Object of the Game
The object of the game of Quidditch is to score more points than your opponents. Players do this by scoring goals which is done by placing a slightly deflated volleyball called the Quaffle into the opposition’s baskets giving them 10 points, and by capturing the Golden Snitch which is worth 30 points.
Players & Equipment
In Quidditch, each team is made up of 7 players. One Seeker, one Keeper, two Beaters and three Chasers – each of which have a specific task.
- The Chasers are there to try and keep possession of the Quaffle and to score a goal by throwing it through one of the opponent’s three hoops. They can pass the ball between each other but only one is allowed to enter into the scoring zone at any one time.
- The two Beaters throw Bludgers and these are thrown at the opposition to disrupt them. The other side’s Beaters, in turn, throw them back with the same intention. The players in this position are usually the strongest and most physical within the team.
- The Keeper is a defensive player and is tasked with defending the team’s hoops.
- Lastly, the Seeker is the team member whose job is to capture the all-important Golden Snitch.
The equipment needed to play Quidditch includes:
- Hoops: Three hoops are situated at each end of the pitch, all at different heights (2m, 1.4m and 1m). They are placed approximately two broomsticks apart with the tallest on the left.
- Quaffle: This is ball in the game that only Chasers and Keepers can utilise. It’s a volleyball that has been deflated and is what the Chasers must try to throw through into the hoops in order to score points.
- Bludgers: These are slightly deflated dodgeballs and can only be used by Beaters. There are three of them on the pitch at any one time and Beaters throw these at the opposition to ‘knock them out’, which means the opposition player has to stop what they are doing, dismount, and run back to their own hoops and touch them before resuming play.
- Golden Snitch: This is a tennis ball thrown between 5 leaders after a two minuets. The ball can not be snatched from there hands.
Scoring
There are two ways to score during a game of Quidditch. Firstly, the Chasers can score a goal by getting possession of the Quaffle, then entering the opposition’s scoring area and throwing it successfully through one of the three hoops. The hoops in height order have different points lowest 10 to highest 30. The second way to score points is for the Seeker to gain possession of the Golden Snitch. Doing so, scores the team 50 points and immediately ends the game.
Rules of Quidditch
- A game of Quidditch begins with the Quaffle and Bludgers all placed in the centre of the field.
- Each team’s seven players start in their keeper zone, all with their eyes closed, this is to prevent them seeing where their Golden Snitch is.
- Once the Golden Snitch is a sufficient distance away in the judgement of the referee, then the referee will begin the game by shouting ‘brooms up!’
- Each team must then attempt to score more points than their opposition by scoring more goals by placing the Quaffle through one of the opposition nets and by capturing the Golden Snitch which also immediately ends the game.
- There is no set time limit to the game because of this, but the Golden Snitch is usually caught within an hour, although this can depend upon the fitness and experience of participants.
- During gameplay, any player that is hit by a Bludger is required to dismount their broom and run back and touch their on nets before resuming play.
- Quidditch is a full contact game and players can use force against each other in an attempt to capture the Quaffle or prevent other players scoring a goal.
- Throughout the game, the Seeker from each team’s sole duty is to capture the Golden Snitch and once this is done, the game ends.
- The winner of the match is the team with the most points at the end of the game.
