2025 NCAA Rules and Regulations

Game Rules

• 2026 division will play with an NCAA shot clock
• 2027 – 2032 divisions – Referees discretion to impose a 30 second count (“Timer On”) and require a shot on goal if it is determined a team is stalling
• No Dives

Faceoffs

• Faceoff personnel must have color tape
• SNG: Stand-Up Neutral Grip

Game Time

• Last 2 minutes of game is stop time 
• Penalty time is stop time, always
• Time (penalty, game, half) will be kept at the score table
• 2026 & 2027 divisions will start by central horn. Then time will be kept at the score table. 
• Each team has 2 timeouts per game (Clock stops)

2026-2029:

• Monday: Two 22-minute running halves
• Tuesday & Wednesday: Four 12-minute running quarters

2030-2032:

• Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: 22-minute running halves

Overtime:

Monday

• 1 – 4 minute sudden victory period. If no one scores, game will end in a tie
• Each team has 1 timeout in overtime. Clock stops

Tuesday & Wednesday

• 1 continuous untimed sudden victory period until there is a winner
• Each team has 1 timeout in overtime

Any player, fan or coach ejected from the game will be prohibited from competing in his/her team’s next game. Decisions on the field will be the final ruling. Any fighting or flagrant disrespect toward an official will result in expulsion for the remainder of the tournament. No Exceptions, No Refunds.

Seeding

2026-2029 (High School)

High School teams will play 2 games on Monday. Each Division has a selection committee who will watch the teams play. The committee will then seed their respective divisions. All teams will be seeded in the Championship Bracket that begins play on Tuesday morning. Most teams will play at least 3 games on Tuesday. Teams who receive a first-round bye may only play 2 games on Tuesday if they lose their first or second game. 

Championships will occur on Wednesday starting at 12:00 pm and occurring every 2 hours until last game starts at 6:00 pm. Any team that does not play in all scheduled games will not be invited to attend Naptown the following year.  All teams are expected to participate in all games on Tuesday, regardless of Championship bracket outcome.

2030-2032 (Youth)

Youth teams will be placed in Pools prior to the start of play. On Monday teams will participate in Pool games. All teams will then be seeded at the end of pool play on Monday. All teams will be seeded in the Championship Bracket that starts play on Tuesday morning with the Championship game played on Wednesday morning at Navy Stadium.

Pool Seeding (Youth Teams)

In the case of ties in the final standings for pool play, the following process will be used until all ties are broken and the seeding process is completed (ties will be broken in rank order beginning with the first procedure). If more than two teams are tied for a pool seed, once one team is removed from the tie, the seeding criteria reverts to the beginning of the procedure for the remaining teams tied.

Tie Breaker Procedure:

1. Head to Head.
2. Record vs Team(s) tied with.
3. Total goals against teams tied with, only games involving teams tied with.
4. Goal differential with teams tied with (goal differential will not exceed +/- 7 per game).
5. Total goals against versus common opponents.
6. Goal differential versus common opponents (goal differential will not exceed +/- 7 per game).
7. Goals against overall.
8. Goal differential overall.
9. Coin flip.

Any 2030-2032 team that plays 4 games on Monday, the 4th game will not count toward their pool play record, GA, GD. The game does count for their opponent.

Divisional Seeding (Youth Teams):

Divisional seeding will follow below criteria after pool seeding is determined.

1. Seed in pool
2. Overall Record
3. Goals Against Average
4. Goal Differential (goal differential will not exceed +/- 7 per game).

Weather Policy

In the event of adverse weather or unplayable field conditions, the tournament director reserves the right to: 

• Reduce game times in order to catch up with schedule.
• Finish games before inclement weather arrives, or to preserve field conditions. 
• Reschedule games, if possible. 
• Convert tournament to a “festival” format without playoffs or championships to provide the majority of teams the opportunity to play as many games as possible. 

Every attempt will be made to update cancellations on the website. However, weather conditions can change rapidly and all teams should be prepared to play as soon as weather and fields are playable. 
The directors of HoganLax reserve the right to cancel, shorten, or reschedule tournament games due to inclement weather, poor field conditions, or player and fan safety concerns. No refunds will be granted if these actions are necessary. Field directors will communicate game changes. Schedule changes will be available at the Administration Tent and online at www.hoganlax.com

Thunder/Lightning Policy 

If thunder or lightning is observed play will be suspended immediately and players and fans will be asked to leave the fields to return to cars. Play will be allowed to resume 20 minutes after the last sound of thunder or sighting of lightning is observed which will be determined by the tournament medical staff. Every attempt will be made to begin subsequent games on time. Subsequent games will begin immediately after preceding games. These games may consist of one 30 minute running time period until games are back on schedule. Once games are back on schedule they will revert to “normal” tournament game time procedures.

2025 Cancellation & Refund Policy

Teams that cancel by March 1, 2025:

Option 1: Receive 90% refund (minus 10% administrative fee).

Option 2: Defer payment to 2026 Naptown National Challenge.

Teams that cancel on or after March 1, 2025:

Canceling due to team’s decision: No refunds will be issued.

NLV is the official and exclusive video company for this event. As such, they are the only party permitted to provide commercial and elevated filming services to the high school divisions at this event. Any unauthorized elevated filming is strictly prohibited and will be enforced on-site.

Spectators may film their own matches for personal use, so long as it does not interfere with NLV’s ability to record matches and they do not use elevated filming equipment that extends more than 1 foot above their natural head height.

No Veo cameras, Trace cameras, Hi-Pods, or other devices on similar nature will be permitted to record the high school age divisions. Violators of this policy will be made to remove their equipment and subject to action by NLV to exercise their legal media rights to this event.