[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Protect Ya Neck are set to make their debut at the British Open 2025, arriving from Los Angeles with a tight-knit squad, a growing cloth pedigree, and a hunger to test themselves on the sport’s biggest stage. For a team that’s built on brotherhood, this tournament marks not only a competitive milestone — but a statement of intent.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
From Vegas Beginnings to British Ambitions
Founded in 2019 for a tournament in Las Vegas, Protect Ya Neck have stayed true to their roots. “We’ve been a club ever since,” explained team member Patrick Watters. “We’ve rotated very few players over the years — as some move on or pursue other things — but our core has stayed together.”
In a dodgeball scene where teams are often built across cities or regions, Protect Ya Neck stand out for one major reason: locality. “Every single one of us is from Los Angeles,” said Watters. “Not many U.S. teams can say that — and it makes us feel more like family than a team.”
The LA squad has played in a mix of rubber, foam, and cloth leagues over the years. But recently, the direction has been clear. “We view ourselves more as a cloth team now,” said Watters. “That’s part of the reason we’re making this trip.”
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A Year of Focused Preparation
Protect Ya Neck come into this year’s Open with a clear plan. “We haven’t played USA rounds this year,” Watters shared. “We really wanted to focus on international games — especially the British Open.”
The decision to skip domestic competitions was bold — but strategic. The team’s last major cloth success came at the 2024 Pittman, New Jersey round, where they took first place. Add to that Marshall Winterbothom’s inclusion in Team USA’s men’s cloth team at Worlds 2024, and it’s clear Protect Ya Neck are part of the next wave of American cloth talent.
“We’ve had a lot of film nights,” said Watters. “We definitely watched the finals with Spartans and Storm 1 — shout out to Spartans! Congratulations to them.”
Embracing the Unknown
For many players, this will be their first time facing the elite of the UK dodgeball scene — and they’re under no illusions about the challenge.
“We’re fairly new to cloth — two years or so — and we want to see how we stack up against teams who’ve played this style a lot longer,” Watters explained. “Maybe our style won’t hold up. But all we want to do is see.”
The team is hopeful for some big-name matchups. “We’d love to face Storm, Spartans, or Meteors,” said Watters. “Whether it’s in the round robin or the playoffs — if we’re going to travel as a club, we better expect to play the best. No disrespect to them, but that’s the level we want to test ourselves against.”
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Bigger Than Results
While competition is front and centre, it’s clear this trip is about more than just wins and losses. “We want to grow the sport,” Watters said. “And what better way to show how far cloth has come in the U.S. than by traveling and playing against the top talent overseas?”
At the heart of it all is a deep connection to the sport and each other. “We love the sport, the community, the environment, and the challenge,” Watters reflected. “At the end of the day, these are my brothers — win, lose, or draw.”
Protect Ya Neck Are Ready
Protect Ya Neck arrive at the British Open as relative unknowns to many in the UK scene — but they bring a growing reputation, a fearless attitude, and a strong belief in the journey they’ve taken to get here.
Whether they make a surprise run or simply leave with invaluable experience, one thing’s for sure: they’ll represent their club, their city, and their country with pride.
Protect Ya Neck are here — and they’re ready.
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