The road to State starts at a qualifier

Every team at the State Championship earns its spot at an official State Qualifying Tournament. Qualifiers run across Texas every spring and early summer, and each one sends its top teams to College Station.

Qualifiers in 2026
72
Bids to State
128
Divisions
3
Teams per qualifier
8 to 32

What is a qualifier?

An official 7v7 tournament hosted by a Texas high school program and approved by the championship.

Every qualifier follows the same procedures, so the road to State is the same everywhere. In 2026, 72 qualifiers ran from El Paso to the Rio Grande Valley.

  • Why play one. It's the only way to State. Teams can't enter the championship directly.
  • Who you play. Programs from your own region, months before the fall.

How bids work

The bigger the qualifier, the more teams it sends to State.

  1. 8 teams 1 bid to State
  2. 16 teams 2 bids to State
  3. 24 teams 3 bids to State
  4. 32 teams 4 bids to State

Specified 8-team Division III qualifiers send two teams: the top two in each pool play semifinals, and both winners qualify.

Divisions

I

Division I

Class 6A and 5A public schools, plus SPC and TAPPS Division I private schools.

64 teams at State
II

Division II

Class 4A and 3A Division I public schools, plus all other private schools.

32 teams at State
III

Division III

Class 3A Division II and smaller public schools. No private schools.

32 teams at State

Eligibility

  • Every player needs at least one year of high school eligibility left.
  • Teams play for their own school. No select teams, and no out-of-state teams.
  • Division I schools must play in Division I.
  • A school qualifies for State once, in the division of the qualifier where it first earns a bid. It can still play other qualifiers, but can't advance past pool play.
  • Skipping a registered qualifier without telling the host by the first business day of that week bars a team from qualifiers and State for one year.

Entry and equipment

$400 2026 qualifier fee per team, including a $180 non-refundable deposit to the host and a $220 balance.
20 Players per roster at most, all from the same school
2 x 15 Minute halves on a running clock
2 Numbered shirts, one white and one dark. No football jerseys
1 Mouthpiece, required for every player
2 Approved helmet models, both from presenting partner GameBreaker.

These are the 2026 terms.

The 2027 qualifier schedule is on the way

Locations and dates go up as they're confirmed. Sign up and we'll tell you the moment a qualifier in your region is announced.

Get notified

Questions

Still have a question? Send it to us from the Contact page.

How does my team get to State?

Finish high enough at an official qualifier to earn one of its bids.

How many bids does a qualifier have?

In Divisions I and II, one for every 8 teams: 8 teams send 1, and 32 teams send 4. Specified Division III qualifiers send two.

When are qualifiers held?

In 2026, qualifiers ran from April 25 to June 20. The 2027 dates are coming soon.

Can a team play more than one qualifier?

Yes, but a school qualifies only once. After earning a bid, a team can't advance past pool play at another qualifier.

How are pool ties broken?

Head-to-head, then points scored, then points allowed. In a three-way tie, only games among the tied teams count.

What does each player need?

Numbered white and dark shirts, a mouthpiece and an approved soft-shell helmet. Player forms are completed online during registration.

Host a qualifier

Bring an official qualifier to your community. Hosts are Texas high school programs, and we'll follow up about the 2027 season.

Apply to host

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