Skip to content

MuggleNet

  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • News / Quadball

IQA Changes Tackling Rules, Doesn’t Change Gender Rule

by Veronika Kohoutová · August 11, 2022

The International Quidditch Association (IQA) has announced the results of the changes to the rule book proposed in May. One of the proposed changes didn’t pass despite being heavily discussed by the Muggle quidditch/quadball community, and another ten proposed changes passed.

 

The first rule pertains to plastic shin guards. They will not have to pass the knock test anymore, meaning that hard plastic soccer shin guards will be allowed. Shin guards made from other materials, such as carbon fiber, still have to pass the knock test. Metal cleats also passed and won’t be strictly banned.

The option to extend the bench outside of the player area up to a total width of 7 meters (23 feet) if there is space to do so also passed.

The reset rule will change: “When a single resetting action causes the quaffle to travel backwards across both restrictor lines, this shall count as two resets and will result in a quaffle turnover.” The stalled quaffle procedure will also change, and a stalled quaffle is now treated as out of bounds. The turnover of quaffles will no longer stop the game.

Catching the snitch will be a little different, and the seeker floor will start at the 20th minute. Previously, the seeker floor began at the 18th minute. This is the same as it is played in the United States by US Quadball (formerly US Quidditch) and Major League Quadball (formerly Major League Quidditch).

 

Extra breaks during high heat and humidity passed with revisions. If the heat index is predicted to be at or above 32°C (90°F) during the event, there should be additional breaks after 15 minutes into the game and every 5 minutes after the first 20 minutes. After revisions, it allows also the use of the rule when there isn’t humidity data available to the event director but it “feels like” the case.

Contact and tackling will be different. Tackles can happen from behind if a player stops in the motion and has both feet on the ground. Players will also be allowed to use both arms while wrapping an opponent and tackling them. This proposal makes it legal to reach around an opponent to steal a ball. Additionally, the legality of head beats thrown from less than 5 meters (16 feet) will be restricted.

The 3-max gender rule didn’t pass. Currently, it is mandatory that no more than four players of the same gender be on the pitch at any point of the game. The new rule would have changed it to three except for when seekers are on the pitch.

Although this rule didn’t pass, it received support from the quidditch/quadball community, who recirculated a statement written by Suzanne Fischer in 2019:

The gender rule, as I believe, does not exist to make the sport inclusive to all players. Because as a community, we have already decided that we are inclusive. Whoever you are and whatever you identify yourself with, you are welcome to come and play. The original intent of the gender rule was to ensure female players playing time, and respecting this rule ensures that the sport is played fair.

Why do we need it? Because, and I say this from a professional perspective as a doctor, testosterone-dominated bodies have a physiological advantage over estrogen-dominated bodies when it comes to qualities needed for sport. It’s a physiological result from the effect that hormones have on your muscles, joints, bones, internal organs and blood vessels.

When we decide to keep the sport fair, we actually decide on a testosterone-estrogen ratio in the team, with no interest at all in your gender.

When a team decides to not keep to this rule, you are not only disrespectful to quidditch but you are [also] disrespectful to sports in general, and foremost, to your estrogen-dominated players.

Currently, there is a petition to reconsider the 3-max gender rule that will accept signatures until September 3.

 

Did you know that MuggleNet is 99% volunteer-run? With your monthly pledge of $5, you can provide monetary support to our volunteers while becoming eligible for exclusive swag giveaways!

Support us on Patreon

Social:

  • Next story Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Return to Universal Orlando Resort
  • Previous story Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience Is Also Coming to New York This Fall

MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

July 2025

Wed, Jul 2

Edward Randell's birthday
Recurs yearly

Justin Finch-Fletchley

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets book (UK)
Recurs yearly

1998

Mon, Jul 7

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 movie (London premiere)
Recurs yearly

2011

Tue, Jul 8

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire book
Recurs yearly

2000

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban book (UK)
Recurs yearly

1999

WWoHP Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando's anniversary
Recurs yearly

2014

MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was first published on June 26, 1997, by Bloomsbury. There were only 500 hardback copies printed for the initial print run.

Potter History

December 21, 2010 – The final scene of the Harry Potter film series is shot at Leavesden Film Studios.

Potter Quote

“Have a biscuit, Potter.”

MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fansite.
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
© 1999–2025 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback


MuggleNet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Bookshop.org's affiliate program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and bookshop.org.