NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL (The fllwing manual cntains infrmatin regarding bth the Natinal Qualifiers and the Girls Junir Natinal Champinships) Revised: Octber 2017 2017/2018 Seasn Cpyright USA Vlleyball I

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 1 PURPOSE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL... 1 CHANGING THE CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL... 1 GLOSSARY OF TERMS... 1 CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION... 3 GIRLS JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS OVERVIEW... 4 USA VOLLEYBALL JUNIOR PLAYER AGE DEFINITION... 4 Age Exceptin fr 2018... 5 DIVISIONS OF PLAY - OPEN, NATIONAL, USA, AMERICAN & PATRIOT... 7 Age Classificatin, Divisins & Team Entries... 7 NATIONAL QUALIFIER QUALIFYING PROCESS... 7 NATIONAL QUALIFIER REQUIREMENTS... 8 DIVISIONS & SIZE OF FIELD... 8 GJNC BIDS AWARDED BY A NATIONAL QUALIFIER... 8 Natinal Qualifier Bids Open Divisins... 9 Open At-Large Bids... 9 Natinal Qualifier Bids Natinal Divisins (11-12 & Under Only)... 9 Natinal Qualifier Bids USA Divisins... 10 Natinal Qualifier Bids American Divisins... 10 GJNC BIDS AWARDED THROUGH A REGION... 10 Reallcatin Bids... 11 Rules fr Pririty f Bid Use... 11 Penalties fr Nt Using Bids... 12 NATIONAL QUALIFIER TOURNAMENTS... 13 RULES OF PLAY... 13 TOURNAMENT FORMATS... 13 MATCH FORMATS... 13 Seeding f divisins... 13 Open Divisin Frmats... 13 Natinal (12 & Under nly), USA and American Divisin Frmats... 14 Natinal (11 & Under nly) Divisin Frmats... 14 Pl Play Sequence... 14 PLAYING SCHEDULES... 16 COURT USE... 16 WARM-UP PROTOCOL... 16 ON-SITE REGISTRATION AND ROSTER VERIFICATION... 17 PROCEDURES FOR BREAKING TIES... 18 TWO-WAY TIES: 2 TEAMS TIED IN MATCH RECORD... 18 THREE-WAY TIES: WHERE NO TEAM CAN ADVANCE TO WIN A BID OR NON-ELIMINATION SCENARIOS... 18 THREE-WAY TIES: WHERE 1 OR MORE TEAMS MAY ADVANCE TO WIN A BID... 18 SEEDING TIE BREAKER SETS... 18 PLAYING TIE BREAKER SETS... 19 Scenari One 1 Team Advances... 19 Scenari Tw 2 Teams Advance... 19 Scenari Three Ties Invlving Mre Than 3 Teams... 19 TIE BREAKER PROCEDURES FOR THIRD ROUND OPEN DIVISION POOLS (GOLD POOLS)... 19 FORMAT FOR TIE BREAKER SETS... 20 PENALTIES FOR MISSED TIE BREAKER SETS... 20 TEAM AND PLAYER POLICIES... 21 PARTICIPATION IN MULTIPLE DIVISIONS... 21 PLAYING UP... 21 TEAM FORFEITURES... 21 II

Last Day Frfeits... 22 TEAM OFFICIATING DUTIES... 22 REGIONALLY AGE WAIVERED PLAYERS... 22 TEAM ROSTERS... 23 FROZEN PLAYERS... 24 POLICY ON FOREIGN INDIVIDUAL AND FOREIGN TEAM PARTICIPATION... 25 Plicy:... 25 Freign Particpant Eligibility... 25 Freign Team Eligibility... 26 Required Individual Frms... 26 Required Team Frms/Fees... 26 TOURNAMENT REQUIREMENTS... 27 OFFICIALS... 27 AWARDS... 27 TEAM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS... 27 TEAM ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA... 27 TRAINERS... 28 PROTEST COMMITTEE... 28 ETHICS AND ELIGIBILITY... 28 Event Arbitratrs... 28 Event Ethics and Eligibility Appeals Cmmittee... 28 USA Vlleyball Age and Identity Falsificatin Plicy... 29 CHAPTER 2 NATIONAL QUALIFIER DIRECTORS... 30 PREPARING FOR NATIONAL QUALIFIER EVENTS... 31 NATIONAL QUALIFIER INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS... 31 USAV Natinal Qualifier Plicies... 31 Turnament Infrmatin... 31 RECOMMENDED FACILITY SPACE REQUIREMENTS... 32 EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS... 32 EVENT STAFF MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS... 32 ONLINE REGISTRATION AND RESULTS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS... 32 REFUND AND WITHDRAWAL POLICY... 33 OFFICIALS... 33 USAV ARBITRATOR... 33 USAV EVALUATOR... 33 USAV BRANDING... 34 USAV HIGH PERFORMANCE TRYOUT SESSION... 34 USAV SANCTION REQUIREMENTS... 35 III

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 Girls Junir Natinal Champinships (GJNC); 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 GJNC, 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 GJNCs and the NQs. The secndary purpse is t explain the prcess f qualifying t play at the GJNC. The CM is intended t be a resurce t thse hsting ne f the NQs and t thse rganizatins whse teams attend the GJNC and the NQs. Nte: A separate manual has been established t cver the SGJNC (18s Champinships) and its qualifying prcess. 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 except fr the 12 & Under divisin which is 48. At-Large Bid: See Bid. Bid: A bid is an invitatin t a team t play in the GJNC. 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 GJNC 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, USA r American divisin bid t the GJNC that is unused and is returned fr reallcatin t a Regin. Reallcatin is perfrmed by the Events Department. Trickle Dwn Bid: A GJNC 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 GJNC bid frm anther NQ r a regin prcess r a bid is declined frm the Natinal, American, r USA divisins. CM: Champinship Manual Page 1

Event: Multiple turnaments r activities assciated within the same title, sanctin and hst rganizatin. Frzen Player: A player wh is restricted frm participating n the rster f anther team. The specifics f the Frzen Player are numerus and can vary between the SGJNC and the GJNC. Please refer t these specifics fund n Page 16 f this dcument. GJNC: Girls Junir Natinal Champinships 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 GJNC. Seeding match: A nn-eliminatin match meant t place r seed teams int the next rund f play. Natinal Divisin: A Divisin f the GJNC where teams must btain a bid t participate. Bids are allcated t the Regins fr distributin t its teams. Regins will receive 1-2 bids fr this turnament, depending upn enrllment frm the previus year. Unused Regin bids will be reallcated t ther Regins. The GJNC field size fr Natinal Divisins will be 48 teams (fr an exceptin, see Natinal Qualifier Bids Natinal Divisin (11 and 12 & Under Only) n Page 8). This divisin in the 18 & Under age grup is cntested at the SGJNC. NQ: Natinal Qualifier Event Open 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 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 GJNC field size fr Open Divisins will be 36 teams; except fr the 13 Open divisin, which will be limited t 24 teams. This divisin in the 18 & Under age grup is cntested at the SGJNC. Patrit Divisin: A Divisin f the GJNC 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 GJNC field size fr Patrit Divisins will range frm 24-72+teams. The field size fr the 18 Patrit Divisins will range frm 24-72+ teams and will be cntested at the SGJNC. 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: An 18 & Under Natinal Champinship that takes place in the spring with the 18 Open, 18 Natinal, 18 USA, 18 American, and 18 Patrit Divisins. Team: A minimum f 6 rstered players and at least ne cach wh is registered, IMPACT & SafeSprt 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. USA 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 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, wuld be allcated thrugh an at-large prcess. The GJNC field size fr USA Divisins will be 36 teams fr 14-17s and 24 teams fr 13s. This divisin in the 18 & Under age grup is cntested at the SGJNC and will have a field size f 48 teams. USAV: USA Vlleyball Page 2

CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Page 3

GIRLS JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS OVERVIEW The GJNC prvides cmpetitin by age classificatins in varius divisins f cmpetitin (see the chart belw). Teams have t qualify t play at the GJNC fr all Divisins except the Patrit Divisins 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 GJNC 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 and American divisins, as well as pssibly the USA divisin), r thrugh the Regin Reallcatin prcess (fr Natinal and American divisins nly). USA VOLLEYBALL JUNIOR PLAYER AGE DEFINITION Fr use during the 2017-2018 Seasn Once a player participates (including but nt limited t practicing, training, attending fficial wrkuts and/r cmpeting) in a club r varsity prgram fr any university, cllege, cmmunity cllege, r junir cllege, he/she is ineligible t take part in any natinal prgramming, which includes but is nt limited t natinal JNC qualifying and champinship events. 18 and Under Divisin: Players wh were brn n r after September 1, 1999 r Players wh were brn n r after September 1, 1998 and a high schl student in the twelfth (12 th ) grade r belw during sme part f the current academic year 17 and Under Divisin: Players wh were brn n r after September 1, 2000 16 and Under Divisin: Players wh were brn n r after September 1, 2001 15 and Under Divisin: Players wh were brn n r after September 1, 2002 14 and Under Divisin: Players wh were brn n r after September 1, 2003 13 and Under Divisin: Players wh were brn n r after September 1, 2004 12 and Under Divisin: Players wh were brn n r after September 1, 2005 11 and Under Divisin: Players wh were brn n r after September 1, 2006 Page 4

Nte: These age definitins are used by dmestic club prgrams and are NOT the same as the age definitins fr the Internatinal and Dmestic High Perfrmance prgrams fr 2018. The Age Definitin Plicy was mst recently revised by the USA Vlleyball Bard f Directrs n January 19, 2002. The classificatin cut-ff date f September 1 was reviewed by the USAV Junir Assembly and the USA Reginal Vlleyball Assciatin Assembly prir and during the USAV 2017 Annual Meetings and research justified the cntinuatin f the cut-ff date f September 1. These definitins will be reviewed again in Octber f 2020. Age Exceptin fr 2018 An age EXCEPTION will be granted t a high schl junir whse date f birth is prir t September 1 f 2000 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 club in a given seasn that has nt yet qualified in a given seasn. Once a team has qualified, the players n the rster used t qualify are frzen t that team fr the champinship (GJNC r GSJNC) and may nt participate with any ther team, qualified r nnqualified, at a natinal qualifier. 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 age grup 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 at a natinal qualifier and that team Qualifies fr the SGJNC in the Open Divisin. That player may nt play n any ther team (e.g. a 17s team trying t qualify fr 17 Open) at any Natinal Qualifying events t help that team qualify fr the GJNC fr the remainder f that club seasn. 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. Page 5

DIVISIONS OF PLAY - OPEN, NATIONAL, USA, AMERICAN & PATRIOT There are five majr divisins f play at GJNC Open divisins, Natinal divisins, USA divisins, American divisins, and the Patrit divisins. The gal f the GJNC Open divisins is t identify, thrugh cmpetitin, the best team in each GJNC divisin frm amng 36 teams (24 teams fr the 13 & under age categry) that have earned bids. The NQ Open divisins are designed t select thse teams. T participate in an Open divisin at the GJNC, a team must earn a bid frm participating in an NQ Open divisin either winning the bid utright at an NQ r being selected fr an At-Large Bid after cmpeting in an NQ Open divisin (see Open At-Large Bids). The gal f the GJNC Natinal, USA and American divisins is t shwcase reginally strng teams and prvide the pprtunity fr mre teams t participate at the GJNC. Teams have three avenues t earn a bid fr a GJNC Natinal, USA r American divisin: Earn a bid at a NQ (Natinal (11 and 12 & Under Only), USA r American); Earn a bid thrugh their regin s qualifying prcess (Natinal r American); r Earn a bid frm their regin thrugh the Re-allcatin prcess. Age Classificatin, Divisins & Team Entries OPEN Divisin NATIONAL CLUB Divisin USA CLUB Divisin AMERICAN CLUB Divisin PATRIOT Divisin 17 & Under 16 & Under 15 & Under 14 & Under 13 & Under 36 teams 36 teams 36 teams 36 teams 24 teams 12 & Under 11 & Under 48 teams 48 teams 48 teams 48 teams 48 teams 48 teams 48 teams 36 teams 36 teams 36 teams 36 teams 24 teams 64 teams 64 teams 64 teams 64 teams 64 teams 48 teams 48* teams 72* teams 72* teams 72* teams *Patrit divisins will have a sft cap f the number listed abve, but may accept additinal 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). NATIONAL QUALIFIER QUALIFYING PROCESS The primary purpse f the NQs is t select, thrugh turnament cmpetitin, Open teams and sme Natinal (11 and12 & Under nly), USA and American teams in varius age divisins t cmpete at the GJNC. 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 each 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 12 NQs: Big Suth (Atlanta), Clrad Crssrads (Denver), Disney Vlleyball Shwcase Page 7

(Orland), Far Western (Ren), Mideast (St. Luis & Indianaplis), Lne Star (Dallas), Nrtheast (Philadelphia), Nrthern Lights (Minneaplis), Pacific Nrthwest (Spkane), Shw Me (Kansas City), Suthern Califrnia (Las Vegas), and Windy City (Chicag). 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 GJNC 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 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, Natinal (11 and 12 & Under nly), USA and American divisin. Currently, a NQ may hst a maximum f 48 teams in each Open divisin and 128 teams in each Natinal (11 and 12 & Under nly), USA and American divisin. On a case-by-case basis, the Events Department may grant a waiver fr a NQ divisin t exceed these numbers, except that n waivers will be granted fr the NQ Open divisins. Nt all NQs hst all age divisins; sme hst cmpetitin in age divisins that d nt currently have a Junir Natinal Champinship (i.e. 10 & Under r Select divisins). The NQs have the latitude t institute these additinal divisins with the apprval f USAV. GJNC BIDS AWARDED BY A NATIONAL QUALIFIER USAV allws each NQ t award a certain number f bids t the tp finishing teams in Open, Natinal (11 and 12 & Under nly), USA and American 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). OPEN& USA: 13 s OPEN: 14 s 17 s NATIONAL: 11 s - 12 s USA: 14 s 17 s * AMERICAN: 12 s - 17's Number f Teams Number f Bids Number f Teams Number f Bids Number f Teams Number f Bids Number f Teams Number f Bids Number f Teams < 8 0 < 8 0 < 8 0 < 8 0 < 8 0 8 11 1 8-15 1 8-128 1 8-15 1 8-128 1 Number f Bids Page 8

12-48 2 16-23 2 16-23 2 24-48 3 24-128 3 The ttal number f bids distributed amng the NQs t award in a GJNC divisin is determined by the number f teams permitted t play in the divisin at the GJNC. Sme Open bids may be reserved fr the At-Large Pl and sme Natinal and American bids are reserved fr the regins t award (see Age Classificatins chart abve). 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 GJNC 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 GJNC 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). Natinal Qualifier Bids Open Divisins In the NQ Open divisins, bids g t the teams that finish the cmpetitin in a bid award psitin. 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 eighth place in the turnament. 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 GJNC 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 GJNC Open divisin age grup fr which the team is applying; and, Cmply with the bth their regin s and USAV s GJNC 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 GJNC 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 GJNC entry applicatin. Natinal Qualifier Bids Natinal Divisins (11-12 & Under Only) At a NQ, bth a Natinal divisin and an American divisin will be ffered fr the 11 and 12 & Under age divisin Each NQ will receive ne Natinal bid t award, prvided they have a minimum f eight (8) teams registered in the divisin. A team must accept r reject a Natinal 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 8 th place in the turnament (see GJNC Bids Awarded Thrugh a Regin). Shuld either divisin fail t receive the minimum number f eight (8) registered teams, the divisins will be cmbined and will be called the Natinal divisin. In rder fr the cmbined Natinal divisin t retain bth bids, the divisin must have a minimum f sixteen (16) registered teams. If the cmbined Natinal divisin has less than sixteen (16) registered teams, the NQ will award nly ne Natinal bid. Page 9

Natinal Qualifier Bids USA Divisins At a NQ, the USA divisin has up t three bids in the 14-17s age grups & up t tw bids in the 13s age grup. 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 8 th place in a turnament. 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 8 th place in a turnament. Natinal Qualifier Bids American Divisins At a NQ, the American divisin has ne bid. An American 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 an American 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 8 th place in the turnament (see GJNC Bids Awarded Thrugh a Regin). Trickle dwn scenaris fr an American Bid: If a team that wins an American 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 American bid may trickle dwn t the next eligible, highest finishing team, prvided that team finished n lwer than 8 th place in the turnament. The trickle dwn prcess must be applied at the cnclusin f the divisin s cmpetitin. If a team earns and accepts an American bid thrugh a regin turnament and then earns an American bid at a NQ, the NQ American bid will supersede the regin American bid and the regin American bid will return t the regin it was riginally awarded frm fr reallcatin. If a team that wins an American bid accepted an American bid frm a previus NQ, the current American ges t the next eligible, highest finishing team, prvided the next highest finishing team finished n lwer than 8 th place in the turnament. The trickle dwn prcess must be applied at the cnclusin f the divisin s cmpetitin. GJNC BIDS AWARDED THROUGH A REGION Regins award bids t tw Divisins at the GJNC Natinal and American. 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 GJNC. Of the 48 American Divisin bids, 12 will be awarded at NQ Events with the remaining being allcated t the 36 largest Regins based n Girls Junir registrants frm the previus seasn except as nted belw: Fr 11 & Under, 12 & Under and 13 & Under divisins, the riginal alltment f bids and any reallcatin bids a regin receives depends n the number f junir girls registered in the 11 & Under, 12 & Under and 13 & Under divisins, nt n the ttal number f junir girls registered in the regin. Given there are 40 USAV Regins and nly 36 Natinal bids allcated t regins nt all regins will receive an allcated bid, but thse regins nt receiving an autmatic bid will be priritized in the prcess f reallcating unused bids. The number f bids received by a particular regin may change frm year t year. Page 10

Reallcatin Bids Sme regins may nt use all f their riginally alltted bids; in each age divisin, these unused bids, alng with any American bids nt accepted by eligible teams at an NQ, 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 GJNC 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. The Natinal r American bid will remain in the regin f the team that riginally accepted the Natinal r American bid. If the regin refuses t allcate this bid, it reverts back t the NQ and fllws the trickle dwn prcess. 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 t an at-large allcatin. If a team previusly accepted an American bid, the team must use the Natinal Bid. The American bid will remain in the regin f the team that riginally accepted the American bid. If the regin refuses t allcate this bid, it reverts back t the NQ and fllws the trickle dwn prcess. When a USA Club bid is the secnd bid a team earns: 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. The American bid will remain in the regin f the team that riginally accepted the Natinal r American bid. Page 11

Penalties fr Nt Using Bids A team that des nt use a GJNC Open bid which it has earned, r a GJNC Natinal, USA r American bid which it has earned and accepted, may be subject t the fllwing penalties: IF a team earns an Open bid at a NQ, earns and accepts an Open At-Large bid, r earns and accepts a Natinal, USA r American bid (Reginal r NQ) and subsequently des nt participate in the GJNC, 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 & Summer) fr the remainder f that seasn and fr the fllwing seasn; and, The Club must pay USAV the GJNC entry fee fr the team. If the Club des nt pay the GJNC Event Entry Fee, the suspensin frm cmpeting in qualifying events will remain in frce until the fee is paid in full. Page 12

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. (Nte fr the 2017-2018 seasn, the GJNC, SGJNC and NQ events will be using the TEST rule fr scre keeping (DCR pg. 15)). 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 sizes f 8-16 teams, pls cmprised f mre than 5 teams may be utilized. Seeding f divisins The seeding f divisins within a NQ may be either dne by NQ r the NQ may request that it be dne by the USAV seeding cmmittee. Shuld the NQ chse t seed the Open Divisins, the seed rder must be apprved by the cmmittee prir t the release f the cmpetitin schedule. Alteratins t these guidelines must be apprved by the USAV Events Department. 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 GJNC, additinal Page 13

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. 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 brackets is allwed. Natinal (12 & Under nly), USA and American Divisin Frmats All teams in Natinal (12 & Under nly), USA r American divisins play 2 runds f pl play, fllwed by single eliminatin playff brackets. Sme teams may have an additinal qualifying, crssver r seeding match prir t Gld bracket r ther playff brackets, depending n the number f teams in a divisin. Natinal (11 & Under nly) Divisin Frmats The 11s divisin may be cntested as a tw r three-day champinship. Fr a tw-day frmat, ne rund f pl play fllwed by playffs is acceptable. Shuld the field size warrant, a challenge rund after pl play may be necessary. Divisins using a three day frmat shuld fllw the 12 & Under requirements. 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) 1 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) 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) Page 14

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: Page 15

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. Playff brackets may nt be larger than 24 teams. All teams will be scheduled fr at least 1 match n the final day f cmpetitin. 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). Fr day 3 f cmpetitin, matches may nt be scheduled t begin later than 3:00 p.m. 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. If all Parties agree, the warm-up time may be shrtened. 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 Page 16

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. 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 & Safesprt certified and have IMPACT caching certificatin, at a minimum. All reprted team cmpetitin results are cmplete and accurate. All members f the Official Rsters are FULL MEMBERS f an RVA f USA Vlleyball OR have fully cmpleted the necessary prcess established fr Freign Teams (page 23). 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, 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 GJNC. The Events Department will pst the team s rster n the USAV website. Fr all NQs and fr GJNC, each player is required t wear the same jersey number as listed n the fficial rster thrughut the entire event, with limited exceptins as required by emergency r bld rule applicatins. The rster may nt be changed nce play begins fr the team. (See Frzen Player rules belw fr additinal infrmatin abut regin bids and At-Large bids in regards t Official Rsters.) Page 17

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 GJNC 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 higher finishing team will be the team that wn the pl play match between the 2 tied teams (head-thead). 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 OR Nn- Eliminatin Scenaris 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, except when tw teams remain when all steps in the prcess have been exhausted. Head-t-Head results will nt be used at any time in breaking a three-way tie: Pl match recrd. Head-t-head results. (Pl larger than 4 teams.) Set percentage (sets wn divided by ttal sets played). This is dne by determining 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). Shuld tw teams remain tied, the result f their Head-t-Head match will break the tie. 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 highest. If the teams are still tied: Page 18

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: Shuld tw teams remain tied, the result f their Head-t-Head match will break the tie. PLAYING TIE BREAKER SETS Scenari One 1 Team Advances All tied 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 in psitin #3 f the tied teams 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 in psitin #1 f the tied teams and the lser will be in psitin #2. If, fr any reasn at the start f the warm up perid fr the receiving team (secnd warmup perid), 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 third f the tied teams and the ther tw teams will play ne tie breaker set. Unavailable is defined fr a team playing in the tie-breaker set as having a legal rster t begin a match. Fr a team assigned t fficiate a tie-breaker set, a team must have every required psitin cvered. Scenari Tw 2 Teams Advance The #1 seed des nt have a playff set. The #1 seed finishes in psitin #1 f the tied teams. The #2 seed will play the #3 seed and the #1 seed will fficiate. The winner will be in psitin #2 f the tied teams and the lser f this set will be in psitin #3 f the tied teams. If, fr any reasn at the start f the secnd warmup perid, 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 f the tied teams. 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. Unavailable is defined fr a team playing in the tie-breaker set as having a legal rster t begin a match. Fr a team assigned t fficiate a tie-breaker set, a team must have every required psitin cvered. Scenari Three Ties Invlving Mre Than 3 Teams Within a pl, shuld a tie ccur invlving mre than 3 teams, the prcess fr breaking that tie shuld be crdinated by NQ staff with a member f the USAV Events Department prir t the start f the event. TIE BREAKER PROCEDURES FOR THIRD ROUND OPEN DIVISION POOLS (GOLD POOLS) If three teams are tied, ALL THREE TEAMS WILL PARTICIPATE (PLAY and/r OFFICIATE) IN TIE BREAKER SETS. Fllw the Seeding the Tie Breaker Sets t seed the teams, and Scenari One abve fr the Set Play Order. If all teams in the Gld Pl are qualified, OR the result f a tie breaking prcess has n bearing n the awarding f a bid(s) in that pl (i.e. all teams invlved in the tie either already have a bid r will receive a bid regardless f the tie break prcess) r any ther teams in anther pl f this rund f play, there will be n tie breaker sets fr that pl. Ties are reslved by ranking accrding t set percentage, r, if necessary, pint percentage. In the case that there is nly ne Gld Pl in the third rund and tw bids are available: Page 19

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. 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. 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. Page 20

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 11-17 age grups wuld be cnsidered a separate event if nt cnducted n the same dates as the NQ fr the yunger age grups. 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 team represented by a specific team cde may participate in n mre than ONE (1) divisin f the SGJNC and GJNC inclusive that requires qualificatin. EXAMPLE: A team eligible t play in the 17 & Under divisin that may qualify and accept a psitin fr an 18s divisin in the SGJNC. Hwever, if the they chse t play in that qualificatin divisin f the SGJNC they may NOT play in a qualificatin divisin f the GJNC. A player may nly be n ne team rster in a bid award divisin in a single NQ, assuming the player has nt been previusly frzen t a rster. Players frzen t rsters may n lnger play n nn-qualified teams at NQ s. PLAYING UP A team shuld play in the divisin that cnfrms t the USAV age requirements fr the team s players. The team s 11digit 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. Frfeiting teams may be subject t a fine paid t the event in the amunt nt t exceed that as psted by the event in its pre-turnament infrmatin. If a team intentinally frfeits a match in the Gld Level during the third rund f pl play r bracket play in an Open divisin r during Gld playff bracket matches in a Natinal, USA, r American divisin, the team s penalty will be: The team is ineligible fr participatin that that years GJNC and SGJNC 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 GJNC fr the remainder f that seasn and the fllwing seasn. Shuld bth teams f a scheduled match chse t frfeit a match. Teams will be tied fr the lwer f the psitins invlved in the match and are subject t the penalties (financial r therwise) established and published by the event in the Pre-Turnament infrmatin. Page 21

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. 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 their divisin cmpletes play will reprt t the turnament directr n later than the end f play n the day prir t the final day f turnament. The Event Arbitratr with the input f the turnament directr will decide what frfeitures are needed. 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 registered and Safe Sprt certified adult n the team s rster fr all age divisins. A team that fails t have a cmplete fficiating crew available fr an fficiating assignment 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. 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 GJNC. With regin apprval nly, teams with waivered players may be eligible t participate in the nn-qualifying Patrit Divisin f the GJNC. USAV will fully supprt the regin s decisin n whether r nt t allw waivered players in this divisin. Page 22