Administration:
Mackay Basketball Inc. (MBI) will be the governing body for the 2026 Australia Day Weekend Basketball Carnival. The carnival will also be sanctioned by Basketball Queensland (BQ).
Venue:
McDonald’s Mackay Multi-Sports Stadium | 107 Juliet Street, South Mackay 4740, (07) 4957 5543 or comps@mackaybasketball.com.au
Dates:
FRIDAY NIGHT, JANUARY 23 TO MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2025
All visiting teams travelling to Mackay will need to be available to play on Friday Night (24/1).
MBI is anticipating a significant increase in the number of team registrations across all divisions in 2026, due to the public holiday falling on Monday (26/1)
Men’s Divisions:
- DIVISION 1 MEN
- DIVISION 2 MEN
- DIVISION 3 MEN
- DIVISION 4 MEN
Women’s Divisions:
- DIVISION 1 WOMEN
- DIVISION 2 WOMEN
- WOMEN’S SOCIAL COMPETITION
Team Nomination Fee:
- Division 1 Men - $400.00 per team
- Division 2 Men - $350.00 per team
- Division 3 Men - $300.00 per team
- Division 4 Men - $250.00 per team
- Division 1 Women - $400.00 per team
- Division 2 Women - $350.00 per team
- Women’s Social Competition - $250.00 per team
Player Nomination Fee:
- Non-playing MBI members - $28.66 Basketball Queensland Fee
- Playing MBI members - Active Basketball Queensland Membership
Teams:
This tournament is open to all teams from throughout Australia. Invitational International teams are also eligible to participate.
Age Restrictions:
Any registered junior player wishing to play in the carnival must be ‘bottom age’ under 16 (i.e., turning 14 in the year of playing – players born in 2011) to be eligible to play.
Rules:
Standard FIBA rules will be used.
Uniforms:
All players / teams competing in the Division 1 men & women’s competitions MUST all be in matching singlets and shorts – NO EXCEPTIONS. No uniforms shall have buttons, zippers or pockets in the shorts or attached to them.
All players / teams competing in the Division 2, Division 3, Division 4 or Women’s social competition MUST all be in matching singlets - NO EXCEPTIONS. Although matching shorts are preferred, they are not a requirement. No uniforms shall have buttons, zippers or pockets in the shorts or attached to them.
MBI Representatives or Referees shall not permit any player to wear objects that may cause injury to themselves or to other players. The following are not permitted - headgear, hair accessories and jewelry. Referees will monitor all player’s appearance prior to the start of each match. Referees will ask for the removal of rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other body piercing objects.
Players:
Division 1 Player Requirement:
Any player who is currently registered within their local association as a Division 1 player (also known as ‘A-Grade’) as their primary competition they currently play in, must play in Division 1 in this Carnival.
Division 1 Player Restrictions:
- There are no player restrictions in the Division 1 men & women’s competitions; however, each team can only have a maximum of ten (10) players on their roster.
- At no stage can players be added to a roster once their team’s paperwork has been submitted to MBI & the first game of the tournament has commenced.
- Each player is only allowed to play in one (1) team, in one (1) nominated division only.
- Players are not allowed to sub across to teams in the same division, or any other division.
- Once a player plays for one team they cannot change to another team.
- To be eligible for the Division 1 finals a player must play in a minimum of two (2) preliminary rounds games.
Division 2 Player Restrictions:
- Division 2 teams are NOT allowed to have NBL1/NBL1 Development players or QSL1 / QSL2 players on their roster.
- An NBL1/NBL1 Development player or QSL1 / QSL2 player is defined as anybody who was registered / contracted / trained on any above team rosters in 2025.
- Each team can only have a maximum of ten (10) players on their roster.
- At no stage can players be added to a roster once their team’s paperwork has been submitted to MBI & the first game of the tournament has commenced.
- Each player is only allowed to play in one (1) team, in one (1) nominated division only.
- Players are not allowed to sub across to teams in the same division, or any other division.
- Once a player plays for one team they cannot change to another team.
- To be eligible for the finals a player must play in a minimum of two (2) preliminary rounds games.
Division 3 Player Restrictions:
- Division 3 teams are NOT allowed to have NBL1 or QSL1 / QSL2 / Mendi League players on their roster.
- An NBL1/NBL1 Development player or QSL1 / QSL2 / Mendi League player is defined as anybody who was registered / contracted / trained on any above team rosters in 2025.
- Each team can only have a maximum of ten (10) players on their roster.
- At no stage can players be added to a roster once their team’s paperwork has been submitted to MBI & the first game of the tournament has commenced.
- Each player is only allowed to play in one (1) team, in one (1) nominated division only.
- Players are not allowed to sub across to teams in the same division, or any other division.
- Once a player plays for one team they cannot change to another team.
- To be eligible for the finals a player must play in a minimum of two (2) preliminary rounds games.
Division 4 Player Restrictions:
- Division 4 teams are NOT allowed to have NBL1 or QSL1 / QSL2 / Mendi League players on their roster.
- An NBL1/NBL1 Development player or QSL1 / QSL2 / Mendi League player is defined as anybody who was registered / contracted / trained on any above team rosters in 2025.
- No Division 1 or Division 2 domestic club players are allowed in the Division 4 competition.
- Each team can only have a maximum of ten (10) players on their roster.
- At no stage can players be added to a roster once their team’s paperwork has been submitted to MBI & the first game of the tournament has commenced.
- Each player is only allowed to play in one (1) team, in one (1) nominated division only. Players are not allowed to sub across to teams in the same division, or any other division.
- Once a player plays for one team they cannot change to another team.
- To be eligible for the finals a player must play in a minimum of two (2) preliminary rounds games.
Women’s Social Competition:
- The Women’s Social Competition is for social players and new players that are considered no higher standard than a registered Division 3 competition player.
- NBL1/NBL1 Development, QSL1 / QSL2 / Mendi League, Division 1 and Division 2 domestic club players from the 2025 Domestic Competition season are strictly not allowed to play in this division.
Scorers:
All teams are required to provide one (1) score bench official for each of their games. Teams that do not provide a score bench official will need to utilize one of their players for score bench duties. Games will not commence until each team has provided a score bench official. MBI will provide a score bench official to control the shot clock for Division 1 games only. MBI will also provide the score bench for all Grand Finals.
Referees:
MBI will provide a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of three (3) referees for each game. Teams are encouraged to supply a referee or have a player that is able to help referee games throughout the tournament.
Game Timing:
Preliminary round games in all divisions and all finals matches will be timed as:
- 4 x 10-minute quarters – running clock.
- Each team is allowed two (2) time-outs in the 1st half and three (3) in the second half with a maximum of two (2) timeouts in the last two (2) minutes of the 4th quarter the clock will stop for these. The clock will also stop in the last two-minutes of the fourth quarter only - on all dead ball situations, including free throws, time-outs and after a successful basket.
- One-minute quarter time / three-quarter time break & a two-minute half time break.
- No overtime will be played in preliminary round games. If overtime is required in a semi-final / grand final game, it will be set at 3-minutes and the clock will stop for all dead ball situations in this time. Each team is allowed one (1) time out each in the overtime period.
- A 24-second shot clock will be utilized for all Division 1 men & women’s games only. There will be no shot clock used in Division 2, Division 3 or Division 4. Shot clock will be used for Grand Finals for Division 1 & 2.
- Timing for semi & grand final games across all divisions will be timed the same way as timing for all preliminary round games.
Points:
A win will result in 3-points - A draw will result in 2-points
A loss will result in 1-point - A forfeit or disqualification will result in 0-points
All divisions shall be based on the above points system. In the event where teams have equal points at the conclusion of round games, a tie breaker will be decided only by the head-to-head points between those teams. In the event that teams are still tied, total points differential will be used to determine the higher-ranking team.
Late to Game:
Referees will begin games on time and run the clock as scheduled in the competition draw.
A team must have a minimum of three (3) players to start a competition game. A team will be penalized 2-points for each minute or part thereof if they do not have three (3) players and are unable to play. These points will be added to the opposition score at the end of the 1st quarter. If a team does not have three (3) players by the end of the first quarter, they will be disqualified and awarded 0-points.
Players must be present in full uniform on the team bench before halftime to take the court. Any players arriving after the halftime break are ineligible to play.
In the case of extreme circumstances / Acts of God and a team is unable to make it to their game on time, MBI Representatives will convene to make a governing ruling regarding that game.
Tribunal:
Any player, coach or spectator placed on report by an official throughout the tournament could be subject to face a tribunal hearing in accordance with Basketball Australia Tribunal By-Laws with Mackay Basketball being the Organizing Body and convening the Tribunal before the next scheduled game. Mackay Basketball will appoint a Disciplinary panel to hold the Tribunal hearing.
Door Entry:
All spectators aged 6 & over will be required to pay a door entry fee of $7.50 per person, per day, or $15 per person, for the weekend. Kids aged 5 & under will receive free entry.
All children must be supervised. Mackay Basketball is not a Daycare facility.
Presentations:
Presentations will take place after each Grand Final game.
Facilities:
The Beer Garden Bar & Canteen will be available on site at Mackay Basketball at nominated times throughout the carnival. MBI encourages all spectators to drink responsibly and has a zero tolerance for any persons who are drunk or disorderly, or whose conduct is unlawful or offensive, or persons who engage in inappropriate behaviour.
Game Times:
Friday, January 23: 6pm – 10pm (All teams must be available)
Saturday, January 24: 8am – 10pm (All teams must be available)
Sunday, January 25: 8am – 10pm (All teams must be available)
Monday, January 26: 8am – 2pm (Semi & Grand Finals)
Division Structure:
Structure is subject to change dependent on the number of teams nominating, however each team will play a minimum of three (3) games.