The format of the 2021 NZ Secondary Schools Championship will be as follows:

Saturday play will consist of two qualifying blocks, each of 7 pairs.
Each pair will contest a single round robin of games against each other pair in their Block.
Each match will be a single 13 point game. No time limit.

The highest 4 pairs of each Block will progress to a Championship Knockout Draw, to be played on Sunday.
The Knockout 1/4 finals, semi-finals and final will each be Best-of-Three 13 point games. A 50 minute time limit per game will be applied, plus a double rotation if time expires. If scores are tied at the conclusion of the double rotation, the next hoop in order will determine the winner. Losing pairs will play against other losing pairs until finishing positions 1-8 are determined (3x BO3 rounds.)

The next 3 pairs of each qualifying Block will contest the Plate event. The plate will consist of a single round robin of 13 point games. Any time limits will be advised before the commencement of play on Sunday.

All Block positions will be determined by:
1. The highest number of wins
2. If the number of wins are tied, highest net points will determine Block places.
3. If net points are also tied, who-beat-who will determine the Block places.
4. If more than two teams remain tied, a peg shootout by Bagnall Wild Draw will take place.

A peg shootout will consist of players in turn hitting the centre-peg from the East or West boundaries. The first side to hit the peg with both balls of their side, and hold a 2 point lead will resolve the tie.

The venue will be open for practice on Friday 3rd between 1pm and 4.30pm.

Order of Play, Saturday 4th September (Qualifying Blocks)

Block 1, Round 1:
Kerikeri HS Hawera HS 1
Cashmere HS 1 Hawera HS 3
Kapiti College Hastings Christian School
Hawera HS 5 BYE

Block 2, Round 1:
Hawera HS 4 Whangarei Girls HS
Cashmere HS 2 Hawera HS 2
Waitaki Boys HS Hawera HS 6
Havelock North HS BYE

Block 1, Round 2:
Hawera HS 1 Hawera HS 3
Kerikeri HS Hastings Christian School
Cashmere HS 1 Hawera HS 5
Kapiti College BYE

Block 2, Round 2:
Whangarei Girls HS Hawera HS 2
Hawera HS 4 Hawera HS 6
Cashmere HS 2 Havelock North HS
Waitaki Boys HS BYE

Block 1, Round 3:
Hawera HS 3 Hastings Christian School
Hawera HS 1 Hawera HS 5
Kerikeri HS Kapiti College
Cashmere HS 1 BYE

Block 2, Round 3:
Hawera HS 2 Hawera HS 6
Whangarei Girls HS Havelock North HS
Hawera HS 4 Waitaki Boys HS
Cashmere HS 2 BYE

Block 1, Round 4:
Hastings Christian School Hawera HS 5
Hawera HS 3 Kapiti College
Hawera HS 1 Cashmere HS 1
Kerikeri HS BYE

Block 2, Round 4:
Hawera HS 6 Havelock North HS
Hawera HS 2 Waitaki Boys HS
Whangarei Girls HS Cashmere HS 2
Hawera HS 4 BYE

Block 1, Round 5:
Hawera HS 5 Kapiti College
Hastings Christian School Cashmere HS 1
Hawera HS 3 Kerikeri HS
Hawera HS 1 BYE

Block 2, Round 5:
Havelock North HS Waitaki Boys HS
Hawera HS 6 Cashmere HS 2
Hawera HS 2 Hawera HS 4
Whangarei Girls HS BYE

Block 1, Round 6:
Kapiti College Cashmere HS 1
Hawera HS 5 Kerikeri HS
Hastings Christian School Hawera HS 1
Hawera HS 3 BYE

Block 2, Round 6:
Waitaki Boys HS Cashmere HS 2
Havelock North HS Hawera HS 4
Hawera HS 6 Whangarei Girls HS
Hawera HS 2 BYE

Block 1, Round 7:
Cashmere HS 1 Kerikeri HS
Kapiti College Hawera HS 1
Hawera HS 5 Hawera HS 3
Hastings Christian School BYE

Block 2, Round 7:
Cashmere HS 2 Hawera HS 4
Waitaki Boys HS Whangarei Girls HS
Havelock North HS Hawera HS 2
Hawera HS 6 BYE

A practice lawn will be available for teams to use during a bye.