USQ Winter Policy Update
US Quadball will be enacting a number of new policies this month.
NEW GENERAL POLICY INTRODUCTIONS
Our first new policy is the USQ Conference Policy. The purpose of this policy is to establish the requirements, responsibilities, and expectations for all quadball conferences officially recognized by USQ. The goal is to ensure that conferences strengthen competitive opportunities, uphold USQ values, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the sport.
The Massachusetts Quadball Conference is an officially-recognized USQ conference and the model for the new policy.
The benefits include: priority assistance, prioritization of insurance requests, direct communication with the USQ CEO and other key directors via a conference-specific Slack channel in the USQ Slack, recognition on the USQ website, additional amplification of conference media, calendar prioritization, use of USQ’s 501c3 status, a USQ-managed account for funds, ability to run conference-specific fundraisers via the USQ Givebutter, and more.
USQ’s long-term goal is to induct all existing conferences into the USQ fold.
The full policy, including the evaluation framework, and the conference application can be found here.
In response to the failure of multiple tournament directors to submit scores in a timely manner, USQ has enacted a USQ Events Fine Policy.
USQ allows certified tournament directors to run events for USQ teams and players. These events must meet specific requirements and adhere to established deadlines, including the timely submission of scores post-event. Moving forward, the inability to meet the requirements of the various types of USQ tournaments may result in a fine of $50-$150 per event from USQ.
The full policy can be reviewed here.
Collected fines will be allocated to the newly-established USQ Emergency Team Fund. This fund is available exclusively to teams that are in dire need of financial assistance.
Lastly, we have created the USQ Inclement Weather Policy. To promote consistency across both leagues in how safety and weather-related decisions are handled, the USQ policy closely mirrors existing Major League Quadball procedures, with the primary differences focused on how hail and snow conditions are addressed.
USQ NATIONAL QUALIFIER POLICY CHANGES
Firstly, USQ will no longer require every player to check in for USQ National Qualifiers. Instead, a team leader will be responsible for checking in the team on either Friday night prior to the event or Saturday morning before a team plays. In the event a leader from your team cannot check in the team, another representative may be sent. Teams must be checked in by the deadline indicated for a given event.
At check-in, the team leader will review the submitted roster and confirm all players listed will be in attendance and collect the team’s freebies (if applicable) to distribute to the team.
In the event a player is played that is not on the submitted roster, a team will automatically forfeit all wins and any bids earned at the given national qualifier and be removed from event participation. The team may also face additional consequences in the following season as determined by USQ Gameplay.
Secondly, teams will not be permitted to have speakers playing when they are on Pitch One at a national qualifier. Music may be played between games and during extended stoppages by USQ.
Lastly, with regard to bid allocation, teams will no longer be permitted to decline bids. If a team earns a bid by winning the designated qualifying games, that bid is automatically awarded and the team is required to compete in the corresponding USQ Cup division. USQ Gameplay will assign teams to divisions and schedule USQ Cup games in accordance with the start of year gameplay article.
USQ CUP POLICY CHANGES
For the 2026 USQ Cup, we will be updating a number of longstanding policies in an effort to improve quality of life for both teams and volunteers.
PLAYER PACKET
The player packet has moved to a permanent webpage.
ROSTERS
In previous years, rosters were able to be altered until the morning of the Friday prior to USQ Cup. This will no longer be the case.
Coaches must submit their USQ Cup roster by Monday, April 13 at 11:59 pm ET via the allocated sheet emailed to all team contacts. Final adjustments to the roster will be due via email to membership@usquadball.org by Wednesday, April 15 at 11:59 pm ET. You will not, under any circumstances, be able to adjust the roster after the Wednesday deadline.
REGISTRATION
Registration is now open for the 2026 USQ Cup. Teams that have not already registered and that receive a bid at a USQ National Qualifier will receive an invoice and registration information in the week following their qualification.
The 2026 USQ Cup registration fee is due Monday, March 23 at 11:59 pm ET. Teams that do not request and receive an exception from USQ finance (via finance@usquadball.org) and that fail to meet this deadline will accrue a $100 fine. Should a team fail to pay the fee and fine by April 6, an additional $100 fine (total of $200) will be added. Teams that fail to meet this registration fee deadline will not be permitted to play at USQ Cup.
CHECK-IN
USQ will no longer require every player to check in for USQ Cup. Instead, a team leader will be responsible for checking in the team on Friday prior to the event. In the event a leader from your team cannot check in the team, another representative may be sent. Teams must be checked in on Friday.
At check in, the team leader will review the submitted roster and confirm all players listed will be in attendance and collect the team’s freebies and admission wristbands to distribute to the team.
In the event a player is played that is not on the submitted roster, a team will automatically forfeit all wins at USQ Cup and be removed from event participation. The team may also face additional consequences in the following season as determined by USQ Gameplay.
The location of USQ Cup check in will be announced at a later date.
SPEAKER POLICY
Teams will not be permitted to have speakers playing when they are on Pitch One and Pitch Two at USQ Cup. Music may be played between games and during extended stoppages by USQ on Pitch One.
While some policies may be found on specific, corresponding pages of usquadball.org or usquadballcup.com, you can view the majority of current and future USQ policies here.
