The NGBA began as an all-gender league for athletes to play the game they love; for folks of all gender expressions, sexual identities and their allies to compete together. Divisions were organized by athletic experience and players registered themselves in the division that they felt comfortable competing in. In 2023, organizers saw an opportunity to engage more players and formed the Women’s+ division, however creating separate divisions can create the opportunity for exclusion. In the spirit of inclusivity, a trans player policy was drafted. The intent was for players to register in the division that best fit their needs. We regret any harm, confusion or feelings of exclusion created by that policy. We acknowledge that in our community, the language we use is constantly changing, so we need to remain aware of these shifts in order to keep our communication current with our values. To ensure that our policies reflect our values, we will review our policies annually.

NGBA Women’s+ Brooklyn East Coast Classic