Seventh Edition of the Rulebook Released
The IQA is proud to present the seventh edition of...
It's time to start afresh with a new season of quidditch in the IQA. The teams recruit new players and seniors prepare for one last year at their alma mater. And, lest ye forget, a new season of quidditch means a new edition of the IQA rulebook.
This season, the rulebook has undergone more of a rearrangement than an overhaul. You will recognize the rules from the sixth edition, often the same word-for-word, in a new order. This setup is meant to be more intuitive for looking up rules; the rulebook now contains a detailed glossary of terms at the beginning, as well as a comprehensive index at the end. With the now-familiar numbering system for individual rules still in place, finding the rule you are looking for should be easier than ever.
Structural changes aside, I'd like to highlight a few of the new rules for the seventh edition. Chief amongst these is the adjusted quidditch pitch. In order to constrain play to the pitch and protect spectators, we've made a number of changes. First, the pitch has expanded length-wise and encompasses an area I'm calling “pill-shaped.” The expanded pitch still resembles the familiar ellipse, but has extra room to stop play from entering the stands. The edge of the pitch may now be measured conveniently in increments of 6 yards. In addition, a buffer area around the pitch separates the players from the “spectator area,” preventing players from interacting with fans. Rules have been put in place to stop dangerous plays from occurring outside this “hard boundary.” This will be one of the bigger adjustments for players, but I think the quidditch community will find that the changes improve the game in terms of safety, consistency, and convenience.
Players have been asking for years that a “Ready!” call be added immediately before Brooms Up, and this rulebook has delivered. The rulebook has also clarified various types of physical contact, making explicit what is and is not allowed. The clock now stops for all stoppages of play, as was the case in World Cup VI. And, owing in part to widespread support from the community, each player will now be allowed to kick the ball once before it must be picked up, rather than one player per team.
The changelog at the beginning of the rulebook points out the more significant changes to the rules of quidditch, and discerning readers will discover minor changes to wording and referee duties throughout. Since I wrote the thing, I'd suggest you purchase several hard copies and read the whole thing back-to-front at least five times. But failing that, feel free to e-mail rules@internationalquidditch.org with any specific questions you have after reading the seventh edition.
A few people spent many hours on this rulebook, so when you get the chance be sure to thank our editor, Alicia Radford, and the members of the IQA Rules Team: Luke Changet, Amber Cummings, Clay Dockery, Brady Groves, Dan Hanson, Sarah Kneiling, Kody Marshall, and Devin Sandon. Thanks also to you, dear reader, for your continued support and love of the game.
As always, happy quidditch!
Editor's Note: A supplement to the rulebook providing additional information about tackling techniques will be released by September.
