PLAY QUADBALL

THE BASICS

Quadball™ was founded in 2005 at Middlebury College by Xander Manshel and Alex Benepe. Inspired by the sport of Quidditch, Quadball is a mixed-gender contact sport with a unique mix of elements from rugby, dodgeball, and tag. A Quadball team consists of up to 21 athletes, with seven players per team on the field. Each player must keep a broom between their legs at all times.

POSITIONS

Three chasers (white headband) score goals worth 10 points each with the Quadball, formally called the quaffle. They advance the Quadball down the field by running with it, passing it to teammates, or kicking it. Each team has a keeper (green headband) who defends the goal hoops. They are also allowed to touch the Quadball and score goals.

Two beaters (black headbands) use dodgeballs, formally called bludgers, to disrupt the flow of the game by “knocking out” other players. Any player hit by a dodgeball is out of play until they touch their own goals.

Each team also has a seeker (yellow headband), who tries to catch the flag. The flag is a ball attached to the waistband of the flag runner, a neutral athlete who uses any means to avoid capture and who is released at the 20-minute mark. The flag is worth 35 points. There is also a point cap of + 60 added to the leading score at 20 minutes, and either team reaching that score ends the game. 

USQ RULEBOOK

Quadball has a unique set of rules. You can view the full rulebook, casebook, and other variations of our rules on our rules page.

GENDER MAXIMUM POLICY

In the USQ Club Competitive Division and College Division One, a team may not have more than three players who identify as the same gender in play at any point during the game. The addition of seekers will not change the gender maximum allowed on the field. The gender that a player identifies as is considered to be that player’s gender.

In our Club Open Division and College Division Two, a team may not have more than four players who identify as the same gender in play at any point during the game.

This gender maximum rule ensures that teams are working to recruit and field a team that has diversity; the rule is also written in such a way that it does not exclude individuals who do not identify within the gender binary. USQ accepts those who don’t identify within the gender binary and acknowledges that not all of our players identify as male or female. We welcome people of all identities and genders into our league. 

For more information on USQ’s philosophy on gender equality, please see Title 9 ¾.

EQUIPMENT

Get started on your Quadball journey by grabbing the essentials! Visit our equipment storefront to see recommendations.

TOURNAMENTS

USQ hosts several national qualifiers around the country during the season, where teams can earn a bid for the US Quadball Cup, which is our end-of-season national championship. 

Outside of those events, USQ Certified Tournament Directors can host sanctioned, official, or unofficial events throughout the season for teams to compete at. Official games count towards USQ standings.

To compete at a USQ-approved community event, you must be in a club or collegiate team and have an individual or trial membership by the Wednesday preceding the games. College players competing on a collegiate team must also provide proof of enrollment when upgrading to a player membership.

Questions? Email our events director at christian.barnes@usquadball.org.

QUADBALLFEST

Quadballfest is a one to two day event open to individuals 18+. Players new and old are welcome to attend. Quadballfest provides an opportunity for individuals to:

  • Learn new skills through on- and off-pitch workshops, skill challenges, etc.

  • Participate in low risk games via Quadballfest Fantasy

  • Make new friends and connect with old faces

  • Explore the city before and after the event

Want to Start A Quadball Team or Find A Quadball Team?

Email membership@usquadball.org, visit our membership page for more information, or fill out the following form.