NCHC Policies & Guidelines

Welcome to the National Christian Homeschool Championships (NCHC)! To ensure a fair, safe, and enjoyable experience for all, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the following policies and guidelines. Adherence to these guidelines is mandatory for all players, coaches, parents, and athletic/program directors involved in NCHC events.

Eligibility Guidelines

 

All Parents, Coaches, & Athletic/Program Directors are required to abide by the posted Eligibility Guidelines. When you register, you confirm that you have read and agree to these guidelines. If you haven’t yet reviewed them, please do so now:

NCHC Eligibility Guidelines: Click Here

Important Note: Anyone sitting on the bench is considered a coach for NCHC purposes.

Conduct & Sportsmanship

General Expectations

  • Sportsmanship is always encouraged by all parties. We expect respectful behavior from everyone involved.
  • Parents or adults should never correct or confront the opposing team’s players, fans, or children.
  • Under no circumstances should fans and children be on the court at halftime.

NCHC Coaches’ Higher Standard

NCHC coaches are held to a higher standard of conduct:

  • A coach is never to confront opposing fans, students, or players before, during, or after a game.
  • Coaches are responsible for holding themselves, other coaches, and their players accountable for their language and actions, especially on the court.
  • A coach should never confront, yell at, or display threatening body language toward a referee after the game.
  • A coach is responsible for ensuring their parents and/or fans behave during their game.

Social Media Policy

It is unacceptable for a coach, Athletic Director, Parent, Player, or team account to post negative or harmful social media content about NCHBC players, fans, referees, directors, or tournaments.

NCHC Personnel & Event Policies

NCHC Personnel Policy

We are committed to the safety and well-being of all participants. As such, the NCHC strives to hire trainers and security for every event we run. Our goal is to have a trainer or security member on-site from open to close at every facility with more than three courts during NCHC tournaments.

NCHC Eligibility In Writing Policy

The NCHC ONLY handles eligibility exemptions or questions in writing. We do NOT handle these questions over the phone.

  • Coaches, Athletic Directors, Parents, & Players: If you have questions about an eligibility situation or have been told a player has been granted an exemption, ask to see it in writing.
  • This policy protects all involved, as eligibility is a critical topic. All eligibility issues must be dealt with in writing, with no exceptions.

NCHC Cancellation Policy/Notice

  • Any team providing a full 30-day cancellation notice will receive full credit for any payments made. This credit is valid for any NCHC-run event for one full calendar year.
  • Late cancellations (within 30 days) will result in the forfeiture of any payments made. If payment has not yet been made, an invoice will be issued. Late cancellations are treated the same as if the team attended the event.
  • This policy is non-negotiable as proper notice is required for brackets, referees, gyms, trophies, etc.

NCHC Late Fee

A $50 late fee will be added to any team fees not paid in full 30 days prior to their event’s start date. Teams that fail to cancel before the 30-day cancellation notice will also have a $50 late fee added to their invoice.

NCHC Refund Policy

The NCHC does not issue refunds. However, we do issue credits valid for one full calendar year to any NCHC-run event of your program’s choice.

  • All credits and deposits will be applied towards a team’s invoice before it is sent to the team. Deposits are required for all teams, even if the organization has a credit balance.

NCHC Must Play Policy

  • A team that enters our events agrees to compete in all tournament games bracketed. This policy specifically applies to teams capable of playing but choosing to leave the tournament with bracketed games remaining.
  • Failure to adhere to this policy will result in a $100 penalty per game, with additional penalties including, but not limited to, the option not to extend future invitations.

Team & Player Logistics

NCHC Dual Roster Policy

  • Players may participate in multiple age groups within a program, provided they qualify for each age group.
  • Players are only permitted to play on one team per age group.
  • It is NCHC policy that teams have enough primary players to compete. Our staff will review all dual rostering requests to accommodate, but each player must know their primary team, and each team must have enough primary players to begin each game of the tournament.
  • Ultimately, each team must be prepared for conflicts that our staff cannot accommodate.

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
    • Friday for events that begin on Monday

NCHC 1st Game Policies

To be eligible for participation in the National Christian Homeschool Championships, a player must be homeschooled continuously and begin playing on their team before the team’s 1st game. Any players joining the team after the 1st game will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

NCHC Proof of Age Requirement

  • Each program must be able to provide the NCHC proof of age via birth certificate for each player in the event of an age challenge.
  • We accept electronic and physical copies, whichever is more convenient for the team/player to provide in the event of the challenge.
  • To submit an official age challenge or verification, please use this form: Official Age Challenge/Verification Form

Seeding Forms/Game Deadline

For a game to count for seeding to an NCHBC Event, it must be played before the seeding deadline. Results after these deadlines will not be considered, with the only exception being NCHBC-run Post Season events, which impact seeding.

Seeding Game Deadlines are: NCHBC 2026

  • District: January 4th
  • Regionals/Nationals: February 1st

Code of Conduct & Disciplinary Action

The NCHC, HomeSchool Basketball Championships staff, and designated referee & site coordinators desire that all games are enjoyable for everyone and that best behavior is the rule, not the exception. In cases where this standard is not met, we have compiled a list of policies and procedures, along with categorized penalties for each infraction.

Ejection Policy

Section I – Standard Federation Conduct Ejections

  • Player/Coach/Administrative/Spectator: Per Federation rules, the violator must leave the building where the game is being played but may return for the next scheduled game.
  • If the violator refuses and officials must request help (from Law Enforcement, NCHC staff, Facility staff, Gym Host, Game Security, Referee Coordinator, etc.) to remove them, the outcome and penalty are covered in Section II.
  • Repeat Offender: If any Player/Coach/Administrative/Spectator is a repeat violator at NCHC (all sports) events, Section II will apply in addition to the standard federation policy.

Section II – Zero Tolerance Policy

  • Coach/Player/Administrative/Spectator: Ejected from a game due to conduct beyond Section I. This includes staying in the building after being ejected by referees or removed by Law Enforcement, NCHC staff, Facility staff, Gym Host, Game Security, or Referee Coordinator.
  • The violator is barred from participating in the remainder of that NCHC Event.
  • If this is the last game of the event, NCHC will have discussions with the NCHC Member Organization and may decide the next course of action.
  • If a team violates Section II during the last game of an event, NCHC will have discussions with the NCHC Member Organization and may decide the next course of action, including the potential to ban THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION for a minimum of one year.

Disciplinary Action

Conduct that warrants disciplinary action includes, but is not limited to: violating NCHC eligibility rules, displays of violence, vandalism, blatant disregard for safety, spreading rumors or slander, vulgarity, or humiliation of opposing teams or players (from players, coaches, or fans) confrontation of referees following a game, etc. Participating organizations are responsible for everyone associated with their organizations.

Disciplinary action may include any of the following:

  • A letter of reprimand and a request for a written apology.
  • Suspension from participation in NCHC activities for a designated period, not to exceed three (3) years.

When organizations or individuals are suspended, those directly involved in any incidents must be named. Those players, coaches, administrators, or parents named as offenders shall not be allowed to participate in NCHC activities as part of any other participating team until the period of discipline has ended.

Reinstatement Application

 

If an individual is suspended (named) by the NCHC Regional Committee, Executive Committee, Eligibility Guidelines Committee (EGC), or the Eligibility Advisory Board (EAB), completion of the NCHC Reinstatement Application: Click Here is required before this individual can be considered for reinstatement.

Additionally, if an individual was a coach, board member, director, or leader of an organization that has been placed under disciplinary action by any of the aforementioned committees or boards, they must complete this form to initiate the reinstatement process.

Sport-Specific Policies

Basketball – Pool Tiebreaker Rules

For 2 or more teams, sequential tie-break rules, in order, to be used after round-robin and pool play, if needed:

  1. Win-Loss record
  2. Head to Head results (2-team tie at any point)
  3. If at any point the following tie-breaker results in a 2-way tie, refer to point #2.
  4. Point Differential (20-point cap per game)*
  5. Least points allowed*
  6. Points scored*
  7. Random Chance conducted at NCHC H.Q. This will be videotaped and sent to the Directors on-site.*

*If a 3-way tie or more, only.

Volleyball Only Policies

Uniform Guidelines

  • Shorts: No spandex allowed as outerwear. Soffee shorts are not allowed.
  • Leggings are permitted as part of the uniform.

Equipment Used

  • ALL AGE GROUPS will use a standard size volleyball (including G12u).
  • ALL AGE GROUPS will play on a standard height net. Boys will play on a men’s height.

Vball- POOL PLAY 

  • The first team listed is considered the home team.
  • Each match is two sets (unless otherwise noted); starting at 0.
  • Based on results, teams will advance per the pool play sheet.

Vball- Tie Breaker: 

Two team ties are always decided on head-to-head results, head-to-head point differential, then if still tied, overall point differential, then coin flip

Three team tie: 

  • Set % Won (# won/total sets)
  • Overall Point differential
  • Coin flip

VBall- BRACKET PLAY

  • Bracket play rules: Top team listed is the home team. 
  • All matches are best of 3 unless marked on the bracket as best of 5; starting at 0    points.
  • Bracket page on NCHCLive.com under HomeSchool Volleyball
  • Pools in bracket play are best two of three.

TIME SCHEDULES

  • Pool Play  – Rolling Schedule between age groups. Most 4 team pools are staggered.
  • Matches (warm-up) will begin immediately upon the conclusion of the prior match on that court. 
  • Bracket Play – Rolling Schedule- Matches (warm-up) will begin immediately upon the conclusion of the prior match on that court.

VBall- WARM-UP PROTOCOL

  • Teams provide their own volleyballs for warm-up. The home team shall provide a game ball which is approved by both coaches and referees.  
  • First match of the day: Warm-ups for a team’s first match of the day will be 2-5-5 (2 min shared ball handling, 5 min solo court time home to include serving, 5 min solo court time visitor to include serving) 
  • Subsequent matches – after a team’s first match of the day, warm-ups are 4-4 includes serving
  • It is important that each warm up begins immediately following the conclusion of the game before.  This helps things stay on time.

VBall- TEAM REFEREEING RESPONSIBILITIES

Pool Play & Bracket Play

    • The home team must supply a line judge and bookkeeper.
    • The visiting team must supply a line judge, scoreboard operator, and Libero tracker.
    • If a team is unable to provide the required game staff, it is their responsibility to communicate to the other team and request them to cover the positions.
  • All Bracket games will have a provided R2.

Tournament Director Veronica Warner shared the following two documents to help prepare teams for scorekeeping. 

  • Volleyball Rally Scoring Tutorial for Official Scorers– Click Here

Libero Tracking Sheet Instructions– Click Here