Basketball Tournament Rules

The Moline HORSE Tournament is a thrilling basketball tournament featuring a single elimination format based on your shot making skills. For participants unfamiliar with the tournament rules, every time your opponent makes a shot and you miss from the same location, you receive a letter. Once you spell out HORSE, you are eliminated from the competition.

Which player shoots first is determined by shooting free throws, following the HORSE game rules. Additionally, there will be an expected pace of play in accordance with the tournament rules.

Officiating of a game will be carried out by the players participating, following the established tournament rules.

Players are not required to replicate a specific basketball move for a made shot; they only need to shoot from the same location. For example, if a player makes a behind-the-back shot from the free throw line, the opponent does not need to mimic that move but can shoot from the same spot on the floor.

A maximum of one letter can be awarded from a shot made using a non-dominant hand, which must be called out prior to the shot. The only exception to this rule is a non-dominant hand shot is not permitted for the last letter, 'E'.

Players are allowed 2 attempts on the last letter, letter 'E', only.

The bank is open for the tournament!  Unlimited bank shots off of the backboard can be declared prior to any shot attempt.  If the shot attempt is made, the opponent must replicate the bank shot.

All net (swish) shots can be declared prior to any shot attempt.  If the shot attempt is made with a swish, the opponent must replicate the swish shot. Players also have the option to request a third party official to review the shot attempts.

A basketball will be provided by the basketball tournament. If you want to increase your advantage, feel free to bring your own rock.

For bracket seeding, the previous year's final four players will automatically receive 1 seeds, while the elite eight players from the previous year will automatically be assigned 2 seeds. If players from the previous year are not available to participate, a blind draw will take place from a pool of players that have made appearances in any year's final four or elite eight.