Tournament News: World Cup and Nationals

Dear members,

Today, we have two pieces of NAF tournament news for you. The first is some initial information regarding the timeline of 2023 NAF World Cup host selection, and the second the announcement of an exciting new class of NAF tournament – ‘Nationals’.

World Cup 2023 – Bidding timeline

When we selected Dornbirn as the host of the 2019 NAF World Cup, the process began at approximately this time, three years in advance of the tournament. Considering the current global Covid-19 pandemic and some feedback from the Dornbirn team (outlining challenges associated with bidding so far in advance), this time, we are aiming to open the window for bid submission in April 2021. Around the turn of the year, you should expect an update, advising what we expect from World Cup bids; what is essential, what is a nice to have and other information regarding what we need to see from prospective hosts to deliver the best possible tournament for the membership. So, if you’re dreaming of hosting the World Cup, keep your eyes peeled in January for more and assemble your bid team for a springtime delivery!

NAF Nationals – Beginning in 2021

The structure of NAF tournaments has long been unchanged. 5 annual, individual Majors, continental / global Major team tournaments, and everything else. This has meant that large, passionate regions of the membership don’t have the option of attending a local a tournament of increased international prestige and increased ELO ranking points unless they play host to a World Cup, a Eurobowl, an Ausbowl Team Tournament or an Amorical Cup. This feels wrong, considering some of the large events that take place and aren’t counted as ‘Major’.

To make the distribution of prestigious events more equitable, we have decided to introduce a new class of tournament, NAF Nationals. If a country is shown to have the tournament infrastructure required according to the below criteria, they may play host to a National in the following year:

• Does not host an individual Major tournament (e.g. Dungeonbowl in Germany – the Majors will remain unchanged)
• Has 100 or more active NAF members (defined as renewed memberships)
• Has at least one tournament of over 50 coaches

Going into 2020, the countries that met this criteria were France, Spain, Italy, Poland and Sweden. So, in 2021, these five nations will be invited to host a National. Led by the regional staff, the communities in these countries will decide how best to do this; whether they will establish a new tournament, confer National status to an existing tournament, or have the honour rotate between various tournaments on an annual basis. We think that the additional branding and the benefit of the same ELO rankings boost as the ’Major’ tournaments will help these Blood Bowling hotbeds produce and / or augment some really exciting tournaments; bringing in competitors from far and wide. Of course, additional nations may be added to this list in time, if they meet the above criteria.

The NTOs in these five countries were notified of this upcoming news earlier in the year, and now they will be able to discuss with you how best to play host to a National. We’re really looking forward to this coming online in 2021, and will be shouting about the tournaments when we’re able!

Please ask any questions about either news item below.

Phil.