Mikaela Nadolski • Nov 29, 2021

What Is The State Games of America?

The 2024 State Games of America will be in San Diego.

It's likely that you've seen the "State Games of America" around quite a bit lately — especially from the Cal State Games' social media pages and newsletters. Well, that's because San Diego is hosting the 2024 State Games of America. If you're considering attending the SGA, or want a better understanding of what it is, you came to the right place.

"The State Games of America is a biennial Olympic-style event featuring competition between State Games medal winners (gold, silver, bronze) from across the nation."

Who can attend the State Games of America?

As mentioned above, the only athletes eligible to compete in the SGA are medal winners from National Congress of State Games (NCSG) Member State programs, including the Cal State Games. Normally, we would say, ask yourself: "Have I won a gold, silver or bronze medal in the past couple years from the Cal State Games?" However, since the 2024 State Games of America are being held in California, ALL California and Nevada residents are eligible to compete.

If you're not from California or Nevada, then there are a few ways you would qualify for the 2024 State Games of America in San Diego.

2022 (after July 1): All gold, silver and bronze medalists qualify from National Congress of State Games (NCSG) Member State programs, both Winter and Summer. Any medalist from the 2022 SGA held in Ames, Iowa qualifies.
2023: All gold, silver, and bronze medalists qualify from NCSG Member State programs, both Winter and Summer.
2024 (before July 1): All gold, silver, and bronze medalists qualify from NCSG Member State programs, both Winter and Summer.
Any medalists from the 2022 State Games of America are eligible to compete in 2024.

What is the sports lineup?

Something to keep in mind is that not every sport that we host is eligible in every State Games of America. For example, some states have water skiing, but the Cal State Games do not. It is up to each host state of that year's State Games of America to determine the sports lineup. In the 2024 State Games of America, since it's hosted in San Diego, the following sports offered by the Cal State Games are in the lineup: Archery, Artistic Swimming, Badminton, Basketball, BMX Racing, Climbing, Diving, Field Hockey, Figure Skating, Footgolf, Ice Hockey, Judo, Pickleball, Powerlifting, Rugby, Skateboarding, Softball, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Track & Field, Water Polo, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.

Is the State Games of America worth it?

Absolutely! What's so special about the SGA is that it truly gives the Olympic experience of competing against the best of the best in a celebration of sports. Similar to the Cal State Games, the SGA has a huge Opening Ceremony with a Parade of Athletes from all 50 states in addition to entertainment and the Lighting of the Cauldron. Athletes have a once in a lifetime chance to meet athletes from all over the nation, and compete against the nation's best athletes in a plethora of sports. On top of that, SGA is hosted every two years, so our athletes have the chance to continually qualify for the SGA, compete against the nation's best and visit a new host city every two years.

When is the next State Games of America?

Every two years, a new host city is named to put on the upcoming year's State Games of America. The next State Games of America will be in 2024 in San Diego, California. 2024 will host more than 20 sports with three national championships! Here are previous cities who hosted:

St. Louis (1999, 2001)
Hartford (2003)
Colorado Springs (2005, 2007, 2009)
San Diego (2011)
Hershey-Harrisburg, PA (2013)
Lincoln, NE (2015)
Grand Rapids, MI (2017)
Lynchburg, VA (2019)
Aimes, Iowa (2022)

How do I register to compete?

The registration process will be available January 1st, 2024. You can sign up for the newsletter for upcoming information on the 2024 SGA.

The California State Games is a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a quality amateur athletic event to foster the Olympic dream. Your donation will help us continue to provide competitive events for California’s amateur athletes and provide them the Olympic experience.

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7 Must-See Beaches in San Diego

23 Apr, 2024

The California State Games is host to the 2024 State Games of America presented by National University . Based in sunny San Diego, this is a great chance for SGA athletes to compete alongside the nation’s best athletes while enjoying one of the nation’s best travel destinations. We like to think that everything is better by the beach; here are seven must-see beaches in America’s Finest City. 1. La Jolla Shores La Jolla Shores is a popular and long stretch of beach perfect for families and kids to relax, play, and build sandcastles. In the summer, you might see the famous La Jolla Leopard Sharks . 2. La Jolla Cove La Jolla Cove , rated the U.S.'s most beautiful beach in 2023 , offers breathtaking high cliffs and hidden coves. Visitors can explore tide pools and spot sea lions, capturing the essence of San Diego's coastal charm. 3. Sunset Cliffs Sunset Cliffs boasts rocky coastlines, tide pools, and stunning ocean views. Located just south of Ocean Beach, it offers a perfect sunrise view for surfers. 4. Pacific Beach Pacific Beach caters to adults with its vibrant scene of restaurants, bars, and a lively boardwalk. It offers a mix of tours and sightseeing, perfect for a fun beach day in San Diego. 5. Ocean Beach The venue for the 2024 SGA Surfing Championship , Ocean Beach is one of San Diego’s best spots to watch the surf. OB isn’t for beach loungers, but those who want to take a beach walks, enjoy the surf scene, and smell the salty air alongside the pier. 6. Del Mar Beach Del Mar Beach is a popular beach for its scenery and lounging, and it’s also a great location for athletes who will spend a lot of time in northern San Diego. Just south of Encinitas, Del Mar Beach is incredibly clean and offers a soft sandy beach, grassy areas, and facilities. 7. Windansea Beach Windansea Beach in La Jolla offers beautiful surf and stunning scenery with fewer crowds. It's great for sunbathing and exploring unique rock formations. Just remember the waves are strong here! Know before you go! When exploring new or unfamiliar beaches, stay informed by checking weather reports and learning more about your beach destination . Have you registered for the 2024 State Games of America presented by National University? Find out whether you’re eligible and register now!

Eligibility: State Games of America presented by National University

By MIkaela Nadolski • 06 Mar, 2024

Excitement is building for the 2024 State Games of America presented by National University, and a common question we've received is: Can anyone compete? In short, no. The long answer is that you must qualify. Fortunately, there are various ways to qualify, depending on whether you are a California resident or non-California resident for this biennial event. California Resident Since the 2024 State Games of America (SGA) are hosted in San Diego by the California State Games, ALL California residents can register for the SGA just like they would for a normal California State Games. Due to the NCSG Neighboring State Policy, athletes in Nevada (which does not have its own state member organization) also qualify for the 2024 State Games of America. Non-California Resident If you’re an athlete coming from one of the other 30+ National Congress of State Games (NCSG) Member State programs, qualification is more extensive. Here’s how you may have qualified depending on the year you competed in an NCSG Member State program: 2022: All gold, silver, and bronze medalists qualify from NCSG Member State programs, both Winter and Summer. Any medalist from the 2022 SGA held in Ames, Iowa qualifies. 2023: All gold, silver, and bronze medalists qualify from NCSG Member State programs, both Winter and Summer. 2024 (before July 1): All gold, silver, and bronze medalists qualify from NCSG Member State programs, both Winter and Summer. Any medalists from the 2022 State Games of America are eligible to compete in 2024. Sport Qualification Lastly, review the offered sports as the final step to check for qualification. Even if you meet the qualification criteria as a California or non-California Resident, your sport must be offered in the 2024 State Games of America to participate. Each host state determines the sport lineup, so even if your sport was offered in 2019 or 2022 in your home state, it may not be offered in the 2024 State Games of America. This may be influenced by regional or geographic location, facilities, sport directors, and more. If you qualify to compete after reviewing the qualification, visit the registration information as soon as possible.

California State Games Pickleball Championship

Let's Play Pickleball: The Fastest Growing Sport in the Country

By MIkaela Nadolski • 03 May, 2023

Pickleball is all the rage these days. Gyms all over California and the nation have converted tennis courts into pickleball courts as the number of players only continues to grow. And although pickleball is one of the newer sports at the California State Games, it has been easy to find players. So let's dive into why pickleball's popularity has soared in San Diego.