Official Regulations

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

All clubs that are members of a national association recognized by FIBA are eligible to participate in the Bordeaux Ocean Cup.
In countries where basketball is practiced within school institutions, teams affiliated with their national school sports federations are also allowed to take part.

All players must be insured for basketball activity, and all delegation members (players and staff) must have liability insurance coverage.

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TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS

The tournament is played according to FIBA and French Basketball Federation (FFBB) rules.
All games are officiated by certified referees from various countries.

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CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

To meet the participation requirements, each player must present a valid FFBB license for the current season.
If no license can be presented, the player must provide:

• A valid medical certificate authorizing basketball practice (issued within the last 18 months),

• An official ID document,

• And for minors, a parental authorization (or a visa for non-EU countries).

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PLAYER CHECKS AND EXCEPTIONS

Before the first match, the organizer will conduct a visual age check and issue each participant a colored wristband corresponding to their category.
Before every game, the main referee will verify the wristband colors of both teams.

Teams must fill out and sign the match sheet before and after each game.
A “protest” section will be available at the scorer’s table for any complaint made before, during, or after a match.

No age exemption is permitted except by an extraordinary decision of the organizing committee.
Any player without a wristband, or refusing to comply with identity or equipment checks, will not be allowed to enter the court.

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EQUIPMENT

Teams must play their official matches in the registered club colors listed on the Bordeaux Ocean Cup official website.
Players must wear identical uniforms: jerseys, shorts, and socks.
Numbers must match those listed on the match sheet.

If a player is not wearing the same colors as the rest of their team, they will not be allowed to play.
If both teams wear similar colors or risk confusion, the first-named team on the schedule must change jerseys.

This rule, essential for player safety, cannot result in a match forfeiture if violated, even following a formal protest.

Substitute players must wear bibs of a different color from the jerseys of the starting players.

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TIEBREAKERS IN GROUP STAGE

If two or more teams finish with the same number of points at the end of the group stage, the following criteria will apply, in order:

1. If an equal number of games have been played, the team with the higher total points ranks higher.

2. Points ratio (points scored / points conceded).

3. Highest number of points scored in all group matches.

4. Fewest player ejections in all group matches.

5. Winner of a free-throw shootout between one player from each team (sudden-death format).

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TIES AT THE END OF REGULATION TIME – KNOCKOUT STAGE

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During the Final Phase, matches are played as single elimination.
If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the following overtime durations apply:

• U11 & WU11: 2 minutes

• U13, WU13, U15, WU15: 3 minutes

• U17 & WU17: 5 minutes

If the tie remains after overtime, the game will be decided by a sudden-death free-throw shootout:
One player from each team will take a free throw. The first to miss results in their team’s elimination.
Only players who have not been disqualified may participate in the shootout.

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GAME TIME

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GROUP STAGE & FINAL STAGE

• U11 & WU11: 4 × 6 minutes

• U13 & WU13: 4 × 8 minutes

• U15, U17, U20, WU15, WU18 & WU20: 4 × 10 minutes

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MINI BASKETBALL REGULATIONS

The U11 and WU11 categories play 5-a-side basketball on half courts with maximum dimensions of 28 m × 15 m.
Rules follow FFBB mini-basket regulations with the following exceptions:

• Free-throw line: located 5.80 m from the baseline (or 4.60 m from the backboard projection).

• Ball size: Size 5.

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ABSENCE OF A TEAM AT KICK-OFF

If one team fails to appear at the scheduled tip-off time, the present team wins by forfeit.
If both teams are absent, both lose the game.

A penalized team may appeal to the tournament’s rules and regulations committee by contacting:
📧 direction@worldgamesevents.com

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NUMBER OF PLAYERS PER TEAM

There is no limit to the number of registered players per team.
However, only 7 substitutes may take part in a match.
Each player must be able to prove their age and identity.
It is recommended that players keep the same jersey number throughout the tournament.

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NUMBER OF MATCHES AND DATES

Each team will play a minimum of four (4) matches.

• Win = 2 points

• Loss = 1 point

• Penalty = 0 point

The top two teams in each group advance to Tournament A.
Teams ranked below 2nd place play in Tournament B.

All matches in the Final Phase are single elimination.

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NUMBER OF TEAMS IN THE TOURNAMENT

The Bordeaux Ocean Cup cannot accept all registration requests.
The organization reserves the right to refuse certain teams.
Priority is given to teams that complete their registration and payment first.

A club may register a maximum of two teams per category, except in exceptional cases authorized by the organizing committee.

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EXEMPTIONS

No age exemptions are allowed, except by extraordinary decision of the organizing committee.

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PROTESTS

All protests must be submitted in writing.
Objections regarding player eligibility must be made before tip-off or before the player in question enters the court.
Technical protests must be filed in writing at the next stoppage of play after the disputed situation and before play resumes.

A disciplinary committee will review all cases.
A rules and regulations committee will handle formal appeals and is the only body authorized to decide match postponements.

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SANCTIONS

The disciplinary committee may impose sanctions based on reports from referees or clubs.
It is automatically convened following referee reports and can also be contacted by clubs at:
📧 direction@worldgamesevents.com

Yellow cards are cleared after each match.

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DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

The disciplinary committee is composed of representatives from the players, referees, volunteers, coaches, and one member of the organization.
It rules in first and final instance, except in cases of tournament exclusion (or suspensions longer than two games).
For exclusion cases, an appeal may be submitted to the tournament’s executive committee via:
📧 direction@worldgamesevents.com

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AWARDS

Each player receives a souvenir reward.
Winning teams receive the Bordeaux Ocean Cup Trophy (Gold Medal).
Finalists and semi-finalists receive Silver and Bronze medals respectively.