US Quadball is proud to offer event sanctioning to standardize tournament play, provide a higher standard of quality and safety for players nationwide, and encourage the growth of the sport. Sanctioned events are eligible to receive insurance coverage from USQ as well as financial support grants. 

Who can attend a sanctioned event? Is there an extra cost for participants?

USQ and Quidditch Canada members may attend USQ-sanctioned events for free. Non-members must have a trial membership in order to participate. All official matches, including non-sanctioned events that meet the criteria for official matches, are covered under USQ's accident insurance policy. 

If my event is sanctioned, what will USQ provide?

For a sanctioned event, USQ is happy to provide the following, upon request:

• Insurance coverage – Certificate of insurance (COI) that provides proof of insurance for a facility, city, park and recreation district, etc. Naming an entity as additional insured may be available upon request. Please note that we will have to review specific insurance requests and may not be able to fulfill all insurance requirements. 
• USQ social media marketing and advertising for the event, including press contacts to promote event upon request.
• Financial support in the form of grants, on a case-by-case basis.
• Assistance in additional planning aspects as requested.

As a tournament host, what will I need to provide?

• For those events with unofficial teams, a list of all participants.
• Certified head referees and certified lead assistant referees paid the standard league fee for all games, including unofficial matches
• For unofficial matches involving Quidditch Canada teams or players, including fantasy tournaments featuring both American and Canadian players, we will accept QC head referee certification in lieu of USQ head referee certification. Lead assistant referees will still be required. QC referees need to have passed the written QC assistant referee, flag runner referee, and head referee tests to serve in the LAR role. Certified HRs and LARs must still be paid the standard league fee for these games.
• If used, certified flag runners paid the standard league fee for all games, including unofficial matches.
• Facility for event including: high quality playing fields (soft turf or grass), clear field demarcation, ample on-site water, access to bathrooms, and food on-site or nearby.
• Professional, non playing medical staff onsite. Medical staff must be dedicated and designated in their role for the entirety of the tournament. Also, an overall injury report must be submitted after the event.
• Standard and safe equipment: hoops, brooms, balls, and clear scoreboards.
• Logical gameplay procedures: overall structure, pool assignment, bracket seeding, tiebreaker mechanism.
• Schedule released at least one week in advance: gameplay, referees, flag runners, and other volunteers.
• All tournament essentials (including those listed above) reserved and confirmed a reasonable amount of time before the tournament date. USQ is happy to provide support in securing the essentials described above, given reasonable notice.

The dedicated TD rule has once again been updated for official events this season. Each event will still need to have a certified TD organizing the event:. 

• For tournaments with three or fewer teams and two or fewer pitches, the certified TD who is organizing the event may also have another role at the event (e.g. player, referee, coach, etc.). 
• For tournaments with four or more teams and have two or fewer pitches, there must be at least one dedicated, certified TD at all times.
• For events with nine or more teams and three or more pitches, an additional TD will be required. This second TD may also have another role at the event (e.g. player, referee, coach, etc.).

Field testing is open to unofficial events. Sanctioning is not required. The guidelines are the same as previous seasons. Unofficial events may be approved for referee field testing provided they meet the following additional requirements: 

1. Have a USQ proctor in attendance
2. Follow the current USQ or Major League Quidditch rules
   1. If an event is not using one of the following rulesets, the rules will need to be emailed to and approved by referees@usquidditch.org
3. Have all required official positions filled during each field test. The required referee positions are:
   1. A certified lead assistant referee, at least one assistant referee, a flag runner, a scorekeeper, and a timekeeper

APPLICATION Requirements

To apply for sanctioning, please have the following ready to complete your application:

• Name,  phone number, and email of certified tournament director that will be organizing and hosting the event
• Name and location of field space
• Estimated number of teams (both official and unofficial)
• Whether or not insurance is needed
• Statement of need (if applying for financial assistance)
• Event budget (if applying for financial assistance)

EVENT SANCTIONING APPLICATION FORM

APPLICATION DEADLINES

To apply to have a tournament sanctioned by USQ, the tournament director must submit an application no later than one month in advance of the event, though applications received after that point will be considered on a case by case basis. After submitting the form below, the TD(s) will receive an email to set up an interview with USQ staff. The interview will take 30-60 minutes and consist of reviewing the application and event, going over the event sanctioning program in general, and answering any questions the TD(s) may have.

If financial support is requested (done via submitting a sanctioning request form), applications must be received by the following dates:

-For events September 1-October 31: as soon as possible.
      -Grant awards will be done in September.
-For events November 1-December 31: October 1, 2022
      -Grants will be awarded starting the second week of October.
-For events January 1-February 28: November 14, 2022
      -Grants will be awarded starting the week of November 18.
-For events March 1-April 30: January 16, 2023
      -Grants will be awarded starting the week of January 20

For best consideration, TDs are encouraged to submit their sanctioning application as early as possible.

Please note that there is limited financial support available for events outside of this time frame, and applicants hosting events between May 1 and September 14 are encouraged to apply at least three months in advance.

If approved for sanctioning, a full event budget must be submitted to USQ no later than two weeks in advance of the event.

Calendar Submission

2 weeks before the event, your USQ calendar submission due (both for sanctioned and unsanctioned events)

EVENT CALENDAR SUBMISSION FORM

For questions, email  tdcertification@usquidditch.org. 

Tourney Machine

Starting for the 2022-23 season, USQ will be using a new tournament management system. Tourney Machine gives TDs the ability to create and manage tournament schedules, update standings, and communicate with coaches in a quick and efficient manner. 

This is an option for TDs to utilize to assist running their tournament, since there is a $4 per team cost to use. To add your event to Tourney Machine, make sure to click yes on the event calendar request form.

USQ Community Events Manager, Katrina Bynum, will create your event for you to help get your tournament started. She will also be making a tournament manager account for each TD. Once your account is made, you will be sent an email with login instructions. For more information on how to run a tournament on Tourney Machine visit the help center HERE.

2021-22 SANCTIONED EVENTS

EVENT NAME	EVENT DATE	REGION
West Fantasy 2021	September 11, 2021	West
Crimson Cup 8	October 2, 2021	West
Business Bowl	October 2, 2021	Mid-Atlantic
Oktoberfest Invitational	October 9, 2021	Northeast
Lone Star Cup	October 23, 2021	Southwest
Diamond Cup X	November 20. 2021	Southwest

 

2020-21 SANCTIONED EVENTS

There were no sanctioned events in the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019-20 SANCTIONED EVENTS

EVENT NAME	EVENT DATE	REGION
West Fantasy 2019	August 24, 2019	West
Turtle Cup IX	September 28, 2019	Mid-Atlantic
Crimson Cup VI	September 28, 2019	West
Oktoberfest Invitational	October 5, 2019	Northeast
Neverland Classic	October 12, 2019	West
Nittany Invitational	October 12, 2019	Mid-Atlantic
Cavalier Cup	October 12, 2019	Mid-Atlantic
Second Annual Chicago United Invitational II	October 19, 2019	Midwest
Thermopylae Cup III	October 19, 2019	Southwest
Diamond Cup VII	October 19, 2019	Southwest
California Classic 2019	October 26, 2019	West
NorCal by Northwest 2	October 26, 2019	Northwest
Big Peach Invitational	November 23, 2019	South
Crescent City Invitational	December 7, 2019	Southwest
Long Beach Invitational	December 7, 2019	West
Heroes vs Villians Invitational	January 18, 2020	West
Midwest Winter Fantasy VII	January 25, 2020	Great Lakes
Brooms on the Brazos	January 25, 2020	Southwest
New Kids on the Block: Hoot & Howdy Brawl	February 29, 2020	South
North Texas Mini series 2- Electric Boogaloo	February 29, 2020	Southwest

2018-19 SANCTIONED EVENTS

EVENT NAME	EVENT DATE	REGION
Crimson Cup V	September 22, 2018	West
Freshmen Fall Crawl	September 22, 2018	Mid-Atlantic
Turtle Cup VIII	September 29, 2018	Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Michigan Melee IV	September 29, 2018	Great Lakes
Chicago United Quidditch Invitational	October 6, 2018	Midwest
Norcal by Northwest	October 20, 2018	Northwest
Quaffle House Cup	November 10, 2018	Great Lakes
Anthill Funkdown IV	December 1, 2018	West
Heroes vs Villains II	January 19, 2019	West
O-Town Throwdown II: A Midsummer Knight's Carnage	January 26, 2019	South
MidWest Winter Fantasy VI	February 2, 2019	Great Lakes and Midwest
Founder's Cup (of Gold)	February 16, 2019	Mid-Atlantic
4th Annual Tri-River Tournament	February 23, 2019	Mid-Atlantic

2017-18 SANCTIONED EVENTS

EVENT NAME	EVENT DATE	REGION
Turtle Cup VII	September 30, 2017	Mid-Atlantic
Crimson Cup IV	September 30, 2017	West
Turner Valley Challenge Event	October 7, 2017	Mid-Atlantic
6th Annual Lumberjack Invitational	October 21, 2017	West
Monmouth Open	October 21, 2017	Mid-Atlantic
Cavalier Cup	October 28, 2017	Mid-Atlantic
The Golden Bear Invitational	October 28, 2017	West
Long Beach Invitational	November 17, 2017	West
The 1st Annual Lucien Weiss Invitational	December 2, 2017	West
Alamo Cup IV	January 27, 2018	Southwest
Heroes vs Villains Invitational	January 27, 2018	West
Midwest Winter Fantasy V	January 27, 2018	Midwest
Anthill Smackdown III: The Last Seeker	February 10, 2018	West
The Fourth Annual Founder's Cup (of Gold)	March 17, 2018	Mid-Atlantic
Falcon Cup	March 31, 2018	Great Lakes
The Harry Greenhouse Memorial Invitational	March 31, 2018	Mid-Atlantic

2016-17 SANCTIONED EVENTS

EVENT NAME	EVENT DATE	REGION
Northeast Regional Fantasy	August 6, 2016	Northeast
West Fantasy	August 6-7, 2016	West
Crimson Cup III	September 24, 2016	West
Turtle Cup VI	October 8, 2016	Mid-Atlantic
Keystone Cup III	October 8, 2016	Mid-Atlantic
Midwest Warmup	October 22-23, 2016	Midwest
Lone Star Invitational	December 3, 2016	Southwest
Threaux Me Something Mister Quidditch Expeaux	December 3, 2016	Southwest
Midwest Winter Fantasy IV	January 28, 2017	Midwest
Heck in a Tote Bag Classic	March 4, 2017	Mid-Atlantic
Roanoke Harry Potter Festival	May 13, 2017	Mid-Atlantic

2015-16 SANCTIONED EVENTS

EVENT NAME	EVENT DATE	REGION
Gruesome Twosomes Summer Fantasy	July 18, 2015	Northeast
New Jersey Fantasy Tournament	August 15, 2015	Mid-Atlantic
Turtle Cup	September 26, 2015	Mid-Atlantic
Spooky Spectacular	October 4, 2015	Mid-Atlantic
Keystone Cup II	October 10, 2015	Mid-Atlantic
Cowboy Cup V	October 10, 2015	Southwest
Wolf Pack Classic IV	October 17, 2015	Southwest
Keep Quidditch Weird	December 5, 2015	Northwest
New Jersey Round Robin III	December 11, 2015	Mid-Atlantic
Anthill Smackdown	January 16, 2016	West
Scottish Highland Games	January 16-17, 2016	South
Midwest Winter Fantasy	January 23, 2016	Midwest
Bat City Showcase	January 30, 2016	Southwest
Dan Hanson Invitational III	January 30-31, 2016	West
Cat City Invitational	March 5, 2016	Northeast
NCQC Community Finale	March 19, 2016	West
St. Mary's Tournament	May 6, 2016	Mid-Atlantic

2014-15 SANCTIONED EVENTS

EVENT NAME	EVENT DATE	REGION
Oktoberfest Invitational	October 11, 2014	Northeast
3rd Annual Diamond Cup	October 11, 2014	Southwest
The Keystone Cup	October 18, 2014	Mid-Atlantic
Cowboy Cup IV	October 18, 2014	Southwest
3rd Annual Wolf Pack Classic	October 25, 2014	Southwest
South Bay Spookfest	October 25, 2014	West
Northeast Classic	October 25-26, 2014	Northeast
Renegade Cup	November 15, 2014	South
Next Best West 2	November 22, 2014	West
Snow Cup V	January 2-3, 2015	West
Scottish Highland Games	January 17, 2015	South
The L.A. Open	January 17-18, 2015	West
Midwest Winter Fantasy II	February 7, 2015	Midwest
Alamo Cup	February 7, 2015	Southwest
Dan Hanson Invitational II	March 14, 2015	West
Midwest Fantasy: Pre-Split edition	June 6-7, 2015	Midwest
2nd Annual Steel City Fantasy Tournament	June 13, 2015	Mid-Atlantic
West Fantasy 2015	June 20-21, 2015	West
Gotta Train 'Em All 2	June 27, 2015	Mid-Atlantic

Non-Sanctioned Events

CALENDAR SUBMISSION

2 weeks before the event, your USQ calendar submission due (both for sanctioned and unsanctioned events)

EVENT CALENDAR SUBMISSION FORM

For questions, email  tdcertification@usquidditch.org.