2026 TEAM USA: THE STUDENT-ATHLETE PATHWAY

Status: 🟢 BASKETBALL REGISTRATION OPEN | Events: Regionals & Nationals

Don’t have a full team? You still have a place at the World’s Largest HomeSchool Sporting Events!

Team USA is the heartbeat of the NCHC mission. Birthed in the early 1990s in San Antonio, this program was created to ensure that every homeschool athlete has a home at the Championships.

Whether you are a solo player looking for a squad, or a small group of 3-5 teammates without a full roster, Team USA is your pathway to compete. You will be placed on a composite roster with other homeschoolers from across the country to compete at the world’s largest homeschool sporting events!

🏀 2026 BASKETBALL EVENT INFO

Registration includes Player Fee & Custom Jersey Top provided by Fine Designs at Regionals & 323 Sports/Fine Desgins at Nationals!

REGIONALS (We are Back!)

Get warmed up for Nationals! 3-Game Guarantee.

• Big South (TX): Feb 26-28 (RECORD- 230+ HomeSchool Basketball Teams!)
• Heartland (KS): Feb 26-28 (100+ HomeSchool Basketball Teams!)
• Midwest (IN): Feb 25-27 (RECORD- 240+ HomeSchool Basketball Teams!)
• Cost: $60 Early Bird (Price increases to $80 after Feb 10th)

NATIONALS (Springfield, MO)

The World’s Largest Homeschool Basketball Tournament. March 16-20.
RECORD- 408+ HomeSchool Basketball Teams!

• Nationals- 18u, 16u, & 14: $99
• Nationals- 12u: $80
• Nationals- 10u: $60
• Deadline: Early Bird pricing ends March 1st.

🛡️ CRITICAL PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES

Please read carefully. Team USA operates under specific safety, culture, and liability protocols.

1. Team Philosophy (Rule #1)

A) Team USA is explicitly designed as a fun, equal playing time opportunity (Rule #1), not a competitive experience.

• While we play hard, the goal is fellowship and participation.
• Tournament staff reserves the right to remove any volunteer coach who does not adhere to this philosophy.
• Do not sign up if you can not agree to Rule #1.

B) Playing Time & Competitive Philosophy: Unlike recreational leagues, Team USA competes in a National Tournament environment.

• Playing Time: While we encourage coaches to balance playing time, equal playing time is NOT guaranteed. Coaches will be removed who ignore the balanced playing time focus, they do have discretion to manage the game, especially in close contests.
• Teammate Requests: If you sign up with a friend or small group, we will make every effort to roster you together (guaranteed if space allows).

If this Team Philosophy rule is an issue for you, please do not sign up for Team USA.

2. The “Provisional” Competition Rule To protect the integrity of the full-team brackets, Team USA squads are designated as “Exhibition/Provisional” in the standings. Because Team USA is a composite squad, specific rules apply to how they advance in the tournament to protect the integrity of full-season teams.

• Competition Restriction: Provisional teams cannot eliminate a team from the top bracket of the division in which they are placed, nor can they compete for or eliminate a team from trophy contention.

• Bracket Movement: Regardless of the score, Team USA generally moves to the consolation side of the bracket after the opening round (except in pool play, where they advance as the last seed).

  • Exception: The only exception is during pool play, where the (USA) designated team will advance as the last-place finisher.

• Consolation Awards: In events where trophies or awards are given in consolation rounds (even after teams lose), the (USA) designated team will continue to move left in the brackets, regardless of the score, until there are no more awards to eliminate teams from.

• Why? This allows you to play competitive games without a composite team knocking a year-long program out of the National Title race.

If this competition rule is an issue for you, please do not sign up for Team USA.

3. The “Bench Manager” Model & Liability

Team USA coaches are typically volunteer parents or older siblings who step up to manage substitutions and game flow.

• No Background Checks: Because these are last-minute volunteers, the NCHC does not conduct background checks on Team USA coaches.
• Mandatory Parental Supervision: The NCHC does not provide custodial supervision. Parents/Guardians are required to remain in the facility while their athlete is participating. You may not drop your child off.

If any of the items covered in this section (including the bench manager model & liability) is an issue for you, please do not sign up for Team USA.

Registration includes Player Fee & Custom Jersey Top provided by Fine Designs (left photo) at Regionals & 323 Sports (right photo) &/or Fine Designs at Nationals!

SAVE THE DATE: 2026-2027 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

🏐 VOLLEYBALL NATIONALS

Information for the 2026 Volleyball Season will be released in Summer 2026.

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

Ready to Play?

Spaces are limited and fill on a first-come, first-served basis.