2026 Team Illinois Application
Greetings! If you are interested in trying out for Team Illinois 2026, please carefully read and fill out this form.

The Team Illinois tryout takes place in two phases. First, you'll play a series of bonus questions on your own with a moderator in Zoom, who will reach out to schedule a time with you sometime between March 23rd and April 5th. Then, all players will meet in Zoom on Wednesday, April 8th to play a series of tossup questions. All questions will be from the Scarlet Houseknight question set. The data from these questions, in addition to data & experience from earlier events, is considered in making the roster for Team Illinois.

Before filling out the form, there are two pieces of information we want to make sure you, the applying player, know:

1. You should only try out for Team Illinois if you are serious about participating in both phases of the tryout and (if selected to the team) practices and the competition. You'll learn more about what that means as you read this form.

2. Assuming that the above is true, you should try out for Team Illinois whether you think you have a good chance of making the team or not. Trying out for Team Illinois can be a valuable experience for players of many different skill levels, and the selection committee is devoted to providing the tryout experience to everyone who seeks it. If you want to see how you match up against the best players in Illinois, try out. If you know you aren't at that level yet, but you want to see first hand what that level looks like, try out.

By trying out - whether you make the team or not - you make Team Illinois better by improving the data we use to construct the team. Thank you in advance for your help!
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Email *
Name *
School *
Grade *
I will attend the Bonus phase of the tryout, held via Zoom between March 23rd and April 5th, at a time coordinated with my moderator. I will pay attention to my email during the week of March 16th for information about scheduling the Bonus phase. *
I can make the Tossup phase of the tryout, held online via Zoom on Wednesday, April 8th, from 6:30 PM to roughly 10 PM.

(It is expected that all players attend this phase of the tryout. If you cannot attend at that time, please mark "No" here & reach out to Brad Fischer at brad.a.fischer@gmail.com for the possibility of other arrangements.) *
If selected to Team Illinois, I will make an effort to attend all online practices. 

(We understand scheduling conflicts and will coordinate practice times with team members in advance.)
 *
If possible, Team Illinois will compete in an online tournament on one of the weekends between PACE NSC (June 6/7) and NASAT (June 27/28) as a warmup & to build team cohesion. If selected to Team Illinois, I will make an effort to attend this tournament.

(Again, we understand scheduling conflicts.)
Clear selection
(At present, NASAT, the All-Star tournament in which Team Illinois competes, has tentatively announced plans to hold the tournament at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia on the weekend of June 27 & 28.)

If selected to Team Illinois, I will commit to attending NASAT. I understand that the tournament is tentatively scheduled for June 27th and 28th, and that if travel is required, the trip may be from as early as June 25th to as late as June 29th. 

I understand that the date & location are very likely to be confirmed, but still subject to change. 
 *
I understand that the IHSSBCA may partially subsidize the cost of the tournament, including registration fees, but that I will need to pay for some out-of-state travel, possibly including airfare. 

(Further details will be provided to team members when available. The IHSSBCA strives to make Team Illinois an opportunity available to all students selected in the tryout. After tournament logistics are confirmed, team members and parents are encouraged to talk with Coach Fischer about any financial concerns.)
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In past years, the IHSSBCA has selected 1, 2, or 3 teams to represent the state at NASAT. The number of teams has depended on various factors, including logistical concerns, the location of the tournament, and the anticipated quality of the teams. (For example, for 2023's online tournament, we initially anticipated selecting two teams, then ultimately decided on a third team after seeing the tryout results. For 2024's in-person tournament, we expected, and ultimately sent, two teams.)

I understand that the number of teams selected this year may be 1, 2, or 3, depending on those same factors. In particular, if the tournament is in-person in Virginia as expected, the likelihood of bringing three teams is essentially zero, and the likelihood of bringing two teams is not 100%.
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I understand that the selection criteria for Team Illinois are meant to try to answer the question "What collection of students will make the best team for the NASAT competition?"

In particular, I understand that Team Illinois is not a ranking of the best players in the state.
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