How Does the League Work?

  • 3v3 intercollegiate crew battles

  • Participants must be registered NCBA members (see “2023-2024 Season” tab)

  • Participants must be enrolled students (undergraduate or graduate). Alumni are eligible within first year of graduating (Winter 2022 graduates are eligible for all of 2023-24 season)

  • All members of the crew must represent the same university*

High school and primary school teams will be allowed to compete in qualifier events. Finals will be restricted to colleges only.

*limited exceptions may be granted to schools without a club. Email collegiatebreaking@gmail.com for details. Any crews that are combinations of multiple schools will be ineligible for prizes.

Rules and Eligibility

Battle Format

League Structure

The Finals for the 2023-24 season will be hosted at Northeastern University on March 9, 2024. There are 3 ways to qualify for the Finals:

1a) Win your region’s Qualifier Series.

1b) Top placements in the Qualifier Series will receive additional Wild Card invites.

2) Win an Independent Qualifier.

3) Make it through prelims at the Finals.

The number of slots allocated to each category will change each season depending on number of events.

Qualifier Series

A Qualifier Series will be implemented for regions with multiple NCBA events. Placement in the series will be determined by points which will be awarded at each event using the following system:

  • Points are awarded to each school based on how far their highest performing squad makes it. Each school is awarded the 1 point minimum for entering.

  • Each additional squad beyond the first will accrue one additional participation point (maximum of 3 participation points per school per event)

  • A school’s final point total is determined by their 2 highest grossing events. This way crews can improve their standings by attending all events, but won’t be too punished if they are unable to travel extensive distances.

The school with the most points at the end of the season will win a paid trip to the Finals. Additional wild card spots will be awarded to runner-ups in the Qualifier Series.

Independent Qualifier

If a region only has a single NCBA event, that event will be designated an Independent Qualifier.

  • The winner of this Independent Qualifier will earn a paid trip to the Finals

  • At the discretion of the NCBA, additional runner ups may be granted a wild card spot in the finals.

Open Preliminaries

Half of the spots in Top 16 at Finals will be reserved for open preliminary qualifiers.

If your school has already qualified for a spot in Finals, additional squads from your school may qualify using this path.