Official Youth Basketball Eligibility and Competition Rules

Pistang Pilipino Sa Wellington (PPSW) is dedicated to celebrating Filipino heritage, strengthening cultural connections, and uniting NZ Filipino communities through sports, culture, and community participation.

In accordance with the principles and guidelines of the Federation of Filipino Associations, Societies and Clubs of NZ Inc. (FFASCNZI), these rules aim to promote fair play, inclusivity, sportsmanship, participant safety, and the integrity of the competition.

All participating teams, players, coaches, and team officials are expected to uphold these values and contribute to a positive, respectful, and enjoyable sporting environment.

PPSW Youth Basketball is dedicated to the Filipino community. To be eligible, each player must have at least one biological parent who is Filipino by ancestry, meeting the tournament’s minimum requirement of 50% Filipino parentage.

Having only a Filipino grandparent or great-grandparent does not satisfy this requirement if neither biological parent meets the eligibility criteria.

Players must provide acceptable supporting documents establishing their Filipino lineage and their relationship to the qualifying biological parent.

A Filipino surname, physical appearance, verbal confirmation, or a team manager’s statement alone is not sufficient proof of eligibility.

Where standard documents are unavailable, alternative evidence may be considered by the PPSW Basketball Organising Committee, subject to verification and written approval.

The official PPSW 2026 Youth Basketball divisions are:

• 9 and Under
• 11 and Under
• 13 and Under
• 15 and Under
• 17 and Under
• 19 and Under

Players must register in the appropriate age division and comply with all age eligibility requirements.

A player’s age eligibility will be determined by their age on 24 October 2026, the first day of the competition.

Players must not have exceeded the maximum age for their registered division on or before this date.

A player who reaches the next age on 25 October 2026, the second day of the competition, remains eligible for their division because they met the age requirement on the official cut-off date.

Examples:

• 9 and Under: A player who turns 10 on 25 October 2026 is eligible. A player who turns 10 on 24 October 2026 is not eligible.
• 11 and Under: A player who turns 12 on 25 October 2026 is eligible. A player who turns 12 on 24 October 2026 is not eligible.
• 13 and Under: A player who turns 14 on 25 October 2026 is eligible. A player who turns 14 on 24 October 2026 is not eligible.
• 15 and Under: A player who turns 16 on 25 October 2026 is eligible. A player who turns 16 on 24 October 2026 is not eligible.
• 17 and Under: A player who turns 18 on 25 October 2026 is eligible. A player who turns 18 on 24 October 2026 is not eligible.
• 19 and Under: A player who turns 20 on 25 October 2026 is eligible because they are still 19 on 24 October 2026. A player who turns 20 on 24 October 2026 is not eligible.

This age cut-off applies consistently to all divisions. All players must provide acceptable proof of their date of birth.

All players must complete the eligibility verification process before participating in the competition.

A. Proof of Age

Acceptable documents may include:

• An official birth certificate.
• A valid passport.
• Another recognised government-issued document confirming the player’s date of birth.

B. Proof of Filipino Lineage

Players must provide:

• Official documentation establishing the Filipino ancestry of at least one biological parent.
• Supporting birth certificates, civil registry records, or other reliable official documents establishing the relationship between the player and that parent.

A Philippine passport, Philippine birth certificate, or relevant official civil registry record may be used as supporting evidence. Additional documents may be required to establish the parent-child relationship and confirm eligibility.

C. Parent or Legal Guardian Consent

Players under 18 must provide the required consent from a parent or legal guardian and any additional registration documents requested by PPSW.

All documents must be accurate, genuine, and submitted within the registration timeframe.

The PPSW Basketball Organising Committee reserves the right to review and verify player documentation before, during, or after the competition.

Team managers are responsible for ensuring that all registered players meet the age and Filipino lineage requirements.

A player whose eligibility has not been verified may not participate until approved by the PPSW Basketball Organising Committee.

The Committee may request additional supporting documents where information is incomplete or clarification is required.

Eligibility decisions will be handled fairly and consistently across all participating teams.

Any confirmed breach of the eligibility rules, including the use of an ineligible player, falsified documents, misrepresentation of age or Filipino lineage, or deliberate concealment of relevant information, may result in disciplinary action.

Depending on the seriousness of the breach, the following sanctions may apply:

• Formal warning to the responsible Federation team.
• Forfeiture of games in which an ineligible player participated.
• Disqualification of the player or team from the competition.
• A NZ$500 fine payable to the Federation and allocated towards the host team’s event costs, where a breach is confirmed under the published disciplinary process.
• A ban on the responsible Federation team from participating in the next Pistang Pilipino event for a second confirmed offence.

The first confirmed offence will be formally recorded and may result in a written warning. A second confirmed offence by the same Federation team may result in exclusion from the next Pistang Pilipino event.

Before any final sanction is imposed, the affected player and team will be informed of the concern and given a reasonable opportunity to respond. Decisions will be made by the authorised PPSW decision-maker in accordance with the competition rules.

A player or team manager may submit a written appeal against an eligibility or disciplinary decision within the timeframe specified by PPSW.

The appeal should include the reasons for the request and any supporting documents.

Where practicable, the appeal will be reviewed by an authorised decision-maker who was not directly involved in the original decision.

In accordance with the guidelines and principles of the Federation of Filipino Associations, Societies and Clubs of NZ Inc. (FFASCNZI), all PPSW sports participants are deemed to confirm that they are in good health and are physically, mentally, and medically fit to participate in their respective sporting events.

Participants are responsible for considering their own health and fitness before taking part. Anyone who feels unwell, experiences an injury, or has a health concern that may affect safe participation should notify the relevant sports coordinator and seek appropriate advice before participating.

Parents and legal guardians are responsible for considering the health, wellbeing, and suitability of minors in their care.

PPSW encourages all participants to prioritise their safety and wellbeing, follow the instructions of event officials, and participate responsibly.

This declaration does not replace any medical clearance that may be required for a particular sport or individual circumstance, nor does it remove the organisers’ responsibilities to take reasonable steps to provide a safe sporting environment.

All identification, birth, and lineage documents submitted for eligibility verification will be handled confidentially and accessed only by authorised personnel for legitimate competition administration.

Personal information will be collected, stored, accessed, retained, and disposed of in accordance with applicable New Zealand privacy requirements.

The PPSW Basketball Organising Committee is responsible for administering these rules and resolving eligibility matters in accordance with the published competition regulations and applicable law.

Any amendments or additional requirements will be communicated clearly to participating teams.

By registering a team, the team manager agrees to comply with these rules and ensure that all registered players meet the published eligibility requirements.