Dates
November 6–8, 2026
XANTOLO · 2026
Tournament Rules
Official competition and participation essentials for teams.
At a glance
Venue
Deportivo Municipal Lic. Manuel Gómez Morín, Ciudad Valles, SLP
Entry fee
MXN $3,500 per team
Final deadline
October 1, 2026 — no extensions
When is a team confirmed?
Only after the mandatory registration is complete and the full entry fee has been verified. Partial registration or informal messages do not reserve a place.
Categories
| Category | Birth years | Division | Roster | Ball |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Handball | 2017–2020 | Mixed | 5–10 players | Xantolo mini adaptation |
| School | 2015–2016 | Female / Male | Exactly 10 players | Size 1 |
| Children | 2013–2015 | Female / Male | 7–16 players | Size 1 female / Size 2 male |
| Cadet | 2011–2012 | Female / Male | 7–16 players | Size 2 |
| Open | 2010 and earlier | Female / Male | 7–16 players | Size 2 female / Size 3 male |
Age eligibility
Players may never compete below their age category. Playing up or entering Open is allowed only when Festival conditions and all applicable authorizations are met. A player may not represent two teams in the same category and division.
Team roster
Mini registers 5–10 players; School exactly 10; and Children, Cadet, and Open 7–16. Every team registers 1–5 officials and Official A must be an adult. To start, School requires all 10 players; Children, Cadet, and Open require at least 5; Mini follows its published adaptation. An eligible adult official is always required.
Competition
Format and matches
The final system is published after registration closes and may use groups, round robin, elimination, or a combined format. It is designed to schedule at least four matches per team, subject to the category taking place and circumstances outside the Festival’s reasonable control.
Points and standings ties
Unless a specific system says otherwise: win 2 points, draw 1, loss 0. Deductions apply within the phase and may produce a negative total. Ties are resolved by head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference, head-to-head goals, overall goal difference, overall goals, then drawing lots. When a criterion separates some teams, the sequence restarts from the first criterion for those still tied.
When a winner is required
Unless announced otherwise, there is no extra time. A tied match that requires a winner goes to an initial series of five seven-metre throws per team, followed by the applicable reference rules if the tie continues.
No-shows and abandonment
An attributable no-show produces a 10–0 result, 2 points for the present team, and a 2-point deduction for the absent team; that score is excluded from goal statistics and goal-based tiebreakers. Unjustified abandonment produces a 2-point deduction and normally a 5–0 result, unless the opponent already leads by five or more.
Match duration
Match length, breaks, clock operation, Mini and School adaptations, and resin conditions will be announced before competition once the final field and court plan are known.
Equipment
Bring at least one suitable ball and two clearly different shirt options. Goalkeepers must be distinguishable from both teams’ court players. Resin use depends on each venue’s authorization.
Scheduling responsibility
Registering several teams from one institution or players in multiple categories does not guarantee conflict-free schedules. Clubs must provide enough officials to cover overlapping matches.
Conduct and decisions
Identification
The Festival may request sufficient documentation to verify identity, birth year, or eligibility when there is an inconsistency, protest, or reasonable cause. Documents are generally shown for verification and not copied.
Formal protests
Only the Team Representative may file a protest. It normally must be raised within 30 minutes after the relevant match and costs MXN $2,500, refunded only when the protest succeeds. Referees’ judgment calls are not protestable.
Fair play
Identity substitution, false eligibility data, unregistered participants, threats, aggression, and serious refusal to follow official decisions may lead to match forfeiture, point deductions, suspension, or exclusion.
Safety
Handball involves physical effort and contact. Registration is not a medical assessment. Follow safety instructions, report conditions that may affect safe participation, and bring a reusable bottle for hydration points.