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IQA Membership

Pricing | Benefits | Team Requirements | Grants | Programs | National Leagues | FAQ | Register

Are you ready to take quidditch to the next level?

By becoming a member of the IQA, you will be able to join an official team, attend all IQA-sanctioned events, get access to player resources and guides, receive merchandise discounts, have a voice in the future of the league through polling and voting, and much more!

The IQA offers two types of membership: team memberships for university, secondary school, or community team registration, and individual membership for players and non-playing coaches. Players who plan on competing on an official tournament team will need an individual membership as well. The IQA also offers a special VIP fan membership for the ultimate quidditch fan experience.

Membership is open to anyone in the world over the age of 13. For pricing, benefits, eligibility requirements, and more, read on.

Pricing and Summary of Benefits

Adult Player

18+ years old

  • Insurance coverage while participating in IQA-sanctioned events in the U.S.
  • Eligible to play on an official tournament team and attend all IQA-sanctioned events
  • Eligible to participate in a summer rec league
  • Free registration for regional championships
  • Player ID card for entry to IQA events
  • Official IQA member patch
  • Free online Quidditch Quarterly subscription
  • Free access to the PDF version of the IQA Handbook and other player resources
  • Merchandise discounts
  • Participation-rights in league-wide polls that influence changes in rules, membership, game play, and more!

$50/year

in the United States

$40/year

in all other countries

Register

Youth Player

13-17 years old

  • Insurance coverage while participating in IQA-sanctioned events in the U.S.
  • Eligible to play on an official tournament team and attend all IQA-sanctioned events
  • Eligible to participate in a summer rec league
  • Free registration for regional championships
  • Player ID card for entry to IQA events
  • Official IQA member patch
  • Free online Quidditch Quarterly subscription
  • Free access to the PDF version of the IQA Handbook and other player resources
  • Merchandise discounts
  • Participation-rights in league-wide polls that influence changes in rules, membership, game play, and more!

$25/year

in the United States

$15/year

in all other countries

Register

Coach

Non-playing

  • Eligible to captain or coach an official tournament or basic team
  • Insurance coverage while coaching at IQA-sanctioned events in the U.S.
  • Coach ID card
  • Official IQA member patch
  • Free online Quidditch Quarterly subscription
  • One free paperback copy of the IQA Handbook
  • Free access to the PDF version of the IQA Handbook and other player resources
  • Merchandise discounts
  • League-wide polling privileges

$35/year

in all countries

Register

To participate in IQA-sanctioned tournaments, teams must be members of the IQA (read IQA policies on unofficial teams). Both tournament teams and basic teams are considered official member teams, though they receive different benefits and are subject to different requirements. All players on a tournament team's event roster must be individual members of the IQA as well. Each team must have at least one captain or coach-level member (if all captains or coaches are also players, they will register as players and note during registration that they are a captain/coach).

Basic team membership is for teams who are not ready or able to participate as full tournament teams. Basic membership allows a newer or smaller team to attend one IQA-sanctioned event (but not regional championships*) by only paying a team fee. Players do not need to register individually as members. Basic teams are NOT eligible to play in regional championships, nor can they qualify for the World Cup. If a basic team wishes to attend other IQA-sanctioned events, they must pay a per-player registration fee. This registration fee covers the cost of accident insurance coverage for that event only.

*Exceptions can be made in certain national leagues. See the national leagues page for details.

Tournament Team

  • Membership in a national league
  • Regular season play and team ranking on the IQA website
  • Free registration for regional championships and ability to qualify for World Cup
  • Customizable team page on the IQA website
  • Official membership certificate
  • Advertising through IQA social media and public relations team
  • Ability to use the IQA logo and branding on jerseys and other merchandise
  • Eligibility to compete for grants
  • Eligibility to participate in the penpal and mentorship programs
  • See full list of benefits

$150/year

Plus a minimum of seven official member players

Register

Basic Team

  • Membership in a national league
  • Free registration for one IQA-sanctioned event, with accident insurance coverage for that event only
  • Customizable team page on the IQA website
  • Official membership certificate
  • Team ranking on the IQA website
  • Advertising through IQA social media and public relations team
  • Ability to use the IQA logo and branding on jerseys and other merchandise
  • Eligibility to compete for equipment grants
  • Eligibility to participate in the penpal and mentorship programs
  • See full list of benefits

$150/year

Register

The ultimate fan experience!

Are you already a diehard quidditch fan? Do you travel to tournaments to cheer on your favorite teams, own several quidditch shirts and maybe even your own broom? Are you a dedicated quidditch parent? Become a VIP Fan to make it even easier to follow the action.

VIP Fan

  • Two free weekend passes to the World Cup
  • Reserved seating at regional championships and the World Cup
  • Free bumper sticker
  • One free issue of Quidditch Quarterly
  • Free online subscription to QQ
  • Discounted merchandise
  • Monthly email with exclusive updates on IQA events and opportunities
  • A VIP fan ID card
  • $50/year

    Register

Benefits

Click a heading below for a detailed explanation of each benefit.

+ Individual Benefits

Insurance coverage

Every individual member in the United States is covered under the IQA's comprehensive accident insurance plan while playing at IQA-sanctioned events. This coverage means that if a member experiences a serious injury that is covered by the plan, the league insurance will pay for it up to a certain amount.

Individual membership insurance only covers IQA-sanctioned events. It does NOT cover practices, non-sanctioned scrimmages, tournaments, or games.

Right now, the IQA is only able to offer insurance coverage in the United States. Membership prices outside the United States are lower to reflect the lack of coverage. The IQA will be working with other countries throughout the season to expand insurance coverage for future seasons.

Eligibility to play on an
official team and compete

Members are eligible to play with an official team and attend any IQA-sanctioned event, including regional championships (on an official team). The list of IQA-sanctioned events will grow every year, as the IQA teams up with existing events to give them more funding, publicity, and volunteer support. The IQA's goal is for each region to host at least three events in addition to regionals this year. See a full list of IQA-sanctioned events.

Eligibility to play in summer leagues

At the beginning of each summer, the IQA will notify you if there are enough players in your city to form a summer league. Depending on the level of interest, this could mean anything from the IQA facilitating weekend pick-up games to putting players on rec teams and creating a weekend game schedule that will culminate in a rec team tournament at the end of the summer.

Free registration for regional championships

Official members will receive free registration to their regional championship, if they are playing on an official team attending the tournament.

Player ID card

Every member will receive a photo player ID card. This non-transferable card takes the place of photo ID when checking in at tournaments, and is the key to accessing your membership benefits. The ID card can also be used to get discounts from official merchandise partners—plus, when someone doesn't believe you play quidditch, all you have to do is show them your card.

Official IQA member patch

This snazzy membership patch will have the year on it, so you can show off how long you've been playing quidditch, Girl or Boy Scout style.

Free online Quidditch Quarterly subscription

Full issues of Quidditch Quarterly, the only magazine dedicated to the sport, will be available online only to members. The public will be able to see a teaser version with fewer articles. QQ can also be purchased as a print subscription, but unfortunately the production costs are still too high for us to currently be able to offer print copies with membership. Someday!

Merchandise discounts

Our members receive discounts and perks from the following merchants:

  • IQA Pro Shop—20% discount on merchandise purchased at events, and a 10% discount online.
  • Petersons—10% discount.
  • Quiyk—Exclusive early access new products and at least six members-only sales throughout the season.
  • Alivans—30% discount on brooms.

League-wide polling

Let your voice be heard! The opinions of our players are highly valued in IQA policy decisions. This is your sport; the IQA is its steward. Several times a year the IQA will conduct surveys and polls on all kinds of policy and preference questions in order to set policies that benefit the majority of players. The results of these polls and surveys will help set official IQA policies so they benefit the majority of players.

+ Tournament team benefits

Membership in a national league

Official quidditch competition is organized through national leagues. Each national league has their own event and support staff who can help your team find events to attend and help you put on your own. Other players in your league will become your closest quidditch community, and each national league has its own traditions and pride.

If your country doesn't have a national league yet, you can work with the IQA to form one.

Regular season play

The IQA will assist in scheduling official games at the request of a member team. All member teams are required to play a minimum number of games per season against a minimum number of teams in multiple locations, not including regionals or World Cup. This requirement must be fulfilled in order to receive such benefits as an official ranking and compete in World Cup. As a tournament team, the IQA will assist you in meeting this requirement.

Team ranking

All member teams (tournament and basic) are ranked internationally, nationally, and regionally on the IQA website based on our unique rankings algorithm.

Free registration for regional championships and the ability to qualify for World Cup

Every tournament team gets free admission into regional championships. Basic teams are not eligible to compete at regionals. The top teams at regional championships qualify for the annual World Cup. Read more about World Cup qualification.

Customizable team page on the IQA website

Every tournament team receives a customizable team page to add team pictures, bios, social media links, news, game results, upcoming tournaments, and more.

Official membership certificate

Every member team (tournament and basic) will receive a membership certificate in the mail, complete with gold foil seal and the signatures of CEO Alex Benepe and COO Alicia Radford.

IQA social media and public relations support

Member teams can advertise on IQA social media channels (a reach of 34,000!) and on the IQA website. The IQA will also provide assistance to teams in contacting and communicating with traditional media. Tournament level teams who host their own tournaments will also be able to work with the IQA marketing department to develop and implement promotional campaigns for their events.

Ability to use the IQA logo on jerseys and other merchandise

Tournament and basic teams are allowed to use the IQA logo and branding on their jerseys and other merchandise. Member teams are also allowed to sell merchandise that includes the IQA logo. For more information, read the IQA logo usage guide.

Eligibility to compete for grants

Tournament and basic teams are eligible to compete for grants for equipment, events, and/or travel. Member teams can also participate in league-wide fundraisers. Read more.

Eligibility for the penpal and mentorship programs

The IQA penpal program pairs teams in different countries to share quidditch tips and build friendships across oceans. The mentorship program pairs an established team (you!) with an unofficial or just starting out team. Read more.

+ Basic team benefits

Membership in a national league

Official quidditch competition is organized through national leagues. Each national league has their own event and support staff who can help your team find events to attend and help you put on your own. Other players in your league will become your closest quidditch community, and each national league has its own traditions and pride.

If your country doesn't have a national league yet, you can work with the IQA to form one.

Free registration for one IQA-sanctioned event

Basic membership allows a team to attend one IQA-sanctioned event, except for regional championships and World Cup. Players on the basic team will have accident insurance coverage for that event only. If a basic team wishes to attend other IQA-sanctioned events, there will be a per-player registration fee.

Team ranking

All member teams (tournament and basic) are ranked internationally, nationally, and regionally on the IQA website based on our unique rankings algorithm.

Customizable team page on the IQA website

Every basic team receives a customizable team page to add team pictures, bios, social media links, news, game results, upcoming tournaments, and more.

Official membership certificate

Every member team (tournament and basic) will receive a membership certificate in the mail, complete with gold foil seal and the signatures of CEO Alex Benepe and COO Alicia Radford.

IQA social media and public relations support

Member teams can advertise on IQA social media channels (a reach of 34,000!) and on the IQA website. The IQA will also provide assistance to teams in contacting and communicating with traditional media.

Ability to use the IQA logo on jerseys and other merchandise

Tournament and basic teams are allowed to use the IQA logo and branding on their jerseys and other merchandise. Member teams are also allowed to sell merchandise that includes the IQA logo. For more information, read the IQA logo usage guide.

Eligibility to compete for grants

Tournament and basic teams are eligible to compete for grants for equipment, events, and/or travel. Member teams can also participate in league-wide fundraisers. Read more.

Eligibility for the penpal and mentorship programs

The IQA penpal program pairs teams in different countries to share quidditch tips and build friendships across oceans. The mentorship program pairs an established team with an unofficial or just starting out team (you!). Read more.

+ VIP Fan benefits

Two free weekend passes to the World Cup

Get free admission for yourself and one other person for the whole World Cup weekend - featuring two days of action-packed quidditch between the best teams in the world, and plenty of food, entertainment, and merchandise to keep you busy between games. World Cup weekend passes are non-transferable, and one pass must be issued to the VIP fan.

Reserved seating at regional championships and the World Cup

You'll always have the best seat in the house with reserved front-row seats to your favorite match-ups at regional championships and World Cup.

Free bumper sticker

Show off your love of quidditch with a free bumper sticker!

One free Quidditch Quarterly print issue of your choice

Quidditch Quarterly is the only magazine dedicated to quidditch. Each issue is 60-70 pages and chock full of great photography and articles on topics ranging from team and player profiles to quidditch strategy, recent events, tips for the starting (and veteran) player, and thoughtful features on current issues within the sport.

Free online Quidditch Quarterly subscription

Full issues of Quidditch Quarterly, the only magazine dedicated to the sport, will only be available online to members. The public will be able to see a teaser version of each issue with fewer articles. QQ can also be purchased as a print subscription, but unfortunately the production costs are still too high to offer print copies with membership. Someday!

Merchandise discounts

Our VIP fan members receive discounts and perks from the following merchants:

  • IQA Pro Shop—20% discount on merchandise purchased at events, and a 10% discount online.
  • Petersons—10% discount.
  • Quiyk—Exclusive early access new products and at least six members-only sales throughout the season.
  • Alivans—30% discount on brooms.

Monthly emails

Keep up with what's going on around the league and get notified of new merchandise or deals with special monthly emails just for VIP fans.

VIP Fan ID card

Every VIP Fan will receive a photo ID card that you will use to take advantage of that your reserved seating at events, and to get discounts from official merchandise partners—plus, how cool will it be to whip it out at parties?

Team Requirements

Rosters

All players on tournament teams must also be registered as individual members of the IQA. There is no limit on the number of players who can belong to a quidditch team; however, no more than 21 players can be on a tournament or match roster.

Players may only play official games for one team per season. Any player who wants to switch between teams mid-season must submit a waiver to the gameplay department in advance requesting permission and explaining their reasoning. Email gameplay@internationalquidditch.org for a waiver.

Regular season schedule

All teams must compete in a minimum number of IQA official and ranked games during the season against a minimum number of teams in multiple locations. Regional championships and World Cup do not count toward this total. Read more.

Submitting game scores

It is the responsibility of team captains to report and confirm scores on the IQA website. Scores should be reported within 24 hours of the end of the match. In the case of tournaments, the tournament director or head referee may input the scores, but team captains still need to confirm them before they go live in the rankings.

Referee certification

For the 2013-2014 season, referee certification will be divided into three distinct levels: bludger referee, snitch referee, and head referee. All candidates must first achieve a bludger referee certification in order to move on to the snitch referee certification process. Only those candidates that achieve snitch referee certification may move on to the head referee certification process. Bludger and snitch referee testing only consists of a written test and is free, but head referee testing consists of a written and field test and requires a $25 fee.

Individuals who were certified under the previous rulebook will need to re-certify by passing the written test again and paying a $15 fee instead of the regular $25 fee for new applicants. If they fail their first attempt at re-certification, they do not get to reattempt the test for free.

Referees certified during the 2013-2014 season will have to become re-certified after the end of the 2013-2014 season.

Certification requirements:

  • At least two (2) team members must attempt to certify as bludger referees.
  • At least one (1) team member must attempt to certify as a snitch referee.
  • At least one (1) team member must pass the head referee written test.

*It is possible for two team members to satisfy the referee requirement for that team. For example, one team member may become a bludger referee, while the other may pass the head referee test, and therefore satisfy the team’s referee requirement for the official membership plan.

A new level of referee will be added: referee administrator (RA). Exceptional head referees who have proven the ability to train and judge referee quality will be appointed by the RDT to administer referee tests, including field tests, during the certification process. They may also review existing referees for quality assurance purposes.

Referees will no longer be able to complete certification by team review. They must be field tested by an RDT member or a referee administrator.

The rest of the procedures are carrying over from the 2012-2013 season, with slight adaptations for the new positions of certification:

  • If a candidate fails any written test, they must wait at least two weeks before they take it again.
  • Official IQA games must be refereed by an IQA certified head ref, paid $6 by each team ($12 total per official match).
  • Referee costs will be included with Regional Championship and World Cup registration fees.
  • Certified head referees cannot volunteer to referee an IQA official game without payment.
  • For referees attempting to be certified for the first time ever, the costs for each test remain the same: first attempt: $25, second attempt: free, third and fourth attempts: $10.