US National Team to Transform Squad Structure
They may have reclaimed their World Cup title earlier this year, but as US Quidditch’s strategic development moves in a new direction, so too is the national team.
From the start of the season, the US team will employ a standing team model as it prepares for the 2019 IQA Continental Games and the 2020 IQA World Cup. The standing roster will supply the players for all upcoming international events.
This new strategy will lend the team valuable consistency and allow players to build as an elite unit together. With no maximum cap on the team, this move may also allow for a greater number of players to gain access to the closed training camps, world-class coaching, and elite tactics that make the US national team one of the best in the world.
That said, while there will be designated periods of time for major personnel changes, the nature of the standing roster will allow for additions and cuts to be made on an ad hoc basis. Players will need to continuously justify their place on the team through their personal conduct, play, and discipline on the pitch. Anonymous scouts picked by head coach Michael Parada will also observe and provide feedback throughout the season.
New applicants will not only have the chance to showcase their skills at targeted training camps held in December 2018 and January 2019 but will also need to provide a letter of recommendation and videos of match play as supporting evidence.
The application process will close on January 30, 2019, but with fierce competition for every spot on the US team, candidates will already need to prove themselves to be extraordinary.
What do you think about this latest change to the US Quidditch strategy?