DATES: Friday & Saturday, November 22-23, 2024.
LOCATION: Prairie Trail Sports Complex, 2250 SW Vintage Pkwy, Ankeny, Iowa. The complex has four full-sized courts with a spectator’s viewing area and concessions.
DIVISIONS: High school varsity boys & girls, junior varsity boys & girls, junior high boys & girls.
PARTICIPATION RULES: The age limit for junior high teams will prohibit participation of any student who reaches his or her 15th birthday prior to August 1 of the basketball season in which they are participating. The age limit for high school teams will prohibit participation of any student who reaches his or her 19th birthday prior to August 1 of the basketball season in which they are participating.
FORMAT: All teams are guaranteed at least three games. Maximum eight teams in each bracket.
ENTRY FEE: $250 for High School and $200 for Junior High, per team. Register here
DEPOSIT: $50 non-refundable deposit per team. Remaining balance due by November 10.
SCHEDULE: Friday, November 22, from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM and Saturday, November 23, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (schedule subject to change). We will use Tourney Machine to schedule and update brackets.
GAME FORMAT: High School games will have four 8-minute quarters and 4-minute overtimes. Junior High games will have four 6-minute quarters and 3-minute overtimes. All Games will have 1 minute between quarters, 5 minute halftime, and at least 10 minutes between games. If we run behind, we will compress the time between games. If we run ahead, games will start at the scheduled times to allow all players, coaches, and fans to be present. If one team is up by 30 points at any time in the 2nd half, a running clock will be used for the remainder of the game, but the clock will stop at timeouts.
OFFICIALS: Rules will be according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) https://www.iahsaa.org/basketball/ which follows the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) rules.
SEEDING: Teams will be seeded by a combination of record and unique match-ups. We will try to match teams to new opponents while maintaining a competitive balance.
ADMISSIONS: Admission will be $10/day for individual, $15/weekend for individual or $30/weekend for family. Children 5 and under are free.
CONCESSIONS: Concession will be provided by the Prairie Trail Sports Complex.
TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES: Home team (light uniforms) provides game ball, official book, and prayer before games. Visiting team (dark uniforms) provides clock/scoreboard operator, and sweeping court at halftime.
RECOGNITION: Award medals will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams in each bracket as soon as possible after the last game of each bracket. All-tournament teams will be voted on by head coaches following their final game (coaches cannot vote for their players) and will be announced as soon as all votes are in.
TEAM INFORMATION: Team rosters for each registered team are required via Google Sheets link by November 1. The link will be sent out via email to team contacts in October.
WEATHER: The safety of players, coaches, and fans is important to us. If weather become an issue, we simply ask that you remain flexible. We will make every effort to proceed with the tournament, including adjustments to the schedule if needed.
HOW TO REGISTER: Submit program name & teams participating (VB, VG, JVB, JVG, JHB, JHG) with $50 deposit per team to one of the following:
Mail: Des Moines Defenders 3230 SW Coves Dr, Ankeny, IA 50023
Venmo: @John-Schuster-46
CONTACT INFORMATION: Please contact Des Moines Defenders Athletic Director John Schuster if you have any questions.
Phone: (515) 779-8797
Email: DesMoinesDefenders@gmail.com
Thank you to our tournament Sponsors!!
