OFFICIAL RULES

01

Game Format

02

Possession

A coin toss, shoot-for-ball, or other method selected by OTG officials determines the opening possession.

After a made basket, the player or team that scored keeps possession.

The ball must be checked at the top of the court before beginning a new possession following a dead ball.

After a defensive rebound or change of possession, the ball must be cleared beyond the three-point line before an offensive scoring attempt.

In 1v1, the offensive player may use a maximum of four dribbles per possession. A fifth dribble results in a turnover.

In 2v2 and 3v3, dribbling is unlimited.

Failure to properly clear the ball results in no basket and a change of possession.

03

Out of Bounds

Standard basketball boundary rules apply.

A player touching a boundary line while possessing the ball is out of bounds.

The opposing player or team receives possession following an out-of-bounds violation.

04

Violations

Standard basketball violations apply, including:

• Traveling
• Double dribbling
• Carrying or palming
• Out of bounds
• Illegal screens
• Failure to clear the ball
• Offensive interference
• Deliberately delaying the game

In 1v1, exceeding the four-dribble limit is a turnover.

OTG officials have final authority regarding violations.

05

Fouls

Basketball is a physical sport, and reasonable incidental contact is expected. Excessive, reckless, or dangerous contact is not permitted.

Defensive fouls result in the offensive player or team retaining possession unless otherwise specified by the event format.

Shooting fouls do not automatically award points unless OTG is using free throws for that event.

An offensive foul results in a change of possession.

Repeated or intentional fouling may result in a warning, technical foul, possession penalty, point penalty, or disqualification.

Flagrant fouls include unnecessary or excessive contact that could injure another player.

A player committing a serious flagrant foul may be immediately removed from the game.

06

Technical Fouls

Officials may issue technical fouls for the conduct listed below.

• Excessive arguing with officials
• Threatening another player
• Taunting that becomes excessive or personal
• Deliberately disrupting a game
• Unsportsmanlike conduct
• Repeated refusal to follow instructions

Competitive trash talk is allowed. Threats and harassment are not.

Penalties may include a warning, loss of possession, awarded points, or removal from the game.

07

Zero-Tolerance Conduct

OTG has a zero-tolerance policy for violence outside normal basketball play.

• Fighting
• Punching, kicking, or intentionally striking another person
• Attempting to start a fight
• Threatening physical violence
• Entering the court to participate in an altercation
• Possessing or displaying firearms or other weapons
• Knives or dangerous objects intended for use as weapons
• Threatening another person with a weapon
• Intentionally damaging the venue or equipment
• Harassing or threatening players, officials, staff, spectators, or production personnel

A player who throws a punch or intentionally initiates a physical fight is immediately disqualified.

There is no one free punch, warning, or second chance during the game.

Depending on severity, OTG may remove the individual from the venue and suspend or permanently ban them from future OTG events.

When necessary for safety or required by law, venue security or law enforcement may be contacted.

08

Benches & Spectators

Only authorized players, coaches, staff, and production personnel may enter the playing area.

Spectators may cheer, react, and support competitors but may not engage in the conduct listed below.

• Enter the court during play
• Interfere with players
• Touch or threaten competitors
• Throw objects
• Attempt to start or participate in an altercation

OTG reserves the right to remove spectators whose behavior threatens the safety or operation of an event.

09

Injuries

A game may be temporarily stopped for an injured player.

OTG officials determine whether reasonable recovery time will be provided.

If a player cannot safely continue, the game may be ruled a forfeit, postponed, canceled, or otherwise decided by OTG officials depending on the circumstances.

Players should never be pressured to continue competing while injured.

10

Substitutions

1v1: No substitutions.

2v2: No substitutions unless approved by OTG before the game or required because of exceptional circumstances.

3v3: Substitution rules will be announced before competition if substitute players are permitted.

A player may not secretly substitute another person into a game.

11

Officials

OTG officials have authority over all official competition.

• Make and reverse calls when appropriate
• Stop play
• Issue warnings
• Assess technical or flagrant fouls
• Remove players or spectators
• Correct the score
• Review available video
• Declare a forfeit
• End a game when safety is at risk

Players may respectfully ask about a call. Continued arguing after an official has made a final ruling may result in a technical foul.

The final ruling of the designated OTG head official is final.

12

Forfeits

A player or team may forfeit for the conduct listed below.

• Refusing to continue playing
• Leaving the court without authorization
• Fighting
• Serious misconduct
• Repeated refusal to follow officials
• Using an ineligible player
• Intentionally attempting to compromise the competition

The opposing player or team may be declared the winner regardless of the score when the game ended.

13

Sportsmanship

OTG encourages intensity, emotion, celebrations, competition, and basketball trash talk.

But when the game ends, the competition ends.

• Opponents
• Officials
• Staff
• The venue
• Production personnel
• Spectators
• The game itself

You don’t have to like your opponent. You do have to compete safely.

14

Player Safety

Players are responsible for arriving prepared to compete and wearing appropriate basketball footwear and equipment.

Jewelry or other items that could reasonably injure another player may be required to be removed.

No player may intentionally create a dangerous situation for another competitor.

OTG may stop any game immediately when continuing would create an unreasonable safety risk.

15

Alcohol & Drugs

Players may not compete while visibly impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Illegal drugs are prohibited at OTG events.

OTG may remove a competitor when officials reasonably believe that the person’s condition makes participation unsafe.

16

Recording & Content

Official OTG games may be photographed, livestreamed, recorded, edited, and published across OTG platforms.

Players participating in filmed events must complete any required participation and media-release documentation before competing.

Official game footage, scores, statistics, and results may be used for OTG programming, rankings, promotional material, social media, and other content.

17

Rankings & Official Records

Only games designated by OTG as Official Matches count toward a player’s official OTG record and rankings.

Results may include wins, losses, points, opponent, game type, date, and streak.

Exhibition games do not affect official records unless announced otherwise before the game.

18

Final Authority

Situations may occur that are not specifically covered by these rules.

OTG officials may make reasonable rulings necessary to preserve safety, fairness, competitive integrity, and sportsmanship.

Participation in an OTG competition constitutes agreement to follow the official rules, instructions of OTG officials, and OTG Code of Conduct.