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 GUIDELINES

**ALL RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE** 

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Basketball:

  • Players must be a minimum of 16 years of age to play

  • 4 players vs. 4 players (a team must have at least 3 players to start the game) 

  • Maximum 10 players per team

  • Two separate tournaments for male and female teams 

  • 15-minute games, the clock does not stop

  • If there is a tie as time expires, an overtime will be played. The first team to 5 points wins (same scoring rules apply)

  • Double elimination brackets

  • Half court games

  • The ball must be checked after:

    • Point scored 

    • Call made by the referee 

  • Loser’s ball after point scored

  • The ball must be taken back at every change of possession 

  • The referee calls all the fouls and points, no exceptions

  • Every 3 team fouls, the opposing team is awarded a free throw and possession. 

  • Each team is allowed one 30-second timeout per game 

  • 1 point for each regular basket (within 3pt arc) 

  • 2 points for each basket outside the 3pt arc

  • Championship Game is 20 minutes (two 10 min halves) with 2 referees

  • All games will be played outdoors with the exception of the championship game which will be played indoors.  


  • There will be zero tolerance for: violence, profanity, taunting, whining or trash talking. The referees have the right to remove any player from the tournament for any reason at any time.

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Volleyball:​

GAME RULES  

  • Players must be a minimum of 16 years of age

  • 6 players vs. 6 players per game

  • Co-ed teams 

  • Double elimination brackets

  • Minimum of 6 players and maximum of 15 players per team

  • Six players on the court at all times; players are in assigned positions which must rotate throughout the game.

  • Substitutions must be requested before the service signal. Teams are limited to a maximum of 10 substitutions during the course of one game. When a player is removed for a substitution, he/she may only re-enter in the same position, wherever that position currently is in the rotation

  • Teams must change sides after each game. Should the teams be tied after the first two  games, teams will change sides yet again after  one team achieves 8 points.  

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SCORING  

  • Rally scoring, for every serve there is a point 

  • First team to 15 points wins. Team must win by 2 points

  • The Champion game is a single game to 21 points.  

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SERVING  

  • Flip coin for first serve  

  • Players rotate clockwise when they win the serve.  

  • Every player must be in correct serving order at the  serving contact and then every player can switch positions. 

  • A player cannot block or attack a serve when standing in the front row.

  • The Let serve is allowed. (The ball can touch the net on a serve).  

  • The server shall be permitted two tosses only once per term of service.

  • The server’s foot can touch or go over the end line on a serve after contact with the ball. The server has 8 seconds to serve after the  referees whistle. 

  • Players must wait for the official to signal service.  

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RECEIVING  

  • Maximum of three hits per side before the ball must  be sent over the net. 

  • A block does not count as a contact. The same  person can block a shot and then pass it and it will only count as one contact. 

  • A player may not hit the ball twice in a row unless  the first one is a block.  

  • If any part of the ball touches any line the ball is in bounds.  

  • Players may use the foot to contact the ball, however, one foot must remain on the ground. 

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ADDITIONAL FAULTS  

  • Touching the net with any part of your body. 

  • Reaching over the net and contacting the ball before  the offense does if the offense is attempting to spike the ball.  

  • Player’s foot may not cross the centerline

  • Momentarily holding the ball in hand on the set (carry)  

  • Contacting the ball below the waist with hands separated.

 

Soccer:​

  • Players must be 16 years of age​

  • Male only sport

  • 6 players VS. 6 players (including goalkeeper)

  • Maximum of 15 players per team 

  • Each team must bring 2 soccer balls

  • Coaches and/or representatives from each church to make sure their team complies with the rules. Failure to comply with the rules will result on disciplinary action on the whole team

  • Each game is 20 minutes long (10-minute halves)

  • If you are late to a game more than 5 minuets, you are considered forfeited with a 0-2 score NO EXCEPTIONS

  • Substitutions:

    • * No limit for substitution during the game

    • * Substitutions must happen at a stoppage time and when the referee allows it

  • Yellow cards:

    • * If you receive 2 yellow cards in different games, you are allowed to continue playing the game which you received the 2nd yellow card in, but you will be disqualified from the following game.

    • * Cards ONLY resets at the beginning of the semi-finals

  • Red cards:

    • * If you receive 2 yellow cards in the same game or a direct red card, you are disqualified from continuing the game and disqualified from the following game AND your team will play a player down for 3 minutes

    • * Cards ONLY resets at the beginning of the semi-finals

  • In case of a point tie in the group stage:

    • * The team with the highest goal differential (goals scored - goals conceded) qualifies to the next stage

    • * In case of a tie in the above, the team with most goals scored qualifies to the next stage

    • * In case of a tie in the above, the team with the least number of yellow and red cards (counted as 2 yellow cards for direct red card) qualifies to the next stage

    • * In case of a tie in the above, a coin toss (OR a random generator if there’re more than 2 teams tied) will determine who qualifies to the next stage​

  • Coaches and/or representatives from each church to make sure their team complies with the rules. Failure to comply with the rules will result on disciplinary action on the whole team

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Table Tennis:

  • Co-ed teams

  • Minimum 2 players and maximum 5 players per team

  • Best of 5 sets of games

    • Single (player 1)

    • Single (player 2)

    • Double (player 3 &4)

    • Single (player 2)

    • Single (player 1)

  • Each set is best of 3

    • Games to 11

      • 2 serves per turn

      • Deuce (advantage to win)

  • Double 

    • Serves cross - box

    • Rotates serves per game 

    • Alternating hits 

 

Chess:

  • Open to all ages 

  • There will be two age divisions: 

    • Group 1- Under 16 years old

    • Group 2- 16 years old and up 

  • Players under 16 years old may opt to play in one of either category. If you wish to do so, you must inform the volunteers before your first match of the tournament. However, the same may not hold true for players ages 16 and up. If you are 16 years or older, you must play in the adult tournament.

  • Only active players allowed in the chess room.


  • No one may substitute another player at any point during the tournament.

  • All players must provide a valid phone number which will be used to communicate time to report to the chess room for play. Players will have 10 (ten) minutes from call time to reach the chess room. Failure to appear on time will result in disqualification

    • We try our best to call and send someone to notify you of your match but it is ultimately your responsibility to show up on time.

  • A coordinator may use their discretion when deciding to disqualify any player if the player fails to attend their match on a timely matter. Exceptions for tardiness may be made on a case-by-case basis.

  • Co-ed, round-robin competition consisting of a certain number of primary groups (usually 4-6). The group versus everyone within their own group to determine the top 8-12 players. Then, another two groups are formed to determine the final 4 who then play for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in their respective age bracket.

  • First and second place winners from each group will advance to the next round and be placed in one of two mixed groups (Group 1 & Group 2) determined by points earned (win=2 points, draw=1 point, lose=0 points).

  • Round robin in each of the two groups will determine the quarterfinal players where the first place winner of Group 1 will meet the second place winner of Group 2 and the second place winner of Group 1 will face the first place winner of Group 2 in a knockout competition.

  • Winners will meet in the final to determine first (1st) and second (2nd) place.

  • Losers will meet to determine 3rd place. 


  • Selecting Color: If players can NOT agree, a draw will take place to designate colors.

  • Touch Move: If a chess player intentionally touches one of the his\her pieces, he\she must make a move with this piece.

    • If you move a piece and remove your hand from it, you must leave the piece where it is, in the new square, as long as the move made is legal.

  • Drawn Game:

    • Stalemate — the game is drawn when a player cannot make any legal moves and yet is not in check. 


    • Agreement — the game is drawn when both players agree to a draw. 


    • The triple occurrence of position — the game can be claimed to be drawn when the same identical position occurs three times. 


    • Insufficient material to continue —i.e. the game is drawn when one of the following endings arises: (a) king versus king; (b) king versus king with bishop or knight; (c) king and bishop versus king and bishop (when both bishops are on squares of the same color); or (d) any position where there are no longer any moves that could lead to any player being checkmated 


    • 50­-move rule — the game is drawn when 50 moves have been made by each side without any capture or pawn move. 


  • Winning:

    • A game can be won by either checkmate or by resignation.

    • A game can be won, if the opponent is taking a very long time to make a move

    • Please bring any such situation to the attention of the Tournament 
Director, who will then put in place time limitations, i.e. 10 (ten) minutes for the next 3-4 moves (game dependent).

    • A game can be won if the opponent failed to be present at the start of the game within the allotted 10 (ten) minute grace period.

 

Instrument Solo:

  • Each participant must select ONE music piece (hymn, spiritual song, popular song, mainstream song, etc…..)

  • Performance time allowed is 10 minutes for each contestant

  • Musical instruments allowed for the competition are: 

    • Keyboard

    • Strings instruments

    • Woodwinds instruments

  • Keyboard contestants are allowed to use only piano sound for their musical piece, no pre-recorded beats are allowed. Keyboards used for the competition should have at least 61 keys.

  • Contestants will be divided by instrument type and by Grade Level:

    • Elementary 1 (2nd grade & under)

    • Elementary 2 (3rd– 5th)

    • Middle School (6th– 8th)

    • High School (9th– 12th)

    • College & up

  • In the case a participant is the only one performing their instrument in their age group, he/she may be asked to compete in the next closest age group.

  • The top three individual winners from each instrument in each grade group will each receive a trophy. 

 

Art Gallery:

  • Art pieces of all mediums are accepted. 

  • Each participant must bring their completed work on the day of the competition. 

  • Please include one 3x5 notecard of the description of the piece 

  • There will be two divisions: 

    • Group 1- 12 years old and younger

    • Group 2- 13 years old and older

  • Every attendee, on the day of the event, will be given a ticket at registration in order to vote for 1 art piece per group. 

  • The pieces (from each group) that receive the most votes will be the winner. 

  • 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, from both groups, will be awarded​

 
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Skits:

  • Scoring will be based on a standard rubric that will be attached

  • Skits should not contain any content relating to politics or mock religion in any way 

  • Skits should not exceed 10 minutes

  • Bad language or content will not be accepted

  • Each team is responsible for all the equipment needed to deliver the work

  • The hosting church will provide a stage, 2 microphones, and a sound system 

  • Each team is required to submit the final script of their performance via email to stmarkcentertalentshow@gmail.com by July 31, 2025 

  • Skits may not deviate from the text version submitted to the committee 

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Spiritual Choir/Alhan:

  • The allowed performance time for each choir team is exactly 15 minutes, with extra 15 minutes (5 minutes to set-up and 5 minutes getting up the stage and 5 minutes to leave the stage) (Total time 30 minutes for each church) Points will be deducted for any time over the 30 minutes.

  • Each church must present one Hymn of their choice (Mandatory), and other songs can be Arabic or English or both. 

  • PowerPoint presentations are permissible. Each church must send its power point to stmarkcentertalentshow@gmail.com by July 31,2023

  • Church teams must report to the performance area no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled time of their performance. (Note: Registration & T-shirts distribution at 8:00 am)

  • Instrumental live band and recorded background music are allowed but music must be adequate for the judges to hear the contestants’ voice. Teams who choose recorded background are responsible to provide their own equipment/recorder for their music. Electrical cords will be provided by the hosting church if needed.

  • Every church will follow the same stage arrangement. 

  • Each church must provide copies of their pamphlet for the judges on the competition day.

  • No age limits for participants. 

  • Failure to comply with these regulations may result in demerit points or disqualification from the competition.

  • The top 3 teams will be awarded trophies. ALL participants in top 3 teams of the Spiritual Choir/Alhan competition will receive an individual trophy in addition to the Church trophy.

 

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