Dear Qommunity,
There isn’t much I can say to you that you don’t already know. To say that the IQA finds itself in a bit of a pickle may even be an understatement.
For several years now, we have been at an impasse. The sport is fading. The player base is dwindling. Some NGBs are surviving on stubbornness and caffeine alone, all while struggling to attract enough new players to turn things around.
And yet, I still believe quadball can grow again. I wouldn’t be writing this if I didn’t.
As cliché as it may sound, the only way we can solve this is together. From top to bottom and bottom to top. For teams to take every opportunity available to gain exposure. For NGBs to chase every regional and national grant they can. And for the IQA to help coordinate those efforts while also pushing for bigger opportunities and wider visibility, among many other responsibilities at every level.
Right now, one of the IQA’s main problems starts at the top. The Board of Trustees currently has three members. Unfortunately, in this case, three is not the magical number. The Constitution calls for a minimum of four Trustees.
And this is where you all fit in.
I know that many of you who are willing to volunteer are already giving your time to your teams, to your NGBs, or to other quadball organisations. But reaching that minimum number of Trustees, and hopefully surpassing it, isn’t optional — it’s essential. Without it, we cannot properly fulfil our responsibilities.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for leading the IQA, though day-to-day operations are managed by the Directors. Being a Trustee does not require superpowers, but it does require commitment, communication, and care for the sport.
The Trustees’ most pressing assignment right now is to hold a final discussion on the winning bids for World Cup 2027 and World Cup 2029 once they’ve been selected by the Bidding Committee. An announcement that must be made as soon as possible so that all of you have more time to prepare for both events (more on this at a future time).
And if the governance issue is the symptom, the deeper issue is volunteering itself. This is fully my personal opinion, but I look around me, at the NGBs and regions I’ve “grown up with”, and I see constant burnout from people who have been volunteering for years because there are no replacements. It’s not always the case, of course, but I’ve seen so many occasions where teams have pulled through, tournaments have taken place, and work has been done because that one person or small group of people have thought “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done”. And that thought has often made all the difference.
I know it can be a pain. I know it’s often quite easy to just think “someone else will do it” or “I’m not here for this”. Those are perfectly acceptable thoughts. But maybe, someday soon, there won’t be a “this” to be here for.
So please, help us get this message to the whole community and consider volunteering. Even if you’re unsure, reach out for a conversation. Be it as a Trustee (which we desperately need), any position within the IQA (which you will find here), or by helping with all the little jobs and tasks, from local teams to NGB committees, that help our sport survive.
Thank you all for getting this far, but especially, thank you to…
- Those of you who store your team’s equipment because you’re the only one who has room.
- Those of you who have had to learn rudimentary finances to run your team’s treasury.
- Those of you who come up with, and make, the videos for your social media.
- Those of you who act as the team’s emotional support when someone needs someone to talk to.
- Those of you who learn the ins and outs of social media to get your messages out there.
- Those of you who become refs against your will so that your team has the minimum quota.
- Those of you who remind everyone in the group chat about the important things, from mouthguards to meetings.
- Those of you who take the time out of your day to go to schools to show and teach our sport.
- Those of you who organise team-building events and hype everyone to join.
- To the photographers and designers who work tirelessly for hours and mostly for free.
- Those of you who wake up at 4am to represent your teams and NGB at a meeting being held on the other side of the world.
- Those of you who take minutes at every meeting.
- Those of you who know the rulebook by heart and are your team’s go-to person for them.
There are more. There are always more. And they deserve our thanks.
That’s all from me, for now at least.
Thank you for caring,
Daniel
P.S. My door is always open. If you have ideas, concerns, or just want to talk about where we’re headed, please reach out.
Photo by Koách Koạch