2009 Tournament Rules and Regulations
Team Selection Criteria
2.01 The tournament directors shall select, or cause to be selected by whatever means in their opinion is appropriate in the circumstances, the best and most representative teams in the United States for participation in each division.
2.02 In determining which applications for invitation are to be accepted, preference generally will be given to state, regional, metropolitan, and league champions.
2.03 Guaranteed national tournament berths will be awarded only to the champions of those post-season tournaments that have been sanctioned for the current season.
2.04 The tournament directors may require local or regional playoffs in circumstances where more than one team form the same city, state, or region are deemed to be equally qualified for the tournament.
2.05 The tournament directors may accept more than one team per state in order to round out the field.
2.06 Announcement of the teams selected will begin no later than the third Monday prior to the national tournament.