Quidditch

Quidditch is the most popular sport in the Wizarding World. Originating in the eleventh century, it is now played by witches and wizards across the world. In Quidditch, two teams of seven fly on broomsticks around an oval-shaped grassy pitch. Teams attempt to score points by throwing a large red ball (Quaffle) through one of three fifty foot goalposts. There are seven players on a Quidditch team, each with a unique role.

The Gryffindor Quidditch team in action.
The Gryffindor Quidditch team in action.

The word Quidditch has its origins in the British-location where the sport originated: Queerditch Marsh. A millennium later, the sport of Quidditch has evolved greatly to reach its current form. Read on to learn about all aspects of this popular magical sport.

Anatomy of a Quidditch team

A Quidditch team consists of seven players:

3 x Chasers

Quidditch Chaser scores a goal.
The Gryffindor Chaser scores a goal.

Three Chasers attempt to score points for their team. The Chasers handle and pass the Quaffle — a large red ball — and attempt to throw it through one of three hoops located at the end of the pitch. Each goal scored gives the team in possession ten points.

2 x Beaters

Two Beaters protect their teammates from the Bludgers — two black iron balls which fly around the pitch attempting to knock players off their brooms. The Beaters use a baseball-like club to knock the Bludgers off course or into the path of opposition players.

1 x Keeper

The Keeper protects their team’s goalposts and tries to block incoming shots from the opposition team.

1 x Seeker

The Seeker is required to search for and catch the Golden Snitch — a small and golden walnut-sized ball which flies erratically around the pitch. The capture of the Snitch earns the Seeker’s team one hundred and fifty points and ends the game. A game of Quidditch only ends when the Golden Snitch is caught.

Balls

A Quidditch match is played with four balls:

The elusive Golden Snitch.

1 x Quaffle

The Quaffle is scarlet red and roughly size of a football. It is equipped with a Gripping Charm in order to help players catch it. It is also enchanted with a charm which reduces its speed if it falls from the sky.

2 x Bludgers

The Bludgers are ten-inch black iron balls. They target players and attempt to knock them off their brooms.

1 x Golden Snitch

The Golden Snitch is a golden walnut-sized ball with silver wings. It flies erratically around the pitch. The Seeker is the only player permitted to touch the Snitch.

Other equipment

Goalposts

Six in all, the fifty foot high goalposts are grouped at each end of the pitch.

Harry received a Firebolt broomstick during his third year at Hogwarts
Harry received a Firebolt broomstick during his third year at Hogwarts.

Clubs

Each Beater is equipped with small magically-reinforced baseball-like club capable of repelling the Bludgers.

Broomsticks

There are a wide range of broomsticks in the Wizarding World. Brooms vary in price and quality and more expensive brooms (like the Firebolt) have improved speed and handling.

Did you know

Harry with this first Golden Snitch.
The Golden Snitch has a flesh memory and remembers the first human to touch it.
  • While Quidditch has its origins in the eleventh century, a number of primitive broomstick games were likely inspirations for the modern game. In Germany, witches and wizards played ‘Stichstock’, while the Irish and Scottish games of ‘Aingingein’ and ‘Creaothceann’ were violent and sometimes fatal. In one primitive game, players flew uprooted trees.
  • The longest Quidditch match lasted approximately three months. Teams had to bring on substitutes so that players could sleep.
  • Before the Golden Snitch, the Seeker attempted to catch the Golden Snidget — a magical Snitch-like bird which was driven to near-extinction through Quidditch. Metal-charmer Bowman Wright invented the Golden Snitch as a replacement.
  • The Golden Snitch has a flesh memory and can recall its first human contact. As such, it’s never touched by human hands before a match, and Snitch manufactures must wear protective gloves. The flesh memory helps avoid disputes between Seekers over who caught the Snitch first.

Quidditch at Hogwarts

Each Hogwarts house (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff) competes for the annual Quidditch Cup.

Hogwarts teams

PositionGryffindorSlytherinRavenclawHufflepuff
ChaserAngelina Johnson
Ginny Weasley
Marcus FlintRoger DaviesSummerby
Cadwallader
ChaserAlicia Spinnet
Demelza Robins
Graham Montague
Urquhart
UnknownUnknown
ChaserKatie Bell
Dean Thomas
Adrian Pucey
Cassius Warrington
Vaisey
UnknownUnknown
BeaterFred Weasley
Jack Sloper
Ritchie Coote
Lucian Bole
Vincent Crabbe
UnknownUnknown
BeaterGeorge Weasley
Andrew Kirke
Jimmy Peakes
Peregrine Derrick
Gregory Goyle
UnknownUnknown
KeeperOliver Wood
Ron Weasley
Cormac McLaggen
Miles BletchleyUnknownUnknown
SeekerHarry Potter
Ginny Weasley
Terence Higgs
Draco Malfoy
Harper
Cho ChangCedric Diggory
Summerby
Zacharias Smith

Other teams

Quidditch is a sport played both domestically and internationally. The international Quidditch World Cup is held every four years. The 1994 Quidditch World Cup took place in Britain, where Ireland defeated Bulgaria in the final. The 2014 Quidditch World Cup took place in Argentina and Bulgaria defeated Brazil.

International teams

PositionBulgariaIreland
ChaserDimitrovMoran
ChaserIvanovaMullet
ChaserLevskiTroy
BeaterVolkovConnolly
BeaterVulchanovQuigley
KeeperZografRyan
SeekerViktor KrumAidan Lynch

League teams

A number of teams compete in the domestic British and Irish Quidditch league.

The Holyhead Harpies.
The Holyhead Harpies
  • Appleby Arrows
  • Ballycastle Bats
  • Caerphilly Catapults
  • Chudley Cannons
  • Falmouth Falcons
  • Holyhead Harpies
  • Kenmare Kestrels
  • Montrose Magpies
  • Pride of Portree
  • Puddlemere United
  • Tutshill Tornados
  • Wigtown Wanderers
  • Wimbourne Wasps

Broomsticks

Witches and wizards admire the Nimbus 2000 in Diagon Alley
Witches and wizards admire the Nimbus 2000 in Diagon Alley.

Nimbus line

  • Nimbus 1000
  • Nimbus 1500
  • Nimbus 2000
  • Nimbus 2001

Cleansweep line

  • Cleansweep One
  • Cleansweep Two
  • Cleansweep Three
  • Cleansweep Four
  • Cleansweep Five
  • Cleansweep Six
  • Cleansweep Seven

Comet line

  • Comet One-Forty
  • Comet One-Eighty
  • Comet Two-Sixty

Other brooms

  • Firebolt
  • Moontrimmer
  • Oakshaft 79
  • The Bluebottle
  • Twigger 90
  • Swiftstick
  • Silver Arrow
  • Shooting Star
  • Tinderblast