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Community Cup: September 12, 2025 • Fortress Obetz

FAQs

Get answers to the most commonly asked questions about the Community Cup!

Team doing tug of war

The Community Cup

We want everyone participating in The Community Cup to feel ready for a great day, whether you’re an athlete, team captain or volunteer. Here’s a list of common questions that come up that can help clear up some confusion.

If you still have questions, email us at cup@columbussports.org.

We'll be back for year seven on a new date - Friday, September, 13, 2024 at Fortress Obetz. Barring any stoppage time, the day runs from at 8 a.m. ET until around 3 p.m. ET. For more, check out the Schedule.

Head to the Team Registration page to lock in your team’s spot today! Once you’re registered, we’ll be in touch with next steps and resources to help you assign team captains and recruit athletes.

Once your team is registered you can head to our Athlete Registration page to join your team and sign up to compete and fill out all required forms. Allow our team 48 hours after your company registers to add your team to the drop-down selection. 

Qualified athletes are full-time employees, part-time employees, or interns of a registered company. All athletes are required to be 18 or older. 

Friends and family (non-employees) are welcome to attend by completing the Friends and Family Registration

Every participant onsite is required to complete the waiver and check-in at Athlete Check-in whether they are participating in events or spectating. Any employee of a company is requested to complete the Athlete Registration waiver.

Athlete Check-in at Main Entrance: 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Athlete Check-in relocates to Tailgate Zone: 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Athlete Registration Closes 1:00 p.m.

No, but you can sign up as a Volunteer or reach out to us at cup@columbussports.org}} and we can help convince your team to compete. 

Check out the About page for the full details. Here's a quick rundown. Central Ohio organizations complete their Team Registration and their employees complete the Athlete Registration. Teams are divided into four divisions based on the size of their entire staff - not just the ones competing.

On Cup day, teams and athletes compete for points across 14 different Sports. At the end of the day, the highest-scoring team in each division wins the Community Cup. When they're not competing, athletes and supporters can hang out in the Tailgate Zone, interact with local companies in the Home Court or cheer on their colleagues. Here are some resources For Supporters

Visit Team Resources for information on the Tailgate Zone, Home Court and other areas where your team can relax, recharge and refuel during the day.

The deadline to register a team is Wednesday, July 31 at 11:59 PM. This allows team captains time to recruit and rally teammates before the event.

The Athlete Registration deadline is the morning of the competition Friday, September 13 and is all digital. The 5K Race registration deadline is Tuesday, September 10 at 11:59 PM Athletes must designate on their registration whether they wish to participate in the 5K Race. There will be no onsite registration for the 5K Race. 

Teams must have a minimum of four (4) athletes to compete. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to building your lineup. 

  • 5K Race/One-Mile Walk: No minimum participation. No maximum participation. 
  • Dodgeball: Each side has six (6) athletes on the court, but you can have anywhere from four (4) to 10 on your team. It's a matter of how much you want to dip, dodge, duck, dive and dodge. 
  • Tug of War: Each round starts with eight (8) athletes per side, but strong teams can choose to compete with less. 
  • Drop-In Events: Up to four (4) athletes, including at least two (2) gender identities. i.e., Male, Female, Non-Binary. There is no restriction on an athlete competing in multiple events.

No, there is no limit to the number of athletes a team can have, however a team can only earn points once per event.

For example, Team A can have only one team of four athletes compete in golf chipping. Once Team A earns their score for golf chipping, their score is final. In other words, they cannot have two foursomes compete and play the best ball. 

Yes, but we encourage you to recruit as many as you can to meet the minimum. If that's not possible, you can have the same athlete(s) take extra turns to create an average score for their team.

An athlete can participate in as many events as they want, however the Schedule with Tug-of-War and Dodgeball will make it challenging for one person to participate in all events. We encourage teams to get as many coworkers and colleagues involved as they can.

Friends and family of all ages are welcome to participate in the 5K Race and One-Mile Walk, only registered athletes can score points for their team. Family and friends can enjoy the other Sports if there are no teams waiting to compete for points. 

Dodgeball and Tug-of-War are for registered athletes only.

Each participant will have to sign a waiver to participate in any event. You will find the Friends and Family Registration on the Athlete Registration page.

Each participant is required to sign the waiver online under Athlete Registration or onsite. Once you have checked in at the Athlete Check-in tent with your Events.com QR code, you will receive a wristband to participate. Team Captains can view their registered teammates on Events.com.

Participants can wear weather appropriate apparel for the 5K Race. After it’s over, participants are required to wear their team t-shirt.

Your Team Captain(s) will receive your 5K Race bibs at Athlete Check-in.

To register for the 5K Race, visit Athlete Registration, join your team, and select Athlete Waiver + 5K Race Registration. 

Scoring by event is detailed in the Community Cup Handbook and the sports page, and the live scoreboard will be updated by our Mathletes throughout the day.

Scoring is subject to review until the conclusion of all events.

Learn more about the Charity Challenge. The Charity Challenge will be Monday, July 1 - Friday, August 30.

Yes. Restrooms will be accessible inside the stadium at Fortress Obetz.

Yes. We will have two Water Monsters full of fresh drinking water for you to refill your bottle. Stay hydrated!

You can order food and water from Giant Eagle Catering and they will deliver to your team tents in the Giant Eagle Tailgate Zone. The Giant Eagle Catering deadline will be announced at a later date.

Any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages must be purchased through Fortress Obetz. The 2024 deadline will be announced at a later date. Teams can also purchase bags of ice on the beverage form. No outside beverages are permitted at the event (excluding water and coffee).

Teams are not required, but we highly encourage teams to order through Giant Eagle Catering. Snow Sisters and Dos Hermanos will also be onsite at the event.

The tents for sponsors are 10x20 feet and for registered teams 10x10 feet. Teams also have the option to bring their own branded tent. The tables are 6 feet with two folding chairs. We encourage teams to bring additional tables and seating options for their tailgate area and to decorate with spirit. No stakes are allowed in the grass. Please refer to Team Captain Handbook on Fortress Obetz policies.

Refer for Points is new for the 2024 event! If Company A is registered and refers Company B to participate in Community Cup and Company B registers, Company A receives 50 points to their team score. Company B company must register and have never participated in Community Cup for Company A to receive points. Company A can be a new team or a returning team. Refer for Points ends Wednesday, July 31 at 11:59 PM.

Yes! There are multiple ways to score points for your team besides competing in the athletic events.

  • Teams can donate during the Charity Challenge to earn a maximum of 300 points for your team.
  • Team members can register to Volunteer for Points for a maximum of 100 points for your team.
  • A team can participate in the T-Shirt Contest and the winning team of all divisions will earn 25 points to their team score.
  • A team can participate in the Most Spirited Tailgate and the winning team of all divisions will earn 25 points to their team score.
  • New this year! Refer for Points - any registered team that refers another team to register for the Community Cup can receive 50 points. Refer for Points has ended for 2024.
  • New this year! Passport for Points -- a teammember can stamped and earn points on their Home Court Passport for every Home Court vendor they visit with. More details to come!

The only events we need names of team members for are:

  • 5K Race: this is to provide every individual participant with a timing chip and bib. You can register for the 5K Race through Athlete Registration and selecting the 5K Race. All other team members must complete the Athlete Registration but do not need to select the 5K Race option.
  • One-mile Walk: Team Captains can submit their One-mile Walk form at Team Captain Check-in (this will be a part of the Athlete Check-in tent) or at the One-mile Walk table. The One-mile Walk form is located on the Team Roster under Team Captain Resources.

All other events require teams to comply by the gender idenity rules. Check out the sports page for specific rules and requirements for each event.

Teams can register for the tournament events when you register your company in Team Registration or by emailing cup@columbussports.org by the end of the Team Captain Orientation. 

The tournament events in 2024 are Dodgeball and Tug of War. Both tournaments will be exclusive to their respective divisions. Check out the Sports for all scoring and rules to best prepare for the events.