US Quadball membership for the 2023-24 season is now live! The league also is launching a new USQ Ambassador Program aimed to helping the development of new college quadball teams around the country. In addition, several other updates to the USQ website and structure are being announced today.
US Quadball 2023-24 Season Membership
Individuals can find membership registration on the USQ member website. Memberships are available for:
Teams
Includes the addition of a ‘new team membership’ at a discounted rate. To qualify, a team should not have been an official USQ team in the 2021-22 or 2022-23 season. When registering for a team membership, you’ll be able to select this option.
Players
Coaches
Non-Playing Officials
Playing/Non-Playing Tournament Directors
Trial Members
You also will have the option to purchase bulk memberships for your team, or to upgrade trial memberships during the season. In addition, coach certification is also launched today. Certifications for officials and tournament directors will be aiming to be available by the end of August.
Team membership registration now automatically includes the process for licensing quadball for teams. Team registration also includes a series of questions geared towards status in areas of fundraising, recruitment, travel planning, etc. to aid USQ’s membership department with customizing the support a team needs for the season.
Any team that has credit rolled over from last season, grant funds received last season, or deferred credit to be given this season for membership will be emailed no later than August 11 with how to redeem that credit. Any questions can be directed to membership@usquadball.org.
USQ Ambassador Program
As a USQ Ambassador, you are given the opportunity to help develop a new college quadball team while receiving perks and support from USQ in the process. You can sign up for the USQ Ambassador Program as an individual, or as a team, and earn free membership from USQ for hours dedicated to the development of a new college team. If a USQ Ambassador successfully helps develop a new college team, that new team will have their team membership waived for their first season as a USQ official team.
To learn more about the program and to register as a USQ Ambassador, click here.
USQ Membership Department Changes
USQ has made several changes for the 2023-24 season within the membership department:
Elimination of the ‘regional coordinator’ role. This role has been shifted to be a ‘membership mentor’ role. The goal of this shift is to return to the root of this role - which is to mentor and support teams during a season so they are successful in areas of recruitment, fundraising, etc.
Membership Mentors will still be auto-assigned to support the teams that fall within their region, but mentor/team assignments are more flexible now allowing for re-assignment of teams to different mentors depending on the type of help they need for the season. This is to not only help spread the workload amongst mentors, but to also ensure teams are getting the most thorough help needed in the area they expressed needing support in.
Adjustment of the ‘Member Development’ team to ‘Member Training’ team. This adjustment is to help further note the root of this team, which is to provide training opportunities for our members. You’ll see workshops hosted throughout the season on various topics, and this team will also continue to supervise the coach certification program.
Adjustment of ‘Member Relations’ team to ‘Member Administration’ team. Goal of this change is to more clearly identify that this team is focused on the admin operations of the department. This includes membership registration, invoicing, processing bulk membership requests and trial member upgrades.
If you need to contact a member of the department, our USQ contact page on the member website has information on how to reach staff.
If you have interest in joining the membership department, or one of our other departments, we are currently recruiting for year-round staff. Applications close Friday, September 30. Opportunities are also available for event staff and a part-time role with the league - applications close August 17 for those roles.
USQ 2023-24 Season General Updates
COVID Protocol
USQ will not have any COVID protocols in place for the 2023-24 season. Any questions on this can be directed to riskmanagement@usquadball.org.
Gameplay & Events 2023-24 Season Updates
Gameplay and Events department will be aiming to release info on this season’s gameplay requirements, officials/TD certification, info on how to submit a request for hosting a tournament, deadlines for USQ hosted tournament registration, and more by the end of August.
USQ Misconduct/Harassment Reporting
A new reporting page with resources for misconduct/harassment has also been added to the USQ member website. This includes info on the Courage First Athlete Help Line. Courage First's team of athlete-centered counselors offer confidential support and resources to athletes, coaches, and sports communities who are concerned about emotional, physical, and sexual abuse through calls, text, and online chat. This resource can be used for guiding through a personal situation, or guiding you through a situation that has been reported to you.
Advocacy
USQ will be spearheading efforts to do advocacy work in areas where USQ Hosted events take place this season. Advocacy work includes connecting with LGBTQIA+ centers in the area for collaboration, taking steps to ensure all of our athletes - with emphasis on our BIPOC/LGBTQIA+/Women athletes - and spectators feel safe at our events, etc. If you have interest in helping with these efforts, please reach out to membership@usquadball.org.
Member Grants
Several grant opportunities will be available this season for members to apply for. This includes a team registration grant for a returning team and a new team, plus our BIPOC membership grant. Applications for team registration grant are due September 26. Applications for the BIPOC membership grant will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding the 2023-24 season, please reach out to membership@usquadball.org.
Photo Credit: Greg Brown