Eligibility

ELIGIBILITY rules for 2027 Norcal toc

PLEASE NOTE: In a continuing effort to improve the TOC, there have been several changes for TOC eligibility and qualifying for the 2027 TOC. Please familiarize yourself with the eligibility changes and requirements listed below:

 

 

At the present time, the Northern California Tournament of Champions is not affiliated with any California or national wrestling organization such as USA Wrestling or SCWAY and is meant to be a middle school level tournament. Therefore, athletes must provide their own medical insurance policy to compete in the TOC.

• Wrestlers must be currently enrolled in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in an accredited public or private school in Northern California located north of Tehachapi and be eligible by their school academic and citizenship standards.  Fifth graders and below are not allowed to qualify for, or participate in, the TOC.

• Wrestlers are limited to 3 consecutive years of TOC participation, which begins once an athlete starts 6th grade. Once an athlete has started 8th grade, the athlete is not eligible for the following year’s TOC.

• Athletes must not be 15 yrs old before Sept 1st of the current school year 2026-27 (coincides with CIF high school age requirements)

  • All eligible competitors must qualify to enter the Nor Cal TOC according to the following guidelines:
1. Qualify in at least 2 of the tournaments listed on the TOC website as qualifying tournaments. However, top 8 finish in a previous TOC is automatic qualification for the 2027 TOC, provided all other eligibility requirements are met. ALL TOC Qualifying Tournaments  are listed on the TOC web site @ www.norcaltoc.com, or they are not qualifiers.  A wrestler is NOT allowed to enter 2 weight classes in a TOC qualifying tournament or in the TOC.
2. Qualifying at a tournament is based on the following criteria:
  • a. Place in a weight class in the varsity coed division, depending on the number of entries in the weight class as shown below. (Girls-only division does not qualify) The number of entrants in a weight class determines the number of TOC qualifiers allowed:• 1-3 wrestlers = no qualifier; 4 wrestlers = 1 qualifier; 5-7 = 2 qualifiers, though a true 2nd must be determined when there are 5-7 in a weight class; 8-11 = 3 qualifiers; 12 or more = 4 qualifiers
      • Combining weight classes in a TOC qualifying tournament is allowed and adds on an extra qualifier – e.g., 5 entries in a combined weight class would give 3 qualifiers instead of 2, etc. Weight classes should not be combined in a TOC qualifier unless one of the weight classes has less than 4 entries.
      • Note: Santa Clara County and CVYWA Masters tournaments qualify top 4 per weight class. Nor Cal Section Tournament qualifies 3 per weight class.

Qualifying Information for the 2026-27 Season