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Host a Tournament/Event Sanctioning

Event Sanctioning Application

Follow this link to complete the USQ Sanctioning Application (please see below for application guidelines, requirements, and deadline)

Event Registration Form

Follow this link to register your event with USQ so that it may be added to the calendar!

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.
What is the dedicated TD Rule for the season?

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.).
Does my event need to be sanctioned in order to offer field testing at it?

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