Muggle Quidditch – why is it worth playing?

A pinch of history

Any fan of the world of magic depicted in the Harry Potter series probably dreamed of getting a Hogwarts letter yourself and becoming a wizard. In order to feel the atmosphere of JK Rowling’s books, a lot of things known from novels and movies have already been created. You can buy yourself a wand, a robe of your favorite house, beans of all tastes or a replica of a broom. Numerous conventions, larps, games, and even schools of magic and witchcraft are also created. Fans outdo each other in ideas, doing everything they can to just feel like Harry Potter and his friends. It was also decided to move Quidditch to the real world! In 2007, the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association was established in the United States, which then changed its name to the International Quidditch Association. Since 2014, there is also an official international sports federation, dealing with the organization of tournaments and the popularization of this game. There is even a World Championship in this discipline every two years. Such competition was most recently held in Florence in 2018. 29 teams from different countries took part in them, and the winner was the USA ahead of Belgium and Turkey. There was also the Polish national team, which ultimately came in thirteenth position. Another championship is coming next year in Richmond. What is this game all about? Let’s move on to the rules. Another championship is coming next year, in Richmond. What is this game all about? Let’s move on to the rules. Another championship is coming next year, in Richmond. What is this game all about? Let’s move on to the rules.

How to play Quidditch?

Although the technology is still evolving, flying brooms, bludgers and golden torch have not yet been developed. Therefore, Muggle Quidditch has to be more down to earth. However, it still has a lot in common with its original book. Two seven-person teams face each other on the pitch. Interestingly, the sport is co-educational and therefore each team can have a maximum of four representatives of the same sex. The whole team consists of twenty-one people and you can change it at any time. However, you should always remember to keep the right proportions.

There are four balls in the game. One of them, called the quaffle, is a volleyball ball that players pass to each other like in handball and try to throw through one of the opponent’s three hoops. They get ten points for each such hit. The three remaining balls are bludgers. They are operated by the so-called beaters (two for each team). Each enemy hit is temporarily eliminated from the game. He must go back to his own hoops, touch one of them, and only then can he continue the game. At all times, all competitors keep brooms, i.e. PVC pipes, between their legs. If one of them forgets and takes his broom from between his legs, it will mean that he has fallen off and must also stop playing and “tap” himself. Quidditch is also a contact game. We can try to take the balls from the opponents all the time, whether by blocking, catching them in flight or even knocking them out of your hands. However, you are not allowed to tear out brooms or undercut your opponents.

After 18 minutes, a golden snitch appears on the playing field. It is an impartial person, dressed in yellow with a tennis ball attached near the tailbone. This ball is to be caught and picked up by the seekers (one for each team). The torch must not be hammered, pushed or knocked over. He himself, in turn, has the right to snatch a broom from an attacking person or hold him with his hands. He can do almost anything not to give back the ball. However, when someone takes the trophy, their team scores thirty points and the game is over. The judges score the points and the winner is determined. It’s not always the team that has just scored a snitch. So the strategy turns out to be very important here.

The match I took part in

The rules may seem a bit complicated, but once you’re out on the pitch, it turns out not to be difficult at all. Each player has a specific role and it is enough for him to focus on it. Personally, I had the pleasure to play one such game. During this year’s edition of the Łódź Chapter House, I was drawn to the fun by the Łódź Pirates team. After explaining the rules and a little training, I was appointed a batter. As it turned out, the art of capturing others on the run, guarding the ball and being careful not to be knocked down yourself is not easy at all. After a few minutes I was barely panting and the game was in full swing. Fortunately, the pros were understanding towards a layman like me, and instead of being reprimanded, I heard that I was doing pretty well, and even got some praise for eliminating an opponent or taking the ball. Though I know

We won the first part of the game and then I became quarterback. A candle appeared on the pitch in turn. The new role was totally out of the question for me and I didn’t score even ten points. But I was glad that the snitch was caught, even though my team lost this way. Finally, however, I was able to rest. I felt the sore the next day, but I have no regrets. Quidditch has turned out to be a great sport that I will be happy to follow whenever I get the opportunity. However, I would like to thank the teams Łódź Pirates, SkyWeavers Łódź and, above all, Kama, who looks after me, who, together with the rest of my friends, introduced me to the world of this extraordinary discipline.

Let yourself be tempted

If you ever come across a Muggle Quidditch, don’t hesitate for a moment, just try your hand at it right away. It is great fun, a very interesting sport, and also a way to move yourself to the wizarding world, even for a moment. Who knows, maybe you have talent and you will soon start supporting our team at the World Cup? Especially since the Polish Quidditch League has been operating since 2016. Currently, eight teams from cities such as Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków, Olsztyn, Wrocław and the aforementioned Łódź appear in it. If you are from the last town I mentioned, you can come to trainings every Thursday and Sunday. More information at this link. I guess I’m a bit too old to become a professional player, but if I observe a little more, maybe someday I will follow Lee Jordan’s footsteps and become a Quidditch commentator?