Rules & Regulations Manual

Start with the quick-reference table below to find the sections that apply to your role, then read those sections in full. The detailed sections govern if a quick-reference table is incomplete or inconsistent with them.

Annual dates, fees, forms, contact details and program links are also maintained by OBA in the current registration calendar, fee schedule, program operations manuals and official communications. Where an OBA-approved annual publication differs from a date or amount reproduced in this Manual, the approved publication governs.

This Manual applies to all OBA members and participants, including affiliated member clubs, affiliated organizations, teams, athletes, parents and guardians, coaches, managers, administrators, officials, convenors, hosts, spectators and volunteers who participate in or attend an OBA-sanctioned activity.

Participation in an OBA-sanctioned activity constitutes agreement to comply with this Manual and all applicable OBA governing documents and policies.

Where two documents address the same issue, the following order of priority applies, subject always to applicable law:

A lower-ranking document must be read consistently with a higher-ranking document where possible. If a conflict cannot be reconciled, the higher-ranking document governs. Program operations manuals control program-specific details but do not override organization-wide safe sport, discipline, governance or compliance requirements unless OBA expressly approves the variance.

This Manual supplements, and does not replace, OBA's safe sport, discipline and complaints, appeal, privacy, accessibility, equity and concussion policies. OBA and its members must comply with applicable law, including the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010, the Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and Rowan's Law (Concussion Safety), 2018.

The OBA Board retains ultimate authority over OBA governance and interpretation of this Manual. The Board may delegate operational decisions to OBA staff, committees and event officials. Administrative information such as forms, hyperlinks, contact details, Ramp instructions, dates and fee amounts may be updated without a formal amendment where the substantive rule does not change.

1.1 Fee Structure

The following fees apply for the 2026-2027 season. Fees must be paid through Ramp or another method expressly authorized by OBA. Where the Board-approved annual fee schedule differs from the amounts below, the approved fee schedule governs.

Club Affiliation

New clubs must pay a $500 performance bond in addition to a new-club-affiliation fee of $1,500. Please see section 3.8 for more details about the purpose of the performance bond.

Competitions

Individual Registration

Camps and Other Fees

Clubs will be charged $100 for each day they register players via the back end of Ramp. Registering all players on a single day will result in a single $100 fee. Registering players via the back end on multiple days will result in multiple $100 fees.

Registrations are not considered complete until all relevant payments are made. Receiving an invoice does not qualify as a registration, and there is no guarantee that a team will be added to an OBA- sanctioned competition schedule if the relevant registration fees are unpaid.

1.2 Refund Policy

Ontario Basketball League (OBL)

If a team registers for the OBL and withdraws within 14 days after the registration-OPENING date, they will receive a refund of the registration fee, minus $100. Teams that withdraw 15 or more days after the registration-opening date will not receive a refund.

If a game is cancelled because of a team's withdrawal and cannot be rescheduled, the team that is prepared to play will receive a refund equal to the OBL registration fee divided by the number of games they are scheduled to play during the season.

If an OBL game is cancelled due to poor weather, an act of God (for example, natural disasters or public- safety emergencies) or other dangerous conditions, each affected team will receive a refund equal to the OBL registration fee divided by the number of games they are scheduled to play during the season, minus $60.

For each OBL game that the OBA cancels due to an inability to accommodate registered teams, the OBA will refund each impacted team an amount equal to the registration fee divided by the number of games the team is scheduled to play during the season.

If a team is removed because of compliance, discipline or misconduct issues, they will NOT receive a refund.

Ontario Basketball Championships

Teams that withdraw their Championship registration will not be refunded.

If a game is cancelled because of a team's withdrawal and cannot be rescheduled, the team that is prepared to play will receive a refund equal to the Championship registration fee divided by the number of games they are scheduled to play in their division.

If a Championship game is cancelled due to poor weather, an act of God or other dangerous conditions, each affected team will receive a refund equal to the Championship registration fee divided by the number of scheduled games in their division, minus $60.

For each game that the OBA cancels due to an inability to accommodate registered teams, the OBA will refund each affected team an amount equal to the registration fee divided by the number of Championship games the team was scheduled to play.

If a team is removed because of compliance, discipline or misconduct issues, the team will NOT receive a refund.

Individual Registrations

If a club requests a refund by email for a youth-rep-player registration before the relevant individual- registration deadline (see the deadline table in section 2), the club will receive a refund of the youth-rep- player-registration fee. Youth-rep player registrations will not be refunded after the individual-registration deadline for their age group.

If a club requests a refund by email for a club-staff-member registration before the relevant individual- registration deadline, the club will receive a refund of the staff-registration fee. Individual staff registrations will not be refunded after the relevant individual-registration deadline.

House-league participant registrations will not be refunded.

Coaching Clinics, Centre for Performance and Back-End Registration

Refunds will not be provided to coaches who do not attend a clinic. Coaches must reschedule and complete the clinic on a different date. Where OBA or the host cancels a clinic, OBA may transfer the registration or issue a full or partial refund.

Back-end registration fees will not be refunded under any circumstance.

Other

All other circumstances involving refunds that are not mentioned above will be reviewed on a case-by- case basis. No 2026-2027 refunds will be issued after the OBA's fiscal year end (August 31, 2027), unless OBA approves an exceptional case or the law requires otherwise.

1.3 Overdue Payments

If an affiliated member club or organization has any overdue invoices or other outstanding fees at any point in the season, all of its teams can be removed from OBA-sanctioned competition, including but not limited to the Ontario Basketball League, the Ontario Basketball Championships, the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association, the OSBA Development League and the G-Elite.

The OBA will deny all insurance requests from clubs and affiliated organizations with overdue invoices or outstanding balances.

The OBA will deny affiliation to clubs and organizations with overdue invoices or outstanding balances from previous seasons.

OBA may apply funds otherwise payable to a club, including reimbursements, against amounts owing, where permitted by law and after notice.

The following dates apply for the 2026-2027 season. If a date in the OBA-approved annual registration calendar differs from a date below, the approved calendar governs.

2.1 Late Registrations

Once a registration deadline passes, registration for that program will close. Teams may apply for a late registration through the OBA late-registration form. Teams must pay the OBA team fee via Ramp before applying for a late registration.

There is no guarantee that teams will be granted a late registration when they apply. Late registrations are subject to the approval of the OBA's high-performance team, and teams that are late to register may be subject to additional requirements. Should a team be granted a late registration, they must pay the registration fee plus an additional $150. The OBA will reach out to the email listed in the application with instructions on how to complete the late registration.

All individual registrations completed after the individual-registration deadline are subject to OBA approval through Ramp. There is no guarantee that a late player or coach registration will be approved.

2.2 Deadline and Scheduling-Request Matrix

**Requests to reschedule an OBL game submitted fewer than 21 days before the scheduled date, and requests received after the schedule has been released other than to correct an error, will not be accommodated. This firm deadline is in place to protect officials' assignments, facility bookings and opponents' planning.

3.1 Club Affiliation

A club or affiliated organization must be approved by OBA for the current season before it may enter a team in an OBA-sanctioned competition, host a sanctioned event, or receive OBA insurance documentation.

Each club shall maintain accurate information in Ramp, communicate OBA requirements to families and staff, retain required records, cooperate with audits and investigations, report material safety, eligibility, discipline and integrity concerns, and use OBA's official registration, roster and payment procedures.

3.2 House-League, Jr. NBA and Training Registration

Each affiliated club must operate or support at least one house-league, Jr. NBA or training program, unless OBA grants a written exemption. Clubs must report youth house-league and training-program participants and pay the applicable fees.

A participant moving from a house-league or training program to a rep team must be registered in the appropriate rep category, and any applicable fee difference must be paid, before the participant takes part in rep activity.

3.3 Individual Registration

Every athlete and every staff member must be individually registered in Ramp in the correct category before participating. A person is not registered merely because their name appears in a club database or on a club list.

A club that permits an unregistered athlete to participate may be fined $100 per athlete, and the team may forfeit affected games or be removed from competition.

All participants on an Ontario Basketball team roster must be residents of Ontario unless OBA grants written approval. Clubs must retain participant records and provide reliable age or identity documentation if OBA reasonably requests it.

3.4 Team Registration

Every team must be registered in Ramp and must pay all required fees before its first game. Teams are not considered fully registered until the competition-compliance standards in section 4 are satisfied.

3.5 Club Licensing and Team Representation Requirements

All affiliated teams must fall under their home club's administrative oversight. An affiliated team must represent its club or affiliated organization, be genuinely based in its geographic region, regularly train in the club's designated facilities, and wear jerseys clearly identifying that club or organization.

A club may not lend, lease, assign or otherwise permit the use of its name or brand to enable an unaffiliated team or organization to obtain competition eligibility. OBA maintains a zero-tolerance position on affiliation misrepresentation. OBA may impose sanctions for a breach, including affiliation suspension, removal of the team or club from competition, loss of hosting eligibility, and referral to the discipline process.

3.6 OSBA-Member Organizations

OSBA-member organizations must meet the affiliation, financial and compliance requirements in this Manual in addition to the requirements of the OSBA Operations Manual. Requirements specific to OSBA membership, including the technical meeting, are set out in section 4.03 of the OSBA Operations Manual.

3.7 Fees

Club, team and individual fees are set out in section 1.1 and in the Board-approved annual fee schedule.

All fees must be paid through Ramp or another method expressly authorized by OBA. Insurance documentation, reimbursements, registration approvals and competition participation may be withheld from a club with an overdue balance.

3.8 Performance Bonds, Fair Play Regulation and Withdrawals

Clubs with teams that withdraw from a sanctioned tournament or the Ontario Basketball Championships after the schedule has been released, or that fail to appear without notifying the OBA and the hosting club, will be subject to penalties.

Penalties

Penalties differ based on the number of violations committed by a member club. If two teams from the same club commit the same type of violation under this section, the two violations count as two occurrences. For example, if two teams from the same club fail to show up for a scheduled game, two no- show violations will be recorded for that club.

Violation occurrences are tracked across all seasons and do not reset at the end of each season. A club's full affiliation history will be considered when determining penalties, regardless of the year in which the violations occurred.

One occurrence - withdrawing after the schedule release

• The club's performance bond will be forfeited, and the monies will be divided equally among the

teams that the team in question was scheduled to play.

• A performance bond equalling the dollar amount originally bonded must be immediately replaced by

the club. Failure to replace the bond will disqualify all teams from that club from the current year's OBA Championships, OBL and other OBA-sanctioned competitions.

Two or more occurrences - withdrawing after the schedule release

• The replacement performance bond will be divided equally among the teams that the missing team

was scheduled to play.

• The club will be suspended from the current year's OBA Championships, OBL and other OBA-

sanctioned competitions.

• A performance bond of double the original bond amount must be immediately replaced by the club.

Failure to do so will disqualify all teams from that club from the following season's OBA Championships, OBL and other OBA-sanctioned competitions.

One occurrence - failing to appear without notice

• A fine equalling $300 for each missed game, including potential playoff and consolation games,

must be paid to the OBA by the missing team's home club within one week of receiving an invoice for the fine.

• Failure to make the payment on time will result in all teams from that club being removed from the

current year's OBA Championships, OBL and other OBA-sanctioned competitions.

Two or more occurrences - failing to appear without notice

• A fine equalling $400 for each missed game, including potential playoff and consolation games,

must be paid to the OBA by the missing team's home club within one week of receiving an invoice for the fine.

• The club will be suspended from the current year's OBA Championships, OBL and other OBA-

sanctioned competitions.

• Failure to make the payment on time will result in all teams from that club being removed from the

following year's OBA Championships, OBL or other OBA-sanctioned competitions.

For OSBA and OSBA D-League withdrawal and performance-bond implications, please see section 3.03 of the OSBA Operations Manual. For G-Elite, please see the G-Elite Operations Manual.

3.9 Athlete Contract

All assigned players in Ramp must sign an athlete contract agreeing to abide by a set of guidelines consistent with OBA's Code of Conduct and Ethics for the entire season.

It is the club's and coaches' responsibility to distribute an athlete contract to each player. Each player is required to complete the athlete contract and return it to the club. All contracts must remain on file with the club and must be produced to OBA on request.

3.10 Coach Contract

All affiliated club and organization coaches must sign a coach contract. The coach contract provides guidelines to abide by to ensure a positive development experience for all athletes they coach.

It is the affiliated club's or organization's responsibility to distribute and collect contracts from all coaches.

All contracts must remain on file with the affiliated club or organization and must be produced to OBA on request.

3.11 Good Standing and Audit Response

Affiliated clubs and organizations must ensure their individuals and teams satisfy the following compliance standards before participating in any OBA-sanctioned competition or program. Failure to meet these standards can result in a team's removal from OBA-sanctioned competitions, forfeited game scores and other penalties. If issues related to individual or team compliance arise, the OBA will notify the club's primary contact. Teams are not considered fully registered until the following requirements are satisfied.

Gate 1: Before OBL or Sanctioned Tournament Registration Deadline Gate 2: Before First Game Gate 3: OBA Championships Registration Deadline Gate 1: All applicable team-registration fees must be paid. (team, player and coach fees) Each team must have a Head Coach assigned to the roster. All Coaches must have a valid VSC uploaded to their coach profile on RAMP to be considered registered.

Backchecks done through Sterling Backcheck in previous seasons, or any check other than a

Vulnerable Sector Check, will not be accepted. Clubs are required to verify all staff members’ vulnerable-sector checks via the backend of their Ramp account.

Gate 2: Each team must have the required number of players assigned to its roster in RAMP.

Required roster numbers vary by age group:

OBA may verify compliance at any time. Non-compliance may result in ineligibility, forfeiture, removal from competition or referral to the discipline process.

Gate 3: All assigned coaches must meet all NCCP certification and safe sport requirements for the age group they are coaching in.

Coaches must complete and submit a vulnerable sector check via Ramp. Vulnerable sector checks must be no more than 3 years old at the time of submission.

All coaches must complete a frontend-staff registration.4.

See below for NCCP Certification requirements.

4.1 NCCP Certification Requirements

The purpose of the mandatory National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) is to ensure that all athletes are coached by individuals who are ethical, knowledgeable and trained in age-appropriate methods. All Ontario Basketball coaches are expected to be at least trained in the relevant category and awaiting certification before coaching athletes. While clinic schedules may vary by region, coaches should attend required clinics as soon as possible.

Coaches must complete Basketball 101 before registering for the applicable course. After completing the in-person course and attaining in-training status, coaches must complete their evaluation and the Make Ethical Decisions online module through the Coaching Association of Canada to become fully trained.

Evaluations for the Learn to Train and Train to Train stages include an online coach's portfolio and an on- court assessment. Coaches can submit their completed portfolios through Game Plan and request an evaluation, which will be assigned to a Canada Basketball certified evaluator by Ontario Basketball. A complete evaluation and a submitted portfolio are required to attain certified status.

Coaches must complete certification within one year of their training. After the one-year window, coaches will be required to pay a $100 fee to complete their evaluation.

Coaching Certification Checks

If coaches or managers fail to meet the required certification standards, the team they are assigned to will face removal from all OBA-sanctioned competitions.

Alternative Certification Options, Points of Clarification and Examples

A Learn to Train trained coach who moves up from U12 to U13 as a head coach must first complete their Learn to Train certification (portfolio and practice evaluation) and then attend a Train to Train course to attain in-training status at that level. This coach must work towards completing their Train to Train certification as soon as possible.

If a U16 team realizes that it does not have a coach available and a parent steps up to coach, the new coach will not be expected to be both Learn to Train and Train to Train trained and to complete both evaluations in the same season. OBA will ask them to fully complete Learn to Train in season one and Train to Train in season two. This process is subject to OBA approval.

If a first-time coach in any OBA-sanctioned competition does not hold any NCCP coaching certification but has the requisite experience and community support, that coach has the option to challenge the trained portion of the certification process and move directly to the evaluation portion. Please see the challenge requirements set out by Canada Basketball.

4.2 Safe Sport Requirements for Club Staff Members (Coaches and Managers)

Ontario Basketball is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment for children participating in basketball activities. Safe sport should be a top priority for all OBA member clubs.

All coaches and managers are required, at a minimum, to complete a vulnerable-sector check (VSC) through their local police department prior to their first practice of the season. Vulnerable-sector checks must be no more than three years old at the time of submission and must be provided to OBA by upload to the club staff member's Ramp profile. Clubs must also verify the document through the back end of their Ramp account. Unverified vulnerable-sector checks will not be accepted.

A check other than a vulnerable-sector check is not accepted unless OBA confirms otherwise in writing.

Back checks completed through Sterling Backcheck will not be accepted. In some cases, a receipt showing that a fee was paid to have a vulnerable-sector check completed may be uploaded as a temporary placeholder for the official document; this does not guarantee eligibility, and a staff member can still be removed from OBA-sanctioned competitions if the completed check is not uploaded within a reasonable time or if the result presents a safety concern.

OBA may require a new vulnerable-sector check sooner than three years where warranted by a safety concern or changed circumstances.

The following are the minimum standards and online training requirements that OBA member clubs must ensure ALL COACHES AND MANAGERS complete prior to the first practice of the season:

• Vulnerable-sector background check, uploaded to Ramp and verified by the club
• Completion of the NCCP Safe Sport online training module
• Completion of the NCCP Anti-Racism in Coaching online training module
• Rowan's Law concussion education
• Agreement to the OBA Zero Tolerance Policy and the OBA Code of Conduct and Ethics
• Any additional OBA-required education for the season

If the result of a club staff member's vulnerable-sector check presents a safety concern, they must stop all activities with their member club immediately. A club must also remove a staff member from club activity where a complaint, interim measure or other credible information raises a safety concern, pending OBA direction and the applicable process. Failure to remove such club staff members from member club activities can result in the member club's, or some of its affiliated teams', removal from all OBA- sanctioned competitions and from OBA membership.

Only staff assigned to the roster in Ramp may sit on the team bench.

4.3 Front-End Staff Registration

All staff assigned to a roster must complete a front-end registration in Ramp. Back-end registrations are not permitted for coaches or team managers. If a coach or manager is added to their club's Ramp account through the back end, they will not be considered registered, and any team they are assigned to will fail to meet OBA competition-compliance standards.

4.4 Ramp Rosters

All rep players must be listed in Ramp and assigned to their respective teams. Any team with fewer than the minimum or more than the maximum allowable number of players will be considered non-compliant with OBA competition-compliance standards.

Once a player is added to a club's player list in Ramp, they cannot be added to any roster from another OBA-affiliated club unless they go through the proper athlete-transfer procedures (see section 5.3).

Tryout-only participants should not be added to Ramp player lists unless they are actually registering with the club. Any individual listed in a club's Ramp account will be considered part of that club.

For competition purposes, a youth-rep player is not considered part of a roster until they are assigned to that roster in Ramp. Only athletes assigned to the team in Ramp are eligible to play.

For questions about insurance coverage for tryout participants, please contact the OBA registration and transfers contact.

For OSBA organizations, all Ramp registrations and roster-eligibility forms must be completed by September 15. Please see Article 6 of the OSBA Operations Manual for Ramp-rostering requirements and deadlines for student athletes.

Ramp roster compliance minimums and in-game participation requirements are separate obligations.

Meeting the minimum number of players on a Ramp roster does not satisfy the minimum number of players required to start or continue a game, and vice versa.

4.5 Special Situations

Call-Ups - Championships, OBL and Sanctioned Games or Tournaments

Teams requesting the use of younger players from within their club must notify the OBA in writing at least 48 hours prior to the start of the relevant sanctioned game or event. Requests should be made only if a team is unable to meet the minimum number of players required for its age group. If the minimum number of players requirement is met, the request will not be considered.

Older players cannot play down to a younger age group. For example, a U14 player cannot be called up to play for a U13 team.

Players are permitted to be called up to an older team within their club for a maximum of one sanctioned tournament or four sanctioned games. Players cannot be called up to play a combination of both. For example, a U13 player cannot be called up to play two U14 OBL games and two games in a U14 sanctioned tournament.

If a player exceeds the maximum number of sanctioned tournament or game call-ups, they will be required to play up for the remainder of the season.

Temporary call-ups cannot be used for the OBA Championships.

Teams Playing Up

Teams are permitted, subject to approval by the tournament host and Ontario Basketball, to participate in one sanctioned tournament at an older age group during the basketball season. Any team participating in more than one sanctioned tournament at an older age group will be required to play at the higher age level for the remainder of the season, including at the Ontario Basketball Championships.

Mixed Teams

In all age categories, boys and girls may compete on the same team, but they must compete in the boys' division.

5.1 2026-2027 Age Categories

Rep age eligibility is determined as of December 31, 2026.

Teams must abide by the age restrictions above. Teams that violate the stated age requirements will face sanctions such as forfeited game scores, competition disqualification or club-level penalties.

5.2 Team Registration

Each athlete is permitted to play on only one OBA-affiliated team per Ontario Basketball season, unless they are participating as a call-up within their club and within the maximum allowable number of games.

Once an athlete is registered in Ramp and assigned to a team roster, they are required to stay with that team for the remainder of the season unless they are granted a transfer by the OBA.

If it is found that a player is playing for more than one team, the player may be suspended from all OBA- sanctioned activities for the remainder of the season and the following season. Both teams the player is on will face penalties and possible removal from OBA-sanctioned competitions.

OBA-Affiliated Players in Other Leagues

Each OBA-affiliated player is permitted to play for only one OBA-affiliated team even when playing in other leagues. A player will be ineligible and penalized if they have been playing on two or more OBA- affiliated teams.

OSBA Athletes on OBA Rosters

OBL rosters must not contain more than three OSBA or OSBA D-League players. Ontario Cup and Provincial Championship rosters must not contain more than three OSBA or OSBA D-League players.

Clubs must disclose OSBA and D-League athletes on their rosters as OBA directs. Failure to disclose these players on an OBL, Championship or sanctioned-tournament roster may result in the disqualification of any games those players participated in from sanctioned status, and in the ineligibility of the OSBA or D-League player on the club team. Additional penalties will be determined through the applicable discipline process.

OBA Championships

A player is NOT permitted to participate in more than one Ontario Basketball Championship in a single season. Teams with repeat Championship participants will face disqualification.

Post-Secondary Participation

An athlete is ineligible for OBA-sanctioned competition once they officially join a post-secondary basketball program. For the purposes of this Manual, an athlete has officially joined a post-secondary basketball program when any of the following occurs:

• the athlete appears on the institution's official roster;
• the athlete participates in an official practice, training camp, exhibition or regular-season activity;
• the athlete reports for basketball activity under the direction of the program; or
• the athlete becomes eligible to represent the institution in intercollegiate competition.

Players failing to comply with the regulations in this section may be removed from all OBA-sanctioned competitions for the remainder of the current and following OBA seasons and may be subject to sanctions imposed through the applicable discipline process.

5.3 Athlete Transfer Policy

This section applies to the Ontario Basketball Championships, the Ontario Basketball League, sanctioned games and tournaments, and G-Elite.

An OBA youth-rep player may transfer to another club if they have the consent of both their current club and the receiving club. This consent must be in writing and submitted to the OBA by email using the official OBA transfer form. Transfers must be approved by Ontario Basketball.

A transfer is not final until the youth-rep player's registration is transferred to their new club's Ramp account. Clubs should contact the OBA registration and transfers contact to complete registration transfers.

If a club adds a player from another club, that player must be added through the transfer process. A player who appears on a second club's roster without an approved and completed transfer is an ineligible player, and the games in which they participated are subject to forfeiture.

6.1 Sanctioned-Tournament Registration

For an organization to host a sanctioned event, it must be an affiliated club or organization in good standing with Ontario Basketball.

All sanctioned tournaments must be submitted and approved through the OBA sanctioned-tournament approval system. Tournaments will be approved only if they meet all of the sanctioned-tournament requirements listed in this section. A host must receive written approval before advertising an event as sanctioned.

For the purposes of sanctioned-tournament hosting and reporting, each combination of age group and gender is considered a separate tournament. For example, a host that organizes a U17 boys, U16 boys and U15 boys schedule is scheduling three separate sanctioned tournaments. A host that organizes a U17 girls, U17 boys and U16 boys schedule is also scheduling three separate sanctioned tournaments.

Hosts must report and account for each of these separately, regardless of whether they occur on the same dates or at the same venue.

6.2 Host Responsibilities - Sanctioned Tournaments

All sanctioned tournaments must:

• be registered and approved through the OBA sanctioned-tournament approval system;
• be comprised of OBA-affiliated teams only;
• have all games abide by all Ontario Basketball rules and regulations, including the gameplay rules in

section 8 and the age-specific rules in section 9;

• have all games officiated by a minimum of two Ontario Association of Basketball Officials (OABO)

representatives, confirmed through the appropriate local board, and follow the FIBA game rule set and any applicable OBA rule modifications (for example, U9 to U12 games must satisfy equal- participation requirements);

• ensure that a competent gym convenor is present at each venue at all times during competition;
• plan emergency procedures, table staff and game sheets in advance, and maintain accurate game

sheets and safe facilities; and

• implement the concussion removal and escalation requirements in section 10.3.

Game-Draw Guidelines

To comply with Long-Term Athlete Development recommendations for adequate rest and recovery time, draw formats must meet the following requirements:

• Teams must have at least a 90-minute break between games.
• Teams should play a maximum of two games per day, though teams are permitted to play a

maximum of three games per day.

• Games for U10 to U12 teams should not start after 7:30 p.m.

Results Submission Deadline

It is the responsibility of the tournament host to submit all results from the event to Ontario Basketball no more than 48 hours after the conclusion of the final game. Hosts must retain event records as OBA directs and cooperate with any OBA review of an incident or complaint.

Failure to Comply

Any proposed tournament that fails to meet any of the requirements listed in this section will not be approved as a sanctioned tournament.

If it is found that, after approval, a host did not meet the stated requirements for hosting a sanctioned tournament, the host club will incur a $200 fine and the tournament will lose its sanctioned status. Failure to comply with the outlined responsibilities may affect a club's eligibility to host sanctioned events in the future.

6.3 Host Responsibilities - Sanctioned Exhibition Games

The OBA will not consider sanctioned exhibition results when determining teams' ranking positions for the Ontario Basketball Championships.

6.4 Host Responsibilities - OBL Reimbursements

Ontario Basketball is committed to processing reimbursements in a fair and timely manner. An OBL reimbursement request must include complete invoices and supporting documentation in the format directed by OBA. Invoices submitted to OBA will generally be processed within 30 days of receipt, within reason.

Delays may occur during periods of high volume. While OBA will make every effort to process reimbursements as quickly as possible, teams should be aware that peak periods may result in longer processing times.

No reimbursement will be issued to a club or team with an overdue OBA balance.

7.1 Ranking and Seeding

Game Results

Rankings for teams will be completed using sanctioned-tournament and OBL game results that have been submitted to Ontario Basketball. No consideration will be given to games that were not submitted to the OBA. If a team fails to report the minimum number of sanctioned-tournament games required prior to the final-ranking deadline, they will not be ranked and will be deemed ineligible to participate in the Ontario Basketball Championships.

Only games against OBA-affiliated teams using properly rostered athletes count for ranking purposes, unless OBA expressly approves otherwise. Games against unaffiliated, school, out-of-province or international teams do not count.

Initial Rankings

There will be one initial ranking per age group, completed by the Ranking and Seeding Committee.

Ontario Basketball will not accept any appeals of initial rankings.

Final Rankings

For the final rankings, the committee will meet to review all game results and discuss any team notes to ensure the best-quality decision is made for the Championship rankings.

After the final rankings meeting, preliminary final-ranking results will be emailed to head coaches.

Preliminary final rankings will not be posted online. It is imperative that clubs ensure OBA has the most accurate head-coach email address for each registered team.

Appeal

After receiving preliminary final rankings, coaches have 24 hours to appeal. Appeals will only be accepted from the head coach of a team. Coaches must submit their appeal along with sanctioned-tournament scores to support it. Appeals must be sent to the rankings chair and OBA staff.

If a coach feels their team has been placed in the wrong division and wishes to appeal, they must provide detailed reasons, including sanctioned-tournament results, to explain why their team should be moved to a different division. OBA will NOT accept any appeals to move up or down WITHIN a division.

The final ranking issued by OBA is binding, except as required by law or by an applicable OBA policy.

7.2 Tie-Break Format

The Ontario Basketball Championships tie-break format is as follows.

Step 1: Most wins

The team with the most wins will be given priority ranking.

Step 2: Two-way tie, head-to-head method

If a tie exists between two teams at the completion of the schedule, the winner of the game played between the two teams involved will be given priority ranking.

Step 3: Three or more-team tie, points for and against method

If a tie exists between three or more teams, the points for and against method will be used, with a cap of 20 points per game. For example, if Team A wins by 32 points, only a point spread of +20 will be used for that game, not +32.

The total points scored and allowed for each game is calculated for the teams involved in the tie. Scores against teams NOT involved in the tie are discarded. The team with the highest points for and against value is given priority ranking; the team with the second-highest value is given the secondary ranking.

Example - three pool games between three tied teams:

• Game One: A 50 - B 45
• Game Two: B 60 - C 38
• Game Three: C 45 - A 37
• Team A: Game One (+5), Game Three (-8) = -3 points for and against
• Team B: Game One (-5), Game Two (+20) = +15 points for and against
• Team C: Game Two (-20), Game Three (+8) = -12 points for and against
• Team B receives the priority ranking, Team A the secondary ranking, and Team C the tertiary

ranking.

Step 4: Two-way tie persists, head-to-head method

If a tie exists between two teams after the points for and against method is applied, the winner of the game played between the two teams involved will be given priority ranking. The winner receives the priority ranking, the loser receives the secondary ranking, and the third team is eliminated from the playoffs.

Step 5: Three-way tie persists, additional pool-play result

If a tie persists between three teams after the points for and against method is used, the game against the remaining team in the pool will be added to the calculation to determine who is given priority ranking.

If a tie persists between two teams after the additional score is used, the head-to-head method will be used to determine the priority ranking.

Step 6: Three-way tie persists, number draw

The numbers one, two and three are written on individual pieces of paper and placed in a container by a neutral third party. Each coach then draws a piece of paper from the container, beginning with the highest-seeded team and ending with the lowest-seeded team. The team that draws number 1 receives the priority ranking, the team that draws number 2 receives the secondary ranking, and the team that draws number 3 is eliminated from the playoffs.

7.3 Protests

Upon completion of a game, coaches should review the game sheet provided by the table staff. If there is a discrepancy, they should follow up with the site convenor.

An official protest may be made only where there is evidence of an equal-participation violation or of an illegal or ineligible player. Protests cannot be made for, among other scenarios, judgment calls by officials such as fouls, violations, possession, timing or minor official errors, or for routine scorekeeping issues not raised during the game.

Championship Protest Process

For an official protest to occur at the Ontario Basketball Championships, a $100 fee must be paid to the convenor in cash and a written protest request must be sent to the OBA protests contact by email. Teams must notify the convenor within one hour after the game is played. A copy of the game sheet must be provided to the convenor, and the convenor will submit the protest to OBA staff. OBA will review and make its decision. If the game result is overturned, the game will be changed to a 2-0 forfeit.

Evidence

The official game sheet and OBA registration records are the primary evidence in any protest.

OBA will not review video or photo evidence in support of a protest, with one exception. OBA may review official tournament livestream footage or fixed venue-camera footage where that footage directly substantiates athlete identity or on-court participation in a permitted protest. Personal-device footage is not accepted in any circumstance, and no video will be reviewed for the purpose of challenging an official's judgment.

OBA has sole discretion to determine whether eligible video is reviewed and what weight, if any, is given to it.

7.4 Spectator Behaviour

Zero tolerance applies. The coach and team are responsible for the actions of their parents and spectators, and the head coach must take reasonable steps to address team-spectator conduct.

If a spectator is asked to leave and refuses to do so, the team they support will be penalized with a forfeit of the game.

Noisemakers are NOT permitted for use during OBA-sanctioned events.

8.1 Overview

FIBA rules govern all OBA-sanctioned games except where this Manual provides an OBA modification.

Age-specific modifications are set out in section 9.

8.2 Officials

Every OBA-sanctioned game must be officiated by a minimum of two OABO officials assigned through the appropriate local board, unless OBA authorizes an emergency alternative in writing.

8.3 Game Forfeiture

A 15-minute grace period from the scheduled start of the game will be granted for a late team. Teams arriving within the 15-minute period will be permitted a five-minute warm-up to prevent injury.

At sanctioned events, the convenor shall decide if a forfeit is to be called after the 15-minute grace period has expired. At OBL games, an OBA staff member or designated convenor shall decide if a forfeit is to be called after the 15-minute grace period has expired.

Teams that violate any game rules, including equal-participation rules, will forfeit all games in which a violation occurred.

Recorded Scores

For an in-game forfeit, the recorded score is 20-0 if the awarded team leads by 20 or more points; the score at the time of stoppage if that team leads by 1 to 19 points; or 2-0 if that team is tied or trailing. A pre-game forfeit is recorded 2-0 in favour of the team prepared to play, or 0-0 if both teams forfeit.

Withdrawal Consequences

A team that must withdraw from an OBL game must provide written notice to OBA at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled game time. If a team fails to appear for a scheduled game and does not provide at least 48 hours' notice, the additional penalties in section 3.8 apply.

8.4 Timeouts and Halftime

• Two 60-second timeouts in the first half.
• Three 60-second timeouts in the second half. Only two timeouts will be granted in the last two

minutes of a game; coaches must therefore use one timeout before the last two minutes, or they effectively lose it.

• One timeout per overtime period is granted.
• Any unused timeouts do not carry over into overtime periods.

Halftime is a minimum of four minutes in the OBL, at the Ontario Basketball Championships and at sanctioned tournaments. Halftime in the OSBA and OSBA D-League is a minimum of 10 minutes, unless the OSBA Operations Manual states otherwise.

8.5 Free Throws After Time Has Expired

Free throws shall be attempted after time has expired in the last period of the game provided a foul occurs:

• as the timer nears expiry and cannot be stopped; or
• after time expired but while the ball was in flight during a field-goal attempt.

8.6 Team Jerseys

Teams must wear jerseys that correspond to their affiliated member club and clearly identify that club. If a breach is reported through the discipline process, both the team and the club may face sanctions, including game forfeiture. Repeated violations may result in the team's removal from all OBA competitions.

During the OBA Championships, the team with the higher seeding is considered the home team and will therefore wear the light or home jersey.

As per FIBA rules and regulations, any number between 0 and 99 is permitted.

8.7 Team Benches

During the OBA Championships, the team with the higher seeding is considered the home team and will therefore have the option of selecting which bench they prefer to sit on.

Only staff assigned to the team roster in Ramp may sit on the team bench.

8.8 OBL Protest Policy

There is a 24-hour window after the completion of an OBL game to report an equal-participation violation or an illegal or ineligible player. No review will be conducted if the violation is reported after that window.

Coaches must report the violation to the convenor at the time of the game and submit a written protest, together with a copy of the game sheet, to obl@basketball.on.ca within 24 hours. The violation will be reviewed by Ontario Basketball after the weekend, and changes to game results will be made after that review if necessary.

If a violation has occurred, teams must finish playing the game. Any decisions regarding further penalties will be handled through the applicable discipline process upon completion of the game.

The evidence rules in section 7.3, including the limited video-evidence exception, apply equally to OBL protests. No protest fee applies to an OBL protest.

8.9 FIBA Rule Modifications

The following table summarizes OBA modifications by age band. Full detail for each band is set out in section 9.

Repeated violations of the drop-back rule may result in a delay-of-game penalty.

8.10 Technical Fouls, Ejections and Fighting

An ejection must be recorded on the game sheet and reported by the convenor to OBA. An ejection does not itself determine the outcome of any complaint or discipline matter; sanctions beyond those set out above are determined under the OBA Discipline and Complaints Policy.

9.1 Learn to Train - U9 to U12 Rules

Playing Court Dimensions and Equipment

Game Rules

The game consists of eight four-minute shifts. Two shifts equal one quarter. U12 OBLX games are played as four eight-minute quarters.

After the first quarter, each quarter begins in the direction of the possession arrow, and the throw-in shall be from out of bounds straddling the centre line extended, opposite the scorers' table.

Participation Rule

The participation rule was formulated for the best interests of the children playing at the Learn to Train stage. Every child who is registered must participate under the participation rule, and every coach is expected to respect the intent of these rules and adhere to them.

Coaches are required to provide playing time for all players present at the game who have been registered with Ontario Basketball. This rule is in effect for the entire game.

All U9 to U12 teams must abide by this rule for all Ontario Basketball games, including sanctioned tournaments, Ontario Basketball League games and the Ontario Basketball Championships.

Equal Participation Table - U9 to U12 OBL

Minimum and maximum shifts per player in regulation time:

Equal Participation Table - U10 and U11 OBLX (Shifts 2 to 7)

In OBLX U10 and U11 competition, the participation rule applies to Shifts 2 through 7. Shifts 1 and 8 and any overtime period are open substitution. Minimum and maximum shifts per player across Shifts 2 to 7:

Equal Participation Table - U9 to U12 OBL Overtime

Maximum shifts per player in overtime:

Participation Rule Exemption

U10 and U11 boys and girls playing in the OBLX will have open shifting for Shift 1 and Shift 8. OBLX U12 boys and girls have no participation rule and follow FIBA substitution rules.

Important Shifting Notes

• Each player must complete a minimum of one shift per half.
• No player is permitted to play more than one shift more than any other player.
• Back-to-back shifts are permitted.
• The sequence of shifting is not relevant if each player receives the minimum number of shifts, does

not exceed the maximum, and plays at least one shift per half (first half = Shifts 1, 2, 3 and 4; second half = Shifts 5, 6, 7 and 8).

• Substitution is permitted only between shifts, except in the case of injury, medical need, foul-out or

disqualification.

• For all OBA-sanctioned competition games, a team must have five players at tip-off and must have

eight players by Shift 4 to fulfil equal-participation requirements. If these standards are not met, the game will be forfeited 2-0. However, in such circumstances the game must still be played.

• If injuries or foul-outs result in a team playing with fewer than the required eight players, the game

will not be considered a forfeit on that basis. Equal-play guidelines still apply to the athletes remaining in the game, and no player is permitted to play more than one shift more than any other player. This exception applies only if the team met the required number of players to start the game.

If a player is injured or fouls out in the first half, that player does not have to play a shift in the second half.

• For the Ontario Basketball Championships, a team must have eight players to start their first game

of each weekend, otherwise the game is forfeited 2-0. If a team forfeits because it fails to meet the minimum player requirement, the game must still be played. Specific to the Ontario Basketball Championships only, in the case of injuries or foul-outs that result in a team playing with fewer than the required eight players, the first and subsequent games will not be considered a forfeit. The game results will count provided that all participating players have completed at least one shift in the first half of their first game and the participation rule is observed throughout all games.

• In the case of a disagreement about which team must put out their line-up first, the lower-ranked

seed will be asked to put it out first.

Assigning Shifts

For shift assignment under the participation rule, the game is divided into eight four-minute shifts, and assignment of a shift takes place as follows.

In the event of an injury, medical emergency or an athlete fouling out where a substitution is required, the athlete who plays most of the shift is deemed to have played that shift.

If Player 1 is injured any time in the first minute and fifty-nine seconds or earlier in the shift (4:00 to 2:01 on the game clock) and requires a substitute, the shift is assigned to Player 2, the substitute.

If Player 1 plays most of their shift (has played two minutes or more of the shift, or 2:00 or fewer remaining on the game clock) and requires a substitution, the shift is assigned to Player 1, the injured or fouled-out player.

Case 1 example: Player A1 is injured one minute and fifteen seconds into the shift (2:45 on the game clock). Player A2 is substituted into the game to replace teammate A1. The shift is assigned to the substitute, Player A2, on the scoresheet, as they will have played most of the shift - two minutes and forty-five seconds of the four-minute shift.

Case 2 example: Two minutes and five seconds into the shift (1:55 on the game clock), Player B1 receives their fifth foul and is fouled out. Player B2 is substituted in to replace teammate B1. In this case, Player B1 has already played most of the shift, more than half of the four-minute shift, and therefore the shift is recorded as being played by Player B1 on the scoresheet.

A player who leaves a shift due to injury or medical reasons shall not return to the game during the same shift.

Late Players

Although adding eligible players to the official scoresheet after the game has started is permitted, the participation rule must be met for all players, including the late player. Players must play at least one shift in the first half to fulfil equal-playing-time requirements, and a player therefore cannot be added in the second half and still meet the participation rule.

Tracking Playing Time

The scorer or minor official is required to track all players' shifts, including substitutions due to injuries, medical reasons and fouling out. Each time a player is on the court for a shift, a checkmark is made in the space provided on the scoresheet.

It is the responsibility of all coaches to check the scoresheet during and after the game for accuracy of shift tracking. Should a violation of the participation rule occur, it is the responsibility of the coach to raise the issue.

Faking Injuries and Not Dressing Players

It is considered unethical and a lack of respect for the intent and spirit of the game for a coach to instruct an athlete to fake an injury, or to not allow an athlete to dress for competition without good reason.

Instructing players not to attend games for the competitive advantage of circumventing equal shifting is unethical, unsportsmanlike and counterproductive to the focus on development for Learn to Train athletes.

At no time shall a player be intentionally excused from a sanctioned-competition game by a coach.

Coaches are not permitted to instruct any player on their roster to be absent from selected games.

Ontario Basketball recognizes that not every child will attend every game due to other commitments and circumstances; however, the choice to attend must be left to the player and the player's parents or guardians.

As per FIBA rules (Article 5.3), an athlete is considered injured if they cannot continue to play immediately, within approximately 15 seconds, or if they receive treatment on the floor.

Conduct under this heading may be referred to the OBA Discipline and Complaints Policy.

Participation Rule Violations

If a team violates the participation rule, they will forfeit the game and the score will be recorded 2-0. If both teams violate the participation rule, the game will be recorded as a 0-0 loss for both teams.

During OBL games, coaches must report violations to the convenor and to obl@basketball.on.ca within 24 hours of the completion of the game. See section 8.8.

Drop Back Rule

For U9 and U10 teams, pressing is not permitted.

For U11 and U12 teams, when a team leads by 15 points or more, its players must immediately drop back into their backcourt behind the eight-second line once the losing team secures player control of the ball, by dribbling or holding the ball, in its backcourt. The losing team shall be allowed to dribble the ball unimpeded across the eight-second line and establish frontcourt status.

Violation of this rule will result in the ball being awarded out of bounds to the losing team, at the frontcourt sideline at the extended free-throw line. Repeated violations may result in a delay-of-game penalty.

Closely Guarded Rule

Where there is no shot clock, a modification of the FIBA closely-guarded rule applies. A five-second closely-guarded count is applied when a player holds the ball while actively defended by an opponent within approximately one metre. Once the closely-guarded count begins, the offensive player who is closely guarded must pass, shoot or dribble; where a team withholds the ball from play, the count may be extended to a player dribbling the ball in the frontcourt. A violation results in a turnover under the applicable FIBA and OBA procedure.

Overtime

The length of each extra period is four minutes.

Timeouts do not carry over to the overtime period. Each team receives one timeout per overtime period.

The participation rule remains in effect during overtime, subject to the overtime maximum-shift table above.

Each overtime period begins in the direction of the possession arrow.

9.2 Train to Train - U13 to U14 Rules

Playing Court Dimensions and Equipment

Game Rules

The game consists of four quarters of play. Each quarter is eight minutes long.

After the first quarter, each quarter begins in the direction of the possession arrow, and the throw-in shall be from out of bounds straddling the centre line extended, opposite the scorers' table.

The equal-participation rule does not apply at U13 and U14. Substitution follows FIBA rules.

Overtime

The length of each extra period is four minutes. Timeouts do not carry over to the overtime period, and each team receives one timeout per overtime period. Each overtime period begins in the direction of the possession arrow.

Drop Back Rule

When a team leads by 20 points or more, its players must immediately drop back into their backcourt behind the eight-second line once the losing team secures player control of the ball, by dribbling or holding the ball, in its backcourt. The losing team shall be allowed to dribble the ball unimpeded across the eight-second line and establish frontcourt status.

Violation of this rule will result in the ball being awarded out of bounds to the losing team, at the frontcourt sideline at the extended free-throw line. Repeated violations may result in a delay-of-game penalty.

Closely Guarded Rule

Where a game is played without a shot clock, the modified five-second closely-guarded rule described in section 9.1 applies.

9.3 Train to Train and Train to Compete - U15 to U19 Rules

Playing Court Dimensions and Equipment

Game Rules

The game consists of four periods of play. Each quarter is eight minutes long. In the OSBA, each quarter is 10 minutes long. For more information about OSBA rules and procedures of play, please see Article 10 of the OSBA Operations Manual.

After the first quarter, each quarter begins in the direction of the possession arrow, and the throw-in shall be from out of bounds straddling the centre line extended, opposite the scorers' table.

It is mandatory that all sanctioned games in the U15 to U19 age categories use shot clocks.

The equal-participation rule does not apply at U15 to U19, and there is no drop-back requirement.

Overtime

The length of each extra period is four minutes. Timeouts do not carry over to the overtime period, and each team receives one timeout per overtime period. Each overtime period begins in the direction of the possession arrow.

24-Second Shot Clock Rules

Shot clocks are mandatory for all games. Standard FIBA rules will apply should a shot clock malfunction or not be available during a game.

The OBA will make the strongest possible efforts to stock each game with enough shot clocks. If the OBA cannot secure a shot clock before a game, impacted teams must still play the game.

Whenever a player gains control of a live ball on the court, their team must attempt a field goal within 24 seconds.

To constitute a shot for a field goal within 24 seconds, the ball must leave the player's hands before the 24-second device signal sounds, and after the ball has left the player's hands the ball must touch the ring or enter the basket.

When a shot for a field goal is attempted near the end of the 24-second period and the signal sounds while the ball is in the air:

• if the ball enters the basket, no violation has occurred, the signal is disregarded, and the goal

counts;

• if the ball touches the ring but does not enter the basket, no violation has occurred, the signal is

disregarded, and the game continues;

• if the ball hits the backboard (not the ring) or misses the ring, a violation has occurred unless the

opponents have gained immediate and clear control of the ball, in which case the signal is disregarded and the game continues.

Refer to Article 29 of the FIBA rules for the full 24-second rules and procedures.

24-Second Shot Clock Procedure

Possession of the ball shall be awarded to the same team that previously had control of the ball if the game is stopped by an official for:

• a foul or violation, not for the ball having gone out of bounds, by the team not in control of the ball;
• any valid reason by the team not in control of the ball; or
• any valid reason not connected with either team.

If the throw-in is administered in the backcourt, the 24-second clock shall be reset to 24 seconds.

If the throw-in is administered in the frontcourt, the 24-second clock shall be reset as follows: if 14 seconds or more is displayed at the time the game was stopped, the clock shall not be reset but shall continue from the time it was stopped; if 13 seconds or fewer is displayed at the time the game was stopped, the clock shall be reset to 14 seconds. However, if in the judgment of an official the opponents would be placed at a disadvantage, the 24-second clock shall continue from the time it was stopped.

24-Second Shot Clock Penalty

The ball shall be awarded to the opponents for a throw-in at the place nearest to where the game was stopped by the official, except when directly behind the backboard.

10.1 Participant Conduct

All participants must act respectfully and safely. Abuse of officials, discriminatory conduct, harassment, threats, fighting, violence, retaliation and conduct undermining safety or competition integrity are prohibited.

Conduct expectations are set out in full in the OBA Code of Conduct and Ethics. Complaints, investigations, sanctions and appeals are governed by the OBA Discipline and Complaints Policy and the OBA Appeal Policy. This section does not limit those documents.

Spectator responsibilities and consequences are set out in section 7.4.

10.2 Accessibility and Accommodation

OBA and clubs will consider accommodation requests in good faith in accordance with the Human Rights Code and applicable accessibility requirements. Requests should be made as early as reasonably possible to the club, and to OBA where OBA action is needed.

Accommodation does not require waiver of bona fide safety or competition-integrity standards, but reasonable alternatives will be considered. OBA will provide this Manual and required forms in an accessible format on request.

10.3 Concussion Safety and Return to Sport

OBA adopts the following mandatory Concussion Safety and Return-to-Sport Protocol for every OBA- sanctioned activity. It is intended to meet the operational requirements of Rowan's Law (Concussion Safety), 2018 and O. Reg. 161/19, as applicable, and is to be read with OBA's concussion, safe-sport, privacy and emergency-action policies.

A. Core Requirements and Designated Persons

B. Annual Concussion Code of Conduct

Every prescribed person must agree that they will:

• take all reasonable steps to create a safe sport environment and reduce the risk of concussion;
• not deliberately cause a head, neck or face impact or engage in dangerous play that could cause a

concussion;

• respect and follow any removal-from-sport decision made under this Manual;
• not pressure, permit or encourage a participant with a suspected concussion to return to practice,

training or competition on the same day;

• report a suspected concussion promptly to the designated person and, for a youth athlete, the

athlete's parent or guardian;

• follow the return-to-sport requirements and not misrepresent symptoms, medical advice or

clearance; and

• cooperate with OBA and club recordkeeping, privacy and safety procedures.

The athlete and, where the athlete is under 18, the athlete's parent or guardian must review this code annually. Coaches, team trainers and officials must also review it annually before participating in an OBA- sanctioned activity. A club must retain the completed acknowledgement.

C. Removal-from-Sport Protocol

A participant must be removed immediately from the activity if they sustain a hit to the head, face, neck or body that could transmit force to the head, or if they display, report or are observed to have signs or symptoms consistent with a concussion. Examples include headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, balance problems, visual disturbance, sensitivity to light or noise, unusual behaviour, slowed response or loss of consciousness.

An official who observes a possible concussion shall stop play when necessary for safety and direct the participant to the team's designated person. A coach, team trainer, parent, guardian, teammate or athlete may initiate the protocol. No person may override a removal decision on the basis of an athlete's preference, a game situation or apparent short-term improvement.

D. Return-to-Sport Protocol

A participant removed for a suspected concussion must not return on the same day. If a physician or nurse practitioner diagnoses a concussion, the participant must follow the medical professional's directions and may progress only when symptoms are improving or absent at the current stage. Return to school, work and daily activities should be prioritized before unrestricted sport.

Each stage normally takes at least 24 hours. If symptoms return or worsen, the participant must stop the activity, return to the previous symptom-free stage after appropriate rest, and consult the treating physician or nurse practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen or if medical advice requires. A club may require more conservative progression for a youth athlete or where medically indicated.

The Club Concussion Lead must obtain and retain the Return-to-Sport Confirmation in Appendix D before the participant resumes unrestricted practice or competition. A coach may rely only on written medical clearance and documented completion of the return-to-sport process; a verbal assurance from an athlete or parent is not sufficient.

E. Roles, Records, Privacy and Publication

Concussion acknowledgements, incident reports, medical clearances and return-to-sport confirmations are confidential safety records. Clubs must retain them for the season plus at least two additional years, or longer where required by law, insurance or an unresolved matter. Access is restricted to the Club Concussion Lead, designated club administrators, OBA personnel with a need to know, and others authorized or required by law.

OBA will post the current concussion code of conduct, removal-from-sport protocol, return-to-sport protocol, acknowledgement and incident-reporting tools publicly in a clearly identified concussion-safety resource. Clubs must provide the materials during registration, make them available at the first practice or team meeting, and provide accessible formats or communication supports on request.

10.4 Privacy and Records

Clubs and OBA shall collect, use, retain and disclose personal information only for legitimate registration, sport, safety, insurance, legal and operational purposes, consistent with applicable privacy obligations and OBA policy.

Vulnerable-sector checks, medical information, complaints and discipline records must be accessible only to authorized persons who require them for their role.

11.1 Fair Process

Except where immediate interim action is reasonably required for safety or event integrity, OBA will normally provide notice of an alleged material breach and a reasonable opportunity to respond before imposing a material sanction.

The OBA Discipline and Complaints Policy governs complaints, investigations, sanctions and appeals.

The OBA Appeal Policy governs the right to appeal an eligible decision and the process for doing so.

Nothing in this Manual limits a right of appeal that exists under those policies.

An on-site official's game-management decision remains effective unless changed through the applicable process set out in this Manual.

11.2 Reporting Concerns

Safety, abuse, harassment, discrimination, misconduct, retaliation or other policy concerns must be reported promptly through OBA's current safe sport, complaints or reporting channels, as set out in the OBA Discipline and Complaints Policy.

A person may contact emergency services, police, child-protection authorities or another appropriate authority where circumstances warrant. Nothing in this Manual prevents or delays a report to an appropriate authority.

11.3 Annual Publications

OBA will maintain and publish the following annual materials:

This list is not exhaustive. A fine does not prevent OBA from imposing a forfeit, suspension, probation, removal from competition, cost recovery, or any other consequence authorized under this Manual or the OBA Discipline and Complaints Policy.

The Request for Exemption process is intended to provide Ontario Basketball members with a procedural mechanism to request an exemption from rules or regulations published annually in this Manual.

This process is intended to be used in exceptional circumstances. It is not a substitute for timely registration, planning or ordinary compliance.

A member cannot file a Request for Exemption in respect of final ranking and seeding results.

Process to Request an Exemption

Once a decision has been finalized, Ontario Basketball will notify the applicant of the committee's decision. The decision of the Request for Exemption Committee is final and binding, subject to mandatory legal rights and to any right of appeal available under the OBA Appeal Policy.

Violation of any of the rules contained within this document without an approved exemption request will result in the applicable penalties.

Participant name: ______________________________ Season: 2026-2027 Club / team / role: ______________________________ I confirm that I have reviewed OBA's Concussion Code of Conduct and the OBA concussion-safety resources. I understand that I must report a suspected concussion, that a participant with a suspected concussion must be removed immediately and cannot return on the same day, and that return to unrestricted practice or competition is permitted only in accordance with the OBA Return-to-Sport Protocol.

Athlete signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________ Parent or guardian signature, if the athlete is under 18: ______________________________ Date: ______________ Coach, team trainer or official signature, as applicable: ______________________________ Date: ______________

Part 1 - Concussion Incident Report

Part 2 - Return-to-Sport Confirmation

Privacy notice: This form is a confidential safety record. It must be retained, used and disclosed only as permitted by section 10.3E and applicable law or OBA policy.

This appendix records what changed relative to the 2025-2026 Rules and Regulations Manual, Final 4.1, and what was carried over from the 2026-2027 enhanced-structure redraft.