Division Q Returns to the Court for Second Season
Hannah Bevis was brought on to keep score. The veteran sports reporter had friends in Division Q, a semi-competitive recreation league for members of the queer community, and she was happy to volunteer on their behalf. Running the clock led to pick-up games and organizing the three-on-three (3v3) league. “The community aspect of it is what I think I would have liked to have as a kid,” says Bevis. “It’s a nice rebound as an adult.”
Division Q was founded in the summer of 2023. The core group of organizers met through a pick-up group in Northampton, and they were soon hard at work garnering interest in a queer league and finding a gym space. The inaugural five-on-five (5v5) season ran from November 2023 to February 2024, featuring eight teams. The Fighting Artichokes walked off the court with the championship.
As the league transitioned into its first 3v3 season, Bevis was happy to help with advertising, refereeing and scorekeeping. (All positions are volunteer-based.) Bevis says that the 3v3 league is “more like street ball,” where the rules are looser but the goal is for games to be competitive but fair. In both formats, skill levels ranged from no experience to having played at the college level, and players were asked to rate themselves at the outset so that teams could be organized accordingly. In addition to building community, Bevis observes that many people have become better players: “The skill level improvement has been noticeable in people who have done both leagues,” she says. Fans have showed their appreciation throughout with homemade signs and banners.
The second 5v5 season will run from October 6 to December 15, with six to seven regular season games followed by single-elimination playoffs. Registration slots will increase from 80 to 96, and team roster sizes will increase from 10 to 12 players. All games will be played at Mountain View School in Easthampton.
Bevis stresses that volunteers are the heart of Division Q. “We’re always looking for people to help,” she says. “Even if they aren’t interested in playing basketball, they may be interested in a queer community event and want to give a couple of hours to help the league run.”
Bevis, who was often picked last in junior high school due to poor hand-eye coordination, encourages everyone to give Division Q a shot. “I think it’s hard to find sports programming as an adult for someone who wouldn’t consider themselves athletic,” she says. “It’s nice to have a place to play as an adult.”
For more information on Division Q, visit divisionq.org.
