Emerald Coast MastersThe 70+ bracket plays a different format than the rest of the tournament — half-court 3-on-3. This isn't a downgrade. It's the right format for the level of play. 3-on-3 emphasizes everything 70+ players are great at: shot-making, positioning, screen reading, and decision speed. It removes what the format taxes hardest at this age: full-court running and crowded paint defense.
Why 3-on-3 for 70+
Three reasons. First, full-court basketball at 70+ is hard on knees, hips, and backs. The 3-on-3 format keeps the game competitive while keeping players healthy. Second, 3-on-3 is its own discipline — Olympic-level basketball plays this way too. The skill set rewards exactly what 70+ players have spent a lifetime building. Third, smaller rosters mean a 70+ captain only needs to recruit 4–5 guys, not 9–10. That makes the tournament viable for teams that wouldn't otherwise fill a 5-on-5 roster.
3-on-3 format and rules
- Game format: Half-court 3-on-3
- Game length: First to a target score (typically 21) or time limit, whichever comes first
- Possession: "Make it, take it" or alternating possession depending on bracket round
- Roster size: Up to 5 players per team
- Officials: One certified referee per game
- Eligibility cutoff: 70 or older as of December 31 of tournament year
Full 3-on-3 rule details are on the tournament rules page.
Who plays 70+ 3-on-3
Players who've been hooping their entire lives. Many of them played at the college level decades ago. Some have been on senior tournament circuits since their 50s and just kept aging up. They show up with their teammates from the last 10 tournaments, drink coffee on the bench, and proceed to drop jumpers on the court.
Why the Emerald Coast Masters runs this division
Because 70+ basketball matters. Most tournaments don't bother. We do. The 70+ 3-on-3 bracket is a real bracket with real games and a real championship. Players in this division have earned the chance to compete for a title — and we're going to give them one.
Free agent? Sign up
The 70+ free agent pool is the smallest at the tournament — but it's well-utilized. Captains in this bracket actively recruit. Sign up here.
Register Your 70+ Team Sign Up as Free Agent