National Championship Tournament FAQ

Participating institutions must complete the NCT Part 1 Qualification materials by December 5, 2011 and NCT Part 2 Qualification materials by January 27, 2012 in order to be considered for the NCT.

The selection of the 48 institutions will involve a review of: level of student participation, quality of promotional efforts, an institution's historical record when attending the NCT, results from the campus tournament in the current season, personnel changes materially affecting an institution's potential preparedness and other factors that address the need to raise the caliber of the field.

Individual players receive a variety of items such as t-shirts, hats & medallions. The participating institutions share in a grant pool of up to $328,000 each year:

• National Champion: $50,000

• Runner-Up: $25,000

• Semi-Finalists: $15,000

• Quarter-Finalists: $9,500

• Playoff Qualifiers: $6,000

• NCT Qualifiers: $3,000

• All-Star Awards: $1,000

• Sportsperson Award: $1,000

• Campus Qualifiers: $1,000

NOTE:  All of the above grants are awarded to the institution (i.e.; not to the player or coach).

The tournament format is a modified round robin where the 48 schools play in 8 divisions of 6 schools each.  The top two teams from each division advance to the "Sweet 16," a single-elimination playoff.  The final two teams then battle it out for the National title in a best 2-out-of-3 finals.

The three-day event is much more than just games.  Participants enjoy a full schedule of special events and activities.  The students are competitors for only a few days, but it is our goal that they become friends for life!

The sheer number of the participants at the HCASC NCT forces us to limit outisde attendees. Anyone can come to the round robin games, However, attendance at the banquets, meals and other tournament events is strictly limited to official participants (including Institutional Reps who have paid the $1,500 registration fee). We do apologize, but space and budget limit our ability to welcome guests at the event. For more information on the HCASC program, email Lillian E. Parker or call her at 800-388-2272 x 104.

Graduate students are not permitted on the four-member teams attending the NCT, and all players are limited to 4 years of eligibility. All teams must submit a school eligibility form (signed & sealed by the registrar). For more information, consult the NCT Eligibility page.

Only local and preparation costs! All travel, housing and meals are covered for the coach and 4 players. Additional Institutional Reps may attend (limit 2/institution) for a registration fee of $1,500 plus airline ticket plus $800 for the hotel room.

Each team must arrive for the NCT with four players.  Teams arriving with less than four players will be suspended from the program for one year.

Yes. HBCUs may also schedule one-on-one matches with other teams providing that the teams involved supply their own questions or use the HCASC-supplied games.

Several HBCUs host Pre-NCT Tournaments. Please Email Tisha Lynton Rose or call her toll-free at 800-388-2272 x115 for information about hosting a Pre-NCT Tournament.

Recommended study resources and practice suggestions are available online.  Consult the Campus Program | Team Practice Tools section of the website.

Webinars are held from August through March. In addition, participation in a Pre-NCT is a good opportunity to get experience.

Honda extends an invitation to the president or chancellor of each school that qualifies for the NCT and, except as prohibited by law, covers the necessary cost. No one else may substitute for this person.

Seats are not always assigned when tickets are booked. When you receive your itinerary, you should contact the airline to obtain or confirm your seat assignment.

Yes. If the HCASC NCT coincides with your spring break, other school function or if you will be away for an internship.  Information must be submitted at the time of your NCT Part 2 Qualification paperwork (before tickets are booked).

Even though HCASC has a block of rooms, they are assigned where the space is available.

The standard "check-in" time is 3 p.m. The hotel staff try their best to get rooms available sooner than this. Everyone must be out of the room by 11:00 am on departure day.  Late check-out is only available for teams whose HCASC-provided transportation leaves after 4 pm.

No. Medical related expenses are the responsibility of the patient.

While HCASC has a year-round staff, some 60 volunteers assist with all aspects of the NCT, from game play to team arrivals & registration to event staging and more. For more information on becoming an HCASC volunteer, please contact Tisha Lynton Rose.

Please address all correspondence to Honda and/or the American Honda Foundation and mail it c/o this address: HCASC, 5950 Canoga Ave., Suite 260, Woodland Hills, CA 91367.