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Custom Domain Setup: Updating DNS Nameservers & Keeping Your Old URL Working

  • Updated

Overview

This article explains how to point your own custom domain (for example, yourleague.org) at your TeamSideline site by updating your domain's DNS nameservers, and what happens to your old website address after your site is upgraded or migrated to the new Content Builder. It is written for Site Administrators who own a domain through a registrar such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or similar.

Before You Start

  • You must already own a domain at a registrar (for example, GoDaddy). If you do not yet own one, contact support@teamsideline.com and our team can help you purchase and set one up.
  • You (or your league's registrar/webmaster) need access to log in to the account where the domain is registered.
  • Your TeamSideline site should be built and ready to go live before pointing your domain to it.

How Custom Domain Setup Works

TeamSideline points your custom domain at your site by having you update the nameservers on your domain to a set of TeamSideline (AWS) nameservers. The process is:

  1. Tell us your domain. Open a ticket with support@teamsideline.com and provide the exact domain you want to use (for example, yourleague.org). If you have more than one domain, tell us which one should be the primary and which should redirect to it.
  2. We generate your nameservers. Our team will reply with a set of four TeamSideline nameservers specific to your domain. They look similar to this (your exact values will differ):
    • ns-####.awsdns-##.com
    • ns-####.awsdns-##.net
    • ns-####.awsdns-##.org
    • ns-####.awsdns-##.co.uk
  3. Update the nameservers at your registrar. Log in to your domain account (for example, GoDaddy), remove the current nameservers, and enter the four nameservers we provided. Save your changes.
  4. Let us complete the final step. Reply to the ticket once you've updated the nameservers. There is one final step we complete on our end to finish connecting the domain.
  5. Wait for propagation. Once complete, your domain will point to your TeamSideline site, but DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to populate across the internet. If your new site doesn't appear right away, wait and then clear your browser cache and try again.

Option: Let TeamSideline Make the Change for You

If you're not comfortable editing nameservers, you can ask our team to make the update for you. In that case you would provide your registrar login credentials through the support ticket. Note that many registrars (such as GoDaddy) require a verification/2-factor code at login; if we make the change for you, we may need you to be available to share that code so we can access the account.

 

Keeping Your Old URL Working After a Migration or Upgrade

When your site is upgraded to the new Content Editor, your public web address may change (for example, your site is previewed at a longer yourleague.teamsidelinesite.com address). A common concern is losing your existing custom domain and confusing parents and players who have the old address bookmarked.

You do not lose your custom domain. After migration:

  • Your existing custom domain (for example, yourleague.org) continues to point to your site.
  • Your old URL automatically redirects users to your new/upgraded site, so bookmarks and links people already have will still take them to the right place.
  • If you want to promote a shorter, cleaner address, keep using your custom domain rather than the longer teamsidelinesite.com preview address.

If a link returns a 404 (page not found) error after migration, send support a screenshot of the error including the full link in the address bar so we can investigate and fix the redirect.

Common Questions

  • Which browser should I use? Chrome is the preferred browser for TeamSideline sites and the admin tools.
  • How long until my domain works? Usually within a few hours, but allow up to 24 hours for DNS to fully propagate. Clear your browser cache if the old site still shows.
  • Can I use multiple domains? Yes. Tell us which domain is primary; additional domains can be set to redirect to it. Provide all domains in your ticket.

Need Help?

For any step above, contact support@teamsideline.com. Include your domain name and, if migrating, your league name so we can locate your site quickly.