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NCGA NATIONALS

National Collegiate Grappling Championships

Saturday
April 25th, 2026
🏆 Competition Begins 3:00 PM
The Nest | Colberg Court at Sacramento State University
The Nest | Colberg Court, Moraga Way
📍 Sacramento, CA 95819
⏰

Time Change Notice: Competition start time has been updated to 11:00 AM (previously 10:00 AM).

Event details

When
Saturday April 25th, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Where
The Nest | Colberg Court at Sacramento State University
The Nest | Colbert Court, Moraga Way
Sacramento, CA 95819

Travel & Lodging

Hotels & travel

We'll post hotel blocks and travel notes here as they're finalized.

Schedule of Events

Friday, April 24
5:00 – 6:30 PM
Coaches Check-In
📍 The Nest Gymnasium – Colbert Court
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Open Mat – Athletes
Warm up and prepare for competition day
5:00 – 6:00 PM
Rules Clinic
Open to all athletes and coaches
6:30 – 7:30 PM
⚠️ Mandatory Coaches Meeting
Covers NCGA rules, event logistics, and match procedures. All head coaches must attend.
Saturday, April 25
8:00 AM
Athlete Weigh-ins (Rash Guard Uniforms)
⚠️ DO NOT BE LATE
Late arrivals are removed from competition — no exceptions.
11:00 AM
Competition Begins
📍 The Nest | Colbert Court – Sacramento State University
⏰ Registration Deadline
Smoothcomp registration closes Wednesday, April 22nd at midnight
Register Now →

🏆 Divisions

  • • DI Men's - Compete for All-American Honors
  • • DI Women's - Compete for All-American Honors
  • • DII Men's - Compete for NCGA DII Individual Titles

⚔️ Format

  • • Double elimination bracketing
  • • Round robin for smaller weight classes
  • • Women's divisions may combine weights (minimum 4 per weight)

🥇 Awards

  • • All-American Medals - 1st, 2nd, 3rd place
  • • Team Champion Belt - Nationals Champion (Combined DI Men's & Women's)

Team Scoring System

Advancement Points

Championship Bracket Win
+2 points
Consolation Bracket Win
+1 point

Bonus Points

Submission Victory
+2 points
Win by Forfeit / DQ / Default
+2 points

Placement Points

1st
+10
points
1st Place
🥇
2nd
+7
points
2nd Place
🥈
3rd
+6
points
3rd Place
🥉
4th
+4
points
4th Place
🏅
For Coaches

Coaches & Floor Information

Everything you need to know to represent your team and run a smooth event day.

🪪 Credentials & Floor Access

Each registered and paid head coach will receive:

  • •An event lanyard for facility entry and floor access
  • •One athlete lanyard per Smoothcomp-registered competitor
  • •Challenge cards based on team size (given to head coach)
🚫 Lanyard sharing is not permitted. Violations may result in fines and removal from the event.

Only two coaches per corner are allowed. No hats, no filming, and professional attire is required on the floor.

👔 Dress Code & Floor Rules

Required attire on the floor: Team collared shirt, slacks, and tennis shoes.

Only credentialed coaches and actively competing athletes are allowed on the competition floor. All others must remain in the stands or in the coaches' corral.

🤝 Sportsmanship & Conduct

The NCGA holds coaches to the highest standard of professionalism and respect. Please model the behavior you expect from your athletes:

  • ✓Shake hands at the end of each bout
  • ✓Avoid inappropriate language or gestures
  • ✓Support officials and fellow teams respectfully
Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in penalties, loss of team points, or removal from the event.

⚖️ Appeals & Grievances

The National Tournament Committee, composed of NCGA-certified black belts, will handle all rule disputes.

  • •Only coaches may file appeals (no parents or athletes)
  • •Appeals require a $100 deposit, refunded if successful

🏅 Weight Classes & All-American Status

Only Division I weight classes with four or more competitors are eligible for All-American recognition. Smaller brackets may be combined or run as round robins (non-All-American).

DII competitors will be awarded 1st–3rd place but will not be designated as NCGA All-Americans.

Challenge Cards

Every team starts with two challenge cards — regardless of how many athletes are registered. Additional cards are awarded based on roster size and are division-specific (men's or women's).

All Teams Start With
2 Challenge Cards
3 Cards
6–10 athletes
+1 additional card
4 Cards
11–15 athletes
+2 additional cards
5 Cards
15+ athletes
+3 additional cards
Win your challenge — keep your card. Lose — forfeit your card. Cards are division-specific (men's or women's).

See You in Sacramento

Your leadership, preparation, and professionalism help make NCGA Nationals the premier collegiate grappling event in the country. We look forward to an incredible weekend of competition and camaraderie. Thank you for representing your athletes and your programs with pride.