Rules
New for 2022, All events will use the Elam Ending format. So, what’s the Elam Ending? It's basketball the way it was meant to be played, where EVERY game ends on a MADE basket. NOT with one team holding the ball and one team intentionally fouling to get the ball back. The Elam Ending was used for the NBA All Star Game!
Elam Endings are always intense and exciting with every player wanting to be the Elam Ender, but what about the start of games? This year we are going to crank up the intensity from the opening tip with the MONEY BALL. The first basket of every game will be worth 5 points , regardless if it's a layup or 3 pointer. Doing basketball a better way!
Here are the rules:
The Elam Ending calls for the game clock to be shut off at the first dead ball under four minutes in the second half. A target score is then established by adding eight points to the leading team’s score. For example, if the score is 80-72, the two teams will play until someone reaches 88. With no game clock in play, trailing teams are allowed to focus on getting stops and buckets, rather than intentionally fouling.
During the untimed portion (the Elam Ending), any non-offensive, non-shooting foul while in the bonus shall result in one free throw and the fouled team’s continued possession of the ball. There is no Double bonus or shooting one plus one during the Elam Ending. Players do not need to line up on free throw line during Elam Ending if its not a 2 shot foul.
All Shooting fouls are two shots as always. All technical fouls are 2 pts and the ball.
If teams struggle to reach the target score officials have the option to put 2 minutes on the clock with the team leading at the end declared the winner. This could come into play especially for younger teams.
The Elam ending allows teams to play at a high level all the way through the end of the game and take their best shot on the last possession of the game and it provides more memorable game-ending moments. Players learn to defend without fouling and unlike regular basketball where only a few games end with a game winning basket, in the Elam Ending they ALL end on a made basket.
Fouling to stop the clock occurs in approximately 44 percent of NBA games and 58 percent of NCAA games, and yet it only results in a comeback victory roughly 1 percent of the time. Getting rid of the clock and playing to a target score eliminates this.