WTVJ-NBC 6 Looks to Repeat As South Florida’s Best on the Hardwood ▪ All Participants Must Bring Signed Waiver and Valid Company ID ▪ New 10-Point Shot Rule

 MIAMI, 10/13– The Miami HEAT will host its annual Media Challenge tournament on Tuesday, October 20 at the AmericanAirlines Arena starting at 10:00 a.m. (check-in and warm-ups begin at 9:00 a.m.). The 2009 Miami HEAT Media Challenge is a media appreciation day and gives participating South Florida media the chance to play on the HEAT court. Free parking will be available at the P2 parking garage, and all participants must enter through the Command Center. Lunch will be served starting at 12:25 p.m. in the Media Dinning Room. Jerseys and T-shirts will be provided at check-in, but it is encouraged for teams to come in uniformed attire. 

This year’s Media Challenge will be an eight-team, two-round tournament. The first round will be pool play. In this round, each organization will play one game against each team in their respective pools. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Trophy Round, a single-elimination round to determine a champion.  

TEAMS

Each team is allowed up to seven active players to participate in a game: 

POOL A - WTVJ, NBC-6; WSVN, FOX-7; Sun Sports; BECON-TV 

POOL B - WPLG, ABC-10; WFOR, CBS-4; Comcast; Univision Radio  

CHECK-IN / WARM-UPS

Check-in and warm-ups will begin at 9:00 a.m. All participants must bring valid company identification and a signed waiver form (attached). Participants failing to bring either required item will be eliminated from the tournament. NO EXCEPTIONS. 

TOURNAMENT

POOL PLAY – Pool play will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. This round will feature a continuous running 15-minute game clock. There will be two teams playing simultaneously on each half court. 

TROPHY ROUND – The Trophy Round is single-elimination and will feature full court games with a 20-minute game clock (with stoppages). A 24-second shot clock will be implemented. Seeding for the round will be determined by pool play records and tie-breakers.

TIE-BREAKERS

POOL PLAY GAME – In case of a tie at the end of a pool play contest, each team must compete in a best-of-five free-throw challenge. Five players from each team must participate. 

TO DETERMINE TROPHY ROUND ADVANCEMENT / SEEDING – Tie-breakers will determine advancement or seeding if teams finish with identical records at the end of the pool play round. The first tie breaker will be combined scores, the second tie breaker will be combined margin of victories, and the third tie breaker will result in a coin toss. 

TROPHY ROUND GAME – In case of a tie at the end of a Trophy Round contest, teams must play a five-minute overtime period. Overtime periods will be played until a winner is determined. 

SCORING

FIELD GOALS - Each field goal within the three-point arc will be counted as two points. Everything behind the three-point line will be counted as three points. Three-pointers will be from standard NBA range. 

10-POINT FIELD GOAL – It’s back! The 10-point shot will be marked by the 2009 Media Challenge logos, located between the three-point arcs and half court line. This shot will be active during the final two minutes of each game of the pool play round and the final five minutes of each game in the Trophy Round. 

FREE THROWS – Free throws will be awarded for fouls in the act of shooting during the Trophy Round only. Free throws will NOT be awarded during the pool play round. 

The following is the game schedule*: 

 *Team listed first will have opening possession. 

The Miami HEAT is proud to welcome Assist-Card as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2009-10 season.