🔢NCWA Membership

1.1 Regulatory Authority

The National Collegiate Wrestling Association was organized in 1997 as a 501(c)3 non-profit association designed to promote, support, and regulate collegiate-style wrestling on the college and university level. The member schools give regulatory authority to the NCWA as a National Governing Body (NGB). Institutions of higher learning may apply for membership through the NCWA Board of Directors. All junior colleges, trade schools, colleges, and universities, both private and public, are eligible for NCWA membership.

The Board of Directors, along with appointed officers, committees organized under the purview of the NCWA Board of Directors, and the Judicial Council, function to provide the administration, regulation, and promotion of amateur wrestling at the college level for all member institutions.

1.2 Eligibility of Schools

Membership in the NCWA is open to all accredited institutions of higher education. Member teams are generally chartered under the jurisdiction of the Athletic Department, the Sports Activity Coordinator or any department granted the administrative authority by the member institution. Institutions may sponsor only one NCWA-governed wrestling program during any season, unless these rules specifically provide otherwise.

Programs that are currently subject to any disciplinary actions by their host institution or association must report such discipline to their Conference Boards and the National Compliance Officer. If warranted, the Judicial Council may rule the disciplinary action by a host institution will render a team ineligible for NCWA membership.

All teams, coaches, wrestlers, and member institutions agree to adhere to the rules and regulations set forth herein. Any act of deceit or willful and calculated disregard of any portion of the NCWA Rules and Regulations and/or the NCWA or NCAA Codes of Conduct may result in the suspension of any NCWA member school. Any act intended to circumvent any rule or evade penalty by the NCWA may be treated as though the said rule violation occurred.

The purpose and spirit of the underlying Rules and Regulations of the National Collegiate Wrestling Association may be applied with the same force and effect as the rules themselves. Member teams are advised to seek the advice and counsel of their respective Conference Boards and / or the NCWA Judicial Council should any questions regarding the existence, application, or definition of any rules or regulations arise.

1.3 NCWA Eligibility of Schools

The NCWA functions only as an organizational body and does not accept any liability for athletes during practice, travel, and / or competition. Wrestlers and Teams must be insured by the liability coverage of their respective school. Most programs are automatically covered by their officially recognized school status. All athletes are required to carry personal health or injury insurance coverage. In addition, the NCWA may choose to carry liability insurance and, at its discretion, cover member athletes and institutions.

1.4 Membership of New Schools / Programs

New schools may apply for membership in the NCWA by first contacting the NCWA at 214-378-9900 or by email at [e-mail]. Upon making initial contact with the NCWA, the Director of respective division (Men’s or Women’s), if any, or appropriate NCWA official shall send the prospective member a “New Team Application.” After the New Team Membership Application is received by the NCWA in good order, then ‘due diligence’ will be performed to verify the information and clarify any questions or concerns with the Administration of the applying institution.

Once accepted into the NCWA, new programs will be assigned to a NCWA Conference by geographical location as per Articles 5.1 and 5.2 and assessed a Conference fee as per Article 7.3.

No new programs are accepted after December 15th of each season unless approved by the NCWA Board of Directors.

1.5 Membership Renewal for Current Member Schools

All actively participating member schools must renew their membership each year. The Annual Renewal Application Form is available on the NCWA website.

An annual membership fee will be due between April 1st and October 1st each season as provided on the team membership renewal form on www.ncwa.net. From October 2nd to October 15th, a late fee of $50 will be assessed. From October 16th to November 1st, the late fee assessed will be $100. From November 2nd to November 15th, the late fee assessed will be $150. No team renewals will be accepted after November 15th each season. All Membership Dues, Late Fees, and Fines must be paid prior to the Conference Championships of each season for a team and its members to be eligible to compete in the postseason.

1.6 Membership Classifications

NCWA Membership Classifications are determined by the NCWA Board of Directors and commissioned officers.

• NCWA Men’s Division 1

• NCWA Men’s Division 2 This division includes emerging programs that are moving toward NCWA Division 1 status and those programs that are unable to be classified as NCWA Division 1 due to already having a non-NCWA athletic department sponsored program. Programs that also have a non-NCWA athletic department program will be labeled with the moniker ‘NCWA’ before their institution’s name. The NCWA does not recognize the term “club” or use of “WC” for its accepted programs.

• NCWA Women’s Division (currently there is no distinction between programs.)

1.6.1 Membership Fees

Team Type	Team Fee	Per Athlete
Men's Division 1	$600	$50
Men's Division 2	$600	$50
Women's Division (without Men's Team)	$600	$50
Women's Division (with Men's Team)	$400	$50
Transition Teams	$1500 initial season $500 per season thereafter	$50

1.6.2 Transition Programs

Transition Teams are permitted membership in the NCWA. Transition programs are defined as established wrestling programs at institutions changing competition divisions within the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA. Transition Teams are permitted to enter their NCWA Conference Championships and are permitted to advance to the National Championship if they qualify. The number of Qualifiers for the Nationals is limited by the rules of the division they are transitioning into (e.g.: 1 qualifier per weight class for NCAA, etc.). Teams that were already members of the NCWA as of the 2022-2023 season are not subject to increased team fees and financially treated as NCWA-Division 1 programs.

1.6.3 Gaining Full NCWA Membership

After a team’s initial (referred to as provisional) year in the NCWA, they are automatically moved to full membership in their respective division provided they comply with all NCWA eligibility and competition rules as well as adhering to NCWA best practices. For D1, D2 and Women Programs to gain full membership they must have an NCWA-approved / accepted non-student coach providing consistency in leadership from year to year.

Teams that are reprimanded during a season for non-compliance with NCWA rules or those that do not have a non-student coach may be required to serve additional provisional years. Continued rule violations may result in probation and dismissal from the NCWA for a year or more. Waivers for the non-student coaches’ criteria may be granted by the conference for extraordinary circumstances such as loss of a previously registered non-student coach late in the season.

1.6.4 Losing NCWA Membership

The Judicial Council may rule that teams be suspended or forfeit membership in the NCWA through serious or repeated violations of the NCWA Rules and Regulations, or automatically after two years of past due Association Membership dues.