Please note that information on this event page is subject to change and we'll inform the community accordingly
==== Website:
https://minnesotadodgeball.com/the-lavender-challenge-2026/
🎉 Welcome to the 2nd Annual Lavender Challenge! 🎉
Hosted by Minnesota Dodgeball, this is a 2-day queer and WTNB-centric dodgeball tournament in the Midwest!
The Lavender Challenge isn’t just about dodgeball—it’s about creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for queer, women, trans, and nonbinary (WTNB) players to compete, connect, and shine. This is your chance to be part of something meaningful and celebrate the athleticism and spirit of the queer community.
We’re dreaming big: we want this to be an event where queer players from across the globe can come to Minnesota, show off their skills, and prove that queer dodgeball players can and will excel at the sport. Are you ready for the Challenge?
📅 Tournament Details Name: The Lavender Challenge - Year 2 Location: Jefferson Activity Center, Bloomington, Minnesota Dates: Saturday, August 15 & Sunday, August 16, 2026 Applications Open: April 2nd, 2026 at 12:00 PM CT Register on TeamLinkt: COMING SOON
👋 Who Can Play? Players: All participants must identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community or the Women, Trans, and Nonbinary (WTNB) community. Allies: We love your support! Help us run the tournament by refereeing, setting up, or breaking down. This is your chance to uplift our community.
🏐 Divisions & Roster Requirements
Saturday, August 16
1️⃣ Open BYOT 6x6 Foam - Double Elimination BYOT = Bring Your Own Team 6 players on the court Roster: Minimum 6 (We suggest a team of 6-8) Please note: We highly encourage having an extra player. If you roster the minimum number of players, you risk being short-handed in the event of an injury. No replacements will be permitted once playoffs have started.
2️⃣ Mixed BYOT 6x6 Foam - Double Elimination 6 players on the court You must have 2 players on the court who identify as WTNB. BYOT = Bring Your Own Team Roster: Minimum 6 / No Max (We suggest a team of 6-8) Please note: We highly encourage having an extra player. If you roster the minimum number of players, you risk being short-handed in the event of an injury. No replacements will be permitted once playoffs have started.
Note: WTNB players may be male-presenting. We trust our community to respect and care for each other. In the event that we have reduced teams, we will combine Open and Mixed.
3️⃣ Cloth-Remix Optional Add-On - Single Elimination (56 player max, 28 player minimum) Minnesota Dodgeball will draft players onto a remix team. Players will play in a single elimination bracket. No round robin play
4️⃣ No-Sting-Remix Optional Add-On - Single Elimination (56 player max, 28 player minimum) Minnesota Dodgeball will draft players onto a remix team. Players will play in a single elimination bracket. No round robin play
Sunday, August 16
5️⃣ Remix Open Foam - Double Elimination The Remix on Sunday centers on community and connection, bringing together players who don’t typically get to share the court. Designed to spread talent across teams and strengthen the broader community. It’s the perfect way to ease into the morning after a night of celebration.
6️⃣ WTNB BYOT 5x5 No-Sting - Double Elimination 5 players on the court BYOT = Bring Your Own Team Roster: Minimum 5 / No Max (We suggest a team of 5-7) Please note: We highly encourage having an extra player. If you roster the minimum number of players, you risk being short-handed in the event of an injury. No replacements will be permitted once playoffs have started.
We will convert to a remix format if we need more numbers Note: This is not a women-only division. Trans men, trans women, and nonbinary players (including male-presenting individuals) are welcome. Note: WTNB players may be male-presenting. We trust our community to respect and care for each other.
💵 Cost Minnesota Dodgeball offers an optional membership program for our local players. Members receive discounted pricing, reflected in the member rates listed below. Out-of-state players should refer to non-member pricing unless they choose to purchase a membership to support Minnesota Dodgeball’s continued growth. Nonmember Pricing Main Division - $50 per division (Open Foam/ WTNB No-Sting/ Sunday Remix) $10 Cloth Remix Add-On or $10 No-Sting Remix Add-On Member Pricing Main Division - $45 per division Optional Add-Ons - $5 Cloth Remix Add-On or $5 No-Sting Remix Add-On Membership: $40/year 📜 Rulesets We’ll be adhering generally to the USA Dodgeball rulesets for all divisions (Foam, Cloth, and No-Sting). International players, please familiarize yourself with the rules here: https://usadodgeball.com/rules 🏆 Prizes 1st Place Medals 2nd Place Medals Banner & Trophy Photo 🌈 Why This Tournament Matters The Lavender Challenge is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of queer joy, athleticism, and community. By joining us, you’re helping to prove that spaces like this are not only needed but essential. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered through sports. Your support helps us elevate queer athletics and build a future where everyone belongs. Let’s make it happen! 💜 Ready to play? Mark your calendars for April 2nd, 2026, when applications open! Let’s show the world what queer dodgeball is all about. 💜
