NCGA MEMBER NEWSLETTER  ·  SEASON KICKOFF

Season kickoff  ·  The Tech Corner

The season
starts here

Welcome back, NCGA teams. Coaches can register now, and student registration begins October 1. Use this guide to get your people, paperwork, and plans ready.

For coaches, team administrators & athletes  ·  September 18, 2026

 Two grapplers competing on the mat
Season kickoff  ·  Coach registration  ·  October 1  ·  The Tech Corner
A new season is more than a new login. It is athletes returning to campus, coaches getting organized, and teams making a plan to compete. Here is what to do now, what begins October 1, and where the new NCGA workspace can help.

01   Season kickoff

Get your team ready before October.

Student registration begins October 1. Coaches should start registering now so their accounts, team details, and season setup are ready before athletes begin registering.

Start nowCoach registration

Coaches can register now. Update your coaching details, acknowledgements, and photo before the season gets busy.

   October 1Student registration

Student registration opens October 1. Use the time before then to make sure your team and roster are ready.
Before October 1
  • Confirm the right coach and Team Admin accounts.
  • Review your roster and mark non-participating athletes inactive/alumni.
  • Check the Dash for Action Required items.
  • Start planning events, duals, and officials.

Start coach registration  ↗

02   The Tech Corner

New site. Same team.

As you begin the new season, the NCGA workspace brings together the resources you need to keep your program moving. Start here when you are ready to work through the practical setup.

01EligibilityKeep your team ready to compete.   02FundraisingFind a focused way to fund the season.   03ActivationComplete the steps that bring your team online.
 
04Team gearOrder the compliant gear your athletes need.   05Events & dualsCreate competition and invite other colleges.   06OfficialsFind and prepare registered officials.
First login

Because NCGA has moved to a new site, returning members will need to choose “Reset your password.” You can use the same password you had before.

Go to member login  ↗

03   Your Dash

Your first stop after sign-in.

Open your profile workspace and the Dash gives you the pulse of your account and team, styled with your team colors.

NCGA coach dashboard showing the Dash tab and action required cards
On the Dash  Look first for the two orange Action Required buttons: one for seasonal coach registration and one for your team activation checklist.

Re-register

The first action button takes a returning coach through seasonal registration. Keep your coaching details, acknowledgements, and photo current.

Activate your team

The second button opens the checklist for team application, signatures, coach registration, and dues. The page keeps the missing work visible.

04   Your Team

The Team tab is your operating table.

Team Manager brings four connected areas together. Use the tabs below as a simple mental model for where the work lives.

NCGA member workspace navigation showing Dash, Team, Grow, and Events tabs
Workspace navigation  Dash · Team · Grow · Events · Receipts.

Roster

Monitor who has paid, uploaded a proper photo, and is active. Athletes are not deleted; when someone is not participating this season, change their role to Inactive / Alumni through Manage.

Checklist

This is the home of the Action Required workflow — the tasks your team must finish before it can compete.

Staff

Assign and unassign team administrators so the right people can help with the season’s work.

Team Gear

Purchase compliant gear from BattleGear247. Teams should wear matching rash guards with a properly placed NCGA logo.

NCGA Team Manager roster screen showing athlete readiness, dues, photo, status, and clearance columns
Roster view  Payment, photo, status, and competition clearance stay visible at a glance. The Activation Verification Form link sits above the roster.

05   Grow

Build the network around your team.

The Grow tab opens on the Outreach Map, a collaborative CRM for finding nearby colleges with grappling clubs. Review their contact information, add what you know, and invite them to compete.

NCGA Grow tab showing outreach tools
Grow  Outreach starts with the schools and programs already close to you.
NCGA Outreach Map showing nearby colleges and team contact information
Outreach Map  A shared view of potential teammates, opponents, and future event invitations.

Fundraising opportunity

Turn a short campaign into team momentum.

The Grow tab includes the NCGA partnership with Bloom for Good. Use the ready-to-run playbook to build a list, launch together, keep score, and follow up.

NCGA Team Fundraising Opportunity banner with Bloom for Good partnership
Bloom for Good  A focused fundraising plan for coaches and team administrators.

06   Events

Create competition with a clear handoff.

The Events tab lets you create tournaments and duals, then keep invitations, approval, and officiating in view.

NCGA My Events screen with Create New action
My Events  Start with Create New when you are ready to set up a tournament or dual.

1. Choose a format

Select Dual or Tournament, then add event details and participating teams.

2. Invite teams

Invited teams must accept. Keep those responses together in the event workflow.

3. Set the risk amount

Choose what the other side agrees to pay if it does not show up.

4. Wait for approval

Every event goes through staff approval, usually within 24 hours. Request an official from the same event area.

Coming next: duals contract feature

The duals contract feature is still being added. Until it is live, treat the event’s financial risk field and staff approval as the source of truth for the meet.

07   Officials & rules

Plan the official before the mat is busy.

Every NCGA event needs a registered official. Until the officials network is fully built out, collaborate with other coaches who can register and officiate, and consider local gyms as another source of qualified officials.

NCGA official registration information
Registered officials  Officials should hold a brown or black belt and complete NCGA training and a background check.
Official registrationTraining & background check  ↗RulebookReview the current rules  ↗

There have been minor rule modifications, so take a few minutes to review the Rulebook before the season gets busy.

08   Team activation

Finish the paperwork. Unlock the season.

Your team becomes eligible when the activation checklist is complete. Your Team Admin will use the workflow to finish the college application, signature upload, coach registration, and dues steps.

NCGA Activation Checklist showing team onboarding tasks and action required buttons
Activation checklist  Complete each milestone from the college application through coach dues. The team activates when the requirements are complete.

Extra   After preseason

Activation Verification Form (AVF).

You only need this when competition season starts, after preseason. The form verifies that your athletes are part of the university and in good academic standing. It auto-populates with your athletes and their Student ID numbers.

NCGA Activation Verification Form tab with athlete verification instructions
AVF tab  Start here after preseason, when competition season begins.

Generate and sign

The Team Admin clicks Generate Printable AVF Form, takes it to the college registrar for a signature and stamp, and keeps the completed pages together.

Upload the signed form

Scan the signed form and upload it on the same tab/page. More detailed instructions are inside the workspace.

NCGA printable Activation Verification Form generation screen
Generate
Create the printable form.
NCGA Activation Verification Form upload control
Upload
Return the signed form.
NCGA Activation Verification Form submission confirmation area
Submit
Keep the record with your team.

Questions?

Keep the season moving.

Start with the workspace, then ask for help when you need it. Contact Blair Green at 301-801-2326 for support with the new site.

Contact the association  ↗

Welcome to the new season. Your next click is waiting in the Dash.