Ajantha Abey

New Concussion and Injury Protocols for Quidditch Australia Sanctioned Games

Please be aware that as of today, the 15th of July 2019, Quidditch Australia is observing new Injury and Concussion Protocols, developed to increase player safety and in response to recent research surrounding brain injuries in contact sports.

Original Photo Credit: Dammia Brosnan

The Concussion Policy stipulates that concussions are brain injuries that occur from knocks to the head or other parts of the body that may or may not result in a loss of consciousness.

Injury policies state that the Head Referee of a game holds duty of care, and should a referee team or medical team witness a potential concussion, the player concerned should be removed from play and tested with the SCAT5 Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool. Players exhibiting signs of concussion will not be allowed to resume playing, act as a speaking captain, or referee for the remainder of the day, and Quidditch Australia recommends 12 days before a return to play, in line with Rugby Australia’s concussion policies. read more

in QA Today  by 15 Jul 2019 0 comments

Volunteer Profiles: Manon te Riele

Quidditch is an entirely volunteer run sport. As nations around the world start and finish celebrating volunteers weeks, we are profiling some of the people from all around the country who help keep quidditch running. Manon te Riele is currently the Treasurer, Secretary, and Team Rep for South Melbourne Centaurs Quidditch Club, and Tournament Director of Melbourne Mudbash, one of the largest tournaments in Australia. Manon has been involved in quidditch admin and organising almost since she began in 2016, everything from social media to pitch managing, and an exceptional asset to the sport. Get a sense of what she does and why she does it below…  read more

in QA Today  by 17 Jun 2019 0 comments

Volunteer Profiles: Mark Kelly

Quidditch is an entirely volunteer run sport. This week, as nations around the world start and finish celebrating volunteers weeks, we are profiling some of the people from all around the country who help keep quidditch running. Mark Kelly is currently the President of the Victorian Quidditch Association, but he’s been volunteering in quidditch for many years in commentary and analysis, both within Australia and overseas! Mark has covered everything from Vic League Games and State Shield to the Quidditch World Cup, and was even called in as an expert analyst at the European Quidditch Cup 2019. Get a sense of what he does and why he does it below…
read more

in QA Today  by 06 Jun 2019 0 comments

Volunteer Profiles: Kathryn Cooper:

Quidditch is an entirely volunteer run sport. This week, as nations around the world start and finish celebrating volunteers weeks, we are profiling some of the people from all around the country who help keep quidditch running. Kathryn Cooper is currently the Chairperson of Quidditch NSW (QNSW), but she started her quidditch journey all the way back in 2013 with the University of Sydney Unspeakables. Since then, she’s been a manager, vice president, coach, captain, team mum, and inspiration to many. Get a sense of what she does and why she does it below… read more

in QA Today  by 03 Jun 2019 0 comments

QUAFL 2019 to be held in Minto (NSW), December 7-8th!

Quidditch Australia is excited to announce the dates and location for the Australian National Championships, QUAFL 2019!

The tournament will be held at Kayess Park in Minto, on the weekend of the 7th and 8th of December. Quidditch Australia will be cohosting the tournament with Macarthur Weasleys Quidditch Club, who have successfully hosted two editions of their own Macarthur Fantasy Tournament, as well as a number of NSW Quidditch League days with much general acclaim. The fields here have been used for quidditch tournaments before, have ample space, are able to facilitate line marked pitches, and are an easy 45-minute train ride from Sydney, with a variety of nearby accommodation available as well. read more

in QUAFL  by 22 May 2019 0 comments

State Shield Eligibility, Rules, & Regulations

ELIGIBILITY

All players must be full members of Quidditch Australia (QA) to be able to participate in the tournament.

State team eligibility is determined by the following clauses. You are eligible for a team if you meet any of the following:

  1. You currently play for a club from that state and commenced playing in that state from no later than the beginning of the current season;
  2. You currently live in that state;
  3. The team that you first played quidditch for is from that state;
  4. You spent the majority of school (K-12, at least 7 years cumulative) in that state.

If you have different states for each of the above criteria, you may choose which team you wish to apply for.

If you have moved states after the commencement of a season and do not meet any of the above criteria for that state, you may not apply for that state. You may however apply for the state you previously moved from, given you meet the above criteria. read more

in State  by 01 Apr 2019 0 comments

Internal Leagues Resume: USQL and USCQL

Australia fields two internal club leagues – the University of Sunshine Coast Quidditch League (USCQL) which has been running for many years now, and the University of Sydney Quidditch League (USQL), which has been running since last year.

Both enter 2018 significantly changed, and have started off their respective seasons with one round a piece. We recap below:

The USC Quidditch League

After running for almost five years without changing teams, USC finally saw fit to change things up, reshuffling their four teams – Phoenix, Nargles, Thestrals, and Death Eaters, for the first time since the league’s inception. This was broadly seen as a good change, as it’s allowed the league to re-balance teams, stop some teams becoming over dominant, and make the whole competition more fun and a better learning experience for everyone, which is typically the main aim of such development focused internal leagues. read more

in Around The Grounds / Internal Leagues / QA Today / USCQL / USQL  by 01 Apr 2019 0 comments

Illawarra Unregistered Animagi – An Introductory Interview

In this interview, we talk to Kelsey Collins and Huw Tomlinson, two founders of the Illawarra region based Unregistered Animagi, a new team that is taking this year to start growing, before entering the competitive scene in 2020. They mostly answer questions together.

What are your roles in the club?

President – Huw Tomlinson
Manager – Kelsey Collins
Equipment/Social Media – Paige Collins

How did the idea for the team come about?

Huw – I’ve been playing for the Wollongong Warriors for 6 years and decided I wanted to expand quidditch in the Wollongong/Illawarra region. I met the Collins sisters during their brief time with the Warriors and they helped turn an idea into a reality. read more

in Around The Grounds / NQL / QA Today / State Leagues  by 01 Apr 2019 0 comments

Valkyries Quidditch Club – An Introductory Interview

In this interview, we talk to Phil Vankerkoerle and Amber Williams, two veterans of the sport from UNSW and Macquarie respectively, who have recently embarked on the great challenge of starting and leading a new team – the Inner Western Sydney based Valkyries Quidditch Club. They discuss the club’s origin story, their aspirations for the year, and the story behind #broccolis.

What is your role with the team?

Amber – I am co-captain, along with with Kathryn

Phil – I am one of the 3 coaches and treasurer for the club [the others being Raj Kapoor and Isobel “Obel” Rennie].
read more

in Around The Grounds / NQL / QA Today / State Leagues  by 01 Apr 2019 0 comments

North Sydney Nightmares – An Introductory Interview

In this interview, we talk to Harry Jones, one of the founders of the newly formed North Sydney based Nightmares Quidditch Club, about how the team started, what the year holds in store for them, and who some of their brand new players are.

Beater Harry Jones (right), previously of USYD Unspeakables, now captain and president of the North Sydney Nightmares | Photo Credit: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

What is your role/relationship with the team?

I am the president, captain, and founder. The relationship is very parasitic. Please help.

How did the idea for the Nightmares come about?

Originally it was an idea meant for the 2018 season, involving a quite different group of players who were all close to ready for a new community team. Most players wanted another year with their original teams and so we decided to leave it a year. People dropped off and on the band wagon throughout 2018 and early 2019, and I realised that someone needed to commit to the idea or it wouldn’t happen. Then about 6 months too late I decided to do just that… read more

in Around The Grounds / NQL / QA Today  by 01 Apr 2019 0 comments
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