Emerald Coast MastersThe 65+ bracket is rare on the masters basketball calendar. Most regional events fold this division into a larger 60+ bracket because they can't fill it. The Emerald Coast Masters runs it as a standalone bracket — because the players who show up at this age deserve their own competition.
What 65+ basketball offers
This is the bracket where players have refined the game down to a series of micro-decisions. Where to plant your feet. When to release. Where the help defender is going to be three seconds from now. The post player who's been doing the same drop step since 1973 is automatic. The point guard who learned to read defenses in college is still reading them.
The athleticism dial is turned down. The IQ dial is turned all the way up. Watching 65+ basketball is genuinely instructive — you'll see the game played the way coaches teach it.
Format and rules
- Game format: Full-court 5-on-5
- Officials: Two certified referees per game
- Roster size: Up to 10 players
- Eligibility cutoff: 65 or older as of December 31 of tournament year
- Player safety rules: Reduced contact emphasis; charging calls weighted toward defender protection. See tournament rules.
Why ECM commits to running 65+
Because masters basketball doesn't end at 60. There are committed players in their late 60s and 70s across the Southeast who deserve a real bracket — not a forced merger with a younger division. The Emerald Coast Masters opens 8 spots in the 65+ bracket and runs the games whether 4 teams sign up or 8.
Travel and lodging
The host hotel block makes travel simple. Most 65+ teams arrive on Wednesday and leave on Sunday. See tournament hotels and the airport guide.
Free agent? Get on the list
The 65+ free agent pool is small but active. Sign up as a free agent and we'll do our best to match you with a captain who needs a player.
Register Your 65+ Team Sign Up as Free Agent