MLQ is ready to announce tentative plans for a 2021 MLQ season. Last May, MLQ postponed the season indefinitely due to the dangers of COVID-19 and the associated pandemic. Although COVID-19 is still a concern, there is hope for a safe return to play in Summer 2021 due to the increasing administration of vaccines throughout North America.
As infection rates decrease and vaccines become more widely available, MLQ has created a three phase schedule in hopes of providing you with a 2021 quidditch season. In the event that Phase One becomes infeasible, we will move to Phase Two, and in the event that Phase Two becomes unsafe, we will move to Phase Three.
As much as MLQ would like to bring back competitive quidditch, we also need to ensure that we are keeping our athletes, fans and communities safe. The decision regarding how we move from one phase to the next will be determined by COVID-19 numbers and the MLQ Return to Play Guidelines. The guidelines will be released later this spring.
TRYOUTS
In the interest of time and safety, all MLQ tryouts will require video submissions for the 2021 season. There will be no in-person tryouts. Unlike past seasons, all teams will have the same video requirements and–given available game film is at least a year old– there will be supplementary fitness and skill demonstrations required. In the event an athlete is reasonably unable to meet the requirements, franchise staff will work to come up with an alternative submission.
The list of actual requirements, along with the athlete tryout registration form, will go live on March 1.
PHASE ONE
Opening day for the 2021 MLQ season is currently scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 26. The 2021 MLQ Championship is scheduled for Aug. 22-23 in Howard County, Md.
The decision to open our season in late June was made based upon public information regarding COVID-19 and the vaccine. Over 48 million total vaccine doses have been administered within the U.S. so far and infection rates are decreasing across the country, according to the CDC. While there is always the possibility that the latter could change, we are hoping the promise of additional vaccine doses across the country will result in the ability for Americans to safely play quidditch by mid-summer.
In Canada, cases are also falling and vaccine distribution is on the rise, according to public data. However, distribution has not been as rapid as in the U.S. MLQ is monitoring this situation and actively working with Canadian franchise leadership to create alternative options (see Phase Two). That being said, Phase One includes the participation of the Ottawa Black Bears and the Toronto Raiders.
PHASE TWO
Phase Two of the 2021 MLQ season schedule will also kick off on June 26; however, all cross-border play has been removed. The decision to move into this phase or proceed with phase one will be made on April 2 based on our Return to Play Guidelines and the current state of COVID-19 in Canada and the U.S.
This schedule will be employed in the event that either the border between Canada and the U.S. remains closed or it is generally unsafe for cross-border play. Ottawa and Toronto will still participate in MLQ; however, they will play two series against one another and the focus will be on expansion of their franchises.
Should we move into this phase, the Charlotte Royals will temporarily join the East Division as the fifth team. The team would travel to Boston and New York to compete in two SuperSeries. The North Division will proceed with just four teams. The South Division schedule will remain the same as Phase One.
“We’re glad MLQ has been understanding and is giving us this opportunity to show the best we have to offer. We hope this can serve as an entry point for a long-standing relationship between our organizations,” said Ryan Davis, commissioner of the Southeast league and a founder of the Royals.
PHASE THREE
Phase Three shortens the season into one SuperSeries per division. The East Division SuperSeries will be held in Boston and the South Division SuperSeries in Austin. Both will take place July 31 to August 1. The North Division SuperSeries will take place in Cleveland on August 7 and 8. All teams will play the other teams in their division at least twice. As with Phase One and Two, if the Canadian/U.S. border is still closed or it is generally unsafe for cross-border play, Charlotte will join the East and the North will proceed with four teams.
A deadline as to when MLQ will move into Phase Three has not been determined. It will be dictated by our Return to Play guidelines (released later this spring) and the state of COVID-19 in the U.S.
We hope to have the opportunity to bring you high-quality, engaging quidditch once again in 2021. However, as always, the safety of our athletes, fans and communities remains our top priority.
Questions, comments or concerns? Contact MLQ at [email protected].