OFFICIAL COACHES UPDATE CENTER

🏀 COACHES TLDR: 2026 Nationals Master Briefing

Welcome to Springfield! With a record-breaking 414 teams competing this year, here is your quick-reference guide to the most critical deadlines, schedule releases, and operational changes for the 2026 National Championships.
READ THE FULL DETAILS by CLICKING HERE

🚨 URGENT ACTION ITEMS (DO NOT MISS)

  • Mar 11th | 🏆 2026 NATIONALS BRACKETS ARE LIVE! The Road to Springfield is officially paved. All brackets for the 2026 National Championships have been released! Find your seed, opponent, and opening-round court location now. If you do not see your division immediately, please refresh your browser to clear your cache. [View the Official Bracket Page Here]
  • Mar 10th | 🎬 THE SELECTION SHOW MARATHON IS LIVE! The 2026 Selection Shows and Division Divides are now premiering! We’ve overhauled our media to be faster and deeper—most shows are just 15 minutes. Find your age group’s video, view the reveal schedule, and see the road to the Gold Ball on our [Selection Show Hub Here].

  • Mar 10th | 🎯 3-Point Contest: Last Call for Girls’ Slots Boys’ tryout slots are nearly sold out! This is the final opportunity for Girls to secure their dedicated time slots. On Thursday, any remaining unoccupied girls’ slots will be opened to the general waitlist. Don’t wait—secure your spot now! [Sign Up for 3-Point Tryouts Here]

  • Mar 10th | 🇺🇸 Team USA Urgent Needs (50% OFF) We have immediate roster openings for G16u, G18u, and B10u players. To finalize these teams, we are offering 50% OFF the registration fee for the next two players in each of these age groups who mention this update.[Visit the Team USA Opportunities Doc]

  • Mar 9th | 📋 Nationals Draft Schedule & Start Times The complete Mon–Fri draft schedule is live. This includes Earliest Start Times by age group to help your team finalize travel and arrival plans. [View the Draft Schedule Here
  • 💥 Slam Dunk Try-outs: Coaches, remind your high-flyers that Dunk try-outs require a video submission to nchbchomeschoolnationals@gmail.com to qualify for the live Sunday try-out.
  • 🏆 Award Nominations: Ensure your program submits nominations for the Owen Gray Heart of a Champion Award (Due March 13th) and the Rich Lewis Blue Man Fan Award (Due March 12th).

READ THE FULL DETAILS by CLICKING HERE

📅 CRITICAL RELEASE DATES (When do we play?)

  • Monday, March 9th: Opening Day Earliest Start Times released.
  • Tuesday, March 10th @ 7:00 PM CST: The Official Selection Show & Division Divides go live!
  • Wed, March 11th – Fri, March 13th: Full Brackets released (Guaranteed by the 13th).
  • Saturday, March 14th @ 11:59 PM CST: All-Region Teams & Regional MVPs announced.

READ THE FULL DETAILS by CLICKING HERE

📋 MANDATORY COACHING OPERATIONS & RULES

  • 📱 Mandatory Score Reporting: Winning and losing coaches must text the final score IMMEDIATELY after the game to 1 (417) 203-7447. (Format: Region | Age/Div | Winner Score vs Loser Score).
  • 🛑 Strict Fan Seating Policy: Your fans MUST sit directly behind your team’s bench. They are strictly prohibited from sitting behind the opponent’s bench. Please communicate this to your parents immediately! (At the Drury Livestream court, fans may also sit behind the basket nearest your bench).
  • 💸 “Must Play” Policy: Teams are contractually obligated to play all bracketed games, including consolation. Forfeiting carries a $100 penalty per game and risks future suspension.
  • 🆔 Coaches Badges: Pick up your two free coaches badges at BBC on Sunday, March 15th (4 PM – 9 PM) or at Drury all week. They are not required for entry, but we highly encourage wearing them!

READ THE FULL DETAILS by CLICKING HERE

🌟 NEW FOR 2026: MAJOR EVENT CHANGES

  • 🥈 The Silver Ball Update: Teams that lose a Gold Ball game will drop into the Silver Ball bracket. There is now exactly 1 Silver Ball awarded per division!
  • 🎤 Monday Night Showcase (Drury): The Slam Dunk Finals, 3-Point Finals, and All-Region/Regional MVP Award Recognitions have been moved to Monday, March 16th at 7:00 PM.
  • 🔥 Friday Night Finale (Drury): The All-Region Games are BACK! Stay in your seats on Friday, March 20th. Immediately following the 8:00 PM Boys 18u Undisputed National Championship, we will host the Girls 18u All-Region Game, the Boys 18u All-Region Game, and the Senior Sendoff Prayer.
  • 🎥 Exclusive Livestream Court: Drury O’Reilly Center is our exclusive broadcast court this year, featuring 2-3 live commentators for every game.

READ THE FULL DETAILS by CLICKING HERE

🔥Regional BRACKETS ARE NOW LIVE-🔥
CLICK HERE

📢 SHAPE 2027: Your Voice, Our Blueprint We are already booking 2027 venue contracts and referee blocks. Don’t just attend the tournament—help us build it.

ADs & Head Coaches: Complete this review in UNDER 5 MINUTES for 24-Hour Early Access to 2027 Hotel Blocks.

Parents & Fans: Make your voice heard on the “Location Reality,” gym quality, and more.

📢[CLICK HERE: TAKE THE 5-MINUTE REVIEW]📢

🚨 New Standards for Integrity & Player Recognition: Regional MVP Voting

As we kick off this Regional season, our primary goal remains the same: celebrating the hard work and talent of your athletes. To ensure our awards carry the ultimate prestige and accuracy, we are introducing key updates to the All-Regional Team and MVP voting process.

🏀 NEW: Vote for up to TWO Players from each opponent, live after each game!

  • Division 1 Exclusivity: You must be a Division 1 (D1) team to vote, and only D1 players are eligible to receive Regional MVP votes. The Logic: Historically, no player from Division 2 has ever been named the MVP of their region. With over 575 teams attending Regionals, we value our coaches’ time. This streamlines the process, focusing solely on the pool of players legitimately competing for the region’s top award.

  • No Self-Voting: Coaches are no longer permitted to vote for their own players. All accolades are earned 100% through the respect of opposing coaches.

  • Real-Time Assessment: Votes must be cast within 24 hours after each game ends. Late ballots are at risk of not being accepted.

  • Matchup Validation (Starting 5): Coaches will be asked to submit their “Starting 5” on the form when they cast their vote. Submitting your starters ensures your athletes receive the maximum exposure if an opposing coach votes for them by jersey number. (Reminder: Zero players have ever earned MVP honors coming off the bench).

  • Award Viability: We rely 100% on peer evaluation. If an age group does not receive a statistically significant number of opposing-coach votes, an All-Regional team and MVP will not be announced for that category.

🛑 COACHES ONLY — [Regional MVP Vote – CLICK HERE]

FINAL- Seeding-

February 16th Update

🔥 FINAL- Seeding- BIG SOUTH (All Age Groups)

  • Big South– Click Here
  • DEADLINE for Preliminary SEEDING is OVER- 

February 15 Update
🔥 FINAL- Seeding- Heartland & Midwest (All Age Groups)

👀 SNEAK PEEK Day 1 Schedule-[Click HERE] ALL Events

NEW 🔥 PRELIM- Seeding-
Big South, Heartland, & Midwest (All Age Groups)

11:05 PM – February 12th Update
NEW 🔥 PRELIM- Seeding- BIG SOUTH (All Age Groups)

2 AM – February 12th Update
🔥 PRELIM- Seeding- Midwest (All Age Groups)

6 PM – February 10th Update

🔥 PRELIM- Seeding- Heartland (All Age Groups)

👀 SNEAK PEEK Day 1 Schedule-[Click HERE] ALL Events


NEW 🎟️ Early Bird ADMISSION-

💳 All Gates are 100% CASHLESS(Card/Mobile Pay Only)

3-Day Passes (Early Bird- Save up to $10)
⚠️ PLEASE NOTE: Ticket Prices will increase on the Monday before the tournament (February 23rd). The deadline expires February 22nd.

Ticket Tailor is our merchant. When looking for your confirmation email, search “Ticket Tailor”.


📊 PRELIM- Seeding/Division Divide

🚨 INFO SHEET BY REGION

  • Dual Roster & Coach Conflict Notification: [CLICK HERE] (Must complete before brackets are made)
  • Game Time Change/Schedule Adjustment & Conflict Request: [CLICK HERE] (Wait until brackets are released to use this)
  • 2026 Team List: 1200+ TEAMS! View the record-breaking field. [LINK: View Team List]

RESOURCES

  • Game Info (home & away responsibilities, etc.)- CLICK HERE

  • Official Referee Incident Report: CLICK HERE
  • Eligibility Verification/Challenge Form- Click Here
  • Eligibility Guidelines Info: CLICK HERE
  • Policies & Procedure Page: Click Here
  • Association Bylaws Page: CLICK HERE
  • SEEDING FORM: CLICK HERE
  • Player Registration Link: Click Here
  • Coaches Registration Link: Click Here
  • Fan Resource: Facility Feedback & Safety Form
  • NCHC Player Fee Info- Click Here
  • Brackets & Opening Day Game Times: You can expect to know your age group’s earliest start time for the opening day seven (7) days before the event. Brackets are released no later than Monday before events that begin on Thursday, Tuesday for events beginning on Friday, and Friday for events that begin on Monday

📸 NATIONALS PROGRAM (MARCH 7th DEADLINE)

Status: 🟡 URGENT Do not be the team with a blank space in the Commemorative Program!

  • Action: Upload your official Team Photo and Roster for the Nationals Event Program.
  • Deadline: March 7th.

👉 [LINK: UPLOAD ROSTER & PHOTO]

🇺🇸 TEAM USA & BRACKET NEEDS

Nationals registration is humming along! As we finalize brackets, we have specific needs in certain regions to balance the pools.

💰 2026 FEE STRUCTURE (Aggressive Savings) Includes Player Fee & Jersey Top

  • Nationals Early Bird: Deadline March 1st
  • $99 (18u/16u/14u)
  • $80 (12u)
  • $60 (10u)Note: Prices increase after Early Bird deadlines.
    Early Bird Deadline for Team USA- Nationals March 1st.

👉 [LINK: TEAM USA REGISTRATION & INFO]

📈 THE RECORD-BREAKING FIELD

The “Road to Springfield” is packed. We are projecting record attendance across the board. We are honored to host you!

2026 Participation Numbers:

  • Nationals (Springfield, MO): 416 Teams
  • Midwest Regional (Indy): 252 Teams
  • Big South Regional (Dallas): 227 Teams
  • Heartland Regional (Wichita): 105 Teams

👉 [LINK: View Team List]

SAVE THE DATE: 2026-27 SEASON

🏐 2026 Volleyball Nationals October 15–17, 2026 Advent Health Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park, KS (200+ HomeSchool Teams)

2027 Basketball Regionals

  • Midwest (IN): Feb 24–26, 2027 (Same location as 2026)
  • Big South (TX): Feb 25–27, 2027 (Same location as 2026)
  • Heartland (KS): Feb 25–27, 2027 (Same location as 2026)

2027 Basketball National Championships

2027 Seeding Game Deadlines are: NCHBC 2027

  • District: January 3rd
  • Regionals/Nationals: January 31st

© 1991-2026 National Christian Homeschool Championships, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The National HomeSchool Basketball Association (NHBA) and National HomeSchool Volleyball Association (NHVA) are proprietary divisions owned and operated by National Christian Homeschool Championships, LLC. The NCHC operates as a Private Voluntary Association; all events are Invitational competitions and are conditioned upon strict adherence to the [Association Bylaws & Eligibility Guidelines]. New organizations are subject to a Vetting Process, including administrative reference checks. All participants agree to mandatory mediation/arbitration as the exclusive remedy for disputes.