Each team in quadball features seven players on the pitch: three chasers, two beaters, one keeper and one seeker. Players must keep a plastic broom between their legs at all times during active play, while beaters use dodgeballs to knock out opposing players. Chasers and keepers throw a volleyball through one of three vertical hoops to score 10 points; catching the flag earns 35 extra points. The team with the highest total score wins. 

MSU Quadball has practices three times a week during the season with regular competitive tournaments. Sophomore starting keeper Corey Johnston serves as the club's president and says he's proud of how strong the quadball community is on campus. 

"We’re a very tight-knit group. We do typically do a team social, a study hall, a film review, getting ice cream, something once a week,” Johnston said. “We like to brand ourselves as a sport where, if you’re having trouble making friends or maybe you just want to get a little in shape, the only barrier to entry should be just showing up."

During practice, the team ran through various drills, and head coach Luc Marklin demonstrated effective strategies for scoring with the three goals set up. The more senior members gave newcomers tips and tricks they could use in tournaments against other teams.

You don't need to be hyper-athletic to play quadball, senior chaser Owen Connell said. Before picking up the sport four months ago, Connell had no athletic experience. He spent the summer dialing in his skills with the Detroit Innovators, a major league quadball team.

The competitiveness of quadball is always apparent, but the lessons learned from playing a team sport alongside friends have taught Connell lessons on pushing through adversity, stress and fatigue.

"You have to fail," Connell said. "You have to be okay with that because you will not improve unless you are willing to actually try."

What makes quadball different from many other sports is its co-ed nature. MSU Quadball head coach Luc Marklin has transitioned from being a player to serving as a head coach. This has helped Marklin, a sixth-year student, identify individual player strengths. Marklin enjoys the mixed-gender aspect of quadball for competitiveness and strategy.  

"It’s nice to have all the different body shapes and different genders because then you can be like, 'Oh, you’re going to be really good for this player,'” Marklin said. “And then you're like 'Oh, we have these six people who do this system really well, so they’re going to beat those people.' I find that really interesting strategy-wise.” 

Marklin is optimistic about the upcoming season and the future of MSU quadball, with the club gaining six new players. 

“I’m hoping to see the growth of the rookies because they showed up really well yesterday in their first unofficial tournament," Marklin said.

MSU will travel to Ohio this Sunday to compete in the Rust Belt League Meet One Tournament at Pearson Metropark in Oregon, Ohio. For more information and updates on the season, find MSU Quadball on its website and Instagram.