NAIGC

Frequently Asked Questions

General
Membership
Experience
Listserv
Message Board
1. How do I register for the message board?
2. Where can I find more help about the message board?

What does the NAIGC do?
The NAIGC is a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to support collegiate gymnastics clubs in the United States.

Who runs the NAIGC?
A Board of Directors is elected each year at the annual championships by participating member clubs.

What do the NAIGC directors do?
Directors provide logistical support for the NAIGC national championships; they update the NAIGC website; they write and maintain registration and scoring software; they maintain a membership database; they develop marketing materials such as business cards and advertising brochures; they produce and distribute to members a quarterly newsletter; they develop artwork for merchandise; they manage an online store; they answer emails; they review legal documents and contracts; they manage finances, pay bills, file taxes, deposit checks, keep records; they attend meetings; they develop policies for running competitions and for managing the organization. Different directors do different tasks. Each director serves on one or more of several committees. Committee members report to committee chairs. The board elects officers including a president. The president provides organizational vision and ensures that all necessary tasks get done.

Who can join the NAIGC?
NAIGC Club membership is open to any gymnastics club with college-aged participants. NAIGC Individual membership is open to any affiliate of a participating club regardless of experience or current ability.

How long has this league been around?
The NAIGC as an unofficial competitive association was started in 1988. The NAIGC Constitution was modified in April 2006 to facilitate the election of a Board of Directors. The NAIGC corporation was formed in August 2006, and we became a 501c3 public charity in January 2008.

Who should I contact about ...?
You should just email info@naigc.net, and your question will be referred to the appropriate person.

How do I know if my school has a NAIGC club?
There is a listing of current clubs on the NAIGC website.

My school has a club. How can we join the NAIGC?
Email us with your contact information and we will add you to our list of current clubs! All members (especially officers) should create a individual usernames and passwords on the website. It is also a good idea to join the listserv so that you know what's going on. There are individual annual membership fees. For 2009-2010, the individual membership cost is $25/person. Regardless of payment date, memberships run for the 2009-2010 year. Please review the new club start up kit for comprehensive information.

What if my school doesn't have a club?
Please review the new club start up kit for comprehensive information. At a high level, you will need to find some others interested in gymnastics (interest search on facebook has been used by many clubs) and then talk to your school about club requirements. Usually your school's recreational sports center will provide information on starting club sports. You will also need to find a practice location. If nobody wants to join you then you still have options. If a nearby school has a club then you could try to take one class there and join their team. Otherwise, you could always compete as an individual or on the alumni team (which is mostly alumni, but not all. It is a team that was created for people who do not meet requirements to compete with another team). Competing as an individual costs more when traveling, but the other schools are very supportive.

My school had a division x team, but it just got cut. The people who were on the team still want to practice and compete. Any suggestions?
There are many teams in our league that formed because the varsity team they were part of got cut. Some schools have a division x team, but it doesn't fulfill the needs of everyone at the school who wishes to do gymnastics. In the first case, feel free to bring the entire team into the NAIGC. In the second, there are a few schools that have both varsity and club teams. Just because your school already has a varsity team does not mean it cannot form a club team as well. We prefer people not compete at both levels simultaneously.

We want to join, but there are no other NAIGC clubs nearby to compete against.
You do not have to limit yourself to competing against NAIGC teams. You could try entering meets with NCAA, USAG (local clubs), USAIGC (local clubs for girls only), or high school teams. If none of these options are available, then you can also do intrasquad competitions where your club competes against itself. We are more concerned that your club is getting a feel for what it is like to compete than who you are actually competing against. Plus the NAIGC is always growing!! Your club could be the encouragement needed for a nearby school to start their own club!

I am not affiliated with a school. Can I still compete?
As long as you have not been suspended by the NAIGC, you can compete at any NAIGC meet as a member of the NAIGC Alumni Club. Teams should allow NAIGC Alumni Club members to compete at their meets, although at some meets NAIGC Alumni Club members are not eligible to win awards.

What skill levels should I expect?
There is an enormous range of skills both within the league and within the teams themselves. Some clubs are former varsity teams which just got cut, while others are clubs that are just starting and trying to get their feet wet. As for the individuals, some have never done gymnastics before while others have been doing it their entire lives, even training and competing at an elite level.

I want to continue doing gymnastics, but I was never very good; will I be able to make the team?
Most NAIGC clubs will not have tryouts and everyone will make the team. The NAIGC was founded on the idea of making gymnastics accessible and enjoyable to anyone who loves the sport. We are proud to say that we continue this tradition.

I don't have any experience. Is that ok?
Certainly, and you will not be alone. Literally hundreds of our participants started gymnastics in the NAIGC.

Do men's and women's teams compete at the same time?
Generally yes. With exception of a few competitions, the NAIGC is coed.

Will I have time for NAIGC in college?
Most, if not all, teams are flexible regarding practice attendance. We realize that school work comes first.

How do I qualify for Nationals?
You must be affiliated with a participating club (which could include the NAIGC Alumni Club) and be in good standing. You must have competed in at least 1 event in at least 2 meets during the current season -- (exceptions to this rule are usually granted for legitimate reasons). There are no qualifying scores. We encourage participation.

How do I get added to the NAIGC discussion listserv?
To subscribe to the listserv, go here and fill out the form. You can use this same page to change your listserv settings after you have an account.

How do I remove myself from the listserv?
To unsubscribe from the listserv, go here and put the email address you subscribed with into the last textbox on the page. You will be prompted for your password. You were sent an email with your password in it when you signed up for the listserv. Once you enter your password you will be able to change your settings or unsubscribe.

How do I remove someone else from the listserv?
You cannot unsubscribe someone else from the listserv. The policy of the NAIGC is to welcome anyone who wishes to participate.

How do I register for the message board?
Go to the message board. The top right of the page has a search bar. Just below it are 3 links. The middle one is "Register". Just click on it and follow the instructions.

Where can I find more help regarding the message board?
The official website for the message board software has some tutorials on how to use it. The ones near the bottom may be helpful. If not then try reading the manual.