EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR USQ NATIONAL QUALIFIERS

KEY EVENT AND GAMEPLAY POLICIES

TEAM OFFICIALS/VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS

Failure to arrive at your assignment within five minutes of the scheduled game start time will result in the officials’ team forfeiting the remainder of their scheduled games and disqualification from the tournament. A team crew requires a certified lead assistant referee, two certified assistant referees, one certified flag referee, one certified flag runner, two goal referees, a timekeeper, a scorekeeper, and a camera operator.

APPEALS

The appeal process exists in order to fix correctable mistakes when the result of a game was impacted.

For USQ National Qualifiers, only limited circumstances will be eligible for appeal. The normal post-event USQ appeals process may still be pursued under any of those applicable situations.

An on-site appeal may be submitted if all of the following are true:

• One of these circumstances has occurred:

  • A straight red card has been issued which the team believes is not a valid card

  • The game clock has been incorrectly managed with a direct impact on the game (ex. if the flag runner and/or seekers are released early).

  • A gross misapplication of the rules has resulted in a direct impact on the outcome of the game. Judgment calls do not apply.

• The appeal is submitted during a stoppage of play.

• To submit an on-site appeal:

  • During the stoppage, inform the head referee that you are filing an appeal.

  • During the stoppage, report to the scorekeeping tent and fill out an on-site appeals form.

  • The field manager or other person at the scorekeeping tent must immediately radio tournament staff to inform them of the appeal.

• NOTE: The head referee is permitted to resume play even if an appeal has been filed. However, a head referee can never grant or deny an appeal.

The possible outcomes of an appeal may include, but are not limited to, replaying a portion of a game, disregarding a straight red card for the purposes of tournament red card accumulation leading to suspensions, or no action. You can review the full USQ Game Appeal Policy here.

TIEBREAKERS

USQ National Qualifiers will use USQ-standard tiebreakers when teams are tied with the same win record to calculate seeding within the pools/divisions to determine which teams move on to bracket play. In order, these are:

1. Head-to-head (when applicable between all tied teams)

2. Average score differential in games between tied teams

3. Average score differential in all games

4. Flag Runner catch percentage

5. Total quadball point differential

6. Coin flip/random selection

COACH & OFFICIALS REQUIRMENTS

The team’s certified coach member must be present at all official matches. 

In the case of a medical or personal emergency that arises during an event that causes a team’s certified coach to leave the event site, the team may continue to play without being required to forfeit their remaining games in the tournament, given the following:

• This exception is only in effect when the certified coach unexpectedly leaves the game or event site due to a medical or personal emergency, or is leaving the event site to accompany one of their players to seek medical attention offsite.

• The coach must have been present during the tournament. If a medical or personal emergency arises before the start of the event, the team is not exempted from the requirement of having a coach present onsite.

• Before leaving the event site, the coach must inform the tournament director of the situation. If the coach is unable to directly inform the tournament director, a member of their team must immediately do so.

• Upon return to the event site (if the coach returns before the end of the event), they must be present at all remaining official matches.

• Within one week after the event, the coach must complete this form to affirm that they left for an emergency situation that arose during the event.

Similar to the policies at other USQ events this season, teams will be scheduled and required to supply individuals to be lead assistant referees, flag referees, assistant referees, goal judges, and score and timekeepers to assist in the smooth and safe running of the event. As previously stated, if a team’s designated volunteers do not arrive at the assigned pitch within five minutes of the appropriate time, the team will forfeit the remainder of their tournament games.

CONCESSIONS & FORFEITS

After the 20-minute stoppage, a team can concede the game. Upon concession, the conceding team’s opponents’ new score will be set to match the set score plus five, while the conceding team’s score will remain as it stood at the 20-minute stoppage, and the match will be concluded.

This is not the same as a forfeit and policies relating to forfeits do not apply to teams that concede. Teams that concede will be permitted to continue on in the tournament assuming the conceded game is not a knock-out game.

A team receives a forfeit for any of the following reasons:
1. Failing to appear at the scheduled start time and location of a game.
2. Not being prepared to start a game within five minutes after the scheduled start time.
3. Refusing to play or continue play when instructed by the head referee, including walking out during a match.
4. Refusing to play when scheduled to do so, except in extreme and unusual circumstances.

For the purpose of tournament seeding, a forfeit is counted as a 75-0 loss for the forfeiting team. If both teams forfeit, both teams shall receive a 75-0 loss.

Starting a game with the intent of forfeiting once it has started is considered match fixing. Offenders will be subject to the disciplinary policies. You can review the full USQ Forfeit Policy here.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

The disciplinary policy applies to official games, sanctioned events, and USQ-hosted events. It applies to incidents on or off the field, including at event-related activities. USQ members are expected to abide also by the member code of conduct and the unlawful harassment policy, as well as all USQ gameplay policies.

Offenses which involve tournament staff, personnel, or volunteers will be given additional scrutiny.

In addition, USQ has implemented multiple offense modifiers for repeat offenders of a specific policy. For a second offense, the suspension range will increase by 50% of the original range, and for a third offense, the suspension range will increase by 100% of the original range. Please note that modifiers apply only to one offense, not two separate offenses. Modifiers will be in effect for 12 months (one calendar year) after the initial (or subsequent) offense occurred.

The USQ Gameplay Department reserves the right to issue a 0 game suspension for any of the listed categories. A 0 game suspension will count towards a player’s history for the multiple offense modifiers for repeat offenders of a specific policy.

NOTE: The USQ Gameplay Department will only review disciplinary reports that have been submitted to the disciplinary conduct review form within one (1) week of the incident. If the form is not filled out in time, the conduct cannot be reviewed.

EQUIPMENT SAFTY

In order to avoid injury, please remember that NO JEWELRY OF ANY KIND is allowed in play, this includes players’s silicone wristbands provided at check in. Players must remove the wristbands and put them back on after games.

Mouthguards will be required of all players during play. The mouthguard must be kept in the player’s mouth to be considered in use.

Athletic braces are allowed but must pass the knock test. USQ Gameplay must review any braces or equipment not pre-approved directly by USQ Gameplay. To start the review process, players must submit the item with as much info as possible via this form. The following items are pre-approved by USQ Gameplay for on-pitch play and exempt from the knock test or other general equipment checks. 

• Donjoy ACL Brace Sports Cover

• Full 90 Select, FN1 and Premier Headgear

• Mueller Sports Medicine Face Guard

• Q-Collars

• Unequal Technologies Halo Headbands

OFFICIALS REVIEWS

Your feedback is greatly appreciated to ensure we are always improving. If you have issues with a specific official (including flag runners) during a USQ National Qualifier, you will need to submit an officials review via this form.

Each field management table will have a QR code you can scan to submit reviews. We will be checking the digital evaluation form throughout the event.

USQ will not be entertaining requests to swap out officials between games.

SPEAKER POLICY

Teams will not be permitted to have speakers playing when they are on Pitch One and Pitch Two. Music may be played between games and during extended stoppages by USQ on Pitch One.

WEATHER POLICY

The USQ Inclement Weather Policy will be utilized at this event. The full policy can be found here. During the event, we will post all required weather updates on our Instagram, Facebook, this website, and distribute via email.

Play may continue in inclement weather (including rain and wind). In a situation of more extreme weather conditions, play may be stopped for concerns of player safety. The tournament and facility staff will make all efforts to continue the tournament as originally scheduled if play is disrupted by inclement weather. In the event that the schedule needs to be adjusted, it will be clearly communicated onsite to all coaches and teams. Event staff and field managers will ensure that the suspended game procedure is followed if play is stopped.

Facility staff will make the call as to when the facility is open and closed due to weather. Attendees should go to their cars.