IHSSBCA Middle School Tournaments

Middle School Tournaments use IHSSBCA rules. These rules closely mimic IESA rules; the differences are outlined in this document. Please read our IHSSBCA Tournament Policies and our Ethical Standards.

You do not need to be an IHSSBCA member to register for Middle School Tournaments, but your tournament host benefits from having IHSSBCA members in attendance. Visit the membership page or our online shop to become an IHSSBCA member.

Contact host coaches to register. A registration form will be posted spring 2027 if you need a form for billing.

Submitting a registration form does not guarantee entry into any tournament site. Some sites may have capacity limits or other restrictions on registration. Contact your prospective tournament host to confirm your registration.

Sites

The annual Middle School Tournaments will be held on April 10, 2027 and April 17, 2027 at the following sites:

[sites TBA]

Contact Middle School Tournament Coordinator Jace Kost if you would like to host a Middle School Tournament or if you have questions.

What are Middle School Tournaments?

IHSSBCA Middle School Tournaments are open to middle school and junior high school teams, and are held across the state in early- or mid-April, prior to the IESA State Series. Middle School Tournaments are held at multiple schools across the state on the same day, giving many teams the opportunity to play. There are no entry restrictions for teams playing Middle School Tournaments. These full-day tournaments are sponsored by the IHSSBCA, and each school is recommended (but not required) to have an affiliated IHSSBCA member to register.

Contact Middle School Tournament Coordinator Jace Kost with questions or if you would like to host a Middle School Tournament.

Fees

The entry fee is $80 per team. Schools are expected to bring a working buzzer system and a staffer for the tournament. Contact your tournament host if you are unable to bring a buzzer or staffer. Every school is encouraged to have a current IHSSBCA member to register for a Middle School Tournament; if you are not a member, please consider joining to enter a team or teams. Please be aware that each tournament site will have its own limit on the number of teams it can accommodate, and therefore, turning in a registration form does not guarantee you a spot in a tournament.

Ineligible Teams

Some teams are ineligible for this tournament because these tournaments use the same question set as their conference or league. The following teams may not play IHSSBCA Middle School Tournaments:

2025-2026
Blackhawk (Bensenville)
Elm (Elmwood Park)
Hester (Franklin Park)
James Giles (Norridge)
Lincoln (Schiller Park)
Mannheim (Melrose Park)
Pennoyer (Norridge)
Rhodes (River Grove)
River Grove
Rosemont
Union Ridge (Harwood Heights)

Question Source

All Middle School Tournament sites use an NAQT middle school set.