ELIGIBILITY

1. Players must be residents of NC or a state that borders NC.
2. Teams may have a maximum of three cross-boundary (out-of-state) athletes.
3. All teams must have an AAU club membership (register at aausports.org).
4. All players and coaches must have individual AAU memberships (register at aausports.org).
5. Players who live in one state and go to school in another, can choose to designate the school state as their state of residence.
6. Players can play in three age divisions for which they qualify, but they must play with teams from the same club.
7. A player becomes “attached” to a club when he plays in a sanctioned AAU event for a team in that club.
8. After a player becomes attached, he cannot switch clubs until; a) he sits out 60 days or b) if his team has not qualified for nationals, and the state championships have occurred, he can be “picked up” by a team that has qualified for nationals.
9. Players must be male.
10. Competition shall be conducted in the following grade divisions:
    

    12th Grade Division
    i.	An athlete must be in the 12th grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 20 prior to September 1, 2012.
    11th Grade Division
    ii.	An athlete must be in the 11th grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 19 prior to September 1, 2012.
    10th Grade Division
    iii.	An athlete must be in the 10th grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 18 prior to September 1, 2012.
    9th Grade Division
    iv.	An athlete must be in the 9th grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 17 prior to September 1, 2012.
    8th Grade Division
    v.	An athlete must be in the 8th grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 16 prior to September 1, 2012.
    7th Grade Division
    vi.	An athlete must be in the 7th grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 15 prior to September 1, 2012.
    6th Grade Division
    vii.	An athlete must be in the 6th grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 14 prior to September 1, 2012.
    5th Grade Division
    viii.	An athlete must be in the 5th grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 13 prior to September 1, 2012.
    4th Grade Division
    ix.	An athlete must be in the 4th grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 12 prior to September 1, 2012.
    3rd Grade Division
    x.	An athlete must be in the 3rd grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 11 prior to September 1, 2012.
    2nd Grade Division
    xi.	An athlete must be in the 2nd grade as of October 1, 2011 and cannot turn 10 prior to September 1, 2012.
    	If an athlete wishes to play down one grade division, he must petition the National Chair and must meet all criteria established.
    	Questions regarding eligibility may be directed to the National Office by calling 407-934-7200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

    
    Cannot participate after the summer following high school graduation.

Practice Limitations/Quiet Period

1. Quiet Period – For the 9th Grade through Senior divisions of NCAAU Basketball; a quiet period applies as follows:
    a.  9th grade, 10th grade, Junior and Senior: November 1st until March 3rd 2012.
    b.  During the quiet period, no AAU club, team, coach or representative may conduct any practice, try-out, game, open gym, or workout; or any on court activity.
2. AAU Leagues – Clubs may conduct or participate in sanctioned AAU leagues in any age division during the quiet period subject to the restrictions in Paragraph 3..
3. High School Players – Clubs, teams, coaches or their representatives shall not permit any athlete who is a member of a High School Varsity or Jr. Varsity team to participate in any try-out, practice, scrimmage game, open gym workout, either during after the quiet period, till such time as his school team season has ended. (players who's sessions end before March 3rd may never the less not participate until March 3rd)

1. Except where modified by these rules, the official playing rules of the AAU/USA Boys Basketball are the same as the National High School Rules for the boy’s concurrent season in all divisions through Jr. Boys. The Sr. Boys division will play NCAA Rules, without a shot clock.
2. Undersized basketball will be used for 8 & Under, 9 & Under 10 & Under, 11 & Under, and 12 & Under divisions. (Circumference shall be 28 1/2”.)
3. A team may have on its bench ONLY the eligible players listed on the official roster, plus 4 non-players (coaches, ball boy, trainer, etc.) listed on the official roster form. Violation of this rule shall result in a two-shot technical foul, assessed to the head coach.
4. A maximum of 15 players are allowed on an official roster (Also see Rule III-D.)
   Playing time:
   
   2nd grade 6 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
   3rd grade 6 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
   4th grade 7 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
   5th grade 7 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
   6th grade 7 Minute Quarters 3 Minute Overtime
   7th grade 8 Minute Quarters 4 Minute Overtime
   8th grade 8 Minute Quarters 4 Minute Overtime
   9th grade 8 Minute Quarters 4 Minute Overtime
   10th grade 8 Minute Quarters 4 Minute Overtime
   Junior Boys' 8 Minute Quarters 4 Minute Overtime
   Senior Boys' 8 Minute Quarters 4 Minute Overtime
5. ALL National Championship and North Carolina AAU Boys events shall have a mandatory minimum warm-up and half time of eight (8) minutes.

1. In order to enter a team into NCAAU Boys Basketball Championships, a team must submit the entry fee and entry form online via our website prior to the entry deadline.
2. Rosters must be complete. Late or incomplete rosters can be rejected. 
   
   

1. Protests: Protests will be considered according to the procedures set forth by the District Basketball Director. A cash fee of $100(non refundable, unless protest is upheld) must be presented to the Tournament Director and protest made in writing within 2 hours following the completed game. The protest committee will make the final decision.
2. Tournament Format and Scheduling: District tournaments will be conducted under the pool play format, with pool qualifiers advancing to a single elimination draw with a consolation bracket. Both Division I and Division II.
3. Infraction Committee: An Infraction Committee appointed by the Boys Basketball District Director will be established to rule on player and team eligibility for NCAAU tournaments. Decisions of the Eligibility Committee are final.
4. Conduct: Teams, coaches, players, and organizations are subject to sanctions imposed by the District Director for misconduct. Sanctions may be appealed to the NCAAU Review Committee and may include fines, suspension, forfeiture, probation, or other appropriate action. Misconduct includes but is not limited to fighting, destruction of property, intoxication, or commission of a crime during any AAU competition. Sanctions may be imposed for failure to comply with these rules or the AAU code. Coaches are expected to comply with the National Committee statement of coach’s ethics, which is printed in the bulletin.
5. Uniforms: All teams must wear jerseys with numbers on front and back. Numbers can be double zero (00) to ninety-nine (99). In the event that two teams have jerseys of the same color, which would, in the opinion of the tournament director, cause confusion of players or officials, the tournament director shall direct the visiting team to use their other jerseys or “pennies” provided by the tournament host. Only eligible roster players can wear uniforms on the bench. Minimum size of numbers shall be 2” on the front and 4” on the back. Violation of this rule shall be penalized by a two (2) shot technical foul prior to the start of the game assessed to the coach.
6. Forfeits: Forfeits disrupt a tournament, and cause ill feelings among tournament sponsors, players, coaches, and fans. Teams, which enter a sanctioned AAU event, are expected to compete in all scheduled games. This rule applies to North Carolina teams, which compete in the District Championships, Inter-Association Competitors, or AAU National Championship Tournaments. In the event that a North Carolina team forfeits a game in any sanctioned AAU event, the basketball District Director may require the forfeiting club to post a performance bond of $200.00 with the NCAAU prior to any further competition by that club in any NCAAU event. A forfeit is a violation of these rules that will subject the club and the coach to sanctions including probation, suspension, fines, expulsion, or other appropriate action as dictated by the circumstances of the forfeit. Any sanction imposed by the basketball chairman under this rule is subject to appeal to the Review Committee.
7. Home Team: The home team will sit on the bench to the scorekeeper’s left, and will warm up at the opposite goal. The home team shall be the team listed at the left or top of the schedule bracket.
8. Amateurism. Neither athletes, players, coaches, volunteers, nor supporters shall violate the amateur status of competitors. The athlete shall not directly or indirectly receive pay or financial benefits in consideration of or as a reward for participating in athletic competition. Teams may not provide shoes, articles of clothing, or non-medical equipment unless like items are provided to all members of the team.
9. Each team must report to the game site 45 minutes before its first game. Game times are the scheduled starting times, except when the Tournament director approves the change.
10. The Tournament Director will provide a place for sign-in, and will supervise the sign-in. No player may participate until he has signed in. If a player plays without signing in, his team will forfeit that game and be expelled from the Tournament.
11. Schedule. Playing schedules will be completed 72 hours after the entry deadline, and schedules will be posted on the website.
12. All roster information must be accurate! Falsifying information is a violation of these rules that could result in loss of eligibility.
13. Player Ejections: Players ejected from a game for fighting shall be suspended for the following game per the National Federation or State High School Association rule. (Players ejected for non-fighting penalties do not have to serve suspension)

1. Mission
   The purposes of the AAU Boys’ Basketball Program are to initiate, stimulate, and improve opportunities for amateur boys’ basketball competition, and to promote and develop leadership, sportsmanship, physical fitness, educational opportunities, and athletic excellence.
2. Sportsmanship
   It is the obligation of coaches, players, administrators, volunteers, and other representatives of the AAU to practice the highest principals of sportsmanship and to observe the ethics of competition. Good sportsmanship is defined as qualities of behavior, which are characterized, by courtesy and genuine concern for others. The display of good sportsmanship is a statement of the individual’s understanding of and commitment to fair play, ethical behavior, and integrity.
3. Amateurism
   Neither athletes, players, coaches, volunteers, nor supporters shall violate the amateur status of competitors. The athlete shall not directly or indirectly receive pay or financial benefits in consideration of or as a reward for participating in athletic competition. Clubs/Teams shall not provide shoes, articles of clothing, or non-medical equipment unless like items are provided to all members of the team.
4. High School Athletics
   Participation in high school basketball is important to the social and athletic development of the AAU athlete. The AAU recognizes the influential role played by the athlete’s high school coach and team. Accordingly, the AAU pledges its support of high school athletics. In keeping with that support, the following policies are appropriate:
   1. The AAU Boys’ Basketball Committee will not approve Inter-Association competition for athletes older than age twelve (12) between the dates of August 15 and March 15.
   2. SEE SECTION I:A:E
   3. AAU coaches and high school coaches should maintain open communications for the benefit of the athlete.
5. College Recruiting
   1. Many athletes participating in the AAU Boys’ Basketball Program are recruited to play college basketball. One element of the AAU program is to provide high school-age players with the opportunity for advanced competition and wider exposure of their skills. The recruitment of an athlete can be a desirable result of those competitive opportunities. It is important for coaches and volunteers to observe the following points relative to the recruitment of the athlete: Always remember that the athlete is being recruited, not the coach.
   2. The desired result of the recruiting process is that the athlete attends the college most likely to meet his educational, social, and athletic needs. A favorable reflection upon the Club, school, or coach is not an appropriate criterion for college selection.
   3. The athlete should choose his college with the advice and assistance of his family. The coach need not be involved in the selection process unless the family requests his assistance.
   4. The AAU coach or volunteer may not accept or solicit compensation from any source as payment for his involvement in the college recruiting process. It is unethical for a coach or volunteer to attempt to “deliver” a player to a particular college/university.
   5. A player should be aware of all the educational options available to him. Therefore, the coach/volunteer should not restrict any college from participating in the recruiting process, unless the athlete or his parents have specifically requested that such limitations be observed.
6. Athletics and Education
   Athletic competition is good unto itself, and opportunities for participation need not be restricted to individuals representing academic or scholastic institutions. However, the AAU recognizes that athletics can be a powerful tool for shaping the educational development of young people, and for the enhancement of educational opportunities for its participants.
   
   AAU Organizations should consider the academic well being of its athletes, and ensure that participation in AAU activities does not adversely affect their academic progress. The AAU Club shall cooperate with the athlete and his parents to strike an appropriate balance among academic, social, and athletic activities.
7. Coaches’ Ethics
   The coach must be aware that he can be either a positive or a negative influence upon the development of the athlete. In all of his personal contacts with athletes, officials, parents, the media, and the public, the coach shall strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct. In keeping with that goal, all AAU coaches should observe the following ethical guidelines:
   
   
   1. The coach shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest desirable ideals of character.
   2. The coach must always consider the personal safety of the athlete.
   3. The coach should be thoroughly acquainted with the rules and regulations of competition, and shall be responsible for their interpretation to team members. The coach shall not try to seek an advantage by circumventing the spirit or letter of the rules.
   4. Game officials shall have the respect and support of the coach. The coach shall not indulge in conduct, which will incite the players or spectators against the officials. Public criticism of the officials or players is unethical.
   5. The coach shall respect his opponents, display gracious behavior during competition, and require his players to conduct themselves in similar fashion. Before and after the contest, rival coaches should meet and exchange friendly greetings to set the correct tone for the event.
   6. Coaches shall actively use influence to enhance sportsmanship by spectators.
   7. The coach shall take an active role in the prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse, and shall, under no circumstance, authorize their use.
   8. The coach must recognize the importance of the athlete’s academic development and promote the proper balance between athletic and academic activities.