Rules & Eligibility

THE STANDARD.

The Gr8 Eight Middle School National Championship is governed by standardized rules designed to ensure competitive balance, player safety, and championship integrity across all championship formats and events.

1. ELIGIBILITY

  • Open to boys and girls in grades 6–8

  • Players must be middle school eligible during the current academic year

  • No high school–eligible players permitted

  • Grade and age verification may be required at any time

  • The Gr8 Eight reserves the right to verify eligibility through documentation when necessary.

2. TEAM COMPOSITION

  • All players must be listed on the official team roster submitted prior to competition

  • Teams are responsible for ensuring all rostered players meet eligibility requirements

  • Additional roster procedures and participation details will be provided to accepted teams prior to each event

3. TOURNAMENT FORMAT

  • Seeded championship bracket with guaranteed placement games

  • NCAA-style national championship structure

  • Each team is guaranteed three games at its qualifying site

  • Regional champions advance to the Elite 8 National Finals

  • Final placement is determined through championship and consolation games

  • Game schedules, brackets, and advancement details will be provided to participating teams and may be supplemented by event-specific attachments.

4. GAME RULES

  • Games will be played under NFHS-based rules, with event-specific modifications if applicable

  • Certified officials will be assigned to all games

  • Game length, timeouts, and overtime procedures will be communicated prior to competition

  • Official scorekeeping and statistics will be maintained through approved platforms

5. CONDUCT & SPORTSMANSHIP

  • The Gr8 Eight maintains a zero-tolerance policy for unsportsmanlike conduct.

  • Violations may result in technical fouls, ejections, team disqualification, or removal from the event without refund.

6. PROTESTS & DISPUTES

  • Judgment calls by officials are final

  • Protests regarding eligibility or rule interpretation must be submitted to event staff immediately

  • Event administrators retain final authority on all rulings

7. MEDIA & RECORDING

  • By participating, teams grant the Gr8 Eight permission to photograph and record games for promotional, media, or archival purposes.

  • No independent commercial recording or streaming is permitted without written approval.

8. REFUND POLICY

  • Team entry fees are non-refundable once acceptance is confirmed.

  • Event modifications or cancellations will be handled at the discretion of the Gr8 Eight.

9. RULE MODIFICATIONS

  • The Gr8 Eight reserves the right to modify rules, schedules, or formats when necessary to maintain championship integrity.

Acknowledgment

Participation constitutes acceptance of all rules, policies, and procedures outlined above.