Everything you need to know to navigate the weekend
FIELD ADDRESS: Spooky Nook Sports, 75 Champ Blvd., Manheim, PA 17545
ROSTER INFO
BENEPE CUP ROSTER POLICY & SUBMISSION
Tournament rosters for the MLQ Championship must be submitted by Sunday, Aug. 10 at 10 pm ET and done so by your franchise MLQ email address. There will be no exceptions.
TOURNAMENT ROSTER
Each franchise will submit a tournament roster of 25 people by Sunday, Aug. 9 at 10 pm ET. The 25-person rosters will be posted publicly on Monday, Aug. 10.
ACTIVE ROSTER
Each franchise will submit their active roster of 21 players who will compete at the tournament by Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 10 pm ET. This will be that franchise’s roster for their first game. Adjustments may not be made to the active roster for game one after the aforementioned submission deadline—even if a player drops last minute due to illness or cancelled flight. If no roster is submitted by 10 pm ET, the first 21 players (alphabetically) from your tournament roster will be selected. The active rosters for game one will be posted publicly on Thursday, Aug. 13.
Any players on a franchise’s 30-person MLQ roster and any non-playing franchise coach(es), captain(s), and manager(s) recorded with MLQ People Operations will be given free admission to the event. For any further questions on this policy, please contact rosters@mlquadball.com using your MLQ email.
NEXT GEN & TBTP ROSTERS
The MLQ Next Gen Showcase will take place at MLQ Championship on Sunday at 9 am ET on Pitch Two.
Rosters will be announced on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Practice squad athletes may attend the MLQ Championship for free on Saturday should they sign up to volunteer. In the event they choose not to volunteer on Saturday, they can purchase a ticket to watch the event.
Take Back the Pitch will run on Monday, Aug. 17 from 11 am - 4 pm ET. Rosters will be announced on Friday, Aug. 7.
CHECK-IN
BENEPE CUP AND NEXT GEN PLAYER
MLQ will have a check-in table set up from 8-10 pm ET on Friday, Aug. 14 in the Atrium at the Warehouse Hotel. A Benepe Cup and/or Next Gen player must check themselves in. No one else will be able to do so on their behalf.
Address: The Warehouse Hotel, 75 Champ Blvd #1, Manheim, PA 17545
Any players unable to attend Friday check-in may check in at the complex on Saturday. To do so, they will need to go to ticket booth one at pitch one, wait in the ticketing line, and let the ticket sellers know they are an active player and present a photo ID. Until they have done so, they will be unable to enter the fields. You should check in at least one hour prior to your scheduled match.
Next Gen and TBTP jerseys will be available for pick up at Friday’s player check-in and all day Saturday at the MLQ Merch booth.
COACH, MANAGER MEETING
MLQ will no longer mandate franchise staff attending a meeting prior to MLQ Championship. If a coach or manager require clarity on any MLQ and/or facility rules and/or policies, a commissioner and the MLQ gameplay director will be available for consultation from 8-9 pm ET. You may request to speak to them at the check-in table if you cannot find them. Questions can also be sent to info@mlquadball.com at any time.
TBTP PLAYER
TBTP players do not need to check in. You’ll just head to the location at the time your coach requests on Monday of the event. Coaches have been distributed contact emails for all players.
TBTP jerseys will be available for pick up at player check-in on Friday OR the MLQ Merch Booth all day Saturday and Sunday.
You will be able to pickup for friends/teammates, but make sure you ask them first!
EVENT SCHEDULE
DAY ONE: BENEPE CUP, NEXT GEN
Franchises may gather at Pitch One at 7:30 am ET with spectators for the singing of the U.S. national anthem. Participation in the anthem is optional.
The Saturday matches are scheduled to start at 8 am ET and end by 7 pm ET. The bracket format can be viewed here.
The MLQ Next Gen Showcase will take place on Saturday from 3-6 pm ET. It highlights the future of MLQ: our practice squad athletes. The event will take place day two on Pitch Two while the Benepe Cup continues on Pitch One.
DAY TWO: BENEPE CUP
Sunday will kick off at 10 am ET. The four teams that won their quarterfinal matchups will advance to the semifinals, where they will play another team in a best-of-three series. The winners of the two semifinals will advance to the best-of-three final, played in the late afternoon. The bracket format can be viewed here.
The closing ceremonies will be Sunday at 4 pm ET on Pitch One. Each team must have at least one representative present for Closing Ceremonies. The presentation of divisional MVPs, Rookie of the Season, Manager(s) of the Season, and Volunteer(s) of the Season.
The presentation of the Benepe Cup and medals will take place immediately following the conclusion of the final on Pitch One, projected for 8:30 pm ET.
DAY THREE: TAKE BACK THE PITCH
Take Back the Pitch is a showcase that challenges the current understanding of gender in quidditch and opens opportunities for gender diverse athletes to play quidditch out from under the scrutiny of misogyny, transmisogyny and misdirected misogyny.
This tournament will take place on Monday, Aug. 17 on Pitch One. It will run from 11 am - 5 pm ET.
ON-SITE
Both pitches are turf. Cleats are permitted.
Food will be available for purchase on-site. Players may bring any food they like into the event site, so individuals with dietary restrictions (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) may make arrangements to bring their own meals. Food is NOT permitted on the actual fields.
KEY EVENT AND GAMEPLAY POLICIES
FORFEITS
As a reminder, the MLQ Forfeit Policy will be in effect during this event. Teams who are not present and prepared to start their game within 5 minutes of the scheduled start time will forfeit that game. This policy will be strictly enforced throughout the event in order to ensure that the tournament runs on schedule.
A forfeit will occur in the following circumstances:
Failing to show up at the scheduled start time and location for a game.
Not being prepared to start a game within 5 minutes after the scheduled start time.
Refusing to play or continue play when instructed to do so by a referee, including walking out during a match.
Egregious misconduct by both teams as determined by the head referee.
Any forfeits will be counted as a 65-0 loss against the forfeiting team for final MLQ rankings.
APPEALS
There will be on-site appeals of games during MLQ Championship, all of which are subject to the same rules in our regular season Game Appeal Policy. To file an appeal, inform the field manager of your intention and have them radio HQ for MLQ Gameplay Director Ryan Davis and Commissioner Amanda Dallas.
EQUIPMENT SAFETY
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. MLQ Gameplay Director Ryan Davis must review any braces not pre-approved directly by MLQ Gameplay. The follow items are pre-approved by MLQ Gameplay for on-pitch play and exempt from the knock test or other general equipment checks.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
The actions of a player who earns a straight red card during a game will be reviewed immediately by MLQ Gameplay and the player in question may be suspended from future games. Players under review will have their actions evaluated by MLQ Gameplay in accordance with the Player Disciplinary Procedure, Fair Play Policy, and the MLQ Rulebook.
OFFICIAL REVIEWS
As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated to ensure we are always improving. If you have issues with a specific official (including flag runners) during MLQ Championship please feel free to discuss the issue with MLQ Gameplay Director Ryan Davis and/or Commissioner Amanda Dallas. We will do everything we can to accommodate reasonable requests and ensure the highest level of officiating and flag running possible for our teams’ satisfaction. 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.
EVENT EQUIPMENT
The following equipment will be supplied and required throughout the event:
Brooms - Shooty Hoops Supplies MLQ Series
Volleyballs- Baden Matchpoint Size 5 Volleyballs
Dodgeballs- Champion Sports Rhino Playground Balls 8.5
Teams will not be required to provide their own brooms but are encouraged to bring their MLQ brooms to use.
ALCOHOL POLICY
Alcohol is not permitted on-site except in the bar. It is not allowed in the parking lot and tailgating is not permitted.
SPEAKER
POLICY
Teams will not be permitted to have speakers playing when they are on Pitch One. Music will be played between games and during extended stoppages by MLQ on Pitch One.
UNIFORM AND DRESS POLICies
PLAYER UNIFORM POLICY
All players on a team’s 21-person active roster must wear the full team uniform at any time they are in the player area to participate in a game. Any players on the bench but not on active roster are not permitted to wear uniform shorts.
This uniform includes the official team jersey and shorts. The team jersey and shorts should not be modified in a way that permanently alters the uniform, ie. cutting or dyeing the jersey or shorts. The jersey and short numbers must be visible on the field at all times. While in uniform, a player’s socks must be one solid, approved team color (aka the color and shade of color must be found on the player’s current uniform). Should a team or athlete want an exception to the rule, they may email marketing@mlquadball.com with a clear image of the requested exception and the reason why they are requesting said exception.
No players may enter the pitch during a game while wearing a hat or sunglasses. A player who enters the pitch in a hat or sunglasses must immediately exit to the team bench area and remove the hat or sunglasses. The offending player will not be able to play until they remove their hat and/or sunglasses. No further penalties will apply unless the player already has a prior warning recorded from the regular season or earlier in MLQ Championship.
Religious garments, including but not limited to, head covers and yarmulkes, are always allowed as long as they do not impede the safety of the player or other players on the pitch. If there are any questions, they can be directed to gameplay@mlquadball.com.
UNIFORM SCHEDULE COMING SOON
UNIFORM POLICY VIOLATIONS
Any player on a team’s active roster who enters the player area to participate in a game while not wearing the appropriate uniform will be subject to the following penalties:
1st offense: Warning. A referee may issue a warning and allow the player to leave the player area to don the appropriate uniform. Any warning given during the equipment check, while in the player area awaiting participation or during a game should be considered the only warning. Referees will check all players for the appropriate uniform during the equipment check at the beginning of the day.
2nd offense: One game suspension. If a player who has been warned about a uniform violation enters the game without correcting the violation, that player must be suspended for their team’s next scheduled game.
3rd offense: Any additional offenses will result in the player being suspended for an additional three games for each additional offense.
FRANCHISE STAFF DRESS POLICY
The MLQ Franchise Staff Dress Policy is meant to ensure a consistently professional image is projected to our customers and partners. The appearance of MLQ franchise staff, officials, and volunteers reflects on the company as a whole. This season we’ve seen more personality than ever before in the attire worn by coaching staff and management. While we support this move overall, we want to remind you your attire must meet one of the following guidelines at MLQ Championship:
MLQ polo, team jersey (any season), Diaza apparel, or another piece of MLQ-approved apparel with a business casual or a business casual sport pant, short, skirt, or skort
Dress shirt and/or button down shirt with a business casual or a business casual sport pant, short, skirt, or skort. Suits are also permissible
Sporting brand (Adidas, Lululemon, Nike, etc.) dress
To request approval for an outfit outside these confines, contact MLQ People Operations (peopleops@mlquadball.com) with the subject “MLQ Dress Policy Request” by Wed., Aug. 13.
Additionally all outfits must meet the following requirements in full:
Attire may not be see-through.
You may not wear uncovered spandex.
Crop tops are not permitted. Bras (including sports bras) with no additional shirt coverage are not acceptable.
You may not be barefoot.
FULL SCHEDULE IS AVAILABLE HERE.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
MEDICAL STAFF AND
LOCATIONS
Medical staff will be provided at designated areas of each pitch.
Should a player begin to bleed or throw up on the field, play may not resume until the blood and/or other bodily fluids are cleaned off the playing field as much as possible and cleaned off the player. The player is allowed to re-enter play once they are no longer bleeding.
An athletic trainer can medically disqualify a player at any time for any medical reason.
CONCUSSIONS, HEAT, AND HYDRATION
Players with suspected head injuries are not permitted to play until they have been cleared by an athletic trainer or an on duty licensed physician. If medical staff on-site see a player with concussion-like symptoms, the player must submit to a concussion test if asked. If a manager, coach or captain notices one of their players with concussion-like symptoms, they must take the player to be evaluated by medical staff, otherwise the coach or captain is subject to suspension for the remainder of the tournament and the manager may not be permitted to return the following season.
Water stations will be available around the event site (at fields and permanent fixtures). Keep yourself hydrated. If you come across an empty water container, please inform a field manager or other member of staff.
SAFE PARTICIPANT CONDUCT
MLQ is very serious about its commitment to its players and staff. Harassment of any form will not be tolerated MLQ Championship. Familiarize yourself with MLQ’s policies, the Code of Conduct, and the League Harassment Policy. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure MLQ Championship is a fun, fair, and safe environment for all participants. Violations to our Code of Conduct will not be tolerated and may result in suspension for a game or expulsion from the tournament.
If at any point during the tournament you or any affiliate of MLQ is in need of a safe space because they are experiencing harassment, triggers, or for any kind of reason, please do not hesitate to reach out to these MLQ staff members. These individuals have offered to be a part of a team to deal with on-site crises that do not require medical attention. Please note that many of these individuals have multiple responsibilities during the weekend so they may not be available at all times. However, this is why we have selected a team of individuals so you should be able to find someone to help!
Ryan Davis (240-446-8547), Christian Barnes (347-633-6130), Claire Tylke (630-408-0778)
KEEP UP WITH THE ACTION
SCORE UPDATES
Score updates will be posted throughout the weekend on our Facebook and X and the Scores page. You can also follow scores live on Quadball.One.
We will be posting a summary on Instagram after each round of play.
The bracket will be updated both on-site at Pitch One and here.
LIVESTREAM
Make sure your friends and family don’t miss out on your big moment! The entire weekend will be streamed on our YouTube.
ADDITIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE
MLQ will have highlight videographers and photographers on-site all weekend. Press will also be on-site and may request to interview athletes, staff, and volunteers. The MLQ Digital Media team, including T Time, will also be conducting interviews. Please remember you are representing not only yourself, but your franchise, league, and the sport at all times.