2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT 1 WELCOME LETTER CONTENTS This past year has been an exciting one at US Quidditch, as we Welcome Letter 2 celebrated continuity with our sport’s first decade of history while Our Organization 3 About US Quidditch 4 also looking forward to many brand new events and programs. Strategic Plan 6 This was my first full year as Executive Director, and it has been Programs 8 Membership 8 thrilling to see so much progress made in the development of our Events 14 league, and growth in the sport at large. Education & Resources 22 Initiatives 25 At the beginning of the 2016- Our People 27 2017 season, I was delighted Supporters 29 to promote Mary Kimball Financials 31 to Events Director, and the middle of the season saw a new face join our ranks with the addition of Jillian Flom as Events Manager. Along with our Membership Director, Eric Schnier, and our volunteer staff, our team worked hard this past season to execute on a variety of tournaments and other initiatives. One such project, and our marquee event of the 2016-2017 season, was US Quidditch Cup 10 in Kissimmee, Florida, which marked a decade of national championships and saw Texas Cavalry take the crown as our sport’s top team. This came after a year of hard-fought regional championships in eight regions across the country. Overall, we saw 131 teams participate in regional and national championships this past season, which brought an economic impact of over $1 million to the nine cities that hosted them. In summer 2016, we were also pleased to send the US National Team to compete in the International Quidditch Association’s World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, where we took second place. We’re proud of our athletes and coaches, as well as our fans for their support, and we’ve already begun to plan to bring home the gold in summer 2018 with Michael Parada and Amanda Dallas, respectively, serving as our new Head Coach and National Team Coordinator. We also welcomed two new members to our Board of Directors in Phil Andrews and Hank Dugie. Andrews, the CEO & General Secretary of USA Weightlifting, Cover photo and photo above by Isabella Gong. 2 and Dugie, a City Councilman in League City, TX, have already served as invaluable voices as we chart a course for our sport for this upcoming season and in the years to come. As we enter the final season of guidance under our current strategic plan, we continue to focus on the league’s three strategic priorities, further updates on which can be found later in this report: • Shape and grow the sport of quidditch. • Strengthen trust in, and identification with, the US Quidditch brand. • Ensure US Quidditch is organizationally and financially sustainable. Finally, we have been lucky to receive the continued support of our talented and incredible volunteers. From serving in year-round roles to helping out at specific events, we are incredibly fortunate to have the benefit of their support and passion. We have a lot to look forward to in the 2017-2018 season, and we are excited to continue to serve you and to work together to further grow the sport of quidditch. Brooms up! Sarah Woolsey Executive Director “It’s the most fun I’ve had playing a sport.” — A Florida player Photos by Isabella Gong and Madison Vaughn. 3 OUR ORGANIZATION About US Quidditch OUR MISSION US Quidditch is the national governing body for the sport of quidditch. USQ advances the sport by organizing events and programs that build community and empower all genders to compete together. OUR VISION We envision a future where every person in the United States is aware of quidditch as a sport and has opportunities to play and engage at all levels. OUR VALUES • We establish the foundation for long-term sustainability through regulations, innovation, and expansion. • We provide competitive opportunities for every level of athlete. • We build a safe, inclusive, and respectful community. • We strive to be a leader in gender inclusivity for all age groups. • We create meaningful community partnerships. • We develop and empower future leaders. Founded in 2010, USQ has over 150 teams nationwide, and nearly 4,000 players and 300 officials are registered with USQ. We provide a range of services, from hosting nine major tournaments and supervising regular season competition, to creating resources and certifying referees, snitches, and tournament directors, offering grants, and working to expand the sport into younger age groups through outreach programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. 4 "I have the opportunity to use my skills to make a difference in other peoples’ lives. I see the importance it plays in people socializing and being a part of something bigger than themselves, and I want to help make that happen for them.” — An Ohio player and referee Photo by Michael Vong 5 Strategic Plan PURPOSE The strategic plan released at the start of the 2015-16 season lays out USQ’s strategic priorities and goals for the three fiscal years. The document guides decision-making, resource allocation, and prioritization of work. USQ’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, and this plan encompasses July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES The following three strategic priorities and goals guide USQ’s decision making, resource allocation, and prioritization of work over the next three fiscal years. Each priority is interrelated, and success in one builds on the success of the others. Shape and grow the sport of quidditch. 2016-2018 GOALS \ Grow the sport of quidditch, as well as league opportunities, for those under the age of 18. \ Make quidditch and USQ’s events more accessible and meaningful to non-players. \ Expand competitive opportunities at a variety of playing levels. \ Continue strengthening our core services: regional championships and nationals. \ Make the sport of quidditch safer for all of those involved. \ Further develop resources, recruitment, and assessment of officials. Strengthen trust in, and identification with, the US Quidditch brand. 2016-2018 GOALS \ Sustain high levels of transparency and consistency in communications. \ Improve internal organizational communication. \ Improve external communication, both to members and fans. \ Increase social media engagement. 6 Ensure US Quidditch is organizationally and financially stable. 2016-2018 GOALS \ Diversify revenue streams through traditional nonprofit fundraising methods. \ Develop partnerships with organizations that have a competitive stake in growing quidditch and events. \ Facilitate a positive working environment for employees, board members, and volunteers. \ Regularly evaluate organizational development and programmatic sustainability. “I used to play multiple sports from when I was young and wanted to do some sport in college. I accidentally found our club quidditch team and they turned into my family. The sport is fun and we have a great time together.” — An Pennsylvania player Photo by Shirley Lu 7 PROGRAMS Membership US Quidditch offers two types of memberships: team memberships for university, secondary school, or community team registration, and individual membership for players, coaches, referees, and fans. Memberships expire on June 30, regardless of when they were purchased, and are not transferable or refundable. All individual memberships come with the following benefits: ABILITY TO JOIN AN OFFICIAL TEAM USQ members are eligible to join an official team as a player or coach. ACCIDENT INSURANCE COVERAGE USQ provides accident coverage during sanctioned USQ events. This coverage is what is called “excess coverage,” which means USQ insurance assists in covering costs that extend beyond what individual health insurance plans provide. FREE REGIONALS REGISTRATION All member teams receive free registration to regional championships. LEAGUE-WIDE POLLING Several times a year USQ conducts polls and surveys on all kinds of policy and preference questions. MEMBER PATCH Members can collect these patches each year! Additionally, non-playing coaches receive a paperback copy of the rulebook, and all coaches receive access to player safety and other coaching resources. Referee members are eligible to complete certification and serve as Lead Assistant Referees who earn $10 per game they officiate, and can then be field tested to become certified head referees, who then earn $15 per game they officiate in the regular season, and $20 per game at USQ hosted events. 8 TEAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS REGIONAL TEAM DISTRIBUTION Starting with the 2016-17 season, we introduced Great West, 25 Lakes, eligibility requirements for collegiate teams. 20 A college team is comprised of a group of students from a single Mid-Atlantic, school. A college team does not need to have a formal affiliation Southwest, 23 25 with their school to be registered as a college team. However, those teams with recognition from a school must compete in the college Midwest, 15 South, 15 division and register as a college team in the 2016-17 season. All Northeast, players on a collegiate team must attend the same school, and must 25 submit proof of enrollment before participating in an official game. Northwest, 5 U.S. MEMBERSHIP 2016-17 SEASON 153 teams (103 collegiate, 48 community, and 2 high school) 3,750 total individual members Photos by Isabella Gong, Chris Rothery, and Madison Vaughn. 9 OFFICIAL TEAMS Alfred University Saxons District of Columbia Quidditch Club Anarchs Quidditch Duke University Quidditch Anteater Quidditch Eastern Michigan Quidditch Appalachian Apparators Quidditch Emerald City Admirals Arizona