🏆 Welcome to the N.R.E.C. National Championship

The Premier National Youth Football Tournament

To ensure you don’t miss any important updates and have an exceptional N.R.E.C. National Championship experience, please review the information below carefully.

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📅 Age Cutoff

The official age cutoff date for certification is July 1, 2026.

This means the age an athlete is on June 30, 2026 determines the division they are eligible to participate in. Athletes may also choose to play up in an older division if desired.

Example:
An athlete who turns 13 on July 1, 2026 is eligible to compete in the 12U division.

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📋 Certification & Event Schedule

Certification Check-In
📅 June 25, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Tournament Schedule

• Pool Play Day 1: June 26
• Pool Play Day 2: June 27
• Championship Sunday: June 28

All teams must be prepared to begin play Friday, June 26 at 9:00 AM.

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🚨 MANDATORY TEAM MEETING

The official N.R.E.C. National Championship Schedule will be released on June 22, 2026.

A mandatory Zoom meeting will be held to review the tournament schedule and rules.

📅 Wednesday, June 22
⏰ 7:00 PM CST

⚠️ Each team must have at least one representative present.

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📍 TEAM CERTIFICATION / CHECK-IN

Location: Wild Adventures – Valdosta, GA
📅 Thursday, June 25
⏰ 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM

🚨 All players MUST be present for certification.

Tournament officials will cross-reference the roster submitted during registration with the Roster Management Form.

Accepted Identification (ONLY)

✔ State ID
✔ Zorts ID
✔ Passport

❌ No other forms of identification will be accepted.

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🏈 Game Format

Friday – June 26
First Round of Pool Play

Saturday – June 27
Second Round of Pool Play

Sunday – June 28
Bracket Play & N.R.E.C. National Championship Games

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🏆 Championship Awards

🥇 N.R.E.C. National Champion

• Championship Team Trophy
• Individual Player Rings
• MVP Award

🥈 Runner-Up

• Runner-Up Trophy
• Individual Player Medals

⭐ 4 Star Division Champion

• Individual Player Medals
• MVP Award

⭐ 3 Star Division Champion

• Individual Player Medals

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🎟 GATE & TICKET INFORMATION

🚨 NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE GATE

All entry payments must be made using electronic payment methods only.

Accepted Payments

✔ Credit Cards
✔ Debit Cards
✔ Apple Pay
✔ Google Pay
✔ Samsung Pay
✔ Cash App

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🎫 Early Bird Weekend Pass (Available before June 26)

Adult Weekend Pass — $50

Student Weekend Pass (Ages 5–13) — $35

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Daily Ticket Prices

Friday
• Free — Ages 4 & Under
• $15 — Student (Ages 5–13)
• $20 — Adult

Saturday
• Free — Ages 4 & Under
• $15 — Student (Ages 5–13)
• $20 — Adult

Sunday
• Free — Ages 4 & Under
• $15 — Student (Ages 5–13)
• $20 — Adult

⚠️ Tickets purchased at the gate will include an additional $3 service fee per ticket.

Click HERE to purchase tickets online.

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🚫 VENUE POLICIES

No outside food or pets are allowed on the premises.

This includes team snacks.

Teams may only bring:

✔ Team water
✔ Gatorade in team coolers

⚠️ Coolers must enter the facility with the team.

👮 Law enforcement will be present at the gate to enforce this policy.

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🏈 Divisions

Ages 5U – 14U

Game Format

• Pool Play
• Single Elimination Brackets

🏆 1st and 2nd Place trophies will be awarded in all brackets.

📅 Games begin Friday, June 26 at 9:00 AM.

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📋 General Game Rules

High School Football Rules will apply.

The clock will stop during normal football situations.

The clock will start on the ready whistle after:

• Out of bounds
• Incomplete passes
• First downs
• Penalties

The clock will start on the snap after:

• Scores
• Change of possession
• Timeouts

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⚡ SPECIAL TEAMS RULE

Once a team crosses the 50-yard line into the opponent’s territory, they must go for it on 4th down.

Punting will not be allowed.

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⏰ LATE ARRIVAL POLICY

⚠️ If a team is 15 minutes late, the game will be forfeited.

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🏈 5U / 6U Division Rules

• 8 minute quarters
• 3 timeouts per half
• Clock stops on change of possession, incomplete passes, and timeouts
• 1 coach allowed on the field

Special Rules

• No kickoffs
• No punts (punted ball walked off 25 yards)

Extra Points
• Run = 1 point
• Pass = 2 points

🚨 Mercy Rule
If a team leads by 20 points, the game switches to running clock.

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🏈 7U / 8U Division Rules

• 10 minute quarters
• 3 timeouts per half
• Clock stops on change of possession, incomplete passes, and timeouts
• 1 coach allowed on the field

Special Teams

• Kickoffs allowed
• Punts walked off 25 yards from line of scrimmage
• Punts cannot occur once the line of scrimmage crosses the 50-yard line

Extra Points

• Run = 1 point
• Pass = 2 points
• Kick PAT = 2 points (rush allowed)

🚨 Mercy Rule
After 20 point lead, the game switches to running clock and no blitzing.

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🏈 9U – 14U Division Rules

• 10 minute quarters
• 3 timeouts per half
• Clock stops on change of possession, incomplete passes, and timeouts

All special teams rules are in effect.

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⏱ OVERTIME RULES

If the game goes into overtime:

• The ball will be placed on the 10-yard line
• Each team receives 4 downs to score
• Extra point attempts are allowed after a touchdown

If both teams remain tied after two overtime rounds, the final overtime will be determined by penetration from the 10-yard line.

If a turnover occurs during penetration, the recovering team wins the game.

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⚖️ PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

All players must:

✔ Complete certification
✔ Wear their official tournament wristband during all games

If a wristband breaks, the player must re-certify using State ID, Passport, or National Sports ID.

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⚖️ Weight Rule

Weight is unlimited for this tournament.

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📞 Contact & Inquiries

📧 Email: thenational.rec@gmail.com
📸 Instagram: @N.R.E.C

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