A sport for “the outsiders”: Quadball’s inclusive community shines in Development Cup

On November 23, The Boar Sport was at Warwick Quadball Club (WQC)’s Southern Development Cup tournament. Despite the miserable weather, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day where one could not avoid getting to know the wonderful community at the heart of the team. This isn’t a sport of showing-off, ball-hogging, diving, cheating, and casual homophobia masquerading as ‘lad banter’; everyone involved on Saturday was friendly, accepting, and welcoming.

Warwick Quadball members explained the development tournament, the first of the year, as being about “getting new people to join the sport” and “for [freshers] to get an idea of how the game works”. Warwick hosted Southampton at 9am, Oxford at 12pm, and Leicester/Cambridge at 3pm, with each match lasting around 45 minutes.

Prior to attending Saturday’s tournament, I learnt all I could about the sport: its rules, history, and ethos. I read the extensive Wikipedia page, checked out the WQC and QuadballUK websites, caught up on a year’s worth of Instagram posts, and watched many videos. As I was told a Warwick Quadball member, “It’s a sport that requires explanation”, and these explanations often rely on its roots in the fictional sport ‘quidditch’ from Harry Potter.

Quadball’s a unique sport that many are unaware of, leading to the question of how people get involved

The general gist is to put the volleyball (previously ‘quaffle’) through one of three opponent’s
hoops to score 10 points. Defending is a collective effort by the six starters, with the seventh (the seeker) entering the field 20 minutes in. Seekers are tasked with catching the flag (previously ‘snitch’) and beaters with ‘tapping out’ the opposition using dodgeballs (previously ‘bludgers’). It’s fast-paced and somewhat confusing: goals can be scored through either side of the hoops, there are four balls in play, and rolling substitutes. Abigail, a member of Warwick Quadball, told The Boar Sport that “you just focus on your part and make sure you don’t do anything wrong”.

It’s a unique sport that many are unaware of, leading to the question of how people get involved. One Warwick first year said that they “fell into it”, feeling that there was more of a community and less pressure than there was in alternative options. Maddy, a third-year, captain, and head of publicity, said : “I kept coming back because the people were nice and the sport was fun, I just enjoy being here.”

James, a third-year, coach, and president, reiterated this ide saying: “I really like how it works […] the people are so lovely, it’s a very nice community.”

Freshers took starting roles throughout the day, with experienced players rotating with the knowledge that “you can’t play a whole match, it’s just too tiring”

The community combines freshers, experienced internationals, post-graduates, friends,
partners, and family. James summed up the nature of the club by saying: “I care about the club, I want recruitment to be good, I want us to survive, so I’ll definitely be around” following graduating in the summer.

Freshers took starting roles throughout the day, with experienced players rotating with the knowledge that “you can’t play a whole match, it’s just too tiring”. The first goal of the day was scored by Warwick after one minute, but Southampton came back to lead, with both teams looking for the catch to win them the game. It was Southampton’s seeker who caught first, and Warwick lost 70-120. Josh, Warwick’s assistant coach, said: “it could’ve gone either way. We were a catch away from the win”. Abigail also added that “they didn’t have many freshers, so it felt a bit unfair! I thought we were the better
team overall.”

Freshers were encouraged to be more aggressive in their approach as the tournament went on. As a full-contact, mixed-gender sport, tackling is perhaps Quadball’s biggest talking point. The ‘gender rule’ limits Quadball teams to a maximum of three on-field players of the same gender identity (seekers excluded).

Warwick secured a 130-110 victory over Oxford, their first win as a new team

Maddy, the self-described “tiniest player on the team”, “thought I couldn’t play a contact sport because of my size and appearance.” Having grown up with older brothers, Abigail says “it’s always been normal to me, so it didn’t put me off”, but this isn’t the same for everyone: James said that he knows “someone who won’t come along because he won’t tackle girls”.

Maddy is aware of potential concerns recruits may have about contact, physicality, and safety.
She’s conscious of how their message is presented: “hearing James say ‘you can play however you want’ is great. Hearing me say it is a bit more impactful to someone who needs to hear it.”

Warwick faced Oxford next, who started fast, taking the lead at pace on the counter. Warwick responded with verve, scoring the next four with no reply, and another six before the flag was caught. Unlike in quidditch, this doesn’t always end the game. Worth 30 points, catching the
flag sends the game to ‘overtime’ if the team that ‘caught’ still trail. At 100-40 to Warwick,
Oxford caught the flag, gained 30 points, and both teams then needed 130 points to win. The catch has a big effect on the game’s momentum, and Oxford scored twice early in overtime, remaining hot on Warwick’s heels before the home side secured a 130-110 victory, their first as a new team.

s the self-described “best team in the country”, Warwick hosts a plethora of international talent: 9 of 15 team-members currently play for their national sides

Freshers can look to the experienced players as an example of the opportunities to progress. While “university league should never be about removing the fun”, it can also be a springboard to community league, and competitive international tournaments: in Quadball “you can go quite far, quite fast”. As the self-described “best team in the country”, Warwick hosts a plethora of international talent: 9 of 15 team-members currently play for their national sides.

Finally, Warwick played Leicester/Cambridge. After a frenetic start, several big tackles, and a few bad fouls, the score was level at 60-60 when the seekers entered the pitch. Warwick twice caught the flag before the seeker’s heroics were deemed legal and Warwick won their second game of the day.

Earlier this year, following the renaming of Quidditch to Quadball in 2022, WQC disaffiliated from Harry Potter, wanting to distance themselves from J. K. Rowling: “WQC condemns her views. […] We have a clear stance that we will always support and welcome trans/non-binary members”.

Inclusivity is at the heart of Warwick Quadball Club’s policies

Although, as Abigail described, the fictional connection “draws people in”. James said that disaffiliating “harmed recruitment in terms of getting people in the door at least”. WQC are grateful for new opportunities to promote inclusivity, James said: “we have a collab with Pride society coming up – a FINTA session [female, intersex, non-binary, transgender, and agender] – I don’t think Pride would collab with Harry Potter society, but they will collab with Quadball”.

When asked about the role of Quadball as an inclusive alternative to other sports, James said:
“there’s obviously a big queer community in the sport, which is lovely. It’s a safe haven […]
We respect people’s gender identity […] Everyone is allowed to be whoever they want to be:
there’s no judgement and there’s no jokes.”

Inclusivity is at the heart of WQC’s policies. Tournament minutes are given to anyone who shows up for training, socials are open to friends and partners who don’t or can’t play the sport, and as a registered society (not sports club), its affordability is a big plus.

If you’re supportive and kind and put time and commitment into the sport, people will support that, like that, and make you feel wanted

A Warwick Quadball Club member

Maddy embodied the feeling of WQC by saying that in this community, “you don’t have to be a team England national player, you don’t have to be tall, short, male, female, anything. If you’re supportive and kind and put time and commitment into the sport, people will support that, like that, and make you feel wanted”.