The game of Quidditch is fairly complicated to play, but once the rules are straightened out, it is easy to get a hang of. According to the Official Rulebook, the Quidditch field is a half the size of a soccer field and is in the shape of an oval. On either side of the field are three large hoops in which players throw balls at in order to score points. Quidditch is played with two teams of seven people. There are four positions: chaser, beater, keeper and seeker.
There are three chasers on a team and their job is to take the quaffle, usually a volleyball, and try to throw it through the opposing teams’ hoops. A team receives 10 points every time they score. There are two beaters per team and their job is to take the bludgers, usually rubber dodgeballs, and throw them at players. If a player is hit by a bludger, they have to stop what they are doing and run back to their goals in order to continue playing. A keeper guards their hoops and tries to prevent the chasers from scoring. The seeker’s job is to try to catch the snitch, therefore ending the game. In the books the snitch is a little gold ball that flies around the playing field, in the muggle game, the snitch is a runner dressed in yellow with a tennis ball in a sock tied around his waist. He runs around the field and the surrounding area and the seekers try to pull the sock off his waist in order to receive 30 additional points. The game is over once the snitch is caught, so it is important to catch it as quickly as possible to ensure a victory for your team. All players must hold a broomstick between their legs and have one hand on it at all times.
The game, which is a combination of handball, dodgeball, football and soccer is a full contact sport in which pushing, grabbing, tackling and other acts of physical aggression are not only allowed but encouraged. The game is not for the faint of heart. It is truly an athletic, intense game that takes practice to learn and master.
