NABI

• Sunday, December 1, 2024:  Team application available online.
• Sunday, December 15, 2024: Deadline for auto-entry registration. 
• Saturday, February 1, 2025: Application and team fees deadline. 
• Friday, February 7, 2025: Team not accepted, notifications sent out via email.
• Wednesday, March 12, 2025: Teams announced.
• Tuesday, July 22, 2025:  Check-in, Coaches Meeting, and Meet & Greet Party.
• July 23-24, 2025:  Educational Youth Summit 
• July 23-25, 2025: Pool & Bracket Games
• Saturday, July 26, 2025: Semifinals & Championship games at PHX Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. LIVE on AZFamily Sports. More info coming soon.

Automatic Team Entry registration open December 1-15, 2024.

• Auto-entry for the first 64 teams who apply and submit a $500 non-refundable deposit by December 15th.
• Teams must meet all NABI eligibility requirements and have no previous year infractions/notifications.
• Remaining balance must be received by the deadline date February 1, 2025, to be accepted. 

• Online Registration Only 
• *Non-Refundable team fees (US Currency)
  • 6-8 Players – $800 
  • Additional Players – $100 per player. MAX 13 players. 
  • Head Coach – $50 (must be age 21 or older)
    • Background check will be conducted.
  • Assistant Coach – $50 (must be 21 or older) 
    • Background check will be conducted.

*Any coach changes after the deadline date will result in an additional $50 registration fee.

• Forms of Payment: 
  • Electronic Payment Only 
    • Payment must be submitted by credit card via Sports Engine by the deadline date (February 1, 2025) for application to be accepted.  
  • NO Personal Checks, Money Order or Cash will be accepted.
  • Team Sponsors
    • Teams are responsible for paying team fees in full by deadline date.
    • NABI will not fill out any forms requested by potential sponsors on the team’s behalf. 
    • Upon request from coaches, NABI will provide a NABI W-9 to potential team sponsor. Coach must provide sponsors name and email address.
    • Only checks from the tribes and/or companies sponsoring a team will be accepted. No personal checks. 
    • NABI will reimburse team head coach any overpayments once sponsor(s) check(s) have been received and cleared NABI bank account.
    • Sponsor checks must include name of Team and Division (Girls or Boys) in memo of check.
    • Issue payment to: NABI, PO Box 25606, Phoenix, AZ 85002-5606. ATTN: Team Applications (on envelope)
    • Deadline to receive team sponsor checks is February 1, 2025. 

• * Player and Coach Additions/Refunds: 
  • No additions can be made after February 1, 2025.
  • Teams not accepted will receive a 100% refund.
  • Accepted teams must notify NABI before February 14th to decline their invitation and receive a refund.
  • Auto-entry teams will not receive $500 non-refundable deposit if they decline invitation before February 14th. 

• NABI Nation Official team uniform
• NABI College & Career Fair
• NABI Meet & Greet Party 
• NABI Educational Youth Summit
• NABI College Scholarship Fund: Graduating seniors are eligible to apply. 
• Sponsored events: To be determined
• Championship Games:
  • Championship teams receive a Trophy, Medals, T-shirts, Hats, and Championship Rings. 
  • Runner-Up teams recieve a Trophy and Medals

*Based on the above referenced apparel items, size and quantities are limited; all orders are based off submitted application form.

*All times TBD. Finalized Schedule of Events will be posted on this page on June 1, 2024.

• Participants must be Native American. 
  • Must provide proof in the form of:
    • Tribal Membership ID
    • C.I.B. (Certificate of Indian Blood)
      • To apply for a Certificate of Indian Blood, click here
      • Please allow ample time to apply. For more information, please contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the agency from whom you receive services from. 
      • An official Certificate of Indian Blood must be submitted. NABI no longer accepts Birth Certificates and Tribal Documents from relatives to prove descendancy.
    • Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders as defined by the US Census are eligible to play. Any documentation providing proof will need to be provided. 
• Participants must be enrolled in high school.
  • GED program is eligible. 
  • Spring 2025 graduating seniors are eligible. 
  • Incoming freshman (8th grader in the 2024-2025 academic year). 
    • Only 1-incoming freshman/graduating 8th grader allowed per team. 
    • Must provide copy of middle school transcript or report card from the 2024-2025 academic year. 
    • Due to the high skill level of NABI teams, NABI does not recommend graduating 8th graders unless player in question has High School experience or skill level. 
  • Participants cannot turn 20 years old during the week of NABI (July 22-26, 2025).
  • Students who received their High School diploma prior to 2025 and are currently enrolled in a post graduate institution or Preparatory Academy are not eligible to play. 
  • Must provide copy of high school transcript or report card from the 2024-2025 academic year. 
  • Must provide photo ID AND copy of birth certificate.
• Participants must complete and sign a Participate Waiver & Release Form, available on Sports Engine.
  • A Parent or Legal Guardian must sign, if under the age of 18.
  • Coaches are prohibited to sign for players unless he/she is a legal guardian or parent.
• No player can play for more than one team. 
• Players who do not attend the mandatory check-in and College & Career Fair on Monday will not be eligible. In addition, players must play all scheduled games to remain eligible. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Mandatory for all players to attend the Educational Youth Summit.

*NABI staff have the right to conduct proof of eligibility at any time of the tournament. 

• Coaches do not have to be Native American.
• Head and Assistant Coaches must be over the age of 21.
• A limit of (2) coaches per team; (1) Head Coach and (1) Assistant Coach.
• Coaches (head & assistant) can only coach one team. 
• Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team and must always escort and supervise their team.
• Credentials are for coaches only. 
• Coaches must complete and sign a Participant Waiver & Release Form, available on Sports Engine.
• Background checks will be done on all coaches after teams have been accepted. 
• Head and Assistant Coaches must show a valid ID at check-in. Coaches who have not completed and passed a background check will be ineligible to participate.

• Mindful of dates/times and adhere to all deadlines.
• Important: To minimize disruption of the Check-In process and related events, NABI will not allow late check-in. All players and coaches must be present for Check-In. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Attend all NABI related events and the Educational Youth Summit (MANDATORY). 
• At all times, head coaches must carry all player eligibility documents (transcript/report card, C.I.B/Tribal Membership and photo ID/copy of birth certificate) in the event a player’s eligibility is challenged. If the head coach does not have any player eligibility documents at the time a challenge has been called, that player or team will be disqualified from the remaining of the tournament. 
• All players and coaches must always wear their NABI credentials. 
• If a player/coach loses their NABI badge, a replacement will cost $30. 
• Damaged badges can be exchanged for free. Must have old badge to exchange. 
• Players and coaches must wear the official team uniform and coach jersey during all NABI games. 
• Drugs, alcohol, gambling, and firearms are prohibited. 
• Teams are responsible for lodging, meals, and travel costs to and from the NABI Tournament.
• For lodging information, please visit the NABI Nation website (available after team selection).

New (2025):

• Any falsification of eligibility documents will call for the whole team to be ejected from the tournament and possible ejection from competing in future NABI events and NABI Scholarship eligibility. 
• Any use of racial slurs will call for the player to be ejected from the tournament and possible ejection from competing in future NABI events and NABI Scholarship eligibility.

All team applications will be reviewed, and teams will be selected by way of the following criteria:

• Submit completed and signed online application and team fees by the deadline date of February 1, 2025.  
• Submit all contact information to include: active cell number and email address. 
• Teams and Coaches agree to comply to all NABI rules & regulations posted on the official NABI Nation website.
• Agree to participate in all mandatory NABI related events below: 
  • Team Check-In 
  • College & Career Fair
  • Meet & Greet Party
  • Coaches Meeting
  • Educational Youth Summit
    • Mandatory for all players to attend when not scheduled for a game.
  • All other NABI or NABI sponsor related events.
• 2024 CHAMPIONSHIP finalists will automatically be accepted once 2025 application and fees are submitted by the deadline date. 
• Tribal Affiliation: when making selections, NABI strives to have fair representation of Tribal participation throughout the United States and abroad. 
• Returning teams: Selection based on the previous year’s participation in all NABI related events, including the Educational Youth Summit. Infraction notifications from previous years will also be reviewed. 
• New Teams:  NABI will consider all new teams who have not previously participated in NABI. 
• Teams from the same organization and/or coaches (Head & Assistant) can only enter one team per division.
• Team Names: NABI recommends teams use tribal affiliation or tribal community name. 
  • All team names to be approved by NABI. 
  • No name changes will be made after the deadline date, February 1, 2025. 
• Team Uniforms: Please ensure all sizes and quantities are correct before submitting. 
  • NO CHANGES OR ADDITIONS after the deadline date, February 1, 2025.
  • NO EXCHANGES 
  • Uniforms become property of players at the end of the tournament.
  • Teams who drop-out after the team acceptance deadline date or no show will not receive uniforms.

*By applying and signing this online application, you agree to the above NABI tournament rules and regulations, and the eligibility and responsibilities outlined in the registration process of the official NABI Nation website. Any rule that is violated will result in a forfeit of game and possible ejection from the tournament and not allowed to participate in future NABI events. NABI has the right to expel any player, coach, or team from the tournament for unacceptable behavior.