Tournament Rules & Guidelines

Everything teams, coaches, and fans need in one place: eligibility, match operations, discipline, and the New Rules used in knockout play.

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Published 2026-04-15 · Last updated 2026-04-29 · Author GBT Editorial Desk

Quick answers

Best-of-3, Tie-Breaker, and Powerplay New Rules at a glance Rules of Play and Match Operations

Dedicated new rules

Best-of-3, Tie-Breaker, and Powerplay

These are the newly introduced competition mechanics for knockout clarity and tactical depth.

Knockout Round Summary (Day 3)

Stage	Time	Window	Status
Semi-finals	45 minutes	3 rounds x 15 minutes	1 timeout/round/team (30 sec)
3rd Place Match	45 minutes	3 rounds x 15 minutes	1 timeout/round/team (30 sec)
Grand Finale	45 minutes	3 rounds x 15 minutes	1 timeout/round/team (30 sec)

1) Best-of-3 Applicable Matches

Used only for Day 3 semi-finals, 3rd-place match, and grand finale
Each round is 15 minutes with 4-minute break between rounds
Every round starts at 0-0 with reset state
Team winning 2 of 3 rounds wins the match
If first 2 rounds are won by same team, round 3 is not required
If all 3 rounds end tied, tie-breaker flow is applied

2) Tie-Breaker Rules

Applicable in knockout stage: quarter-finals, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, grand finale
Tied match/final round moves to 6 minutes extra time (3 minutes per half)
If still tied, decider raid sequence starts after fresh toss
Each raider must be unique
Defending team fields 7 players
Defenders cannot be changed after defender sheet submission
Raiders/defenders may be selected from mat or bench
A player may be both raider and defender
Baulk and bonus lines remain unchanged during decider raids

3) Powerplay Rule

Powerplay adds +1 extra point on each scoring raid or tackle during active period
Each team can activate powerplay once per match
Powerplay duration: 3 minutes in 30-minute match, 5 minutes in Best-of-3 knockout matches (excluding quarter-finals)
Both teams can have overlapping powerplay windows
Toss-winning team chooses half/round for powerplay; opposition takes opposite half/round
Teams may choose not to use powerplay
During active powerplay, opposition do-or-die cadence shifts to alternate-raid trigger
Powerplay can be called at any time in match, including late phases
If half ends mid-powerplay, remaining powerplay time carries to next half
Team must inform match official before raid starts to activate powerplay
No substitutions allowed during own powerplay except injury-approved replacement
Powerplay points do not send additional player out
If powerplay was active at raid start, point remains valid even if raid ends after timer expiry
Powerplay timer pauses during timeout
Technical points and empty raids do not award powerplay bonus

Quick answers

New Rules at a glance

Fast clarifications designed for players, coaches, and answer engines.

When is Best-of-3 used?

Only in Day 3 semi-finals, 3rd-place match, and the grand finale.

How is a tied knockout resolved?

6-minute extra time, then decider raids if still tied.

Can teams skip powerplay?

Yes. Teams may choose not to use powerplay in a match.

Do timeouts pause clocks?

Yes. Match clock and powerplay timer pause during timeouts.

Core tournament rules

Rules of Play and Match Operations

Primary gameplay, match administration, disciplinary, and table rules.

Key Rules of Play

Toss winner chooses raid or court/half
Sides are changed in second half
Second half starts with team that defended first raid in first half
Last raid of each half is completed even if scheduled time has ended
Crossing boundary means player is out, as called by line umpire
Raider must cross baulk line at least once during empty raid or is declared out
Only one raider can enter opponent half at a time
Opponent raid must start within 5 seconds after previous raid ends
Raid duration cap applies at 30 seconds including do-or-die context
Coaching/instruction during live raid can attract warning card
Revivals occur in same order as players were put out

Match Rules

Minimum 2 players must be present at reporting time
Final team list must be submitted 90 minutes before scheduled match
League-stage match duration: 30 minutes
Knockout-stage match duration: 40 minutes (except Best-of-3 format matches)
If both teams fail to report, match is cancelled and both receive 0 points
If a team fields fewer than 10 players, match is abandoned and opposition gets 3 points
League ties award 1 point to each team

Timeout and Substitutions

Each team gets one 30-second timeout per half
Match clock pauses during timeout
Players cannot leave their half during timeout
5 substitutions allowed through coin system during match
Medical substitution follows coin rules unless coins are exhausted
Half-time substitutions are allowed without coins

Card Rules

Green card: warning
Yellow card: 2-minute suspension, no technical point to opponent
Second yellow for same player in same match becomes red card
Red card: player ineligible for current and next match
Second red card in tournament disqualifies player/coach from remainder of tournament

Clock, Bonus, and Table

Match clock pauses in late-game stoppage windows as specified
Powerplay clock follows same stoppage principles as match clock
Bonus line is active when minimum 6 defenders are on court
No revival for bonus points
League points: Win 3, Loss 0, Tie 1 each, Walkover 3/0, Double no-show 0/0
Points-table tiebreakers: win %, score difference, powerplay points, all-outs inflicted, all-outs conceded

Event details

North Zone Event Snapshot

Core tournament profile and eligibility framework.

Dates: 1st May to 3rd May 2026
Location: Belagavi
Participating districts: Belagavi, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag, Koppal, Raichur, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Bidar
Age category: 25 and below (born after January 1, 2001)
Weight limit: maximum 85 kg
Team composition: 14 players, 1 coach, 1 manager
One professional jersey set is provided to each team

Tournament format

Three-day Competitive Structure

How the event progresses from pools to finals.

Day 1: 10 teams split into 2 pools of 5, single round-robin
Day 2: Top 4 from each pool qualify to quarter-finals
Day 3: Semi-finals, 3rd-place match, and grand finale
Semi-finals and final-day title matches use Best-of-3 rounds (15 minutes x 3)

Player and team guidelines

Operational Guidelines

Registration, reserve policy, and weigh-in governance.

Teams must report with 14 players and 1 coach as per reporting time
No external player changes outside the submitted 14-member squad
Unlimited internal replacements are allowed within the approved 14-member squad
Only players who complete registration at venue are eligible
Squad freeze deadline: April 15, 2026 (end of day)
Once 14-player list is submitted, no changes are allowed

Reserve Player Policy

Only registered tournament players may be used as replacements
Replacement players must complete registration before tournament start
All replacements must complete mandatory weighing before participation
For serious injury replacements, valid medical certificate is required and OC decision is final
No replacement may play without both registration and weighing

Weighing Policy

Primary weigh-in is mandatory for all players including reserves
Maximum permitted weight is 85 kg
Designated tournament official's weighing decision is final
Only one official weigh-in session is conducted
Each player gets maximum three attempts in the weigh-in session
Players above 85 kg after permitted attempts are disqualified
Any protest regarding weighing decisions will not be accepted

Frequently asked questions

Rules & Guidelines FAQ

High-intent Q&A blocks for players, officials, and search assistants.

General Rules FAQ

Who can play in North Zone 2026?

Players must be 25 or below and born after January 1, 2001, with weight at or below 85 kg.

What is the minimum reporting requirement for teams?

At least 2 players must report at match reporting time, and final team list must be submitted 90 minutes before the scheduled match.

How many substitutions are allowed?

Five substitutions are allowed using substitution coins, with half-time substitutions allowed without coins.

What happens if a team fields fewer than 10 players?

The match is abandoned, opposition is declared winner with 3 points, and the short-handed team gets 0 points.

How are league points awarded?

Win = 3 points, Loss = 0, Tie = 1 each, walkover to reporting team = 3 points, both teams absent = 0 points each.

New Rules FAQ

When exactly is Best-of-3 used?

Best-of-3 is used only in Day 3 semi-finals, 3rd-place match, and grand finale.

How is a tied Best-of-3 match resolved?

If tied after the required rounds, teams play 6-minute extra time. If still tied, decider raids continue alternately until a winner emerges.

How many timeouts are allowed in Best-of-3 rounds?

Each team gets one 30-second timeout per round, and match clock pauses during timeout.

Can a team choose not to take powerplay?

Yes. Teams have full authority to use or skip powerplay in any match.

Do technical points get powerplay bonus?

No. Technical points and empty raids do not receive the extra powerplay point.

The Organising Committee reserves the right to amend rules if required during tournament operations.

Open Tournament Format