Quidditch
Quidditch is the most popular sport in the Wizarding World. Originating in the 1000's, it is played all around the world. The sport of Quidditch involves two teams flying on broomsticks around an oval shaped grassy pitch. The teams attempt to score points through three rings by throwing various sized balls. Each player on the team (seven in total) has various tasks to complete, each task having a vast impact on the game.
The name "Quidditch" comes from the term "Queerditch Marsh", the place where the game originated. Spanning over a millennium, the sport of Quidditch has changed a lot to reach its current form. Below is some detailed information on all aspects of Quidditch.
Sections: The Team | The Balls | Equipment | Hogwarts Teams | International Teams | League Teams | Broomstick Guide
The Team
A Quidditch team consists of seven players. These players include the following:
3 x Chasers
It is the job of the three Chasers to score the teams points. The Chasers have to handle the Quaffle (the largest ball) and throw it through the hoops. Each 'hoop' scored gives the team in possession 10 points.
2 x Beaters
It is the job of the two Beaters to protect their team from the two Bludgers, the powerful balls which fly around the pitch, attempting to knock players of their brooms. The Beaters have a club (similar to a baseball bat) which they use to knock the Bludger off course. (Or into the path of opponent's team.)
1 x Keeper
It is the job of the Keeper to protect the team's goal. The job is somewhat like a soccer goalkeeper. The Keeper uses no more than his or her hands, and is required to perform tricky manoeuvres on his or her broom in order to keep the hoops protected.
1 x Seeker
The job of the Seeker is considered the most important job of all. The Seeker is required to catch the Golden Snitch, a small, golden, walnut sized ball. The Snitch earns the team 150 points and stops the match. A game of Quidditch only ends when the Golden Snitch is caught.
The Balls
A Quidditch match is played with four balls. Each ball is different in all aspects and they are all equally important in the game play.
1 x Quaffle
The Quaffle is about the size of a football and is scarlet red. It is built with a Gripping Charm in order to help players catch it. It is also fitted with a charm that reduces its speed if it falls. After all, if it was dropped without the charm, it wall fall directly to the ground.
2 x Bludgers
The Bludgers are smaller than the Quaffle and are heavy and made of iron. They target players, attempting to knock them off their brooms. The Bludgers have to be restrained before a Quidditch match because they would attack anyone in their range.
1 x Golden Snitch
The Golden Snitch is considered the most important ball because it gives the team in its possession 150 points. It is small (about the size of a walnut) and has two wings. It rapidly circles the pitch and is extremely difficult to spot. The game of Quidditch only ends when the Golden Snitch is caught.
Other Equipment
Goal Posts
Six in all, these fifty foot-high structures are the main way of scoring in Quidditch. Each time a Quaffle is thrown through one of the hoops, ten points is earned. There are three on each end of the field, guarded by the team Keeper.
Clubs
The Beaters use these large, heavy clubs to knock the Bludgers toward opposing players. They are wooden and shaped somewhat like a baseball bat.
Broomsticks
Broomsticks are one of the most important aspects of Quidditch. Each and every player cares for his or her broomstick in order to get it to perform to its best. There are a few lines of brooms, most constantly being outdated. Most brooms are fairly pricey, some more than others.
| Ten Common Fouls | ||
| Blagging | All players | Seizing opponent's broom tail to slow or hinder |
| Blatching | All players | Flying with intent to collide |
| Blurting | All players | Locking broom handles with a view to steering opponent off course |
| Bumphing | Beaters only | Hitting Bludger towards crowd, necessitating a halt of the game as officials rush to protect bystanders. Sometimes used by unscrupulous players to prevent an opposing Chaser scoring |
| Cobbing | All players | Excessive use of elbows towards opponents |
| Flacking | Keeper only | Sticking any portion of anatomy through goal hoop to punch Quaffle out. The Keeper is supposed to block the goal hoop from the front rather than the rear |
| Haversacking | Chasers only | Hand still on Quaffle as it goes through goal hoop (Quaffle must be thrown) |
| Quaffle-pocking | Chasers only | Tampering with Quaffle, e.g., puncturing it so that it falls more quickly or zig-zags |
| Snitchnip | All players but Seeker | Any player other than Seeker touching or catching the Golden Snitch |
| Stooging | Chasers only | More than one Chaser entering the scoring area |
Quidditch at Hogwarts
Hogwarts competes in inter-house championships each year. The winner receives the Quidditch Cup. They keep the cup in their possession for the entire school year. The Hogwarts teams are located below.
| Hogwarts Teams | ||||
| Position | Gryffindor | Slytherin | Ravenclaw | Hufflepuff |
| Chaser | Angelina Johnson (C) Ginny Weasley |
Marcus Flint (C) | Roger Davies | Summerby Cadwallader |
| Chaser | Alicia Spinnet Demelza Robbins |
Montague | Unknown | Unknown |
| Chaser | Katie Bell Dean Thomas |
Warrington | Unknown | Unknown |
| Beater | Fred Weasley
Jack Sloper |
Bole
Vincent Crabbe |
Unknown | Unknown |
| Beater | George Weasley
Andrew Kirke |
Derrick
Gregory Goyle |
Unknown | Unknown |
| Keeper | Oliver Wood (C)
Ron Weasley |
Bletchly | Unknown | Unknown |
| Seeker | Harry Potter (c Year 6)
Ginny Weasley |
Terence Higgs
Draco Malfoy |
Cho Chang | Cedric Diggory
Zacharias Smith |
(C) = Team Captain
Other Teams
Quidditch is a sport competed both domestically and internationally. Information about foreign teams is scarce, but we do find out some information about Ireland and Bulgaria at the Quidditch World Cup (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).
| International Teams | ||
| Position | Bulgaria | Ireland |
| Chaser | Dimitrov | Moran |
| Chaser | Ivanova | Mullet |
| Chaser | Levski | Troy |
| Beater | Volkov | Connoly |
| Beater | Vulchanov | Quigley |
| Keeper | Zograf | Ryan |
| Seeker | Victor Krum | Aiden Lynch |
In Britain, "League Quidditch" is held. The following information is known on teams in this tournament.
- Appleby Arrows (Northern England)
- Ballycastle Bats (Northern Island)
- Caerphilly Catapults (Unknown)
- Chudley Cannons (Unknown)
- Falmouth Falcons (Unknown)
- Holyhead Harpies (Wales)
- Kenmare Kestrels (Ireland)
- Montrose Magpies (Unknown)
- Pride of Portree (Isle of Skye)
- Puddlemere United (Unknown)
- Tutshill Tornados (Unknown)
- Wigtown Wanderers (Unknown)
- Wimbourne Wasps (Unknown)
Broomstick Guide
Broomsticks are one of the most important aspects of Quidditch. Each and every player cares for his or her broomstick in order to get it to perform to its best. There are a few lines of brooms, most constantly being outdated. Most brooms are fairly pricey, some more than others. Below is a guide to all the current broomsticks.
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
