NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL Girls Junir Natinal Champinships - Spring (The fllwing manual cntains infrmatin regarding bth the Natinal Qualifiers and the Spring Girls Junir Natinal Champinships) Revised: Octber 2015 2015/2016 Seasn Cpyright USA Vlleyball USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 1 PURPOSE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL... 1 CHANGING THE CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL... 1 GLOSSARY OF TERMS... 1 CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION... 4 SPRING GIRLS JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS OVERVIEW... 5 DIVISIONS OF PLAY - OPEN, NATIONAL, USA, & PATRIOT... 5 Age Classificatin, Divisins & Team Entries... 5 NATIONAL QUALIFIER QUALIFYING PROCESS... 6 NATIONAL QUALIFIER REQUIREMENTS... 6 DIVISIONS & SIZE OF FIELD (SGJNC QUALIFICATION)... 6 SGJNC BIDS AWARDED BY A NATIONAL QUALIFIER... 6 Natinal Qualifier Bids Open Divisins... 8 Open At-Large Bids... 8 Natinal Qualifier Bids USA Divisins... 8 SGJNC BIDS AWARDED THROUGH A REGION... 9 Reallcatin Bids... 9 RULES FOR PRIORITY OF BID USE... 9 Penalties fr Nt Using Bids... 10 NATIONAL QUALIFIER TOURNAMENTS... 11 RULES OF PLAY...11 TOURNAMENT FORMATS...11 MATCH FORMATS...11 Open Divisin Frmats... 11 POOL PLAY SEQUENCE... 12 PLAYING SCHEDULES...14 COURT USE...14 WARM-UP PROTOCOL...14 ON-SITE REGISTRATION AND ROSTER VERIFICATION...15 PROCEDURES FOR BREAKING TIES... 16 TWO-WAY TIES: 2 TEAMS TIED IN MATCH RECORD...16 THREE-WAY TIES: WHERE NO TEAM CAN ADVANCE TO WIN A BID...16 NON-ELIMINATION SCENARIOS...16 THREE-WAY TIES: WHERE 1 OR MORE TEAMS MAY ADVANCE TO WIN A BID...17 SEEDING TIE BREAKER SETS...17 PLAYING TIE BREAKER SETS...17 Scenari One... 17 Scenari Tw... 17 Scenari Three... 18 Scenari Fur... 18 TIE BREAKER PROCEDURES FOR THIRD ROUND OPEN DIVISION POOLS (GOLD POOLS)...18 FORMAT FOR TIE BREAKER SETS...19 PENALTIES FOR MISSED TIE BREAKER SETS...19 TEAM AND PLAYER POLICIES... 20 PARTICIPATION IN MULTIPLE DIVISIONS...20 PLAYING UP...20 TEAM FORFEITURES...20 USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 2
Last Day Frfeits... 20 TEAM OFFICIATING DUTIES...21 REGIONALLY AGE WAIVERED PLAYERS...21 TEAM ROSTERS...22 FROZEN PLAYERS...22 AGE EXCEPTION FOR 2016...23 POLICY ON FOREIGN INDIVIDUAL AND FOREIGN TEAM PARTICIPATION...23 POLICY:... 24 FOREIGN PARTICPANT ELIGIBILITY... 24 FOREIGN TEAM ELIGIBILITY... 24 FOREIGN TEAM REGISTRATION... 25 Required Individual Frms... 25 Required Team Frms/Fees... 25 TOURNAMENT REQUIREMENTS... 25 OFFICIALS...25 AWARDS...25 TEAM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS...26 TEAM ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA...26 TRAINERS...26 PROTEST COMMITTEE...26 ETHICS AND ELIGIBILITY...26 Event Arbitratrs... 27 Event Ethics and Eligibility Appeals Cmmittee... 27 USA Vlleyball Age and Identity Falsificatin Plicy... 28 USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 3
INTRODUCTION PURPOSE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL USA Vlleyball (USAV), recgnized by the United States Olympic Cmmittee as the Natinal Gverning Bdy fr vlleyball, hlds natinal champinships annually, including the USA Vlleyball Spring Girls Junir Natinal Champinships (SGJNC); the USA Vlleyball Girls Junir Natinal Qualifiers (NQ) are ne avenue fr teams t gain entry int thse champinships. The NQs are licensed by USAV and must perate within parameters set by USAV. Thse parts f the NQs that impact play, and thus entry int the SGJNC, must adhere t standards set ut in this Champinship Manual (CM). The primary purpse f this CM is t publish the standards established by USAV fr the SGJNCs and the NQs. The secndary purpse is t explain the prcess f qualifying t play at the SGJNC. The CM is intended t be a resurce t thse hsting ne f the NQs and t thse rganizatins whse teams attend the SGJNC and the NQs. CHANGING THE CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL The CM is a USAV crprate dcument. Only USAV staff authrizes changes, deletins and additins t this CM and t the qualifying prcess itself. Suggestins t change the CM and the qualifying prcess can cme frm the USAV Junir Assembly (JA), USAV Cmmissins, USAV Events Department (Events Department), the Natinal Qualifier Directrs (QD) r any USAV Member Organizatin. Suggested changes must fllw a review prcess in rder t be apprved; changes that have mnetary r legal significance may require a review by the QDs. Once a suggested change is apprved, the implementatin may take up t tw full seasns. The Events Department annually updates the CM and distributes an electrnic cpy f the updated versin t each QD n later than Octber 15 th each year. The Events Department als psts the update n the USAV website, n later than Nvember 1 st f each year. GLOSSARY OF TERMS American Divisin: A Divisin f the GJNC where teams must btain a bid t participate. Bids are earned thrugh finishing in a bid psitin in the American Divisin f a NQ r the team s Regin, thrugh a trickle dwn at that event, r thrugh the reallcatin prcess. Shuld a team that has wn an American Bid later win an Open, USA, r Natinal bid, the American Bid will be allcated by prcess described in the Reallcatin Bids sectin f this manual. The GJNC field size fr American divisins will be 64 teams. Fr the 18s, this divisin remains in the Summer GJNC event with the qualificatin prcess remaining the same as in past years. At-Large Bid: See Bid. Bid: A bid is an invitatin t a team t play in the SGJNC. T use the bid, a team must meet all entry deadlines and ther requirements set by bth their USAV regin and the USAV natinal ffice. At-Large bid: A SGJNC bid awarded upn the cmpletin f the Qualifier Seasn (bth Natinal and Reginal) by a Cmmittee f Natinal Staff r its Designees based n perfrmance during that seasn, in relatin t ther nn-qualified teams in that age grup. Reallcatin bid: A Natinal, r USA divisin bid t the SGJNC that is unused and is returned fr reallcatin t a Regin. Reallcatin is perfrmed by the Events Department. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 1
Trickle Dwn Bid: A SGJNC bid awarded at a NQ t a team finishing lwer than a usual bid award psitin. This happens in sme situatins when a higher finishing team has previusly accepted a SGJNC bid frm anther NQ r a regin prcess r a bid is declined frm the Natinal, r USA divisins. CM: Champinship Manual Event: Multiple turnaments r activities assciated within the same title, sanctin and hst rganizatin. GJNC: The custmary Girls Junir Natinal Champinships that takes place in the summer. JA: Junir Assembly f USA Vlleyball Match: A head-t-head cmpetitin between tw teams within a specified rund f a turnament. While typically tw sets ut f three, matches may als invlve an autmatic three sets, r simply ne set (used in tie breaking situatins). Qualifying match: A match that qualifies a team fr the SGJNC. Seeding match: A nn-eliminatin match meant t place r seed teams int the next rund f play. Natinal Divisin: A Divisin f the SGJNC where teams must btain a bid t participate. Bids are allcated t the Regins fr distributin t its teams. Regins will receive bids fr this turnament, depending upn enrllment frm the previus year. Unused Regin bids will be reallcated t ther Regins. The SGJNC field size fr Natinal Divisins will be 48 teams. NQ: Natinal Qualifier Event Open Divisin: A Divisin f the SGJNC where teams must btain a bid t participate. Bids are earned thrugh finishing in a bid psitin in the Open Divisin f a NQ, thrugh a Trickle Dwn at that Event, r thrugh the At- Large prcess. Open bids are nt available fr allcatin thrugh the Regins. The SGJNC field size fr Open Divisins will be 36 teams. Patrit Divisin: A Divisin f the SGJNC where teams may gain access t the turnament by simply entering the Event thrugh the established prcess. Order f acceptance will be initially based n date f entry until the turnament is full. The SGJNC field size fr Patrit Divisins will range frm 24-64 teams. Playing Surface: Area deemed as playable by the grund rules fr that curt. Reallcatin Bid: See Bid. Rund f play: A specified segment f a turnament (typically a pl r playff bracket). Tie breaker cmpetitin is NOT cnsidered a rund f play. All teams may nt play in all runds f play. Sanctin: Recgnitin and cverage f a given event, and/r turnament within an event, by either a Regin f USAV r the Natinal Office. Seeding: The rder in which teams are ranked t begin a turnament. SGJNC: The Spring Girls Junir Natinal Champinships that takes place in the spring. Team: A minimum f 6 rstered players and at least ne cach wh is registered, certified, and backgrund screened. Tie: When tw r mre teams end pl play with identical match recrds. Tie Break: Methd by which ties, after pl play has cncluded, are given a ranked rder f finish t either advance t the next rund f play r be placed int a cmpetitive tie breaking -match r series f matches. Trickle Dwn Bid: See Bid. Turnament: Cmpetitin f a specific grup f teams (i.e. Girls 16 & Under Open Turnament) that culd als be knwn as a Champinship. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 2
USA Divisin: A Divisin f the SGJNC where teams must btain a bid t participate. Bids are earned thrugh finishing in a bid psitin in the USA Divisin f a NQ, r thrugh a Trickle Dwn at that Event. Shuld a team that accepted a USA Bid later win an Open r Natinal bid, the USA bid will remain in the regin f the team that riginally accepted the USA bid. If the regin refuses t allcate this USA bid, it reverts back t the NQ and fllws the trickle dwn prcess. The SGJNC field size fr USA Divisins will be 36 teams. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 3
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 4
SPRING GIRLS JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS OVERVIEW The SGJNC prvides cmpetitin fr 18-&-Under teams in varius divisins f cmpetitin (see the chart belw). Teams have t qualify t play at the SGJNC fr all Divisins except the Patrit Divisin thrugh ne f tw main paths; ne is the NQ prcess and the ther is the Reginal prcess. In the case f the Patrit Divisins, a team may simply enter the turnament thrugh the established means. Teams will be accepted t the Patrit Divisins n a date-fentry basis until the Divisin is full at which time teams will be placed n a wait list. A team can earn a bid t the SGJNC s by finishing in a bid award psitin at a NQ, thrugh the Open At-Large bid prcess (fr Open divisins nly), thrugh a Regin s qualifying prcess (fr Natinal divisin, as well as pssibly the USA divisin), r thrugh the Regin Reallcatin prcess (fr Natinal divisin nly). DIVISIONS OF PLAY - OPEN, NATIONAL, USA, & PATRIOT There are fur majr divisins f play at SGJNC Open divisin, Natinal divisin, USA divisin, and the Patrit divisin. The gal f the SGJNC Open divisins is t identify, thrugh cmpetitin, the best team in each age grup frm amng 36 teams that have earned bids. The NQ Open divisins are designed t select thse 36 teams. T participate in an Open divisin at the SGJNC, a team must earn a bid frm participating in an NQ Open divisin either winning the bid utright at a NQ r being selected fr an At-Large Bid after cmpeting in a NQ Open divisin (see Open At-Large Bids). The gal f the SGJNC Natinal and USA divisins is t shwcase reginally strng teams and prvide the pprtunity fr mre teams t participate at the SGJNC. Teams have three avenues t earn a bid fr a SGJNC Natinal and USA divisin: Earn a bid at a NQ (USA divisin); Earn a bid thrugh their regin s qualifying prcess (Natinal divisin); r Earn a bid frm their regin thrugh the Re-allcatin prcess. Age Classificatin, Divisins & Team Entries 18 & Under OPEN Divisin NATIONAL CLUB Divisin USA CLUB Divisin PATRIOT Divisin 36 teams 48 teams 48 teams 48* teams *Patrit divisin will have a sft cap f the number listed abve, but may accept up t 64 teams in a turnament, in multiples f 4 teams, dependent n available curt space. (Fr dates determining player eligibility fr each age divisin, please see the USAV website: www.usavlleyball.rg). USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 5
NATIONAL QUALIFIER QUALIFYING PROCESS The primary purpse f the NQs is t select, thrugh turnament cmpetitin, Open and USA divisin teams divisins t cmpete at the SGJNC. There are a number f secndary purpses fr the NQs, including: Prmte inter-reginal play. Prvide a high level f cmpetitin fr teams at different levels within an age divisin. Shwcase junir talent fr cllege recruiters and Natinal Team prgrams. Prmte the grwth and develpment f vlleyball in a particular gegraphic area. Prvide a training grund fr fficials. Currently, there are 16 NQs fr the SGJNC:, Beast f the Sutheast (Atlanta), Big D (Dallas), Bstn VB Festival, Clrad Crssrads (Denver), Glden State (San Mate, CA), Flrida Natinal 18s (Ft. Lauderdale), Girls Winter Vlleyball Champinships (Chicag),Lil Big Suth (Atlanta), Lne Star (Hustn), Mideast (Indianaplis), Nrtheast (Philadelphia), Nrthern Lights (Minneaplis), Ohi Valley 18s Natinal Qualifier, Pacific Nrthwest (Spkane), KCMLK (Kansas City), Suthern Califrnia (Anaheim). NATIONAL QUALIFIER REQUIREMENTS The NQs are licensed by USAV, with sanctin frm the USAV Natinal Office, which develps, standardizes, evaluates and versees the qualificatin prcess fr the SGJNC thrugh the Events Department. USAV and the Events Department mnitr the qualifying prcess each seasn, and, with their varius Cmmissins: Apprve frmats and flw charts fr the NQ divisins. Determine the prcess by which teams are accepted r denied entry int a NQ divisin. Apprve each NQ schedule grid. Apprve systems t seed the NQ Open Divisins. Review and recmmend imprvements fr NQ peratins. Establish and verify individual eligibility requirements fr all participants in bth bid and nn-bid divisins. DIVISIONS & SIZE OF FIELD (SGJNC QUALIFICATION) The Events Department, with input frm the Directrs f each f the NQs, determines the maximum number f teams a NQ may hst in each Open and USA divisin. Currently, a NQ may hst a maximum f 48 teams in each Open divisin and 128 teams in each USA divisin. On a case-by-case basis, the Events Department may grant a waiver fr a NQ divisin t exceed these numbers. SGJNC BIDS AWARDED BY A NATIONAL QUALIFIER USAV allws each NQ t award a certain number f bids t the tp finishing teams in Open and USA divisins. The number f bids a NQ has t award is pre-determined accrding t the number f teams entered in the NQ divisin n the NQ s deadline date r the date the divisin s seeding is finalized, whichever number is larger (see the chart belw). USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 6
OPEN: 18 s#& USA: 18 s *# Number f Teams Number f Bids Number f Teams Number f Bids < 8 0 < 8 0 8 11 1 8 11 1 12-15 2 12-15 2 16-23 3 16-23 3 24-48 4 24-48 4 *Available USA Divisin bids will be allcated thrugh an at-large prcess. Eligible teams must have cmpeted in a USA Divisin t be cnsidered. # Fr 2016, 18s NQs are capped n the number f bids they may ffer. See chart fr the maximum number f bids allcated by each 18 NQ. & Fr 2016, Li l Big Suth Q will receive a 2 nd Open bid shuld their enrllment reach 24 teams by the clse f registratin. (BOLD dentes Super Qualifier) 2016 Dates Qualifier Lcatin Open bids USA Bids January 16-18 Girls Winter Vlleyball Champinship Chicag, IL 2 3 January 16-18 KC MLK 18s Natinal Qualifier Kansas City, MO 2 3 January 16-18 Li l Big Suth Atlanta, GA 1 2 January 29-31 Nrthern Lights 18s Qualifier Minneaplis, MN 2 3 January 29-31 Ohi Valley Clumbus, OH 1 3 February 12-14 Big D Qualifier Dallas, TX 2 3 February 13-15 Flrida Natinal 18Q Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2 3 February 19-21 Beast f the Sutheast Atlanta, GA 2 3 February 26-28 Bstn VB Festival Bstn, MA 1 2 February 27-29 Crssrads 18s Super Qualifier Denver, CO 4 4 March 4-6 Glden State Qualifier San Mate, CA 2 3 March 11-13 Suthern Califrnia 18s Super Qualifier Anaheim, CA 4 4 March 18-20 Pacific Nrthwest Qualifier Spkane, WA 2 3 March 18-20 Mideast 18s Super Qualifier Indianaplis, IN 4 4 March 18-20 Lne Star 18s Super Qualifier Hustn, TX 4 4 March 19-21 Nrtheast Qualifier Philadelphia, PA 2 3 Bids awarded at NQs must be accepted in writing at r prir t the time f the bid award, with sme limited exceptins (see Rules fr Pririty f Bid Use and SGJNC Bids Awarded Thrugh a Regin Prcess). Fr a team t use a bid earned in any qualifying prcess, the team must cmplete all entry requirements fr their regin and fr the SGJNC by the deadline dates. If a team has nt met all the entry requirements by the deadline date, that team may nt use its bid and als may be subject t additinal sanctins (see Penalties fr Nt Using a Bid). USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 7
Natinal Qualifier Bids Open Divisins In the NQ Open divisins, bids g t the teams that finish the cmpetitin in a bid award psitin. A team must accept r reject a Open bid in writing upn earning the bid. If rejected, the bid will trickle dwn t the next eligible highest finishing team, prvided the next highest finishing team finished n lwer than sixth (6 th ) place in the turnament, except fr thse Qualifiers that have 4 bids where the trickle will g n lwer than eighth (8 th ) place. If ne r mre teams wins a bid award psitin at a NQ and previusly earned an Open bid at anther NQ, the bid(s) can trickle-dwn t the next highest finishing team prvided the next highest finishing team finished n lwer than sixth (6 th ) place in the turnament, except fr thse Qualifiers that have 4 bids where the trickle will g n lwer than eighth (8 th ) place. If a team previusly r subsequently earns a Natinal, USA r American bid either frm a regin r a NQ, the team must use the Open bid. The Rules fr Pririty f Use f a Bid (see sectin belw) determine which team receives the Natinal, USA r American bid. Open At-Large Bids The Events Department, with the assistance f its apprpriate Cmmissin, awards sme SGJNC Open bids as At-Large Bids. An At-Large bid is an Open bid that was nt awarded t a team at a NQ because f a trickle-dwn limitatin, r a bid that was reserved fr the At-Large Pl. Teams will autmatically be cnsidered fr an At-Large bid prvided that the team must: Play in at least ne NQ in the same SGJNC Open divisin age grup fr which the team is applying; and, Cmply with the bth their regin s and USAV s SGJNC deadline dates and applicatin prcesses; and, Submit t the Events Department cmplete, accurate and up-t-date results fr all f the team s cmpetitin thrugh the last day f the last NQ, nt later than the end f business n the Tuesday after the finish f the last NQ. The Events Department will annunce the teams winning SGJNC Open At-Large bids n later than the secnd Mnday after the last NQ. The Events Department will ntify teams awarded an At-Large bid by email, sent t the Cach and Club Directr whse emails are included n the SGJNC entry applicatin. Natinal Qualifier Bids USA Divisins At a NQ, the USA divisin has as many as 4 bids. There is ptential fr a Qualifier t earn an additinal USA bid (nt mre than 4) if anther Qualifier des nt meet the number f required teams t receive the tw bids. A USA Divisin must have at least eight (8) teams t be able t award a bid in that respective turnament. A team must accept r reject a USA bid in writing upn earning the bid. If rejected, the bid will trickle dwn t the next eligible, highest finishing team, prvided that team finished n lwer than the psitin tw times the number f bids available in that divisin. Trickle dwn scenaris fr a USA Bid: If a team that wins a USA bid earned an Open bid r accepted a USA bid frm a previus NQ, r accepted a Natinal bid frm a Reginal Bid Turnament, the current USA bid may trickle dwn t the next eligible, highest finishing team, prvided that team finished n lwer than 4 th place in a turnament with up t tw (2) USA bids available, r n lwer than 6 th place in a turnament with three (3) USA bids available, r n lwer than 8 th place in a turnament with fur (4) USA bids available. The trickle dwn prcess must be applied at the cnclusin f the divisin s cmpetitin. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 8
SGJNC BIDS AWARDED THROUGH A REGION Regins award bids t the Natinal divisin f the SGJNC. Each Regin will receive at least 1 Natinal bid t award at their discretin. As there are a ttal f 48 bids t be allcated t 40 Regins, the 8 largest Regins based n Girls Junir registratins frm the previus seasn (except as nted belw) will be awarded a 2 nd bid t the Natinal Divisin at the SGJNC. The number f bids received by a particular regin may change frm year t year. Reallcatin Bids Sme regins may nt use all f their riginally alltted bids; these unused bids will becme Reallcatin bids. The Events Department distributes Reallcatin bids t the regins in an rder determined bth by the number f junir female members and the prximity f that number t certain benchmark membership numbers. The rank rder that results frm this determinatin may nt be the same rank rder that determines which regins get additinal bids frm the riginal alltment f SGJNC bids fr regins t award. The Events Department ntifies each regin f its riginal bid alltment and any reallcatin bids it may receive fr each age divisin. RULES FOR PRIORITY OF BID USE Sme teams participate in mre than ne qualifying prcess in a seasn, either thrugh their regin, by attending NQs, by applying fr an At-Large bid, r by sme cmbinatin f these prcesses. If the team earns mre than ne bid, the fllwing rules apply as t which bid the team must use, and what happens t the ther bid(s). Generally, the pririty f bid use is as fllws: 1. Open 2. Natinal 3. USA 4. American When an Open bid is the secnd bid a team earns, frm either a NQ r the At-Large Prcess: If a team previusly accepted a USA bid, the team must use the Open Bid. The USA bid will remain in the regin f the team that riginally accepted the USA bid. If the regin refuses t allcate this USA bid, it reverts back t the NQ and fllws the trickle dwn prcess. If a team previusly accepted a Natinal r American bid, the team must use the Open Bid. If the bid was frm a regin, it remains in that regin s bid alltment. If the American bid was btained thrugh a NQ, the bid becmes a Reallcatin bid. When a Natinal Club bid is the secnd bid a team earns and accepts: If a team previusly accepted a USA bid, the team must use the Natinal Bid. The USA bid will remain in the regin f the team that riginally accepted the USA bid. If the regin refuses t allcate this USA bid, it reverts back t the NQ and fllws the trickle dwn prcess. If a team previusly accepted an American bid, the team must use the Natinal Bid. If the American bid was btained thrugh a NQ, the bid becmes a Reallcatin bid. If the bid was frm a regin, it remains in that regin s bid alltment. When a USA Club bid is the secnd bid a team earns: USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 9
If a team previusly accepted a Natinal bid frm a regin, the team must keep the Natinal Bid. The USA bid will trickle dwn t the next eligible team (see Natinal Qualifier Bids USA Divisin fr trickle dwn rules). If a team previusly accepted an American bid frm either an NQ r a regin, the team must use the USA bid. If the American bid was btained thrugh a NQ, the bid becmes a Reallcatin bid. If the bid was frm a regin, it remains in that regin s bid alltment. Penalties fr Nt Using Bids A team that des nt use a SGJNC Open bid which it has earned and accepted, r a SGJNC Natinal, r USA bid which it has earned and accepted, may be subject t the fllwing penalties: IF a team earns and accepts an Open bid at a NQ, earns and accepts an Open At-Large bid, r earns and accepts a Natinal r USA bid and subsequently des nt participate in the SGJNC, ALL members listed n the Official Event Rster and the Club Directr will be suspended frm participating in all NQs, Reginal Qualificatin Events, and the JNCs (bth Spring and Summer) fr the remainder f that seasn and the fllwing seasn; and, The Club must pay USAV the SGJNC entry fee fr the team. If the Club des nt pay the SGJNC Event Entry Fee, the suspensin frm cmpeting in qualifying events will remain in frce until the fee is paid in full. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 10
NATIONAL QUALIFIER TOURNAMENTS All NQs must use cmpetitin frmats apprved by the Events Department. The infrmatin in this sectin applies t all NQ turnaments. RULES OF PLAY The rules f play are as prescribed in the USA Vlleyball Dmestic Cmpetitin Regulatins. TOURNAMENT FORMATS The turnament frmat determines the number f pls in a divisin, the number f teams in each pl and the sequence f play, frm pl play thrugh playffs. A turnament flw chart illustrates the sequence f the frmat cmpnents. MATCH FORMATS The preferred match frmat is pls f 4 playing the best 2-ut-f-3 sets. The first tw sets play t 25 pints, rally scring, with ne team winning by tw pints and n pint cap. If a third (deciding) set is necessary, it is played t 15, rally scring, with ne team winning by tw pints and n pint cap. Sme pls f 3 may play all three sets t 25, regardless f whether a team wins the first tw. This exceptin depends n the number f pls f 3 in a divisin. In a 3-team pl, where 3 sets t 25 are played instead f 2 ut f 3, and the final finish in the pl is determined by match recrd. Shuld ne team win the first tw sets f the match, that team has wn the match, but teams will still play the 3 rd set. Shuld there be a 3-way tie in the pl with all 3 teams having a 1-1 match recrd, ALL sets played will be used when determining set percentage when ging t a tie-breaker. When playing the 3 rd set, there will be a cin flip between sets tw and three t determine side, serve and receive, and teams will switch sides at 13. Fr Divisin field sizes f 8-16 teams, pls cmprised f mre than 5 teams may be utilized. Open Divisin Frmats The tp 4 t 12 teams in an Open divisin play 3 runds f pl play, and, if necessary, a single eliminatin bracket t determine the verall winner f the turnament. The third rund f pl play is knwn as the Gld Pls. If a team in ne f the tp 3 psitins in an Open Divisin previusly qualified fr the SGJNC, additinal matches may be required t determine which teams are awarded bids via the trickle dwn prcess. The Events Department apprves frmats fr additinal trickle dwn matches prir t the start f the NQ; and, The frmats are annunced in the turnament infrmatin prir t the start f the NQ. Teams in finish psitins lwer than the Gld Pls play tw runds f pl play fllwed by a single eliminatin bracket. Sme teams may have an additinal qualifying, crssver r seeding match prir t Gld Pls r playff brackets, depending n the number f teams in a divisin. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 11
Fr a field f less than 17 teams, shuld large pls (mre than 6 teams) be used, ne rund f pl play fllwed by single eliminatin bracket is allwed. POOL PLAY SEQUENCE Pl play sequences, listed belw, are allwable fr use with all respective pls in a NQ, unless anther sequence is apprved by the Events Department: Rund Fur-Team Pls Three-Team Pls Five-Team Pls n 2 curts * Match 1 1 vs. 3 (ref 2) 1 vs. 3 (ref 2) 1 vs. 5 and 2 vs. 4 (ref 3) Match 2 2 vs. 4 (ref 1) 2 vs. 3 (ref 1) 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3 (ref 5) Match 3 1 vs. 4 (ref 3) 1 vs. 2 (ref 3) ½ Hur Break Match 4 2 vs. 3 (ref 1) 1 vs. 3 and 4 vs. 5 (ref 2) Match 5 3 vs. 4 (ref 2) 2 vs. 5 and 3 vs. 4 (ref 1) Match 6 1 vs. 2 (ref 4) ½ Hur Break 1 vs. 2 and 3 vs. 5 (ref 4) Rund Fur-Team Pls curt 1 * Fur-Team Pls curt 2 * Match 1 A 1 vs. 3 (ref B3) A 2 vs. 4 (ref B2) Match 2 B 1 vs. 3 (ref A3) B 2 vs. 4 (ref A4) Match 3 A 2 vs. 3 (ref B3) A 1 vs. 4 (ref B4) Match 4 B 2 vs. 3 (ref A2) B 1 vs. 4 (ref A4) Match 5 A 1 vs. 2 (ref B4) A 3 vs. 4 (ref B1) Match 6 B 3 vs. 4 (ref A1) B 1 vs. 2 (ref A3) A team s final pl finish is determined by match results. If team(s) are tied at the cmpletin f pl play, tie breaker prcedures can be seen n the next page: USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 12
USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 13
PLAYING SCHEDULES All pl play matches are scheduled at least ne hur apart. Sme pls may have play n tw days t cmplete the pl (fr example, begin play ne day in the evening and finish the next mrning). The first match f a pl must begin at its scheduled time. Within a pl, and after the first match, a match may begin up t 15 minutes befre the scheduled starting time prvided the tw teams cmpeting, the fficials and the turnament staff all agree t it, and prvided that there is sufficient time fr the warm-up prtcl. Trickle dwn matches are required t be played nly if necessary t determine bid awards. COURT USE A NQ may schedule n mre than 13 matches n a curt in ne day, unless therwise apprved by the USAV Events Department. Tie-breaking sets d nt cunt as scheduled matches. Final matches f the day must be scheduled t begin n later than 9:00 p.m. (with an 8:00 a.m. start) r 9:30 p.m. (with an 8:30 a.m. start). If a divisin is larger than 64 teams, the first rund f playffs can be scheduled fr the secnd day. Teams must still be given a minimum f 1 match n the third day. WARM-UP PROTOCOL Primary Warm-up Prtcl Fr all teams in their first match f a rund f play. Primary Warm-Up Prtcl (5-4-4): Five (5) minutes f shared curt time fr ball handling; and Fur (4) minutes f exclusive curt time fr the serving team; and Fur (4) minutes f exclusive curt time fr the receiving team. There will be n shared hitting time. A crssver match r tie-breaking match that immediately fllws pl play is part f that previus single rund f play; teams fllw the Secndary Warm-Up Prtcl set ut belw. A crssver match, seeding match r qualifying match that ccurs after a scheduled break, after the cnclusin f pl play, is a separate rund f play; teams in this rund fllw the Primary Warm-Up Prtcl. Secndary Warm-Up Prtcl Fr all ther matches within the rund f play. Secndary Warm-Up Prtcl (2-4-4): Tw (2) minutes f shared curt time fr ball handling; and Fur (4) minutes f exclusive curt time fr the serving team; and Fur (4) minutes f exclusive curt time fr the receiving team. There will be n shared hitting time. Only USAV members may be n the playing surface t assist with shagging balls during warm-ups. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 14
ON-SITE REGISTRATION AND ROSTER VERIFICATION Prir t beginning play, a Team Representative (Cach, Club Directr r ther designated adult) must cnfirm a team s presence at the turnament by signing an Official Turnament Rster (Official Rster). The persn wh signs the Official Rster, whether the Cach, Club Directr r ther designated adult (Signing Agent), assumes all respnsibility fr verifying that: All f the infrmatin cntained n the Official Rster is bth cmplete and crrect, including that: ALL caches listed n the Official Rster (Head and Assistant caches) are backgrund screened and have IMPACT caching certificatin, at a minimum. All reprted team cmpetitin results are cmplete and accurate. N player may be added t an Official Rster at a NQ nce that team has begun match play in that event. If a team wins an Open bid r accepts a Natinal (12 & Under nly), USA r American bid at a NQ, the players n the Official Rster, as signed by the Signing Agent prir t the start f turnament play, are frzen t that team. The NQ will send a cpy f the Official Rster t the Events Department at the finish f the NQ. The players n this rster will be frzen with regard t the SGJNC. The Events Department will pst the team s rster n the USAV website. Fr all NQs and fr SGJNC, each player is required t wear the same jersey number as listed n the event rster thrughut the entire event, with limited exceptins as required by emergency r bld rule applicatins. (See Frzen Player rules belw fr additinal infrmatin abut regin bids and At-Large bids in regards t Official Rsters.) USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 15
PROCEDURES FOR BREAKING TIES At the cnclusin f a pl, the pl finish psitins f the teams are determined by their pl match recrds. If there is a tie in match recrd amng 2 r mre teams in the pl, tie(s) will be reslved using the SGJNC Natinal Tie Break Rules. Even in 3 team pls where all 3 sets are required t be played, match recrd - nt set recrd - will determine a team s finish in the pl. TWO-WAY TIES: 2 teams tied in match recrd There will be n tie breaker sets. The first place team will be the team that wn the pl play match between the 2 tied teams (head-t-head). This is the prcedure fr all tw-way ties, even when ne team might still win a bid; the tied teams have already determined the better team thrugh head-t-head cmpetitin. THREE-WAY TIES: Where n team can advance t win a bid There will be n tie breaker sets. Ties amng teams will be reslved as fllws: If 3 r mre teams are tied in match recrd, the ties are brken by applying the fllwing steps, in rder, withut repeating any step. Head-t-Head results will nt be used at any time in breaking a three-way tie: Determine each team s set percentage (divide each team s ttal sets wn in the pl by the ttal sets played). The team with the highest set percentage is first. If sme r all f the teams have the same set percentage, then determine the pint percentage f the teams that are still tied (divide each team s ttal pints scred by the ttal pints scred by all the team s ppnents in that pl). Of the teams still tied, the team with the highest pint percentage has the next highest finish in the pl (finishes either first r secnd, depending n the utcme f the set percentage). If tw r mre teams are still tied: Cin tss. NON-ELIMINATION SCENARIOS If n team is eliminated frm an pprtunity t win a bid, there will be n tie-breaking sets. In three-way ties, ties will be brken, withut repetitin, in this rder: Pl match recrd. Head-t-head results (applicable fr pls with 5 r mre teams). Set percentage (sets wn divided by ttal sets played). Pint percentage (each team s ttal pints scred divided by the ttal pints scred by the team s ppnents in that pl). Cin tss. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 16
THREE-WAY TIES: Where 1 r mre teams may advance t win a bid There are several scenaris in which three-way ties can ccur. The reslutin fr each tie breaker scenari depends n bth the number f teams that can advance t win a bid frm the pl, AND which pl finish psitin is at stake fr the tied teams. SEEDING TIE BREAKER SETS The seeds fr teams tied in match recrd invlved in the tie breaker sets are determined by: Set percentage: The ttal number f sets played in the pl (sets wn divided by ttal sets played). The team with the highest set percentage is seeded first. If the teams are still tied: Pint percentage: Each team s ttal pints scred divided by the ttal pints scred by the team s ppnents in that pl. The team with the highest pint percentage is seeded first. If the teams are still tied: Cin tss. PLAYING TIE BREAKER SETS Scenari One N. Teams Advancing Pl Finish Applicatins 1 First place 4-team pls: All teams have 2-1 match recrds 3-team pls: All teams have 1-1 match recrds All three teams will participate in tie breaker sets. Set 1: the #2 seed will play the #3 seed, and the #1 seed will fficiate. The lser f Set 1 will be third place in the pl and will fficiate the next tie breaker set. Set 2: the winner f Set 1 will play the #1 seed and the lser f Set 1 will fficiate. The winner f Set 2 will be first in the pl and the lser will be secnd. If, fr any reasn, ne f the tied teams is unavailable fr the reslutin f the tie at the time the curt fficial is ready t prceed, that team will autmatically becme the third place team and the ther tw teams will play ne tie breaker set. Scenari Tw N. Teams Advancing Pl Finish Applicatins 2 First place 4-team pls: All teams have 2-1 match recrds 3-team pls: All teams have 1-1 match recrds The #1 seed des nt have a playff set. The #1 seed finishes first in the pl. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 17
The #2 seed will play the #3 seed and the #1 seed will fficiate. The winner will be secnd place in the pl and the lser f this set will be third place in the pl. If, fr any reasn, ne f the tied teams is unavailable fr the reslutin f the tie at the time the curt fficial is ready t prceed, that team will be ranked third in the pl. The remaining teams will finish first and secnd in the pl based n the tie breaker seeding prcess. N ther penalty will be applied and n tie breaker set is played. Scenari Three N. Teams Advancing Pl Finish Applicatins 2 Secnd place 4-team pls: All teams have 1-2 match recrds All three teams will participate in tie breaker Sets. Set 1: the #2 seed will play the #3 seed and the #1 seed will fficiate. The lser f Set 1 will be furth place in the pl and will fficiate the next tie breaker set. Set 2: the winner f Set 1 will play the #1 seed and the lser f Set 1 will fficiate. The winner f Set 2 will be first in the pl and the lser will be third. If, fr any reasn, ne f the tied teams is unavailable fr the reslutin f the tie at the time the curt fficial is ready t prceed, that team will autmatically becme the furth place team. The ther tw teams will play ne tie breaker set. Scenari Fur N. Teams Advancing Pl Finish Applicatins 3 Secnd place 4-team pls: All teams have 1-2 match recrds The #1 seed des nt have a playff set. The #1 seed finishes secnd in the pl. The #2 seed will play the #3 seed and the #1 seed will fficiate. The winner will be third place in the pl and the lser f this set will be furth place in the pl. If, fr any reasn, ne f the tied teams is unavailable fr the reslutin f the tie at the time the curt fficial is ready t prceed, that team will be ranked furth in the pl. The remaining tw teams will finish secnd and third in the pl based n the tie breaker seeding prcess. N ther penalty will be applied and n tie breaker set is played. TIE BREAKER PROCEDURES FOR THIRD ROUND OPEN DIVISION POOLS (GOLD POOLS) If three teams are tied, ALL THREE TEAMS WILL PARTICIPATE IN TIE BREAKER SETS. Fllw the Seeding the Tie Breaker Sets t seed the teams, and Scenari One abve fr the Set Play Order. # f Bids Pl Finish Applicatins 1-2 First r Secnd place 4-team pls: All teams have either 2-1 r 1-2 match recrds 3-team pls: All teams have a 1-1 match recrd In the case that there is nly ne Gld Pl in the third rund and tw bids are available: USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 18
The #1 seed des nt have a playff set. The #1 seed finishes first in the pl and receives the first bid. The #2 seed will play the #3 seed and the #1 seed will fficiate. The winner will be secnd place in the pl and will receive the secnd bid. The lser f this set will be third place in the pl. If all teams in the Gld Pl are qualified r if n teams are, by virtue f the tie, autmatically eliminated frm the pprtunity f winning a bid in that event, there will be n tie breaker sets fr that pl. Ties are reslved by ranking accrding t set percentage, r, if necessary, pint percentage. FORMAT FOR TIE BREAKER SETS Tie break sets are played t 25 pints with ne team winning by tw pints, n cap. Teams will switch sides at 13 pints. PENALTIES FOR MISSED TIE BREAKER SETS It is the respnsibility f a team s cach t knw if there is a ptential tie in pl play finish and t have his/her team available curtside fr tie breaker sets as sn as the last match f the pl is finished. All teams must remain curtside fr the duratin f any necessary tie breaker sets regardless f whether the team is scheduled t cmpete r fficiate. Play f tie breaker sets will nt be delayed in rder t lcate a team r prvide time fr a team t return t the curt. In a three-way tie, where ne r mre teams is nt at curtside at the finish f the last match f the pl, the teams remaining will play fr psitin, if necessary. The team(s) that left will finish lwer than the team(s) that remained. The psitin f the team(s) that left will be determined fllwing the tie break prcedure as it pertains t the pl and advancing psitins available. There are n ther penalties fr a team that is nt present fr tie breaking sets. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 19
TEAM AND PLAYER POLICIES PARTICIPATION IN MULTIPLE DIVISIONS Each NQ that perates under ne name r ne USAV license is a single EVENT, even if the NQ activity is held n multiple weekends r in multiple lcatins. Exceptin: An 18s NQ, even if using the same name as a NQ fr the 12-17 age grups wuld be cnsidered a separate event if nt cnducted n the same dates as the NQ fr the yunger age grups. 18-&-Under athletes may nt play in a qualificatin divisin in bth the SGJNC and the Summer GJNC. Athletes meeting the age definitins fr age grups yunger than 18 may participate in bth events, but nly 1 Champinship Divisin per event (Spring r Summer). The qualificatin divisins fr the 18-&-Under age grup are Open, Natinal, USA & American. A player may nly be n ne team rster in a bid award divisin in a single NQ event. A player may nly be n ne team rster at a Natinal Champinship event. PLAYING UP A team must play in the divisin that cnfrms t the USAV age requirements fr the team s players. The 11 digit team cde stipulates its prper age divisin. If a team desires t play up an age divisin AND there is space available withut denying an age apprpriate team an entry psitin, the team may play in an upper age divisin. A team may play up a maximum f tw age divisins (i.e. a 15s team culd nly play up t 16s r 17s). A team may be mved up at the request f the turnament, but if this team is accepted in the prper age grup, they must agree t the mve. A team unable t gain access may be ffered the pprtunity t play up by the turnament. TEAM FORFEITURES A team that intentinally frfeits a match at a NQ will be excluded frm further participatin in that NQ. The frfeit is intentinal unless the team shws gd cause fr the frfeit. The Event Arbitratr will determine if gd cause exists. The QD will reprt any team that intentinally frfeits a match t the Events Department. If a team intentinally frfeits a match in the Gld Level during the third rund f pl play in an Open divisin r during Gld playff bracket matches in a Club divisin, the team s penalty will be: ALL Adult Members listed n the verified event rster and the Club Directr will be suspended frm participating in all NQs, Reginal Qualificatin Events and the SGJNC fr the fllwing seasn. Last Day Frfeits Teams that enter a NQ are cmmitting t participating in the full event. Teams have cntrl ver their travel plans and thse plans shuld be made s that a team will nt have t frfeit any matches. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 20
A team that frfeits a match fr any reasn ther than illness, injury r emergency is denying anther team a match. Additinally, in a single eliminatin frmat, it is pr sprtsmanship t deny a team the right t mve n by beating them and then frfeiting ut f the event. Furthermre, it is even mre unacceptable t frfeit and then, as lser f the match, nt t remain and fficiate the next match. Teams that have n flexibility in their travel plans and knw they will need t leave befre the cnclusin f an event shuld ntify the Turnament Directr early n the last day. The Turnament Directr will decide when the team will need t take their frfeit. Teams frfeiting shuld recgnize that additinal penalties may apply. Teams that refuse t play a match t determine 3rd and 4th place in the turnament will bth finish 4 th, and there will be n 3 rd place awarded in the turnament. Teams that frfeit a last day match are still respnsible t fficiate the next match scheduled n their curt. Teams playing the next scheduled match may nt be required t begin play early. TEAM OFFICIATING DUTIES The NQ must publish an fficiating assignment schedule fr the teams; the teams must fulfill all their scheduled fficiating assignments. Teams must prvide secnd referees fr all assigned matches (unless an assigned match has a certified fficial as secnd referee); tw line judges; a screr (screkeeper); and an assistant screr (visual screr and liber tracker). The secnd referee must be a rstered adult fr all 14 & Under and yunger age divisins. A team that fails t have a cmplete fficiating crew available fr an fficiating assignment - including a rstered adult fr that team - at the time the curt fficial is ready t prceed can be penalized by lsing pints in the first set f its next match. Fr every minute an fficiating team is late t fulfill its assignment, ne pint will be awarded t that team s next ppnent in the first set f the next match, up t a maximum f 25 pints. Penalty pints begin t accumulate at the start f the receiving team s warm-up. An adult listed n the event rster must be present at the screr s table and easily identifiable while any members f the team are fficiating. Perfrming duties as the R2 n the match the team is assigned t fficiate fulfills this requirement. A team may frfeit its entire next match fr failing, a secnd time, t have an fficiating crew available n time fr an fficiating assignment. Teams chsing nt t play a match r fulfill their fficiating respnsibilities n the final day f cmpetitin may be financially penalized at a level established and published by the Event. Teams being penalized shall be restricted frm playing in further Natinal Qualifiers and/r the USAV Girls JNC until this penalty is fulfilled. *Penalties fr missing fficiating assignments in a three-way tie breaker differ frm these Team Officiating Duties penalties (see Prcedures fr Breaking Ties). REGIONALLY AGE WAIVERED PLAYERS Teams cmpeting in a NQ bid award divisin MAY NOT use any players wh have an age waiver frm their regin unless thse players are therwise age-eligible t play in the divisin. NQs may allw teams using players wh have a waiver frm their regin fr age requirements in any divisin that des NOT have a bid fr the SGJNC. With regin apprval nly, teams with waivered players may be eligible t participate in the nn-qualifying Patrit Divisin f the SGJNC. USAV will fully supprt the regin s decisin n whether r nt t allw waivered players in this divisin. USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 21
TEAM ROSTERS All caches listed n the rster (Head and Assistants) will be backgrund screened and pssess a minimum caching certificatin level f IMPACT (Entry Level). An IMPACT certified cach, listed n the rster, must be present and n the bench at all times. It is strngly recmmended that teams have additinal IMPACT certified adults verified n their rster and present at all times. In the event a Cach(es) is nt present (late, sick, ejected r disqualified), the team must have anther IMPACT certified adult verified n their rster and n the team bench fr play t begin r cntinue withut frfeit. N additinal time will be allwed t cmply with the certified persnnel requirement t cntinue play except fr unused time uts and/r time allwed between sets. A team may have a maximum f 15 players and five (5) additinal persnnel n their rster, ne f which must be listed as the Head Cach (Please nte: a chaperne is als required n each team s rster fr the Girls Junir Natinal Champinships). The ther fur rster psitins may be any cmbinatin f the fllwing: 5. Assistant Cach 6. 2 nd Assistant Cach 7. Chaperne One 8. Chaperne Tw 9. Team Representative 10. Team Manager In the event the team elects nt t designate a Team Representative, the Head Cach will fill that rle. The Team Manager psitin is primarily reserved fr, but nt restricted t, junir level members (members wh are registered in a junir level membership categry r are under the age f 18) participating with a junir team in a nnplayer capacity. These members cannt be placed in any team staff psitin ther than Team Manager. Junir level staff members must be at least 10 years f age. USA Vlleyball and the event arbitratrs reserve the right t cnduct randm ID checks n any staff persn listed n the rster at any time. All rster persnnel (nn-players) must have cmpleted the club s regin s registratin prcess and cleared the backgrund screening if applicable. Junir level members under the age f 18 d nt need t be backgrund screened. Junir members 18 years ld and abve, serving in nn-player capacity n a junir team, must apply fr and clear a backgrund screening within 30 days f their 18th Birthday." Individual Participatin Eligibility Requirements (membership, backgrund screening, IMPACT, minimum age, etc.) are subject t verificatin by USAV, including use f randm ID checks by the Event Arbitratr. Frzen Players Earning an Open bid, submitting an Open At-Large bid applicatin r accepting any Club bid defines the team as qualified fr the SGJNC. As f this time, the players n the qualified team s Official Rster are frzen t that team. The players n the team s Official Rster are subject t the fllwing restrictins: A Frzen Player cannt be n the rster f, r play fr, anther team in a Reginal Qualifier r NQ event, the rster f a team applying fr an Open At-Large bid, r anther team playing at the SGJNC. Once a female junir player has participated in a JNC qualifying event (Reginal r NQ), she may nt be n the Official Rster f, r participate in, anther JNC qualifying r champinship event with a different club. A club may add player(s) t the Official Rster f ne f its teams qualified fr the SGJNC, prvided the additinal player(s) are members f the club and are nt n the Official Rster f anther f the club s teams USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 22
playing in the SGJNC. Upn qualificatin t the SGJNC, all players frm that team, becme ineligible t participate in any NQ events. Vilatins f the Frzen Player rules will result in sanctins being impsed n the already qualified team, its club, the team s cach, the player and the club s directr. The Events Department will determine sanctins fr vilatins f the Frzen Player rules. The sanctins may be a warning, prbatin, suspensin, expulsin r match frfeiture. Age Exceptin fr 2016 An age EXCEPTION will be granted t a high schl junir whse date f birth is prir t September 1 f 1998 t participate in the GJNC. This exceptin nly applies t the GJNC event. It des nt extend t Natinal Qualifier events. A player may participate in the qualificatin prcess with ne team that has nt yet qualified. Once a team has qualified, that player is frzen t that rster fr the Champinship (GJNC r GSJNC) at which the Divisin (Open, Natinal, USA r American) is being cntested. If that player is eligible by age definitin t play in an age grup yunger than 18s, she may participate at the Champinship that des nt cincide with the Divisin with which she qualified, prvided it is within the same club EXAMPLE 1: A player in the 17s age divisin plays n an 18s team and that team Qualifies fr the GSJNC in the Open Divisin. That player may nt play n any ther team, let s say a 17s team trying t qualify fr 17 Open, t help that team qualify fr the GJNC. She may, hwever, be added t the 17 Open rster t play in the GJNC within that club. EXAMPLE 2: A club has a team that has qualified fr the 18 USA Divisin f the GSJNC, they may add a player frm their club wh plays n a yunger team t play in the GSJNC even if the yunger team has qualified fr the GJNC. POLICY ON FOREIGN INDIVIDUAL AND FOREIGN TEAM PARTICIPATION Only U.S. Territries (American Sama, Guam, Puert Ric, U.S. Virgin Islands) and their assciated Federatins are eligible t participate in qualificatin divisins f the NQs and the SGJNC. Beginning in 2014, freign teams may be eligible t participate in the Patrit Divisins f the SGJNC if they fulfill the requirements utlined belw. Freign teams will be accepted int the Patrit Divisin beginning May 1 st, r sner, depending n space available. Definitins Freign Participant Nn-Resident Freign Participant Resident Freign Participant A participant wh is nt a citizen f the United States OR a citizen residing in a U.S. Territry having its wn Natinal Vlleyball Federatin t which the participant is affiliated. A persn wh is nt a citizen f the United States residing utside the 50 United States OR an individual residing in a U.S. Territry, having its wn Natinal Vlleyball Federatin t which the participant is affiliated. A persn wh is nt a citizen f the United States and resides in ne f the 50 United States and hlding resident versus visitr status. Prf f Resident status includes prviding dcumentatin substantiating enrllment and attendance in an educatinal institutin in the United USAV Natinal Champinship Manual Revised Octber 2015 Page 23