Rulebook Changes Recommended for 2016-2018 IQA Cycle

Backgrounder

In 2015 the IQA Congress created a Rules Committee to create a neutral, global rulebook to manage international competition. The Committee initially focused on a complete rewrite of the rulebook, simplifying it as much as possible. That rulebook proposal failed for a few reasons, and for the 2015-2016 season USQ Rulebook 9 was adopted with a few changes recorded only in a separate document.

During that season, the Committee was given a new mandate to create the international rulebook. The direction from IQA staff, board, and several member NGBs was to have fewer changes to the rulebook if possible. It was decided to attempt to create major changes to the Rulebook following the two year World Cup cycles. The Committee, however, had only a few months to propose the changes so they decided to focus on making only minimal required changes for the upcoming two year cycle.

Starting in April, the Committee Chair requested rule change suggestions from the NGBs, the Referee Development Team, the IQA Board, and from the Translation section of the IQA. The changes listed below are the ones that the Rules Committee believes should come forward to create the new rulebook.

The changes collected are based on IQA Rulebook 9 version 2.^[1] The changes will be incorporated into the relevant sections of that rulebook and that rulebook will be re-released as IQA Rulebook 2016-2018. Ideally, this rulebook will be released on international paper formatting so it can be printed anywhere in the world, as well as both a graphical and non-graphical version so NGBs can insert their own graphics as they wish.

This Rulebook will stand for two years (changing after the next World Cup). However, if major safety issues arise over this period, some changes may take place during this cycle and an updated version may be released. As well, in response to early feedback from member NGBs, one rule has been proposed that has a two-phased implementation (one rule for 2016-2017 and one proposed for 2017-2018) to ease the transition.

This is the rulebook to manage international (cross-national) play and minor exceptions can still be made by NGBs for their own use.

Thank you all for your time and participation in this process.

Rulebook Changes Recommended for 2016-2018 IQA Cycle

Backgrounder

Player Size Area

Timeouts

Snitch Handicaps

Declining a Snitch Catch

Guarding

Charging Without a Ball

Gender - Seekers

Gender - Roster

Limited Brooms

Metal Cleats / Boots

Falsely Claiming Immunity

Arm Yanking

Sliding

Kicking Held Balls

Back Contact

Seeker / Snitch Contact

Shin Guards

Turnovers

Fingernails

1. Player Size Area

1. Rule:

1. 2.1.8.1.A.i (Player Area size)

2. Change:

1. 48 yards (44 m) wide and 72 yards (66 m) long

3. Dependencies:

1. 2.1.8.1.I.ii should change to: The midpoint of the pitch is at the center of this area. The midpoint is 24 yards (22 m) and 42 yards (33 m) from the sides of the player area rectangle.
2. All images with the player area measurements must be adjusted to match

2. Timeouts

1. Rule:

1. 3.3.4 (new rule - Timeouts)

2. Change:

1. 3.3.4 Timeouts
   Timeouts are stoppages in play and of game time specifically requested by an individual player or coach.
   
2. 3.3.4.1 Calling a legal timeout:
   A. Each team receives one, one-minute timeout per game.
   B. A team may only request a timeout during the first 17 minutes of game time.
   i. The timekeeper must announce the 17-minute mark of game time so both teams and the referee are informed that timeouts may no longer be called.
   C. A team’s timeout must be requested by the keeper on the pitch or the team’s coach or captain for the game.
   i. No other players, substitutes, or team officials may request a timeout.
   D. A timeout may only be requested while the keeper of the team requesting the timeout has possession of the quaffle in the team’s own keeper zone and has immunity.
   
   Penalty: Yellow: Any illegal attempt to call a timeout (already used, after the seeker floor, not in the keeper zone with immunity) will result in a yellow card for the team’s designated coach. If the coach is non-playing, or simply not on the pitch, a player on the pitch must be put in the penalty box.
3. 3.3.4.2. Timeout procedure
   A. The keeper on the pitch, coach, or captain of a team must request that the head referee call timeout by verbalizing the term “TIMEOUT” and may also visually indicate the request by crossing both hands in a “T” signal.
   i. This request is subject to all conditions of 3.3.4.1.
   
   B. Upon receiving the request, the head referee:
   i. Ensures that the team requesting the timeout meets all conditions of 3.3.4.1.
   ii. Stops play by blowing the whistle in paired short blasts. All rules regarding stopping play in section 3.3. Apply.
   iii. The head referee may briefly delay the stoppage of play to allow any active beater play to resolve.
   
   C. The head referee reports to the scorekeeper at the score table. At the score table:
   i. The scorekeeper informs the head referee of the game time.
   ii. The head referee notes which team has called the timeout.
   
   D. The head referee announces:
   i. The team which has called the timeout.
   ii. The current game time.
   iii. The timeout will last one minute from this announcement.
   
   E. The head referee, with the scorekeeper, is responsible for timing the minute.
   F. At the end of the minute, the head referee notifies both teams that they must return immediately to their brooms.
   G. The players who were in active play at the time of the timeout must return immediately to their brooms and be ready to resume active play.
   i. No substitutions are allowed during the timeout.
   H. The head referee calls “Remount!”
   i. The head referee resumes play by blowing one short whistle blast.
   
   Penalty: Yellow: Any attempt to substitute during the timeout will result in a yellow card for the player who has entered the game illegally.
   

3. Dependencies:

1. Renumber 3.3.4 Advantage through to 3.3.7 Defective Balls Mid-Play
   

3. Snitch Handicaps

1. Rule:

1. 3.4.1.3. Regulating game length

2. Change:

1. C. The following handicaps on the snitch runner are cumulative, and must be implemented in all games at their assigned times as measured in game time.

1. i. Upon the release of the seekers, the snitch runner is required to remain between the keeper zone lines.
2. ii. At the 23 minute mark of game time, the snitch runner is required to remain within roughly 1.5 yards (about 1.5 metre) of the midline of the field.
3. iii. At the 28 minute mark of game time, the snitch runner is required to use only one arm.
4. iv. At the 33 minute mark of game time, the snitch runner is required to remain within roughly 1.5 yards (about 1.5 metre) of the intersection of the midline of the pitch and sideline of the pitch opposite the scorekeeper and benches.

2. D. Snitch runners may choose to further handicap themselves during a game, however tournament staff and game officials must neither order nor request that they do so.
3. E. No snitch catch shall be invalidated due to a snitch runner not being in compliance with the handicaps.
4. F. Repeated violations of the handicaps is grounds for the replacement of the snitch runner
5. G. If a game proceeds to overtime, all handicaps on the snitch runner are removed for the remainder of the game, except for the requirement to remain between the keeper zone lines, and no further handicaps shall be implemented.

3. Dependencies:

1. Remove 8.3.7.1.E ""E. Move a hoop (unless to fix a dislodged hoop that is not near active gameplay), or cause any hoop to become dislodged.

4. Declining a Snitch Catch

1. Rule:

1. 4.5.3 Declining the Catch

2. Change:

1. 4.5.3. Declining the Catch.
   In limited situations, the catching team may choose to decline the catch.
2. A. A snitch catch cannot be declined unless the catch occurred between the original goal or no-goal signal by the Head Referee and the official reversal of that call pursuant to rule 8.1.3.2.A.

1. i. If the Head Referee had not yet signalled their call prior to the catch, the catch cannot be declined, regardless of whether other officials had made any signals.

3. B. A snitch catch cannot be declined unless the change of the goal call affects whether the period would end in a tie.
4. C. If a catch is declined, play restarts as though the catch had been ruled no good.

3. Dependencies:

1. None

5. Guarding

1. Rule:

1. 7.4.2.6. Guarding Bludgers

2. Change:

1. Penalty: Back to Hoops and Turnover—A player who, at the discretion of the referee, is guarding the free bludger while the player’s team is in possession of two bludgers must be sent back to hoops. A bludger is also turned over to the opposing team. If the quaffle game is also impacted by the guarding, then play is stopped and it is also turned over. If a snitch is caught by the team who is guarding, then the snitch catch is ruled no good.

3. Dependencies:

1. None

6. Charging Without a Ball

1. Rule:

1. 6.3.2.5 Charging

2. Change:

1. 6.3.2.5 Charging [retain the paragraph explaining charging]
2. A. When to charge:

1. i. A player with possession of a ball may charge any opponent of the same position, and keepers and chasers in relation to each other.
2. ii. A charge must not be initiated from behind (see 6.3.1.5. Initial point of contact)

3. B. Illegal charging

1. i. It is illegal to charge an opponent unless you are in complete and sole possession of a ball, such as to break a tackle or to drive to the hoops.
2. ii. It is illegal to initiate contact during a charge so that a single point of the charging player’s body initiates the contact of the charge, such as lowering a shoulder or leading with an elbow. However, side to side or shoulder-to-shoulder contact is permissible.
3. iii. It is illegal for a charging player’s feet to leave the ground during a charge.
4. iv. It is illegal to charge an opponent in the head, neck, groin, from behind, or at or below the knees.
5. A player without a ball must not charge or knock down an opponent without trying to grasp that player, at which point it becomes a tackle and subject to 6.3.2.8

4. C. Charging a helpless receiver—For beaters, it is illegal to charge a receiver who is in the process of catching a ball that is in the air, even if the charger has possession of a ball. The receiver does not have to leave the ground in order to be considered a helpless receiver.

1. i. For quaffle players, charging without already possessing the ball is always illegal.

3. Dependencies:

1. None

7. Gender - Seekers

1. Rule:

1. 7.1.3 Four Maximum Rule

2. Change:

1. 7.1.3. Four maximum rule
2. A quidditch game allows each team to have a maximum of four players who identify as the same gender in active play on the field at the same time.

1. A. Including the seeker when released, a team may not have more than four players who identify as the same gender in play.

3. Dependencies:

1. 1.5 The Four Maximum Gender Rule: remove “not excluding the seeker” and replace with “including the seeker once released”

4. Why:

1. Including seekers in the formula was the first step, and this is the next step. The sport world in general is trying to have better gender equity/parity. While we're on the leading edge when it comes to recognizing those outside the binary, we're not doing as well as we can when it comes to equal playing time. The current rules can see many teams employing as few as two minority players out of 7 total players. Applying 4 max all the time is a small step in the right direction.

8. Gender - Roster

1. Rule:

1. 7.1.1 Rosters and Players

2. Change:

1. B. Each team is permitted a maximum of 14 players on the roster who identify as the same gender (a maximum of 12 for the 2017-2018 season)
2. C. Team rosters must abide by all IQA regulations regarding rosters

3. Dependency:

1. None

9. Limited Brooms

1. Rule:

1. 2.4.4 Limited Brooms

2. Change:

1. Remove this rule
2. Add to 2.4.3 “The tournament director for a game is responsible for offering safe brooms of equal quantity, length and weight to both teams”

3. Dependencies:

1. None

10. Metal Cleats / Boots

1. Rule:

1. 2.5.2.E

2. Change:

1. 2.5.2.E.i is amended to read ‘Studs must not be jagged or frayed so as to be sharp or otherwise dangerous, at the head referee’s discretion. Spikes and blades are not permitted.’
2. 2.5.2.E.ii, reading ‘Spikes or studs must not be completely made of metal or affixed with fully metal caps.’, is removed.

3. Dependencies:

1. None

11. Falsely Claiming Immunity

1. Rule:

1. 5.2.8 Knockout immunity

2. Change:

1. Penalty - Blue: A player who begins or continues to claim immunity when ineligible to do so must receive a blue card, unless they act immediately to correct the claim by lowering their fist and play is not affected by their false claim.

3. Dependencies:

1. None

12. Arm Yanking

1. Rule:

1. 6.3.1.2 Illegal Physical Contact

2. Change:

1. Add 6.3.1.2.P Applying sharp, sudden force (yanking) directly through or on an opponent’s arm, including by linking arms and moving quickly in the opposite direction to an opponent, twisting the body quickly while linking arms to exert sudden force through the arms, or by any other means.

3. Dependencies:

1. None

13. Sliding

1. Rule:

1. 6.3.1.3

2. Change:

1. Add 6.3.1.3.A.i Dives or slides which do not violate the above condition (e.g. side-by-side motion) and are not reckless, dangerous or otherwise illegal shall not be penalised

3. Dependencies:

1. None

14. Kicking Held Balls

1. Rule:

1. 6.3.1.3 Interaction Guidelines

2. Change:

1. 6.3.1.3.E. is added; Kick a ball which an opponent’s hand is touching.
2. 6.3.1.E.i. is added; Kicks which do not violate the above condition, but which constitute reckless play (7.2.7) or make contact with an opponent (6.3.1.2.C) should be penalised as such.

3. Dependencies:

1. None

15. Back Contact

1. Rule:

1. 6.3.1.6. Initial point of contact

2. Change:

1. 6.3.1.6. Initial point of contact—There are several types of physical contact, including pushing, body blocking, charging, grabbing, wrapping, and tackling in which a player must not make initial contact with an opponent from behind.
2. A.The contact must be initiated from the front of the opponent’s torso:

1. i.The front of the torso is defined by a 180 degree straight plane bisecting the player at the middle of both shoulders.
2. ii.To be considered to the front of the opponent and to be eligible to make contact, the navel of the player initiating contact must be in front of this 180 degree plane when contact is initiated.
3. iii.As long as the body of the contacting player is positioned in this manner the actual point of contact may occur at any legal part of the opponent’s torso, arms, or legs above the knee.

3. B.Once contact has been legally established, a player may continue contact even when it results in contact from behind.
4. C.If the referee determines that a player initiates contact by leading with their back, the opposing player may continue the contact and there is no foul.
5. D.If the referee determines that a player spins or turns just prior to contact, causing the opposing player to initiate contact to be from behind, the play may continue and there is no foul for contact from behind.

1. i.If the referee determines that the contacting player had enough time to react and avoid contact after the spin, the contact is not exempt from the contact from behind rules.

6. E.If a player outruns an opponent attempting to initiate contact and the contact is initiated from behind, this is still a foul.
7. Penalty: Back to hoops—A player who unintentionally makes initial contact from outside the 180 degree plane and immediately adjusts to correct the contact may be sent back to hoops at the discretion of the referee based on whether or not the physical contact affected gameplay.
8. Penalty: Yellow—A player who makes initial contact from outside of the 180 degree plane, either intentionally, without immediately adjusting, or in a way that affects gameplay, while performing a push, body block, charge, grab, wrap, or tackle must receive a yellow card.
9. Penalty: Red—A player who makes initial contact from outside of the 180 degree plane in a way that the referee determines to be violent or egregious conduct must receive a red card

3. Dependencies:

1. None

16. Seeker / Snitch Contact

1. Rule:

1. 7.5.4.B Seeker contact with the snitch runner

2. Change:

1. 7.4.5.B A seeker may not push, grab, hold, charge, wrap, tackle or leap onto a snitch runner.

3. Dependencies:

1. None

17. Shin Guards

1. Rule:

1. 2.5.3 Additional equipment

2. Change:

1. 2.5.3.D-G. are renamed 2.5.3.E-H.
2. 2.5.3.D. is added; Shin guards- Plastic or foam shin guards which do not extend above the knee are allowed, but must pass the “knock test”

3. Dependencies:

1. None

18. Turnovers

1. Rule:

1. 3.3.6.2 Resetting

2. Change:

1. Penalty: Turnover - If a player resets a quaffle illegally, then play is stopped and the quaffle is given to the closest eligible player on the opposing team at the point from which the fouling player reset the quaffle. The referee may choose to let play continue if they believe the opposing team is not disadvantaged by where the ball has been illegally moved.

3. Dependencies:

1. None

19. Fingernails

1. Rule:

1. 2.5.1 Safety

2. Change:

1. 2.5.1.A. Players must not have, at the discretion of the head referee, sharp or long fingernails. Nails that are visible when the hand is held palm up are generally considered long.

3. Dependencies:

1. None