Gulf Coast 2026 NCHC Coaches and Teams, We have important updates regarding next week’s tournament. Please review the details below carefully, especially regarding our BRAND NEW facility!

*NOW LIVE*
🚨 2026 District BRACKETS–Click Here 🚨 

📍 2026 DATES & NEW LOCATION We are excited to host this year’s event at a brand-new facility! (Please Update GPS)

    • When: January 16th & 17th, 2026
    • Venue: West Monroe Sports & Events
    • Address: 875 Constitution Dr, West Monroe, LA 71292
  • No outside food and drinks, 
  • No outside chairs (Stadium seating for bleachers are allowed)
  • No pets unless it is a service animal
  • No Parking in Fire lane and drop off zone
  • NO ARTIFICIAL NOISEMAKERS ALLOWED INSIDE THE FACILITY

 ⚖️ 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)
  • Least points allowed
  • Points scored
  1. Random Chance (Conducted at NCHCStaff@NCHLive.com) 

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.

📅 URGENT: Roster & Registration Deadlines

  • Player Registration: The Last Chance Early Bird Rate expires on January 15th. After this date, the price increases by $10 per event. – CLICK HERE to Register
  • Bench Personnel: Anyone sitting on the bench must be registered with the NCHC. CLICK HERE to Register
  • Bench Personnel: Anyone sitting on the bench (Coaches, Assistants, Scorekeepers) must be registered with the NCHC. Unregistered individuals will not be permitted on the bench.

⚠️ Important Credential Update: Each Organization will receive two (2) coaches’ passes per team attending. All other coaches/staff must purchase a GATE tournament pass.

🔥 GATE/Tickets Purchase your ticket ahead of time! The Early Bird Discount for spectator tickets expires this weekend. 👉 Get Tickets Here: [Link to Tickets Information] 🎟️  Ticket Tailor is our merchant. When looking for your confirmation email, search “Ticket Tailor”.

⚠️ CRITICAL POLICY REMINDERS

  1. 🛑 THE “MUST PLAY” POLICY ($100 FINE) All teams are contractually obligated to play all bracketed games (including consolation).
  • The Penalty: Teams that forfeit a game to leave early will be assessed a $100.00 Penalty Per Game and risk suspension from future NCHC events. Check your bracket times carefully before traveling!
  1. 📊 MANDATORY SCORE REPORTING Winning & losing coaches must text scores IMMEDIATELY after the game. Coaches are encouraged to assign a bookkeeper to handle this, but it is your responsibility to ensure it is reported.
  • Text Number: 1 (417) 203-7447
  • Required Format: [District] [Age/Div] [Pool, Division, etc.] [Winner Score vs Loser Score]
  • (Example: Gulf Coast B16u Bronze Pool C – Rams 66 vs HECHA 59)
  1. 🚫 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.
  1. 👮 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.

🏆 BRACKET & GAME INFO

🏀 DETAILED 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.

  • FRIDAY: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24
  • SATURDAY: “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” — Micah 7:8


PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS We are excited to welcome the following organizations to the field:

  • Arkansas: Faulkner County Falcons, Little Rock Flames, Saline County Warriors
  • Louisiana: CHA Northeast Flame, PCA Paladins, Shreveport FORCE, SWLA Knights
  • Mississippi: Hattiesburg Forerunners, Jackson Victors, Laurel Knighthawks, Meridian Flyers, Muddy River Counselors, Tupelo Titans
  • Texas: CHAAMP Hawks, Good Samaritan Fellowship Hornets, Greenville Archers, Tyler HEAT

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

ON-SITE CONTACTS

  • Tournament Director: Jeremy Caldwell (Coaches/ADs Only)
  • Emergencies: nchcstaff@nchclive.com

Previously released- Gulf Coast 2026

🚨 PRELIMINARY SEEDING & 1st Game Times RELEASED The 2026 Gulf Coast Preliminary Seeding has been released to leaders & coaches.

👉 View the Prelim Seeding at: [Gulf Coast Seeding Link]
Deadline: Seeding Appeals (Head Coaches/Directors ONLY) are due Friday, January 9th @ 6:00 PM via the [Official Appeal Form].

🏆 BRACKET RELEASE Final brackets will be released on Monday, January 12th, via our social media channels and the NCHC website. 👉 Bracket Page: [Link to Bracket Page]

(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.