This is the final stop in the NAH tour, culminating in the best 48 teams from all seven North American regions battling it out for the best team. We know not everyone who wants to will be there, but we’ve collected the links so you can watch it as it happens.
Find a link we missed? Pass it on to us in the comments. Otherwise, we’ll see you in Milwaukee!
REGISTRATION:
Starts today at noon CDT.
Here’s how it works folks. Please go to www.hardcourtbikepolo.org. If you are using a different team than any you have played with before, please CREATE a new team in your user profile. Simply click on your name in the upper right hand corner and you can “add a team”. Once you have done this, as long as 2 out of 3 of the players are qualified, you will be allowed to register. Find the 2012 North American Championships in the main or tournament list. Register your team. Your team will NOT show up immediately. Don’t panic! If 2 out of 3 players, at least, are qualified it will be approved. Once approved, it will appear in the list. You will have until June 15th to register AND pay. Should your team not pay on time it would be a consideration that you are not able to come. If that is the case you can also remove your team from the registration list yourself.
The registration will determine if a wildcard or any other invitations to play will be considered. The max allotted for this is 56 teams, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Team cost: $90/team
How to pay: PAYPAL to mkebikepolo@gmail.com [please send this as a PERSONAL GIFT so there are no fees] include your team name in the notes as well.
Deadline to register and pay: June 15th, 10 days.
If you have any questions about the registration process you can leave a comment or you can contact me directly, chandelbodner@gmail.com. NAH is merely helping facilitate the registration process for the MKE Bike Polo Club. All other questions regarding the tournament itself can be directed to them. Thanks!
Near the end of the summer last year, Fixcraft approached NAH with a great plan: let’s finally make a ball designed for the game we love. The approach was simple. Fixcraft would design a custom ball specifically for hardcourt, NAH would coordinate extensive field testing to find a ball that met the community’s standards. And furthermore, Fixcraft would donate a portion of all profits to our fledgling organization.
Several prototypes of varying formulas were sent out to clubs for testing and feedback. The hot weather ball was praised across the board. The ball was able to withstand high temperatures and remain hard without ice. And, unlike many other hot weather balls which are a darker red, the bright orange color improved play in dim environments.
When the results came back, we were excited and decide to move forward. As of today, the Fixcraft Hot Ball is available for pre-order through their online store. For this week only, through Sunday, March 11th, Fixcraft is offering a discounted introductory rate. Singles are $2.99 and a set of three is $6.99. Standard MSRP will be $3.99 for the single and $9.99 for a 3 pack. Expected delivery date is March 30th. (View the press release HERE). Fixcraft is also taking low-minimum wholesale orders to clubs. Clubs can concact Fixcraft for further info and pricing here.
Whether or not you decide to order one of these balls, you’ll definitely being playing with them as the season gets underway. The South Central NAH Qualifier will be the tournament debut of the Hot Ball, and all subsequent qualifiers will be using the ball. Also, watch for the Hot Ball at Ladies Army in Lexington and the ESPI – Eastern Conference Championship, bench-format tourney in NYC.
Thanks to all who helped make this possible, especially the field testers!
