After discussions with experts and partners within Sport England, and our medical contacts, QuidditchUK have made the following decisions with regards to our tournaments, clubs, and all UK quidditch activities for the foreseeable future.

First and foremost, the 2020 British Quidditch Cup has been postponed until further notice.

In the early stages of the outbreak, QuidditchUK maintained the possibility that the worst of the epidemic would have passed by mid-late April, at which point hosting a national tournament would still be a realistic aim. However, with recent trends, newly released information, and a growing concern of safety and welfare for our members, we are postponing the British Quidditch Cup.

We still intend to host BQC this year, but given the rapid escalation of the COVID-19 situation in the United Kingdom and Europe, we are currently reluctant to propose an alternative date as we cannot predict when the pandemic will have passed. This decision will also need to consider the exam timetables of our student member base and international quidditch fixtures over the coming months.

A full cancellation of BQC for the 2019-2020 season is still a possibility, depending on how the situation progresses. Should this become our only option, we will inform the community as soon as possible.

Effective immediately, QuidditchUK are strongly discouraging any and all quidditch activity. Member clubs and teams should avoid training together until further notice, and any planned tournaments or events should be postponed or cancelled.

This advice extends to all QuidditchUK clubs, QuidditchUK national teams, Quidditch Premier League teams, and any Youth Quidditch programmes planned or scheduled in the coming months.

If you believe you have come into contact with a person who may be infected with COVID-19 at a quidditch event or team training, you must contact your club leadership and/or QuidditchUK as soon as possible so appropriate action can be taken.

Regarding EQC, QuidditchUK will also be recommending and voting for the postponement of the Division 1 European Quidditch Cup this coming Wednesday (18th April) at a Quidditch Europe consultation.

Quidditch Australia has created the following guidelines for clubs and individuals competing or training. QuidditchUK maintains that clubs should not be engaging in quidditch activities until further notice, but these measures should be practised until the situation is less severe. Further advice will be released when clubs should return to training and fixtures.

We anticipate this to be late May to early June, but do not have a firm date or time as of yet.

Recommendations for Clubs & Individuals

With regards to attendance, individuals should: 

1. Not attend events/training if they have contracted COVID-19
2. Not attend events/training if they have come into contact with someone confirmed to have contracted COVID-19

With regards to personal hygiene, individuals should:

1. Wash hands before and after playing games or touching equipment like mouth guards
2. Ideally use hand sanitiser before and after taking to the pitch
3. Avoid touching their face
4. Avoid sneezing or coughing into hands, clothing, or elbow-pit

*Note: arms and elbows may regularly come into contact to other people through tackles, ball handling, or using ‘elbow-bumps’ as an alternative to handshakes after a game. We recommend sneezing or coughing into a tissue, handkerchief, personal towel, etc, that may be thrown out or cleaned.  

With regards to equipment, individuals should:

1. Minimise sharing of equipment such as Jerseys, Gloves, Brooms, and Headbands
2. Entirely avioid sharing equipment such as Whistles, Water bottles, and mouth guards

Individuals should also:

1. Avoid hugs, handshakes, high fives, or similar contact after a game
2. Avoid the practice of removing a mouthguard during a game
3. Avoid spitting on gloves to clean them or make them more sticky 

Line notes and next steps

• British Quidditch Cup is suspended until further notice.
• The QuidditchUK Executive Management Team are discussing all options with venues and partners and will have a more concrete timeline in the next 1-2 weeks.
• There are no plans to cancel BQC as of yet, but it is still a possibility and will be communicated in due course when the COVID-19 situation is more developed.
• QuidditchUK will be recommending and voting for the suspension of the Division 1 European Quidditch Cup.
• QuidditchUK strongly recommends the suspension of any and all quidditch activities in the United Kingdom until further notice.
• Team UK, Team Scotland, Team Wales are to cease all training until further notice.

For any further information or queries please get in touch via quidditchuk.org/contact