2027 Native American Basketball Invitational
July 6-10, 2027 | Phoenix, Arizona
Here you will find all of the latest information for our 2027 NABI Tournament!
Please read page in its entirety before reaching out with questions.
*Rules, regulations, benefits, NABI related events, venues and dates are subject to change without notice.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
NOVEMBER 2026
Sunday, November 1, 2026:
Application available online.
DECEMBER 2026
Tuesday, December 1, 2026:
Deadline for auto-entry registration.
FEBRUARY 2027
Monday, February 1, 2027:
Application and team fees deadline. (10-13) player(s) max
Friday, February 12, 2027:
Teams notified of acceptance or decline, notifications sent out via email.
Friday, February 19, 2027:
Deadline for teams to decline their invitation and receive a full refund. Auto-entry team fees non-refundable. No refunds after February 19, 2027.
MARCH 2027
Monday, March 1, 2027:
Deadline for coach(s) to submit background check information.
Friday, March 5, 2027:
Teams announced publicly on NABINation.com and social media.
JULY 2027
Friday, July 2, 2027:
Player(s) & Coach(s) waivers due. Team rosters due.
Tuesday, July 6, 2027:
Team Check-in, College & Career Fair, Coaches Meeting, and Team Meet & Greet Party
July 7-8, 2027:
Educational Youth Summit
July 7-9, 2027:
Pool & Bracket Games
Saturday, July 10, 2027:
Semifinals & Championship games
- (4) Games minimum
- Teams will receive NABI Nation Custom Team Uniforms (Jersey and Shorts)
- NABI Player Credentials (1x per Player)
- Credentials are non-transferable
- NABI Coach(s) will receive NABI Nation Custom Short Sleeve Dri-Fit Shirt
- NABI Coach Credentials (1x per Coach)
- Credentials are non-transferable
- Access into all NABI games, including Championship games
- Access into all NABI special events:
- NABI College & Career Fair
- NABI Team Meet & Greet Party
- NABI Educational Youth Summit
- NABI College Scholarship Fund: Graduating seniors of 2026-2027 school year are eligible to apply.
- $5,000 Team Fee & Travel Reimbursement
- Must provide travel receipts totaling $5,000.
- Payable to the head coach only.
- Automatic entry into the 2028 NABI Tournament
- New: 2028 team fees waived. Up to 13 players.
- NABI Championship Trophy
- NABI Championship Trophy created exclusively for NABI – solid bronze custom design by Indigenous artist, Dave Montour (MHA Nation)
- NABI Championship Rings
- NABI Championship Medals
- NABI Championship Shirt and Cap
- Teams not accepted will receive a 100% refund.
- Accepted teams must notify NABI before February 19, 2027 to decline their invitation and receive a full refund.
- Auto-entry team fees are non-refundable.
- No refunds after February 19, 2027.
- Players must be Native American or Indigenous to the Country they are representing.
- Head Coach must carry with them at all times (4) proofs of player(s) eligibility below:
- Tribal Membership ID or C.I.B. (Certificate of Indian Blood)
- School transcript or report card for the 2026-2027 academic year
- Photo ID (Valid government-issued photo IDs, including state ID cards, driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, passports, and tribal IDs with photos accepted. School-issued student IDs with photos are also accepted.)
- Copy of Birth certificate if birthdate is not included in the above (3) proofs of player eligibility.
- To apply for a Certificate of Indian Blood, see the following link: https://www.bia.gov/online-form/certificate-degree-indian-or-alaska-native-blood-cdib-pdf
- 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.
- NABI no longer accepts Birth Certificates and Tribal Documents from relatives to prove descendancy.
- Teams and/or players representing: First Nations Canada, Native Hawaiian, Native Pacific Islanders, Indigenous Australia, Indigenous New Zealand and Indigenous Mexico are eligible to compete.
- Documentation(s) proving indigenous blood issued by participating countries must be provided as proof of eligibility in addition to school transcripts or report card (2026-2027 academic school year), valid photo ID and copy of birth certificate if birthdate is not included in the above (3) proofs of player eligibility.
- Head Coach must carry with them at all times (4) proofs of player(s) eligibility below:
- Participants must be enrolled in high school with the exception of (1) graduating 8th grader per team.
- GED students are no-longer eligible. Players must be enrolled in high school to be eligible.
- Graduating seniors for the 2026-2027 academic year are eligible.
- (1) Graduating 8th grader for the 2026-2027 academic year (incoming freshmen for the 2027-2028 academic year) are eligible to compete.
- Due to the high skill level of NABI teams, NABI does not recommend graduating 8th graders unless the player in question has High School experience or skill level.
- Participants who turn 20 years old before or on July 6, 2027 are NOT ELIGIBLE.
- Students who received their high school diploma before the 2026-2027 academic and/or are currently enrolled in a post-graduate institution or post-graduate preparatory academy are NOT ELIGIBLE to play.
- Students attending a preparatory high school are eligible if they retain high school eligibility, graduated from high school during the 2026–2027 school year, or are 19 years of age or younger during NABI week.
- Students who took college courses through a dual-enrollment program while attending high school are eligible to play.
- Students attending a preparatory high school are eligible if they retain high school eligibility, graduated from high school during the 2026–2027 school year, or are 19 years of age or younger during NABI week.
- Participants must complete and sign a Participate Waiver & Release Form, available on Exposure Events.
- A Parent or Legal Guardian must sign, if the player is under the age of 18.
- New: Coaches are prohibited to sign for under-age players unless he/she is a legal guardian or parent. Legal Guardian documentation will be required.
- All waivers are due July 2, 2027.
- A Parent or Legal Guardian must sign, if the player is under the age of 18.
- No player can play for more than one team.
- Players must be present for all scheduled games to remain eligible. No exceptions other than for injuries and/or medical reasons which must be communicated to and approved by the Tournament Director.
- Players who do not attend the mandatory check-in and College & Career Fair on Tuesday will not be eligible.
- Mandatory for all teams/players to attend at least (2) sessions at the Educational Youth Summit. This rule will be enforced!
- All Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must agree to a background check.
- New: Must submit background check information by March 1, 2027. NABI will send the link to Head Coaches once teams are confirmed. If information is not submitted by March 1st, the team will not be able to participate in NABI and no refund will be given.
- New: Returning 2026 NABI coaches who completed a background check for the 2026 NABI tournament do not need to complete a background check for 2027.
- New: Must submit background check information by March 1, 2027. NABI will send the link to Head Coaches once teams are confirmed. If information is not submitted by March 1st, the team will not be able to participate in NABI and no refund will be given.
- Coaches do not have to be Native American and/or Indigenous.
- Head Coaches must be over the age of 21. Assistant coaches must be over the age of 18.
- A limit of (2) coach(s) per team; (1) Head Coach and (1) Assistant Coach.
- Head Coach(s) can only coach one team.
- Coach(s) are responsible for the conduct of their team and must always escort and supervise their team.
- Coaches must complete and sign a Participant Waiver & Release Form.
- Head and Assistant Coaches must show a valid ID at check-in.
- 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.
- New: Attend all NABI related events to include the NABI College & Career Fair, Team Meet & Greet Party, NABI Coaches Meeting, and minimum (2) sessions of the NABI Educational Youth Summit (MANDATORY). Coaches/Teams who do not attend the above risk not being accepted into future NABI tournaments.
- New: All player eligibility documentation will be verified at team check-in. Coaches will no longer be able to call challenges once tournament play starts. At all times, head coaches still 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 by NABI Staff only. 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 remainder of the tournament.
- 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 College Scholarship eligibility.
- New: All teams are responsible for maintaining their own official scorebook to track individual player stats. NABI Staff will not furnish scores or player stats following the conclusion of the tournament.
- For security purposes all players and coaches must wear their NABI credentials at all times.
- If a player/coach loses their NABI badge, a replacement will cost $30.
- Damaged badges can be exchanged for free. Must return the damaged badge to NABI Staff in order to exchange.
- New: Sharing credentials with non-players/coaches will result in ejection from the tournament.
- Players and coaches must wear the official team uniform and coach shirt during all NABI games.
- NABI Uniforms cannot be altered for political and/or protest purposes.
- 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).
- Must adhere to the NABI Code of Conduct:
- “This Code of Conduct is established to reflect positive behavior and choices during any NABI tournament and events. This code strictly prohibits the use of illegal and/or recreational drugs and alcohol, falsification of eligibility documents, unruly behavior and any/or all forms of harassment. By participating in NABI, you agree to abide by the code of conduct, all rules and regulations, and conduct yourself in a manner that reflects positive behavior. Breaking the “Code of Conduct” will result in your immediate dismissal and removal from NABI and/or NABI venues, and may jeopardize future eligibility and/or participation.”
- 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.
- New: In the case of a coach ejection from any NABI event, game and/or gym, the team can continue to participate with the non-ejected head or assistant coach listed on the roster. If no coach is listed on the roster, or both coaches are ejected the whole team will be ejected.
- Coaches who are ejected will be ejected from the remainder of the tournament and NABI facilities.
- Coaches who are ejected are ineligible to coach any future NABI teams.
FAQ’S
- Step 1: Click here to register a team on Exposure Events.
- Step 2: Create a Coach account on Exposure Events. Enter all red “Required” fields on the application. Click “Register”. Check your email for an account verification link. Click “Verify Account” button in your email and you will be redirected to Exposure Events.
- Step 3: On the NABI registration page on Exposure Events, click the blue “Team” button to enter your team’s information. Enter all red “Required” fields then click “Save”.
- Step 4: Once redirected to the NABI Registration page, enter all “Required” fields marked with the red asterisk. Once you have completed all required sections of the application, click on the blue “Register” button at the bottom of the page.
- Coaches must enter jersey and short sizes for all 10 players during registration on Exposure Events. If your roster is not finalized, please use placeholder names (Player 1, Player 2, etc.) and update the names once your roster is confirmed. All uniform sizes will be locked February 1st, and no size changes or exchanges will be permitted after that date. Please double-check all sizes before submitting your registration.
- Step 5: When prompted, click the blue “Checkout” button.
- Step 6: Read all information to confirm it is correct and click “Place Order”.
- Step 7: An email confirmation that your team has applied will be sent to you. Teams will be notified of acceptance or decline via email on February 6th.
Yes, a coach account is mandatory in order to register. A coach account will allow you to manage team and player information after registering.
Coaches have the option to pay fees at the time of submitting application (Pay Now) or use the Pay Later feature to have an invoice emailed to you. All fees must be paid by February 1, 2027. If you want your team to be considered for auto-entry registration, all fees must be paid by December 1, 2026.
You must fill out the Required fields on the registration form (labeled with the red asterisk *).
- No, you do not need to have your players finalized when you register. However, you need to fill out all player fields in order to select your jersey/short sizes, due February 1st. If you do not have player names by February 1st, we recommend using placeholder names, (Ex. Player 1, Player 2, etc.) until you finalize roster by July 2nd.
- After securing your players, access the player profiles through your Exposure Dashboard and add in their information, to include their personal emails, so players can enter their own information and complete waivers by July 2nd.
- No, it is not required. However, we recommend teams order (10) jersey/short sizes to accommodate last-minute player additions. Uniforms are in men’s sizes; please adjust sizing accordingly for Girls Division teams. No additions or size changes after February 1st.
- If you need to fill a player spot on your team, please refer to our Free Agency information below.
Correct. After clicking “Register”, proceed to click on “Checkout” to complete registration. You will be emailed a copy of your registration.
Free Agency is the opportunity to fill your roster if you do not have (10) players on your team and for single players wanting to hop on a team and experience NABI! All players must abide by Player Eligibility rules.
If you are a coach looking for player(s) or a player looking to jump on a team for NABI 2027, please look out for our Instagram and Facebook posts to connect with each other.
We will be posting Free Agency opportunities every month leading to up to July 2nd, so you can fill your teams before rosters are due!
By applying and signing the 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 tournaments. NABI has the right to eject any player, coach, or team from the tournament for unacceptable behavior. NABI staff have the right to conduct proof of eligibility at any time during the tournament.
PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE CALLING OR EMAILING WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
Questions? Please email the NABI Team at [email protected]