Q&A Gepidae Open Tournament 2025

REGISTRATIONS
When will the registrations open and close?
The registrations for teams have closed on May 1st. Currently, you can still join an existing team, or register individually.The deadline for this is SundayMay 11th, 10am. However, there are limited spots left. You can do so via linktr.ee/gepidaeopen. If you register as an individual player, mention this at ‘team name’.

Can I still join the cantus?

You can upgrade your ticket from a non-cantus to a ticket with cantus for 12 euros until Sunday May 11th, 10am. After that deadline, an upgrade costs 26 euros. So make up your mind quickly. There are limited spots available.

How do we have to register?
Everyone has to register individually, so friends and family members have to do it themselves. This way everyone will have their own ticket and hence can state whether they want to join the cantus. We will ask everyone to explicitly formulate their own volleyball level (such that we can construct even poules), this is easier if everyone just fills out their own registration. One of the questions asked is which team you will join. Based on this team name, we will link all individual players to the right team.

I cannot fill an entire team, but do want to come, what should I do?
Just register the few people you can take with you. We will then couple you to others that cannot fill an entire team, such that you can partake in the tournament.

I cannot come to the tournament anymore, what can I do?

You can simply just give your ticket to somebody else, but please do notify us timely! Especially if the person will join another team. We want their info on allergies and volleyball level and such.

TOURNAMENT
Is it indoors or beach volleyball?

It is an indoor tournament! So you play regular six versus six volleyball. Make sure to bring clean and proper shoes. Our Beach Committee hosts this year’s Beach Open on Saturday June 28th.

What will the schedule for the day be, as people will arrive later or have to leave earlier?
Check-In is mandatory and is scheduled between 1050u and 1120u. You must be, dressed up in sports clothes and your outfit, in hall 1 at 1130u latest. Believe me, you really don’t want to miss the opening of the tournament. The finals will be played from 18u to 1820u ish, after which we provide dinner and there is some time to hit the showers. Around 1945u we think the cantus can start, but the exact time will likely only be determined on the day itself.

Do I have to bring people from outside of Gepidae?
No, you don’t have to. But we highly encourage you to do bring people from outside the association (or people who have played with Gepidae before). If everybody will bring at least someone that doesn’t know anyone, it will be much more fun for any externals, as it won’t be that everybody already knows each other. Just think of what will happen if there’s only ten people from outside the association.

Who can I bring?
Your mum, your dad, your brother, your sister, your cousin, your niece, your neighbours, your grandma, your friends with benefits, your aunt, your roommates, your nephew, your uncle, your granddad, your huisbaas, your stepmom, a VVV-tje, your favourite teacher, your study mate, your coach, your favourite board member, your TA, Maurice, your team members, someone who has never played volleyball before, your favourite international, your coworkers, your thesis supervisor, your teamlead, your scharrel, your committee members, just anyone in general that you remotely know.

Huh, it will be beginner level focussed, why?
The board has stated in their policy that the tournament will be more focussed on beginner-level. Therefore, we encourage everyone who is really good at volleyball, to just bring some people who are not.

But I will bring a full team with ex-top divisions players…
Fun! No, that will be fine as well. At registration, we ask you to describe the level of your players, such that we can construct poules of the same level, which will make it much more fun for everybody.

But I will bring a full team with ex-top divisions players…

Fun! No, that will be fine as well. At registration, we ask you to describe the level of your players, such that we can construct poules of the same level, which will make it much more fun for everybody.

May I bring underage people and how will that be fixed with the cantus?
Yes you can! They can join the cantus and will do so on soda.

Can I bring more than eight people?
Yes, you can, with a maximum of twelve. If you are more than twelve we ask you to register two teams. Do know that you will play fewer minutes yourself, when you have a larger team.

Match Schedule

You will be scheduled to play, but also to referee. This will mostly come down to just tallying points, but stay aware of which matches you are linked to, as we need a referee at each court.

Matches take thirteen minutes, after which there is a two minute changing period.
As soon as we mark the end of the round, the rally that is currently being played will be finished, thus yielding the final point.
If the score ends in a tie after those thirteen minutes, one more point will be played to determine the winner. We don’t do draws.
The finals will be played without a timer. The first to score 25 points (with two points difference) wins.
There are four poules of six teams, which are based on level.
The competition will consist of two poule phases and thereafter a knockout phase.
In between the two poule phases, the top and bottom scoring teams of each poule play promotion/relegation (PD) matches, in order to determine the new poules for the next phase. The number five of the better poule takes on the number two of the lower poule and the number six of the former poule takes on the number one of the latter.
Make sure to check in timely at the match managing tables (MMT) to see if you are up for a PD match or if you have to referee one!
If you promote or relegate, you switch poules. This means that the schedule that you will have received at the start of the day is incorrect and needs to be updated. Make sure to do this at the MMT on time.
After the PD matches, enough time is scheduled, as there are no matches during that round. Instead, a big group photo will be taken in hall 1.
After the second poule phase a knockout phase consisting of semi-finals and finals will be played. Make sure you check in at the MMT on time to see if you are up for a knockout match or if you have to referee one!

CANTUS
How does it work?
Since the cantus is on campus, this comes at some restrictions. So, unlike a regular cantus, we cannot offer unlimited beer. On arrival, anyone who registered for the cantus will obtain tokens which can be exchanged for three liters of beer during the cantus. This should somewhat be sufficient to get you to Mexico and back. But if not, drinks will be on own expense. If you don’t know what a cantus is, just register and you will be fine.

Will it just be beer?
Yes, only for people who have a medical condition, like gluten intolerance, can we make an exception. Please reach out to us if this implies to you.

Can I bring some people to the cantus, that cannot partake in the tournament?
It will be more fun if everybody that wants to join the cantus,also joins the tournament, so do convince them to join! But if they really can’t, they can just solely join the cantus. The price however, will stay unchanged.

DINNER, LUNCH and DRINKS
What will dinner be and how can I arrange any allergies?
We will provide burgers and fries, which is a proper necessity for the cantus that will follow. Vegetarian options are available. Any other allergies, like lactose intolerance or gluten free options, can be entered in the form. We will personally reach out to see what we can arrange for you.

Will lunch be arranged?
Unfortunately it is not. This to keep some costs down. You can bring your own sandwiches or order food items from Maurice (at the O’café).

Can we order drinks?
Of course, Maurice will be ready with his crew to serve us all. Do note: no glass in either sports hall and no drinks on the courts (or whilst refereeing/counting). For Hall 2 this means that bringing open containers of any liquid are not allowed.

TRAVEL

What is easiest going by train?

It is easiest to travel to station ‘Tilburg University’, as this is a four minute walk from the Sports Center. From ‘Tilburg Centraal’ you can grab a bus.

How easy is it to park around the Sports Center?

Could be busy on a Saturday, but there are some parking spots right in front of the Sports Center (SC). Other options are along the ‘Sportweg’ (one-way street), around the houses north of the SC, but south of the railway. Or navigate to ‘Tilburg University Park and Ride’ at the train station, which is a four minute walk. Note: everything west of the ‘Ringbaan-West’ is free of a parking charge.

What is the full address?

Tilburg University Sports Center, Academielaan 5, 5037 ET Tilburg, route description via linktr.ee/gepidaeopen

OTHER
What is this year's theme?
We as the Tournament Committee, TOCO for intimi, have got our very special year theme: TOCO LOCO. Therefore, the theme of our biggest event this year is: ‘Viva el TOCO LOCO’. Basically, just anything Mexican. So come dressed up as a cactus, your favourite Mexican, a mob boss, a taco, a llama, a sambaball, you name it. Best outfit is up for a prize! Do you need some inspiration? Have a look at our moodboard at linktr.ee/gepidaeopen