HOW THE CIRCUIT PLAYS

TOURNAMENT RULES

Effective August 13, 2026

Format

• Each team receives two Friday seeding games.
• Friday results determine Saturday's single-elimination bracket seed.
• Games use an ELAM +8 ending at the designated stoppage.
• Live hockey-style substitutions are permitted through the designated substitution area when officials allow entry.

Rosters

Teams are limited to a maximum of 10 players. Every player must appear on the submitted roster and complete the required waiver before playing. Players may not appear for multiple teams in the same tournament without written approval.

Eligibility and identification

Events are intended for adult participants. Staff may require identification and may rule on eligibility, roster conflicts, or misrepresentation.

Conduct

Players, captains, coaches, and spectators must treat officials, venue staff, opponents, and other guests respectfully. Fighting, threats, discriminatory abuse, deliberate dangerous conduct, and repeated unsportsmanlike behavior may result in immediate removal or team disqualification.

Officials and corrections

Officials control gameplay. Tournament staff control administrative matters, standings, seeding, scheduling, and bracket corrections. Scoring or data-entry errors may be corrected when supported by official records.

Forfeits and timeliness

Teams must be ready at the assigned court and time. Tournament staff may assess a delay penalty or forfeit when a team cannot field an eligible lineup within the announced grace period.

Tiebreakers

Unless an event announcement states otherwise, pool-play ties are resolved by head-to-head result when applicable, then point differential subject to any published cap, points allowed, and finally a tournament-administered draw.

Final authority

The Hardwood Circuit LLC may interpret these rules and make reasonable event-specific adjustments for safety, fairness, scheduling, and facility requirements.

Questions may be directed to info@thehardwoodcircuit.com.