The IQA is proud to release a new mentorship program for established teams to help new university and high school teams get off the ground.

Photo by April Gonzales

The IQA Mentor Program provides a unique opportunity for start-up quidditch teams to get immediate assistance through hands-on learning experiences and face-to-face contact with an established quidditch program. The established team, known from here on as the mentor team,  must be a dues-paying IQA official member. The mentor organization must have been an IQA member team for over a year and must have hosted some type of intercollegiate event. If the new team, known from here on as the mentee team, is of the college level, it must also be a dues-paying IQA official member. If the mentee team is of high school level, it is not necessary for the team to be official at the start of the program. The mentor-mentee partnership will facilitate an exchange of ideas, with fresh insight from the new team and words of advice from the established team, as well as granting both teams the opportunity for further gameplay and organizing experience.

Teams must submit an application to be a part of this exclusive program. Teams will be matched up by IQA staff according to geographical accessibility and, if possible, other similarities between the teams. The mentor team is responsible for sending updates to the IQA after they have completed each of the following program requirements.

Program Requirements

• The mentor team must be available to provide general assistance to the mentee team, including but not limited to: verbal and written advice through face-to-face meetings, phone conversations, and email; the lending of and aid in constructing necessary quidditch equipment; and the granting of extra hands for events and fundraisers.
• The mentor team’s executive board, or a representative of said board, must attend at least one of the mentee team’s executive board meeting, preferably at the beginning of the year. The mentor team will introduce itself and relay any feedback or advice once the meeting adjourns.
• The mentor team must help the new team put on at least one exhibition match at the school of the mentee team, lending equipment if necessary.
• The mentor team must invite the mentee team to at least three practices.
• The mentor team must assist the mentee team in attending at least one tournament.
• The mentor team will help the mentee team plan at least one fundraising activity.
• The mentor team and the mentee team will work together on at least 15 hours of a community service project (including travel time).

Program benefits

The mentee team will gain experience, recognition, and assistance as it develops and grows. The program provides the opportunity to work closely with a successful team that has already struggled through the obstacles the  mentee team now faces.

The mentor team will gain additional play and tournament time by assisting the mentee team. The mentor will get the opportunity to give back to the community while helping others learn to play the game of quidditch: a love which both teams share. The mentor team also has the ability to nominate and receive nominations for the IQA Membership Award: Mentor Team of the Year*. In order to be eligible for this award, the mentor team must be diligent in sending updates of program requirements.

Both teams have the possibility of receiving invites to exclusive mentor program only regional events, the details of which will be worked out in the coming months.

Joining the Mentor Program

Email Katie Stack to get started!

*Mentor Team of the Year Award
This award goes to a team in the IQA Mentor program that has exemplified the ideal quidditch mentor by supporting and guiding a new quidditch team to success.
* Mentor teams wishing to be eligible for the award must join the Mentor Program by October 1st.