Credit: Jessica Jiamin Lang
MLQ Head of Officials Andrew Canto has announced he will be stepping down. USQ Referee Advancement Coordinator Clay Dockery will assume Canto’s position. All changes will take effect immediately.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that I am resigning as Head of Officials,” Canto said. “This is not an indictment of MLQ. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I could not be more proud of the job we have done in the inaugural season and I have no doubt that MLQ management has the right plan in place to grow the league in measured and thoughtful way by focusing on its players and gameplay. I have never been a part of a harder working group than this past year and I will miss working with them on a daily basis.”
Canto has served as a quidditch referee since World Cup V and was a founding member of the IRDP. He was a major contributor to MLQ in its inaugural season and will be missed.
“The individual that replaces me, Clay Dockery, is the epitome of professionalism,” Canto said. “I have worked with Clay on refereeing for almost four years and he is by far the most qualified candidate to fill the position.”
Dockery has been a head referee since World Cup V and training referees since 2012.
“I am joining MLQ because the organization is on the cutting edge of quidditch’s development and I am excited for the opportunity to help them adapt and grow their referee program,” Dockery said.
In addition to his head referee experience, Dockery also worked with former IQA Gameplay Director Will Hack to write IQA Rulebooks 6 and 7; served as USQ Rules Team Manager for USQ Rulebooks 8 and 9; and is part of the team working on USQ Rulebook 10.
“I’m thoroughly excited about Clay. His deep historical involvement with both the rules-making and the refereeing worlds that have existed will bring some invaluable legacy knowledge to the team,” Pavlovsky said, “and I can’t wait to see how he transitions that into the innovative thoughts and ideas he will undoubtedly drive.”
If you are interested in being part of Dockery’s team of referees, you can go to mlquidditch.com/volunteer.