Competition

SCHEDULE / WAVES

Day 1 Schedules will be posted on AES by 8 pm Thursday, February 12, 2026.

2026 SCHEDULE

AM Wave: 11 Club, 12 Club, 13 Open, 14 Club, 14 Open, and 17/18 Club
PM Wave: 13 Club, 14 Classic, 15/16 Classic, 15/16 Open , 16 Club, and 17/18 Classic
AM/PM Wave: 15 Club

Saturday through Sunday Pool Play, and Monday single-elimination brackets with a 7-match guarantee. Monday’s last potential scheduled match start time is 4pm.

FORMAT

Festival Format. All teams play on all 3 days of the event.
All teams are guaranteed 7 matches, unless they’ve elected to not play all days of the event.
First two rounds are pool play.
Monday is single-elimination bracket play.
Off teams will have work assignments for R2, scorekeeping, libero tracking, and lines.
Every attempt is made to schedule match start times no later than 4 pm on Monday.
Teams remain in their assigned AM or PM wave for both Day 1 and 2. Day 3 will vary.

ONSITE TEAM CHECK-IN

Reserve Check-in time HERE
Drive-Thru Team Check-in
Location: North Preferred Red Lot at State Farm Stadium: 1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale, AZ 85323
Time: Thursday Feb. 12th 2pm – 7pm and Friday Feb 13th 10am – 8pm. All clubs must reserve a Check-in time. No walk-ups.

Click HERE for complete Check-in Instructions
Map for Drive up Location

Teams not checking in on Friday are subject to being dropped from the event.

If travel delays occur or other check-in issues, call 281-545-1939 or email info@festivalfiestaclassic.com.

WHAT TO BRING TO CHECK-IN

No paperwork is needed. EVERYTHING must be handled before Team Check-In. Bring a copy of your final roster for your own reference. Roster or AAU number issues are sent to the Help Desk.
If AAU numbers are not showing verified on your roster, bring one of these three forms of verification: 1. AAU membership card copy; 2. AAU Club Listing (generated from AAU website Club Director Account); 3. AAU Team roster (generated from AAU website Club Director Account).

Once checked in, you will receive a Team Bag with goodies and team credentials. You are responsible for checking that you have all badges prior to leaving check-in. After you have checked in, replacement fees will be charged.

A Club Director or Team Parent can perform the Team Check-In for one or more teams as long as they have all the proper documentation.

LOCATIONS

West Phoenix Area
Divisions:
15 Club, 16 Club, and 17/18 Club (Guaranteed at least one day in stadium); 15/16 Open (All days in Stadium)

State Farm Stadium
1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale, AZ 85305
26 courts

Avondale ASC
755 N 114th Ave, Avondale, AZ 85323
6 courts

Salvation Army Kroc Center (KROC)
1375 E Broadway Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85040
6 courts

Independence HS (IHS)
6602 N 75th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85303
4 courts

East Phoenix Area
Divisions:
11 Club, 12 Club, 13 Club, 13 Open, 14 Club, 14 Classic, 14 Open, 15/16 Classic, and 17/18 Classic

Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG)
6321 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212
52 courts

AAU MEMBERSHIP

The Festival Fiesta Classic is a licensed AAU event. All participating clubs, athletes and non-athlete adults on a team roster must be AAU members.

Click HERE to acquire your Individual Coach or Athlete AAU Membership. The below instruction sheet will help Coaches or Club Directors navigate the membership process for the entire team or club.

Your AAU Membership is good for all sports through August 2026. Click below for info on other great AAU events.

Stars & Stripes Festival – Mesa, AZ (May 23-25, 2026)
Volleyball Festival Championships – Phoenix, AZ (June 21 – 28, 2026)
AZ AUU Sports Festival – Holiday Heat – Phoenix, AZ (Dec 5-6, 2026)

AAU membership questions should be directed to membership@aasports.org.

PRACTICE TIMES

Where: State Farm Stadium
When: 5 pm – 8:45 pm, Friday, February 13, 2026
Reserve a time HERE

BALL REQUESTS

BALL REQUEST FORM

If you are an out of town team, use this form to reserve a bag of 5-6 warm up balls. We will confirm if we can fulfill your request by Feb. 6. There is no rental fee. Typically, requests exceed our inventory of balls. A very limited number of balls will be available at the Stadium and AAG Tournament Desks for those not making a reservation.

Reserved balls are available for check out at your Day 1 playing site. You will keep the balls throughout the tournament and return them to your Day 3 venue Tournament Desk at the end of play. A very limited number of ball carts will be available. Please bring your own if you want to make sure you have one.

A charge of $40 for any un-returned ball and $150 for any unreturned cart will be assessed.

TIE BREAKING PROCEDURE

2-WAY TIES
There will not be a tie-breaking set played

The team that won the majority of head-to-head sets in pool play will be the higher finisher.
If the 2 teams split head-to-head, then the team with the best cumulative point differential will be the higher finisher.
If a tie still exists, a coin flip will determine the final finish.

ALL OTHER TIES
There will not be a tie-breaking set played

Pool Match Record
Set Percentage (against entire pool)
Point Percentage (against entire pool)
If a tie still exists between 2 of the teams, the result of their head-to-head will break the tie.
If a tie still exists, coin flip to determine finishes

OTHER FORMAT NOTES

All games are best 2 out of 3 sets, no cap.
First two sets to 25 with deciding game to 15.
All match start times are approximate; warm-up starts shortly after the previous match ends.
Normal warm-up period and procedures in place.

AGE DEFINITIONS

AAU 2025-2026 Age Definition Chart

If an exception is needed to below, please email info@festivalfiestaclassic.com.

11 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2014 (Can’t turn 13 before July 1, 2026)
12 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2013 (Can’t turn 13 before July 1, 2026)
13 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2012 (Can’t turn 14 before July 1, 2026)
14 Club & 13/14 Open: Must be born on or after July 1, 2011 (Can’t turn 15 before July 1, 2026)
15 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2010 (Can’t turn 16 before July 1, 2026)
16 Club & 15/16 Open: Must be born on or after July 1, 2009 (Can’t turn 17 before July 1, 2026)
17/18 Club: Must be born on or after July 1, 2007, OR born on or after July 1, 2006 AND a high school student (12th grade or below) during some part of the current academic year.

*** Once a player participates (including but not limited to practicing, training, attending workouts and/or competing) in a club or varsity program for any university, college, community college, or junior college, she is ineligible to compete. ***