How Quadball is A Keeper for Inclusive Sport

In a time when the conversation surrounding sports and gender is rife with controversy, quadball is quietly yet powerfully rewriting the narrative. This coed, full-contact sport is thriving against all odds and gearing up for its largest World Cup yet, to be held in Belgium in July 2025.

Photo Credits: Major League Quidditch

What is Quadball?

Originally inspired by the fictional sport quidditch, quadball has grown into a legitimate athletic endeavor that blends elements of rugby, dodgeball, and basketball. The sport is fast-paced, strategic, and unapologetically inclusive, featuring mixed-gender teams where players compete on equal footing.

Quadball has long embraced a progressive ethos. With its gender maximum rule (limiting the number of players of the same gender on the field to three at any time), the sport ensures inclusivity without compromising competitiveness. This unique approach has made quadball a beacon for athletes who feel excluded by traditional sports structures, and allows athletes to play with their fullest capacity and fervor, without fear of criticism from a gendered lens.

Thriving Amid Turmoil

As anti-trans rhetoric and legislation targeting participation in sports reach alarming levels in the United States, quadball has doubled down on its commitment to inclusivity. The sport welcomes trans and nonbinary players without hesitation, demonstrating that a person’s talent,

passion, and skill—not their gender identity—should define their role on the field.

The quadball community stands as a powerful counterpoint to exclusionary policies in other sports. Players and organizations alike work tirelessly to create spaces where everyone belongs, and the sport's growing popularity speaks volumes about the hunger for these spaces.

In the U.S., where trans athletes face relentless scrutiny and bans from competing in gendered categories, quadball's structure sidesteps many of these conflicts altogether. By allowing players to self-identify and by respecting their identity on the field, the sport not only normalizes inclusion but also proves that it strengthens, rather than undermines, competitive integrity.

“If we want to be leaders and advocates in international sport, we as athletes and administrators need to lean into where we quadball is already excelling,” said Bobby Click, Executive Director of the International Quadball Association, “which is that sport is meant to be inclusive, and meant to bring people together. If you can play, you should be able to.”

Building Momentum for Belgium

The 2025 Quadball World Cup in Belgium promises to be a historic event. Teams from around the globe are preparing to compete, showcasing the sport’s explosive growth since its inception. National governing bodies, such as US Quadball and the International Quadball Association, have seen an uptick in registrations, especially from younger athletes who are drawn to the sport’s inclusivity and vibrant community.

Belgium will host hundreds of players and spectators, celebrating not just the game but the ideals it represents. For many, this World Cup is more than a tournament—it’s a statement. It’s proof that sports can evolve to be fair and inclusive while remaining fiercely competitive.

Why Quadball Matters Now More Than Ever

At a time when the sports world is fraught with division over who gets to compete and how, quadball stands out as a model of what sports can and should be. As the 2025 World Cup approaches, quadball reminds us that a more inclusive future for sport is not only possible—it’s already happening.

If you want to go see a game, learn to play, or get more involved, you can find more information about the International Quadball Association here: https://www.iqasport.org/