New Volunteers Appointed to Quidditch Australia

With the rapid growth of quidditch throughout Australia during the 2016 season, Quidditch Australia (QA) is seeking to expand even further in 2017 with the help of a team of enthusiastic volunteers. QA is proud to announce the following individuals who will be working with us for the next 12 months.Firstly, though, we would like to announce that Rhiannon Gordon will be joining QA as our dedicated Human Resources Director. This will be a new non-board position designed to handle complaints made to or about QA, its board or affiliates, and its members; in addition to helping in the hiring and administration of volunteers.Joining the gameplay department will be Natalie Astalosh and Luke Derrick, both from New South Wales.Joining the Media department will be Massimo Galli (Graphic Design), Sherry Du (Social Media) and Kye-Lee Cheong (Editorial) from Victoria, and Maaika Tredrea (Social Media) from South Australia.If you’re interested in applying for a volunteer position with QA such as Membership or Technology please email admin@quidditch.org.au. 

2017 Quidditch Australia Membership and Rulebook

Quidditch Australia is happy to announce it's membership policy and rulebook for the 2017 season, valid from the 1st of January 2017 to the 31st of December 2017.

Membership

Quidditch Australia membership is essential for competitive members planning on playing in ranked matches and teams and players who plan on attending the Australian Quidditch Championship (previously known as QUAFL) in December 2017. Register today!

• Individual membership has been reduced from $50 to $40.
• Trial membership will still be $10.
• The Australian Quidditch Championship will now cost $15 per player to participate.

• Club membership has been reduced from $150 to $75.
• Clubs may register additional teams for $50. These teams within an overall club will have less restrictive transfer policies applied to them. Details about this will be out shortly.

Rulebook

In 2017, Quidditch Australia will use the IQA Rulebook 2016-2018, as its rules of play. There are however 2 exceptions that deviate from from IQA Rulebook 2016-2018.IQA Rulebook 2016-2018QAI Rulebook Amendments

Wrackspurts QC win the 2016 Australian Quidditch Championship

The Wrackspurts Quidditch Club have become the 2016 Australian Quidditch Champions defeating the second placed Western Sydney Quidditch club in a incredibly close game, with the Wrackspurts winning 120*-110.This year's Australian Quidditch Championship (AusQC) was the largest quidditch tournament held in Australia, featuring 23 teams and nearly 400 players from across the country.Held at the Australian Institute of Sport for the first time, the legitimacy of quidditch in Australia continues to grow. Bringing together people of non-sporting and sporting backgrounds, the sport continues to establish itself at the forefront of gender equality for sports in Australia. Photography by Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography 

Victorian Leadbeaters become 2016 Quidditch Australia's State Champions!

The Victorian Leadbeaters are the 2016 Quidditch Australia State Champions!They defeated the NSW Blue Tongue Wizards 120*-50 in the third game of the final State of Origin series. The Blue Tongue Wizards gained the early edge with a 110*-50  victory over the Leadbeaters in the first game. In the second game, the Leadbeaters roared back with a 130*-20 win.Over the course of all three series, the Leadbeaters have won five games with the Blue Tongue Wizards winning four.

Call For Nominations - 2016 QAI AGM

Quidditch Australia Incorporated is making a call for nominations for its board of directors as well as a call for motions for special resolutions for the AGM.The term of appointment is two years. Collectively the seven directors are responsible for the good governance of Quidditch Australia – establishing policy, maintaining the association’s finances and other duties necessary for running quidditch in Australia. After their election the directors of the board will then be able to delegate amongst themselves specific portfolios. Current examples of portfolios include ‘Media & Marketing’, ‘Treasury’ and ‘Gameplay’ although this will be at the discretion of the newly elected board.Nominations must be;

• in writing,
• certified by the nominee,
• signed by representatives of two Member Clubs and/or States.

Please disclose any position in a State or Club you hold as either an officer or a paid employee.Nomination formCONSTITUTIONChanges to the constitution require a Special Resolution, and need to follow the Corporations Act 2001. We're happy to consider any constitution changes.For reference, the constitution can be found here.Nominations and motions for special resolutions can be emailed to secretary@quidditch.org.au or president@quidditch.org.au, please have your nominations in no later than the 16th November 2016.

Player Registration now open for QUAFL 2016

Player registration is now open for QUAFL 2016, the Australian Quidditch Championships. Hosted at the Australian Institute of Sport, QUAFL is Quidditch Australia’s premier event, serving as Australia’s national championships, and the culmination of the 2016 national quidditch season.This form must be completed by any player interested in participating at QUAFL in 2016. Players must be registered by 11:59pm on the 14th of November.

• QUAFL 2016 player registration form

Feel free to contact quafl@quidditch.org.au with any questions, queries, or concerns.

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Player Requirements

• All players must be registered Quidditch Australia Members to participate in the tournament. Registration must be complete by November 14th.
• All players must have participated in at least 3 games in 2016 sanctioned by Quidditch Australia. Exemptions may be provided for players who are restricted geographically and for extenuating circumstances. Please email gameplay@quidditch.org.au to apply for an exemption.
• As written in the Quidditch Australia transfer policy, transfers are now closed. Therefore all players must play for the team for which they are currently registered. Players can still apply for transfers in exceptional circumstances via the player transfer form.

Team Registration now open for QUAFL 2016

Registration is now open for QUAFL 2016, the Australian Quidditch Championships. Hosted at the Australian Institute of Sport, QUAFL is Quidditch Australia's premier event, serving as Australia’s national championships, and the culmination of the 2016 national quidditch season.This form must be completed by any team interested in participating at QUAFL in 2016. Teams must be registered by 11:59pm on the 30th of September.

• QUAFL 2016 team registration form for QAI team representatives 

Feel free to contact quafl@quidditch.org.au with any questions, queries, or concerns.

• Teams will consist of up to 21 players. Any team with less than 12 players may not be accepted into QUAFL at the discretion of Quidditch Australia. Teams with minimal players not only increase the chance of injury to their players, but may disrupt the integrity of the tournament.

• All teams must have participated in at least 5 games in 2016 sanctioned by Quidditch Australia. Exemptions may be provided for teams who are restricted geographically, where there are fewer than 3 QAI registered teams in their state.

• All players must have participated in at least 3 games in 2016 sanctioned by Quidditch Australia. Exemptions may be provided for players who are restricted geographically and for extenuating circumstances.

• A team must be a registered Quidditch Australia Team to participate in QUAFL. Registration must be complete and the $150 registration fee for 2016 paid by October 31st.

• All players must be registered Quidditch Australia Members to participate in the tournament. Registration must be complete by October 31st.

• For a team to be eligible for QUAFL, no fewer than four individuals combined who are associated with the team must meet the following standards in the International Referee Development Program testing system:
  • Three individuals must pass the Assistant Referee test
  • Two individuals must pass the Snitch Referee test.
  • One individual must pass the Head Referee written test.

Quidditch Australia Strategic Plan and Mid-year Update

Quidditch Australia’s mid-year update

Going into the second half of the year, Quidditch Australia would like to acknowledge all the work done so far in 2016. Quidditch Australia is immensely proud of everything completed up until now and are incredibly excited to see the sport, community, and organisation continue to grow. Record membership rates, affiliated teams, and participation levels have been achieved amid a great number of successful events held in 2016. The months and years to come bring forward many opportunities for sustained growth and expansion. In this update, Quidditch Australia looks at the things accomplished in 2016 along with including half-yearly treasurer and gameplay reports.

QAI Mid-Year Update - Download here Quidditch Australia Strategic Plan 2017-2019Quidditch Australia has grown rapidly over the last 5 years, with our most recent national tournament hosting 19 teams from 5 states. Our national team, the Australian Dropbears, became the first team to defeat the United States and take out the 2016 IQA Quidditch World Cup. With close to 600 players, and rapidly rising, QAI is looking to create a strategic plan to guide the nation through this expansion. Quidditch Australia are looking for community consultation on a variety of topics to help mold the vision and direction of the strategic plan for the next 3 years.Quidditch Australia Strategic Plan Questionnaire 

QUAFL 2016 Update – Committee, Schedule, Registration

Committee Announcement

Quidditch Australia is pleased to announce that the organising team for this summer’s Australian Quidditch Championships, QUAFL 2016, has been selected. We look forward to bringing you a thrilling and competitive event, held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on the 10th and 11th of December. The team is as follows:

• Matthew Ingram - Tournament Director
• Nicholas Hirst - Assistant Tournament Director
• Merryn Christian - Assistant Tournament Director
• Jamie Turbet - Merchandise Director
• Nic Radoll - Logistics Director
• Sophie Fitch - Team Liaison

We are still looking for a  Media Director and a Volunteer Director. Please email your expressions of interest to president@quidditch.org.au with a cover letter if you would like to become involved. Various gameplay related positions will be advertised at a later date.

Schedule Outline

Below is a rough outline of the schedule for the event. The exact times are subject to change, and will be finalised closer to the date, but the broad outline will stay the same. It is our intention that this will help attendees make travel and other arrangements.The schedule outline is as follows:Friday

• 9am-3pm Wheelchair Quidditch
• 10am-2pm Local High School Kidditch
• 3pm-6pm Quidditch Australia AGM

After the events of Friday, all attendees are invited to a casual pre-tournament get-together in the city from 7pm.Saturday

• 8am-6pm QUAFL 2016 (Pool Play)

Sunday

• 8am-5pm QUAFL 2016 (Pool Play and Bracket Play/Finals)
• 8pm-late QUAFL 2016 Social at Mooseheads

Team and Player registration timeline

Team and player registrations will be handled differently this year compared to previous QUAFLs. It is important that you read, and understand, the timeline and points below to ensure your teams compliance and participation in QUAFL 2016.Registration and expression of interest forms will be released in the coming weeks, as well as other team information relevant to attendance. In particular, expressions of interest for the QAI charter bus to and from Sydney.The QUAFL Timeline is as follows:

• End of August: Team registration closes
• 30th September: Team registration closes
• 1st October: Player registration opens
• 14th October: Team final registration opens
• 31st October: Team final registration closes

NB: Along with final registration, team are required to submit an initial roster at this stage, which must include any athletes intending to play for that team at QUAFL. No more transfers can happen after this date, and all individuals on a team’s initial roster must be registered with that team with QAI. There is no limit on the amount of people that can be on this initial roster

• 14th November: Player registration closes
• 25th November: Final rosters due

NB: QA reserve the right to decline invitations for teams bringing less than twelve (12) registered players. This rule is being implemented to prevent injury from teams who are only fielding minimum players as well as ensuring the integrity of the tournament. The decisions to include two stages of rosters was to allow for early confirmation of teams while still allowing individual teams to take up until 2 weeks before the event to decide their squad, to account for potential injuries, extenuating circumstances, and selection. Teams that drop out after confirming in the final team registration phase will face appropriate penalties. This is to ensure the organising committee does not have to make last minute changes to the schedule.Feel free to contact quafl@quidditch.org.au with any questions, queries, or concerns.

Dropbears win the 2016 Quidditch World Cup

We did it! The Dropbears get gold at the 2016 IQA Quidditch World Cup taking out America 150*-130 in the United States first ever loss.Over the last year, coach Gen Gibson has worked this team from the ground up with the express purpose of taking on the best team in the world.Today we showed the world our strength and determination, but more importantly our love for this sport and community.

 Photo by Nicholas Hirst