"Two Minimum" Gender Requirement Update
The two minimum requirement in regards to gender promotes the inclusivity of all genders on the field and on the team, so that players can learn to respect and work with each other as equals in the type of safe environment that does not often present itself in the real world. The recent Board decision means that educational institutions that classify themselves as single-sex institutions must also follow the requirement; there will no longer be exceptions. The mission and values of single-sex institutions are admirable, but their methods do not align with those of the IQA.
It has been brought to the Board's attention, however, that this decision was not made in a timely manner that was respectful of the official member teams' preparations for the season. With this fact in mind, the Board has decided that the teams associated with single-sex institutions that have already registered and paid dues for the 2012-2013 season are exempt from the two minimum gender requirement for the remainder of the season. These teams should continue to try their best to follow the two minimum requirement and recruit the necessary players, but if they are unable to do so, they will not be penalized.
The exemption for these teams will expire on July 1st, 2013, which is when the 2013-2014 playing season officially begins. Any teams associated with single-sex institutions that have not yet completed the IQA official member registration process are required to uphold the two minimum requirement in regards to gender starting at this article's publication date; the teams already registered will follow it without exemption starting on July 1 st.
*The “two minimum” requirement (3.1.1.3), as stated in the sixth edition of the rulebook:
“Each team must have at least two players in play that are of a different gender identity than at least two other players; that is, excluding the seeker, a team may not have 5 or 6 players of the same gender in play. The gender that a player identifies with is considered to be that player's gender. We as a community are accepting and understanding of those who don't identify with the binary gender system, acknowledge that this does not imply that our players all identify as "male" or "female," and would like to welcome people of all identities and genders into our league. Because the seeker may spend the majority of the game off the pitch, seekers do not count toward the number of required gender-specific players. In the event that a team cannot field a full team in terms of gender minimum due to injury or players being sent off, the team may continue to play with fewer players, with the missing player still counting in terms of gender minimum.
Penalty: Special - If there is ever an illegal player or set of players in play, in terms of eligibility, gender, or position, the referee must stop play and the offending team must correct the illegal situation. The resulting penalty is a caution for the team's captain (but he is not sent to the penalty box), one minute in the penalty box for the person who replaces the last offending player, and forfeiture of quaffle possession to the other team.”
