“If your desire to win overtakes your witness… you’ve already lost.”

-Ben Beasley

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GAMEPLAY

  • 7 players on the court per team.

  • Headshots do not count.

  • Catches bring one eliminated teammate back into the game (in order of elimination).

  • You may block a throw with a ball you’re holding. If the blocking ball is knocked out of your hands, you’re out.

  • Players are out if:

    • They’re hit by a live ball below the shoulders.

    • Their thrown ball is caught.

    • They cross the center line.

  • Once out, exit quickly and sit on your team’s bench.

SUBSTITUTIONS

  • If a player is injured and cannot continue for the tournament, they may be replaced by a substitute of similar age/stage of life/skill level.

  • No in-game subs unless for injury.

GAME STRUCTURE

Pool Play:

  • Each match lasts 8 minutes.

  • Team with the most round wins (or remaining players when time expires) earns the win.

Tournament Bracket:

  • Matches are best-of-3 rounds.

  • Single elimination

  • Final Four & Championship games will be played long-ways on two full courts.

OPENING RUSH

  • All players start behind the back line.

  • Four balls are placed on each side of the center line (total of 8).

  • On the whistle, players rush to retrieve balls.

  • Each ball must be taken behind the attack line before it becomes live.

  • No sliding, diving, or crossing the center line with any part of the body.

CONDUCT & SPORTSMANSHIP

Two referees will officiate each court, and their calls are final.
All players, spectators, and guests must adhere to the 5220 Code of Conduct.

Referee Engagement

  1. If you yell at the referees,

  2. If you make them question life—or why they showed up for this,

  3. If you argue with them over any call in any negative tone,

You will be removed from the game, possibly from the tournament, and maybe even from the church directory (kidding… mostly).

Seriously: If you’ve got a problem, take it to Ben. The referees are doing their best—do the same.

This is a competitive event, but it’s also a church event—and that matters. We believe competition can be both intense and honoring to Christ.

Unsportsmanlike conduct includes (but isn’t limited to): taunting, profanity, arguing with referees, throwing or kicking balls out of frustration, or any behavior that disrespects another player, referee, or the spirit of the event.

We understand that emotions run high and that heat-of-the-moment reactions happen. But when it becomes clear that your desire to win has overtaken your witness, or you’ve let your emotions take the wheel against your brothers and sisters in Christ (or a team of 6th grade girls), then for your sake—and the gospel’s—it’s time to stop.

Referees and event leaders will handle these moments with grace and discretion. You may be asked to sit out a game, calm down, or, in more serious cases, step away for the remainder of the night. Our goal isn’t punishment—it’s perspective.

Bottom line:

If your behavior makes it hard to worship with the same people tomorrow, it’s gone too far.