TeamSideline does not natively host email inboxes. We recommend using Google Workspace to create professional email addresses for your organization, such as info@yourleague.org, registrar@yourleague.org, or president@yourleague.org.

Once your Google Workspace accounts are active, you can add them to your TeamSideline site and use them to send and receive email.

This guide walks you through the entire process, from applying for Google Workspace to adding your email addresses to TeamSideline.

Step 1: Sign Up for Google Workspace

For nonprofit organizations

Eligible nonprofits may qualify for a free Google Workspace account.

1. Visit Google for Nonprofits.
2. Click Get started or Get started with Google for Nonprofits.
3. Sign in using a Google account you want to use to manage your nonprofit's services.
4. Follow the prompts to provide your organization's information.
5. Complete the nonprofit verification process.
6. Once approved, return to Google for Nonprofits and select Google Workspace to begin setting up your account.

Please allow 2–14 business days for nonprofit verification. Google determines eligibility and approval.

For organizations that are not nonprofits

1. Visit Google Workspace.
2. Click Get started.
3. Enter your organization's name and number of employees.
4. Enter your contact information.
5. When asked whether your organization has a domain, select Yes, I have one I can use.
6. Enter your organization's existing domain name (for example, yourleague.org).
7. Follow the prompts to create your Google Workspace administrator account.

Keep your administrator username and password somewhere secure. You will use this account to manage your organization's email users.

Step 2: Verify Your Domain with Google

Google needs to confirm that you own your organization's domain before it can activate email services.

Since TeamSideline manages your DNS records, you do not need to log in to your domain registrar or make any DNS changes yourself.

A. Find your TXT verification code

1. Sign in to the Google Admin Console using your Google Workspace administrator account.
2. If you are still in the initial setup process, continue until Google asks you to verify your domain.
3. If you have already completed the initial setup, navigate to Account → Domains → Manage domains.
4. Select your domain and look for the option to Verify domain.
5. Choose the option to verify your domain using a TXT record.

6. Google will display a verification code that begins with:

   google-site-verification=

7. Click Copy to copy the entire verification code.

B. Send your verification code to TeamSideline

Contact TeamSideline Support at support@teamsideline.com and include:

• Your organization's name
• Your domain name
• The complete TXT verification code provided by Google

Our team will add the verification record to your domain's DNS.

C. Complete domain verification

1. Wait for TeamSideline to confirm that the DNS record has been added.
2. Return to the Google Workspace setup page or Google Admin Console.
3. Click Verify, Confirm, or Activate (the wording may vary).
4. Google will check your DNS record and confirm that your domain has been verified.

Important: Domain verification does not change your existing website or email services.

Step 3: Activate Gmail by Adding Google's MX Records

Once your domain is verified, Google will ask you to activate Gmail.

MX records tell the internet where to deliver email sent to your domain.

Since TeamSideline manages your DNS, we will add these records for you.

A. Find your MX record instructions

1. Sign in to the Google Admin Console.
2. Open the Google Workspace setup process.
3. Continue until you reach the step to Activate Gmail or Set up Gmail.
4. Google will display the MX records needed for your domain.
5. Copy the record details or take a screenshot of the instructions.

Google may display one or more MX records, depending on your setup.

B. Send the MX record information to TeamSideline

Contact support@teamsideline.com and provide:

• Your organization's name
• Your domain name
• The MX record details provided by Google

Our team will update your DNS records.

C. Confirm Gmail activation

1. Wait for TeamSideline to confirm that the MX records have been added.
2. Return to Google Workspace.
3. Click Activate Gmail or Confirm.
4. Google will check your DNS records and complete the activation process.

DNS changes can take time to become available across the internet. If Google does not recognize the records immediately, wait and try again later.

Step 4: Create Email Accounts for Your Organization

Once Gmail is active, you can create email addresses for your board members, coaches, and staff.

A. Sign in to Google Admin

1. Visit admin.google.com.
2. Sign in using your Google Workspace administrator account.

B. Create a new email account

1. From the Admin Console, navigate to Directory → Users.
2. Click Add new user.
3. Enter the person's first and last name.

4. Enter the desired email username.

   For example, entering registrar will create registrar@yourleague.org.

5. Set a password or allow Google to generate one.
6. Click Add new user to create the account.
7. Securely share the login information with the person who will be using the account.

Repeat these steps for each email account your organization needs.

Suggested email addresses

You can use your own domain and preferred usernames when creating these accounts.

Step 5: Add Your Google Workspace Email to TeamSideline

Once your Google Workspace email addresses are active, you can add them to your TeamSideline site so they can be selected as reply-to addresses for communications.

A. Add the email address to TeamSideline

1. Sign in to your TeamSideline administrator account.
2. Navigate to Administration → Manage Users.
3. Click to add a new user or administrator.
4. Enter the Google Workspace email address you want to add.
5. Complete the remaining required fields and save.

B. Select the email as your Reply-To address

1. Navigate to the communication tool you use to send emails in TeamSideline.
2. Start composing a communication.
3. Locate the Reply To dropdown.
4. Select the Google Workspace email address you added.
5. Complete and send your communication.

Recipients will be able to reply to the selected email address.

Need Help?

TeamSideline is happy to help with the DNS configuration required to connect your domain to Google Workspace.

When contacting support, please include your organization's name and domain, along with the specific Google Workspace setup step you are working on.

Please do not send your Google Workspace administrator password to TeamSideline. We only need the DNS record information Google provides during setup.

Contact us at support@teamsideline.com if you need assistance.