HEARTLAND HOMESCHOOL BASKETBALL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

🏀 HEARTLAND REGIONAL 2026: Info Sheet Basketball COACHES & TEAMS

103 Teams from KS, MO, NE, OK, AR, & MN

We have important updates regarding the upcoming tournament. Please review the details below carefully.

📢 Stewardship is a Partnership: 2027 Heartland Planning is Underway

At the NCHC, we don’t guess—we build based on your data. The 2026 Heartland Regional is the foundation for our 2027 contracts. Whether you are an AD, Parent, or Player, your feedback directly dictates our blueprint for facility standards, the “One Roof” model, and our long-term future in Wichita. 🗺️

We want to hear about your experience this week. Your data is the only way we can hold facilities accountable and ensure the Heartland continues to provide a premier environment for our athletes. ✍️

The 2027 Leadership Incentive: Programs whose Athletic Directors and Head Coaches complete this review by Saturday Night will be logged for 24-Hour Early Access to the 2027 Discounted Hotel Blocks. Ensure your program is at the front of the line for the best rates and locations next year. 🏨💨

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

🔥BRACKETS ARE NOW LIVE-🔥
CLICK HERE

🚨 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!

🛑 FULL DETAILS — [Coaches Update Center – CLICK HERE]

GATE 🎟️ ADMISSION-

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

  • HEARTLAND (Wichita, KS) 🎟️ – Click Here
  • Ticket Tailor is our merchant. When looking for your confirmation email, search “Ticket Tailor”.

📍 2026 DATES & LOCATION

We are excited to be in Wichita!

  • When: February 26th – 28th, 2026 (Thursday – Saturday)
  • Format: Full 3-Day Event
  • Friday Start Day: G12u & B10u (2-day event for these age groups)
  • Venue: Wichita Edge Sports Complex
  • Address: 5260 Toler Dr, Bel Aire, KS 67226

⚠️ Facility Policies:

  • Policies to be announced: Specific facility policies for this location will be released shortly. Please check back for updates regarding food, seating, and other venue rules.

🏨 NCHBC Heartland Regional Lodging-

📅 URGENT: ROSTER & REGISTRATION

PLAYER COMPLIANCE (The “No Reg, No Play” Rule) Insurance & Eligibility Mandate: For strict liability and eligibility reasons, student-athletes cannot step onto the court unless they are registered.

  • Player Registration: The Last Chance Early Bird Rate expires on February 15th. After this date, the price increases by $10 per event. The roster audit will occur on this date. [CLICK HERE to Register]
  • Bench Personnel: Anyone sitting on the bench must be registered with the NCHC. [CLICK HERE to Register]
  • Credential Details: Each Organization receives two (2) coaches’ passes per team. All others must purchase a GATE pass.

🏆 BRACKET RELEASE & SEEDING

Brackets & Opening Day Game Times Policy: You can expect to know your age group’s earliest start time for the opening day seven (7) days before the event.

Full Brackets are released no later than:

  • Monday, February 23rd for Regionals.

⚖️ TIE-BREAKER RULES (For Pool Play)

Sequential tie-break rules, in order, to be used after round-robin play:

  1. Head-to-Head results (2-team tie at any point) (If at any point this results in a 2-way tie, refer to point #1 again)
  2. Point Differential (Max +20 or -20 per game)
  3. Least points allowed
  4. Points scored
  5. Random Chance (Conducted at NCHC H.Q.) Note: If “Team USA” is in your pool, they advance as the bottom seed and cannot be included in a tie. Games against them still count.

🏀 GAME DAY OPERATIONS & RULES

👉 Full Game Rules: [Game Info NCHC]

HOME TEAM (Top of Bracket)

  • Uniform: Light/White
  • Provides: Game Ball
  • Responsibility: OFFICIAL SCOREBOOK

AWAY TEAM (Bottom of Bracket)

  • Uniform: Dark
  • Responsibility: OFFICIAL CLOCK OPERATOR
  • Duty: Leads pregame center-court prayer.

GAME LENGTH & OT

  • Warm Up: 6 Minutes (Begins immediately after previous game)
  • 10u/12u/14u: 6-min Qtrs | 3-min OT
  • 16u: 7-min Qtrs | 3-min OT
  • 18u: 8-min Qtrs | 4-min OT
  • Halftime: 4 Minutes (Fans/Children may NOT shoot during halftime).

EQUIPMENT & RULES

  • Ball Size: Boys 12u-18u (29.5) | Boys 10u & All Girls (28.5)
  • Goals: All age groups play on 10-foot goals.
  • Timeouts: 5 per game (3 Full, 2 :30s)
  • Mercy Rule: Running clock if lead is >30 in 4th Qtr.
  • Pressing: 12u (Permitted until +20 lead) | 10u (Permitted until +15 lead).

👉 Full Game Rules: [Game Info NCHC]

🙏 PREGAME SCRIPTURE & PRAYER

Head coaches will lead a prayer and scripture reading at center court before tip-off.

  • OPENING DAY: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” — 1 Timothy 4:8
  • DAY 2: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” — Colossians 3:23
  • CONSOLATION/FINALS: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” — Hebrews 12:1

⚠️ CRITICAL POLICIES & CONDUCT

🛑 THE “MUST PLAY” POLICY ($100 FINE) All teams are contractually obligated to play all bracketed games (including consolation). Forfeits result in a $100.00 Penalty Per Game and risk suspension.

📊 MANDATORY SCORE REPORTING Winning & losing coaches must text scores IMMEDIATELY after the game.

  • Text Number: 1 (417) 203-7447
  • Format: [Region] [Age/Div] [Pool, Division, etc.] [Winner Score vs Loser Score]
  • Example: Midwest 18uB Pool A, Team A 55 – Team B 50

👮 COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL Only Head Coaches or ADs are permitted to approach the Director’s table. Parents must use the online Fan Feedback Form, located on the Home Tab of each bracket.

🚫 ZERO TOLERANCE CONDUCT POLICY

  • Section I (Ejection): Violator must leave the building for the remainder of the game.
  • Section II (Refusal/Severe): If law enforcement is called or conduct is egregious, the violator is barred from the remainder of the event and the Organization risks a 1-year suspension.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

We are excited to welcome 104 teams from the following states:

  • Kansas: Cornerstone Family Saints, KC Metro Mavericks, Legacy Prep Kings, Manhattan CHIEF Thunder, Wichita Defenders, Wichita Warriors.
  • Missouri: KC East Lions, Lighthouse Chargers, Mid Missouri Mavericks, Missouri Warriors, Rolla Royals, RUSH, St. Louis Blue Knights.
  • Nebraska: Lincoln Eagles, Omaha Lightning, Omaha Roadrunners, SE Nebraska Dragonflies.
  • Oklahoma: Aspire Trailblazers, OK Flame.
  • Arkansas: Fort Smith Patriots, NWA Hornets.
  • Minnesota: South Metro Huskies.

👕 DISTRICT MERCH: Fine Designs will be providing merchandise on-site!

📅 SAVE THE DATE: 2027 SEASON

2027 Basketball Regionals

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

2027 National Championships

  • Springfield, MO: March 15–19, 2027

ON-SITE CONTACTS

  • Tournament Directors: Caleb Allen (Coaches/ADs Only)
  • Emergencies & Pre-Event Needs Contact: nchcstaff@nchclive.com


(c) 1991-2026 National Christian Homeschool Championships, LLC. The NCHC operates as a Private Voluntary Association. Attendance is an Invitational Privilege. By entering the facility, all attendees agree to abide by the Association Bylaws, including the Dispute Resolution Policy and Zero Tolerance Conduct Policy.