Players, coaches, committee members and support persons are expected to attend all the Worship activities. Each Church has the responsibility to involve everyone associated with the tournament in the blending of play and worship. The worship activities are the focal point of the weekend.
1. There will be a Saturday morning communion service for all coaches and players.
2. There will be a Sunday morning worship service for all coaches, players, parents and other youth.
UPDATED 09/23/2015