SEASON CHECKLIST

Ready to start your USQ season off right? We’ve compiled a checklist and additional resources to help you and your team have the smoothest season yet.

OPERATIONS

These tasks should be completed before tryouts (between June 1 and Aug. 1).

☐ Set your team’s tryout dates, times, and locations and submit your tryout information to USQ for the Season Event Calendar

☐ Determine where and when your practices will take place

  • USQ recommends every team practice at least once a week at minimum

☐ Set your team budget for the season (include your trip to a national qualifier and to USQ Cup)

USQ strongly encourages that all teams have a budget for the season. Budgets help paint a financial picture of the goals your team needs to hit for the season and future seasons. It's also a helpful way to track your team's funds. You can find a budget template you can download and use linked here. If you would like advice on your budget, contact membership@usquadball.org.

☐ Set your team's fundraising plan for the season, including a plan for USQ Cup travel

☐ Set your team events calendar for the season

☐ Set your team recruitment and retention plan for the season

If you need any advice on the tasks above, contact membership@usquadball.org for assistance or contact your Membership Mentor

MEMBERSHIP

These tasks should be completed at least one month prior to your team’s first event. The USQ-recommended window is between Sept. 1 and Oct. 1.

☐ Review our member and team eligibility

☐ Register for your USQ individual membership

  • You must have registered for a USQ individual membership to gain admin access to your team’s page and ensure your team registration fee is paid prior to receiving access

☐ Register your team

☐ Have your players register for their USQ individual memberships

  • If you need to do a bulk membership request, fill out this form and USQ will assist you. If you have participants not yet ready to make the full commitment, they can register for a trial membership for one event (cannot be a national qualifier or USQ Cup). If they decide after using their trial that they want to upgrade their membership, have them submit a Trial Membership Upgrade Request

  • USQ will add individuals to your general team roster as they sign up for membership with the league and select your team. You can review your team's roster at any time in Sports Engine; if you need assistance, email membership@usquadball.org

☐ Review Sports Engine training videos. You can download the Sports Engine App for a better experience on mobile

CERTIFICATIONS CHECKLIST

The deadlines for these tasks vary. The USQ-recommended window is between Oct. 1 and Nov. 1.

☐ Identify one person to certify as your team’s coach

  • This person must be present at all official matches and must be certified by 24 hours prior to your first official game

☐ Identify six to seven individuals on your team to fill your officials certification requirements. Each role must be filled by a different person. One person cannot fill multiple officials requirements. Teams must complete the team referee and flag runner requirements by the season play deadline for their specific USQ National Qualifier. The officials requirements are as follows:

  • 1 Head Referee (club only)

  • 2 Lead Assistant Referees

  • 1 Seeker Referee

  • 2 Assistant Referees

  • 1 Flag Runner

☐ If you plan to host tournaments as a team, identify one person to certify as your team’s tournament director

SEASON PLAY/DEADLINES

The deadlines for these tasks vary.

PRE-USQ NATIONAL QUALIFIERS

☐ Review season play requirements for the season by the designated deadline

☐ Review the available gameplay policy forms

☐ Compete in at least five USQ official games

☐ Compete against three different teams

☐ Attend two USQ-official events

☐ Complete the aforementioned referee and flag runner requirements 

AT-LARGE

Teams going for at-large bids will be required to complete the following by March 22, 2026.

☐ Compete in at least 10 USQ official games^

☐ Compete against at least eight different official teams^

☐ Attend four events, of which one must be a USQ national qualifier

Alternatively, teams going for at-large bids can do the following if they compete against at least one opponent who attended a different national qualifier:

☐ Compete in at least eight USQ-official games^

☐ Compete against at least six different official teams^

☐ Attend three events, of which one must be a USQ national qualifier

Games played at national qualifiers will count towards all above season play requirements for all teams.

^ Club teams will only be able to fulfill this requirement by competing against other club teams. College teams may use games against club teams to count for these requirements. Cross-division games (college vs. club) will not count for the USQ Standings.

QUALIFIED TEAMS

Teams who earn bids to play in either the Club Competitive Division or College Division One USQ Cup at a USQ National Qualifier must complete the following standard season play requirements by March 29, 2026 to confirm their place in the division for which they earned the bid:

☐ Compete in at least eight USQ official games^

☐ Compete against at least six different USQ official teams^

☐ And attend three events, including a USQ national qualifier

^ Club teams will only be able to fulfill this requirement by competing against other club teams. College teams may use games against club teams to count for these requirements. Cross-division games (college vs. club) will not count for the USQ Standings.

USQ CUP ATTENDING TEAMS

☐ Register for USQ Cup

☐ Pay the USQ Cup registration fee ($X)

☐ Create a travel document for your team with all necessary information

☐ Book your USQ Stay and Play hotels

☐ Book your flights, trains, and/or rental cars at least one month prior to USQ Cup

REQUIREMENTS CHECK BY EVENT

There are strict deadlines related to each tournament. You can use this checklist to ensure you’ve met the USQ requirements for a regular season tournament.

☐ Tuesday Pre-Event: Ensure all members on your team rostered for an event are eligible to compete (enrollment approved, membership acquired)

☐ Wednesday Pre-Event: Submit your roster to USQ via the official tournament spreadsheet provided by the tournament director and ensure your coach is fully certified. Coaches should have upgraded or purchased coach membership

☐ Thursday Pre-Event: You will receive an email to your designated team email the Thursday prior to any tournament from membership@usquadball.org noting if you are set with requirements or if you are missing anything. If you need to make any changes to your roster, you will need to email membership@usquadball.org. Participating team rosters are locked 24 hours before the event.

☐ 24 Hours Pre-Event: Ensure your official crew for your team is set with their requirements