Stars & Stripes Festival 2025

May 24-26, 2025
Location: Arizona Athletic Grounds, 6321 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212

This event is streaming on NBC SportsEngine Play. Click here to watch live!

Entry Fee:

12U-18U = $700*

Registration is closed, email volleyball@azgrounds.com to inquire about open spots.

Payment Deadline:

March 22. This will not guarantee a spot in the tournament. Teams paying after March 22 will be accepted on an as-available basis.

Age Divisions

Girls: 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Boys: 13/14, 15/16, 17/18

If the division you are registering a team for is full you have two choices; to be placed on a wait list or register your team to play up an age bracket.

All Age Division winners will get their entry fee to either AAU Nationals in Orlando, or the Volleyball Festival Championships in Phoenix paid for, or receive a discounted fee. However, winning does not guarantee a spot in either event, teams still must register online.

Medals awarded to first place in Platinum Divisions.

Wave

Saturday and Sunday pool play (8am Start)
Monday Bracket play (no later than 4pm)
PM Wave starts at 3pm

Waves

AM Girls/Boys
PM Girls/Boys

Schedule will be posted before May 21, 2025

Breaking Ties to Determine Pool Finish
If there is a tie in match record among two or more teams in the pool, tie(s) are resolved using the Tie Break Rules, even in three-team pools where all three sets are required to be played

2-way tie is a Head-to-head
a 3-way tie will be determined by Match %, Set%, and Points % in this order. If for any reason that a team is not matching and the other teams that are still in a tie, we will refer to the Head-to-Head

Seeding
Please fill out this form online for each participating team

Registration Polices

Teams are prioritized and accepted into this tournament based on Team Entry Fee payment date, completed AAU rosters and Stay to Play requirements.
The tournament will be licensed by AAU. All participants must have AAU membership. This requires:
- Club Membership ($30 and covers an unlimited number of teams)
- Player Memberships ($20 and covers all AAU sports/events through August 2025)
- Adult Memberships for Coaches and Team Reps on the roster ($55 for US teams, $37 for international teams and includes the background check)
- No Coaching clinic or IMPACT certification required.

Click here to acquire AAU membership.

Purchasing advance tickets for spectator ahead of time would be the optimal way to avoid having to wait in long lines. (HERE). Single day and multiple day fee will be available.

Stars & Stripes Refund Policy**:

100% Refund through March 9, 2025
50% Refund between March 10 and March 21, 2025
No Refund after March 22, 2025

**In the case of event cancellation, $700 entry fee will be refunded (late fees and convenience fee are not refundable).

Roster requirements:

Build your roster in AES.
Rosters with AAU member numbers (players and coaches) Show "verified"
If AAU numbers are not showing "verified," one of these three forms of verification are acceptable:
- AAU membership card copy; or
- AAU Club Listing (generated from AAU website Club Director Account); or
- AAU Team roster (generated from AAU website Club Director Account)
- The team coach must keep a copy of a completed and signed medical release waivers in their possession at all times while at the Stars and Stripes Festival

Team Check-in at Arizona Athletic Grounds

Thursday, May 22: 6-8pm
Friday, May 23:2-7pm

If you're not able to make either of the two times above, please email Gehrig

AAU MEMBERSHIP
The Stars & Stripes Festival Grand Prix is an AAU licensed event. It is a true "All-Comers" event that welcomes all teams from around the world without qualification. No one goes home early and everyone who starts the tournament has a chance to win the Championship. If your team is not already registered with AAU, click here to sign up.

Positive Coaching Alliance Courses
AAU offers all members free of charge the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) courses and resources. Click here to explore all PCA educational resources or to sign up for one of the three levels of Coaching courses. These courses are not mandatory for participation in Festival Sports Events.

International Team Participation
The Volleyball Festival welcomes the diversity and cultural sharing that comes with foreign teams participating in the event. Teams from Canada are categorized as International; teams from Puerto Rico are not. International teams acquire their club, coach and athlete AAU memberships online the same as all other teams here. Most foreign teams will also require a US Visitor Visa. To find out more information about Visitor Visas, click here.

Arizona Athletic Grounds Stay-to-Play Reservation Procedures & Policies

Please note this is a "Stay to Play" event. All participants outside a 80-mile radius of Arizona Athletic Grounds, is required to patronize selected hotel vendors. This program helps keep team costs down while still providing unique experiences throughout the tournament including substantial savings on room rates, hotel amenities, and discounts on dining and entertainment.

Once you have registered in AES, you will receive a team booking link via email from Event Connect within 48 hours. If you do not receive this email, reach out to teamrelations@eventconnect.io.

TEAMS & CLUBS

Team room reservations will only be confirmed AFTER completing tournament registration and payment on AES.
Once you receive your team booking link, you will be able to block and reserve rooms in live time on the Event Connect platform.
Event Connect may be contacted by phone at 1-888-723-2064.
View available hotels and rates here

There is a four (4) room, 3-night/room (12 room night total), minimum per team reservation and all reservations require a credit card and are subject to a two night per room deposit. An early depature fee may be applied for early checkouts.

Please be aware, hotel guests do not receive complimentary admission. Spectators may purchase 3-day admission in advance.

Games at Arizona Athletic Grounds are streaming live and on-demand on SportsEngine Play

SportsEngine Play lets families watch, clip, and share athlete highlights, and makes it easy for friends and relatives to watch from anywhere. The best part? You can save 10% on an All-Access membership with code ARIZONAATHLETIC.

Click here to get started with SportsEngine Play and don't forget to follow our channel to watch.

Friends & Family
We have worked hard to negotiate the best rates and packages for the chosen properties. If you find a better rate at one of the Tournament properties, please alert Event Connect via email: teamrelations@eventconnect.io and we will work with the property to try and match it.

View available hotels and rates here

Booking Questions
Contact the Event Connect Team Relations Department at 1-888-723-2064 x823 or email them at teamrelations@eventconnect.io.

We look forward to creating an extraordinary experience for you and your players!

Age Waivers
A max of two age waivers are allowed per team. Even if your region has approved an age waiver, you still need to make a request from the tournament. Approved age waiver athletes have to be added to your event roster by the Tournament Director. Click here for more details or to submit an online age waiver request

12 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2012 (Can't turn 13 before July 1, 2025)
13 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2012 (Can't turn 14 before July 1, 2025)
14 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2010 (Can't turn 15 before July 1, 2025)
15 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2009 (Can't turn 16 before July 1, 2025)
16 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2008 (Can't turn 17 before July 1, 2025)
17/18 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2007, OR born on or after July 1, 2006, AND be a high school student (12th grade or below) during some part of the current academic year