IQA Rulebook 2022.pdf

The IQA Continental Games take place biennially. National and regional teams from countries in each continental region compete to provide high-level competition regularly around the globe and allow teams a chance to compete between IQA World Cup years. Continental regions are determined by the IQA by team density and reasonable travel distances for our members.

National Governing Bodies that currently do not have a Continental Games within their region are invited to join an alternative Continental Games following discussion with the IQA Events & Membership Services Department. 

European Games is an opportunity for European teams to show us what they are made of. Now in its fourth iteration, this event welcomes national and regional teams from all over Europe to compete and earn the champion title. 

Previous hosts
2022: Limerick, Ireland
2019: Bamberg, Germany
2017: Oslo, Norway
2015: Sarteano, Italy

Pan-American Games is an opportunity for teams from the American continent to show us what they are made of. Now in its second iteration, this event welcomes national and regional teams from all over North and South America to compete and earn the champion title. 

Previous hosts
2022: Lima, Peru
2019: Richmond, USA

We hope to host this event in the future. Currently, we are working on grassroots development within this region.

European Games 2022

European Games 2019

European Games 2017

European Games 2015

Pan-American Games 2022

Pan-American Games 2019

News articles related to continental games

Continental Games

The IQA is thrilled to announce a historic change to the sport—the introduction of what has been known unofficially as the “3-Max” policy into the international level of the sport. After an overwhelming show of support from our dedicated members, this rule change represents our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and diversity within the sport.

The “3-Max” policy states that during portions of the game without a seeker (the first 20 minutes of the game, as well as any overtime played), each team may not have more than three players (of the six total players in play at the time) who identify as the same gender in play at the same time. This limit would increase to four players of the same gender when the seventh player (the seeker) is in play.

The IQA recently concluded a member-wide survey to understand player’s opinions on the “3-Max” policy, the experiences of our players, and what exceptions, if any, are needed for the sport to continue to grow. The survey was distributed to all 34 NGBs, who were each given 45 anonymous codes to provide to their players. In total, 516 players responded. The data was analysed by the IQA “3-Max” Survey Committee, primarily comprised of Lore Badts (IQA Director of Communications), Jeremy Schleicher (IQA Director of Operations), Jamie Turbet (IQA Director of Membership and Gameplay), Michael Clark-Polner (IQA Rulebook Manager), and Eléonore Devillepoix (IQA “3-Max” Survey Analyst). 

The support for the updated policy has received an overwhelming endorsement from IQA members and players. Over 80% of survey respondents voted in favor of adopting this policy for competition between NGBs, and over 75% voted in favor of adopting it within their own NGBs. The survey demonstrated that support came from various categories of teams, NGBs and players.

In addition to the overwhelming support from the member survey, the NGBs passed a motion to adopt the policy in any capacity during the March 2023 Annual Assembly, and a petition in favor of the policy received over 700 signatures. This global consensus reinforces the unity of the quadball community, and the collective vision for a more diverse and inclusive sport. There is also strong support for the implementation of exemptions to various categories of teams at both the international and national level. A full report of the survey results, as well as further details on exemptions, will be released at the end of October.

We extend our thanks to all members who participated, voted, detailed their concerns, and voiced their support for this transformative change, as well as to the volunteers on the “3-Max” Survey Committee for their time and expertise. If you would like to contact the committee with any questions, please email genderpolicy@iqasport.org.

IQA Adopts the “3-Max” Gender Policy

The International Quadball Association is pleased to open bidding for its 2024-25 event cycle, including all three Continental Games in 2024 and the World Cup in 2025. As such, the IQA is currently accepting bids for the following events: 

- IQA European Games 2024 
- IQA Oceanian-Asian Games 2024 
- IQA Pan American Games 2024 
- IQA World Cup 2025  

Each of these events is scheduled to occur over a single weekend between the months of June and August. The exact dates within this timeframe are adjustable to accommodate bidding organizations in delivering their best proposals.  

The IQA will accept bids from destination marketing organizations, conventions and visitors bureaus, event planning organizations, community groups, and IQA-member national governing bodies.  

All bids are due by October 29, 2023. Should the IQA not receive a suitable bid or should fewer than five teams from at least three member NGBs register for any of the IQA Continental Games, that event will not be organized this cycle.

You can view the IQA 2024-25 Events Bid Manual through this link, which contains all the information you need to prepare your submission.

Proposals must be submitted through this form.  

Questions may be directed to the IQA Events Department via email at events@iqasport.org.

Bidding for IQA Events 2024-2025 is open

We’re excited to announce that the IQA Management Hub has undergone some updates. While these changes might not immediately catch the eye, they hold the promise of a smoother and more efficient experience. A complete overhaul of the backend architecture has taken place, aiming to optimize the user experience and effectively resolve reported issues. This is exciting news for everyone, as the IQA Management Hub is a tool used by many, as we take a step forward in creating a seamless experience for our users. 

Looking to the future, the IQA is excited to introduce a new era of functionality of the Hub – one that adapts to the needs of its users. The ability to fine-tune features based on individual preferences is on the horizon, ensuring that each user's experience becomes more tailored and efficient. 

The immediate emphasis is on addressing bugs and ensuring the platform reaches a stage where we can learn on how to improve it. This data will be instrumental in pinpointing areas for enhancement and crafting a more refined platform. The subtle alterations taking place now are setting the groundwork for an even more sophisticated and user-centric IQA Management Hub.

But that's not all – exciting developments are in the pipeline. The IT department has been hard at work conceptualizing and crafting new features that will elevate the IQA Management Hub's capabilities even further. While these features are still under wraps, the mere promise of innovation should leave users eager to see what's in store.

All of this is incredibly hard work that usually goes by unnoticed, that’s why the IQA wishes to celebrate the hard work of the developer who has put many hours into the project in order to get more insights about our community needs and act to improve the experience of users visiting the hub.


At the forefront of this evolution stands Marian Dziubiak, an accomplished software engineer hailing from Ireland. Marian, as a devoted volunteer with the IQA, he employs his technical skills to amplify the IQA's digital landscape. 

By simplifying IT processes and enhancing online platforms, his contributions play an important role in creating the IQA's vision of a user-friendly experience for all its players, referees and volunteers. With a redesigned backend architecture and an unwavering commitment, he is finding new ways to create a smooth and accessible quadball experience. Marian's contributions as a software engineer stand as a cornerstone in this ongoing journey of advancement and accessibility.

Interested in joining the IQA’s IT department? You can apply here.

IQA Management Hub Updates

The Rules Team has completed their proposals for changes to the rulebook for 2023.  They have proposed 7 rules changes, including 1 major change, in addition to 3 clarifications and minor fixes.

These changes can be found below, and are now being sent to the full Rules Committee for review.  As this is a Major Change year, as previously announced, up to three major changes may be passed with a simple majority of non-abstaining votes by the rules committee.  Only 1 major change has been proposed for this year at this time (details on an additional possible major change can be found below the Rules Team proposals).

Introduction of a 1 meter restricted zone around the hoops.

The Rules Team has proposed creating a 1 meter zone around each of the hoops within which defensive players may not remain.  Rather than penalizing every instance of players remaining in this restricted zone, the rule would penalize such players for any dislodge that happens as a result of their own contact with the hoop, even if they are forced into it by an opponent.  

The proposal includes exceptions for players in the zone attempting to play a loose ball, and players shall not be penalized for being knocked into a hoop by an opposing volleyball carrier.

This rule is expected to reduce the number of dislodged hoops by reducing the likelihood of players positioning themselves so close to the hoops that any attempt to move them out of the way would likely knock the hoop down.

The Rules Team has proposed moving the right and left hoops to be a full 3 meters away from the center hoop, as measured pole to pole.  This is an increase from the current distance, which is 2.34 meters.

The Rules Team has proposed a change to the contact from behind rules for players who are bent over in the process of picking up a ball, or while standing up after being grounded.  All contact to such players would be treated as contact from behind.  

This would have the same exceptions as contact from behind (including an expansion of the spin-turn rule to cover bending over right before contact, and the stopped momentum exception).  It would also only apply in the above situations (bending over to pick up a ball, and being bent over while getting back up off the ground), and would not cover a player who has bent over in other situations, including bending over to gain such protections.

Allow a limited free reset into the defensive half when 2 hoops are dislodged.

The Rules Team has proposed that, when the offensive team has the volleyball in their opponent’s half, and two of their opponent’s hoops are down, the team may carry the ball back into their half in order to request a stoppage for the hoops be set back up, without this counting as a reset.

The ball must be carried across the midline, not thrown, and the player must inform the referee that they are resetting it to request the stoppage before resetting the ball.

Currently teams may retreat into their own half to request a stoppage to reset their opponents’ hoops, but it counts as a reset, regardless of whether one or two hoops are dislodged.  Under the proposed rule, this would remain the case when only one hoop is dislodged.

Allowance for alternate ways to determine the team calling the coin toss.

The Rules Team has proposed allowing the event director to set the system by which the team that calls the coin toss shall be selected during their event.  The proposed rule would leave distance traveled as a default method of determining, in case the event director does not state an alternate method of determining the calling team.

Banning pockets on the flag runner’s clothing

The Rules Team has proposed banning open pockets on the clothing of flag runners in order to increase seeker safety.
Under this proposal, pockets shall be ignored if they are securely closed by tape, zippers, or are sewn shut.

Simplify and streamline the headbeat rule

The Rules Team has proposed removing the position and possession based exceptions within the headbeat rule.  The result of the proposal would be that headbeats would become illegal unless they meet one of the 3 points currently listed in 5.2.6.A.i. (struck player changes speed or direction, the ball grazed the head or made contact with negligible force, or the dodgeball was propelled, without excessive force, from approximately 5 meters or more away).

The Rules Team has proposed a change to how the shin guard rule is handled in the rulebook in order to exempt plastic portions of the shin guards from both the knock test and the “bend easily” requirement.  

The way the shin guard rules were adjusted in 2022 exempted plastic portions of shin guards from the knock test, but failed to exempt them from the requirement that they “bend easily” with minimal force.  

Adjusting the wording of 4.3.3.B.ii. for increased clarity

The Rules Team has proposed adding the phrase “to score” to the wording of 4.3.3.B.ii. In response to a concern about the clarity of the language in the rule.  The proposal is not intended to change the effect of the rule in any way.

The Rules Team has proposed defining what counts as a “sleeve” in Appendix A.  This definition is meant to clarify what is and is not allowed to be worn on the forearm, after there was some confusion regarding items that encased the arm but were not part of a shirt, jersey, or other item.  

The proposed definition would require that, to be a sleeve, and thus allowed on the forearm, the item of clothing must cover at least a portion of the upper arm, but does not require that the item be attached to a shirt, jersey, or other similar item.

There is a second potential major change proposal.  That potential additional proposal is the adjustment of the gender rule to “3-max” while the seeker is not in play.

This potential change is working on a different timeline, but shall be treated as a change for this year, despite the delay.  This different timeline is part of an effort to gain additional information for the IQA Trustees, the Rules Team, and the Rules Committee.

This process is, however, expected to extend beyond the release of the 2023 rulebook.  If a change to the gender rule is approved, the 2023 rulebook shall be updated to include that change.  Regardless of the result, any decision on the gender rule shall be made well in advance of the next IQA run events to which this rulebook would directly apply.

Additionally, due to the timing of the process on that proposal, NGBs participating on the IQA Rules Committee shall not be required to seek approval from the committee to amend their domestic rulebooks to include a 3-max gender rule for their upcoming season (a move normally required for participating NGBs to have rules which differ from the IQA rulebook).

Continental Games

European Games

Pan-American Games

Oceania-Asian Games

Previous Medallists