Location and Logstical Details!
We’re happy to confirm the location and logistical details for the upcoming September 4th inaugural community league fixture.
We’re excited about this location, with the accessibility and quality of the grounds leading towards an excellent first foray back into competitive club quidditch. The venue is complete with changing rooms, ample amounts of parking, easy access via public transport and nearby accommodation, supermarkets and other amenities.
Our events department has sent a scout ahead to ensure it is up to the standard we would need, and we know it’ll serve as a great stage for the first round of community league fixtures.
We’re also thankful for your patience while we nailed down this location, we have been searching through the Nottingham and Derbyshire area for several months however uncertainty in cases alongside flip-flopping in government policy has led to more delays than we would like.
Nevertheless we’re good to go now, and we’re excited to see you all there.
This article will outline COVID-19 precaution, gameplay information, and feedback responses when the questionnaire was sent out earlier this month.
Registration Information
Registration of teams, players, and volunteers for our 2021-22 fixtures will be through using Quidditch Scheduler. Spectators must also register for the tournament, but this will be done separately and more information will be given closer to the time.
On Friday 6th August eligible teams will have accounts created for them on Quidditch Scheduler using the email addresses associated with their QUK accounts. Login details will be emailed to clubs and these accounts can be used to accept the fixture invitation as a team if clubs are willing to do so. This must be done by 8pm on Friday 13th August.
Using their team's account, club leaders may select rosters, confirm event information, select speaking captains, and check referee qualifications. This replaces the previous system of roster confirmation run using Google Sheets. Please note that clubs will need to register an account for each of their teams to manage the roster.
After this, player and volunteer registration will open until Saturday 21st August at 8pm, also through Quidditch Scheduler. Players must be registered as paid QuidditchUK members before they can sign up for the tournament.
A first draft of the schedule and volunteer information will be released 25th August.
Registration Deadlines
Activity | Deadline |
|---|---|
Team Registration | Friday 13th August 8pm |
Player + Volunteer Registration | Saturday 21st August 8pm |
Gameplay + League Competitive Impact
The original plan for the fixtures was to split community teams across three divisions based on results from previous seasons, with competition taking place and promotion and relegation happening between each fixture.
However, due to the number of teams who are unable to attend the first community fixture, QuidditchUK has determined the following in regards to September and October events.
- The September fixture will have no competitive bearing on the rest of the season.
- The September and October fixtures are being treated independently from each other.
- Results from the September fixture will not result in promotion or relegation between divisions for the October fixture.
- Results from the September fixture will not impact eligibility or seeding for EQT or BQC.
- Results from the October fixture may impact seeding for EQT or BQC, depending on attendance.
- Trophies will be awarded to each divisional champion at the end of the September fixture.
This allows a team to attend the October fixture without being punished for missing the September fixture. While also incentivsing for those attending the September fixture.
Divisions will be made from a range of 3 - 5 teams, and you will play every team in your group during the day. Groups will be allocated and confirmed as soon as team registration is closed on 13th August. Clubs must confirm their team(s) attendance by this date. If more teams register for the October fixture, the divisions will likely be adjusted regardless of the September fixture results.
Based on feedback from clubs, we estimate that the Community League will be a two division event of 8 - 10 teams. Ensuring 3-4 games per attending team. We anticipate an increase of attendance for October, and will adjust accordingly.
Community teams do not need to attend these leagues to compete at BQC.
We believe that this compromise of competitive versus social allows meaningful and equal competition without punishing clubs by denying them spots or seeding for either the British Quidditch Cup or European Qualifier Tournament.
COVID-19 Precautions
Firstly we would like to assure clubs that we are working with our partners to ensure that we have a rigorous Covid safety plan in place for events.
One of the key measures we will be taking is that we will require a valid NHS Covid Pass.
This means that anyone who is attending - whether you are playing, volunteering, or spectating - must have been fully vaccinated two weeks prior to the event OR have a negative LF Covid test within 48 hours of arriving at the event. (For those who are vaccinated, we still recommend that you take a lateral flow test before attending the tournament anyway.)
We will be checking the Covid pass of everyone attending on arrival.
There will also be other safety measures in place at the tournament. For tournament attendees, measures will include the following:
Attendees must provide a valid NHS Covid Pass on arrival.
Attendees must register as a spectator, player, or volunteer before attending the tournament.
Attendees must not attend the tournament if they or anyone in their household:
- Has shown any symptoms of Covid-19 in the 10 days preceding the event.
- Has tested positive for Covid-19 in the 10 days preceding the event.
- Has received a notification from the NHS Track and Trace app asking them to self-isolate.
Should attendees be unable to attend the event due to any isolation measures, they or their club should contact the Events Department as soon as they become aware of this.
Attendees must check in at the venue using the NHS Test and Trace app, subject to venue regulations.
Attendees required to wear masks inside buildings.
Attendees encouraged to wear masks outside while not actively playing in games.
Social distancing is encouraged between games.
International travel for the purpose of attending quidditch tournaments is strongly discouraged.
Limited numbers of attendees are allowed in buildings and/or changing rooms at all times.
Attendees must avoid congregating in changing rooms once they have changed or collected their equipment.
Brooms and balls will be regularly disinfected between games.
Where possible players and teams should bring their own brooms. QuidditchUK will still supply brooms throughout the event.
Players are to bring their own headbands and minimise sharing of personal equipment.
Head Referees are to bring their own whistles and cards. No spare cards or whistles will be offered to reduce risk of transmission.
Snitch Runners are to bring their own shorts and snitch socks.
Players are encouraged to avoid shouting near others, since it increases likelihood of droplet transmission. Though we do appreciate this is not always possible or practical in a gameplay environment.
These may be expanded to include further restrictions. Restrictions and the entire running of the events in the 2021-22 season may be changed depending on the situation. QuidditchUK may choose to enforce further restrictions or cancel events entirely if:
- Government or regional restrictions change regarding the hosting of events during the pandemic.
- Further variants of concern emerge.
- Too many players or volunteers are required to self-isolate preceding the event.
- Other changes occur which mean that the event is deemed unsafe or unfeasible to run.
Referee Requirements
Each attending TEAM (not club) must provide the following referee quota.
For scheduling reasons, only up to 50% of a quota can be provided from a second or third team within the same club.
- ONE Head Referee
- ONE Snitch Runner
- FOUR of any combination of Assistant Referees and/or Snitch Referees
- ONE additional Snitch Runner OR First Aider
Teams will also be assigned Goal Referee and Scorekeeping / Timekeeping slots.
Referees must be qualified under the current IQA 2020 Ruleset with QuidditchUK amends.
