Five Years of Quidditch

I still remember the first time I played.

I didn't understand the rules. Balls were flying everywhere, absolute chaos reigned wherever I looked. 

And I loved it.

That was nearly half a decade ago. Since then I’ve gathered this is a fairly standard reaction for the first time you see the game of Quidditch played out in the real world. 

Based on the wizarding sport played within JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Quidditch is an intense, full contact, mixed gender sport incorporating elements of dodgeball, rugby and basketball.

The result is a game which has gone from strength to strength on an international scale and has been taking over universities in the UK since its inception on a bright March afternoon five years ago.

But the game was not born in the UK. For its origins we have to go back to 2005 and a small group of students from across the pond.

So now you know the history, its time to learn how to play.

As an amalgamation of so many different sporting elements, how can a newcomer hope to get to grips with the sport? And how do you play on brooms anyway?

'It's a bit ridiculous. Almost no player would deny it' says Warren McFadyen, chaser for current national champions Velociraptors QC.

'We hold a length of pipe between our legs like children playing pretend, and then we go and tackle each other at full force.' 

'Players play on PVC 'brooms', chasers score in hoops at either end of the oval pitch, whilst avoiding dodgeballs thrown by beaters - and the seekers try to end the match by catching the 'snitch'.' 

Well that clears that up then...

Perhaps its best to see it for yourself.

Callum Humphreys is a player who has seen the growth of UK Quidditch almost from its beginnings, joining mere months after the first quaffle was thrown.

But his first impressions of the game were not exactly indicative of how involved in the game he would become.

'Honestly? When I first heard of it I thought it was stupid. Then one day I tried it out just for the hell of it and loved it.'

'It does feel awkward at first and you feel a little self-conscious when you first try it, but if you're enjoying yourself that's what matters.'

After spending three years playing at the University of Leicester, Callum switched allegiances after graduating to one of the growing numbers of community teams popping up around the country. But what are the biggest changes he's seen since joining five years ago?

'The biggest change I've noticed over time is the evolution of passing and how teams use their beaters. Everyone caught balls one handed at the start because they were worried about not letting go of the broom, but now you see it a lot less frequently as players catch two handed on the move.'

'I'd just like to see UK players step up the physicality in the future, as games are often dominated by unstoppable drives because very few people can tackle well.' 

'The next few years are going to be extremely interesting.'

Of that there can be no doubt. 

This year for the first time, teams had to qualify for the national championships rather than being invited as had been the case previously. 

Regional tournaments served as a means of qualification for the main event. The fact qualification was required at all is a testament to the incredible influx of teams the UK game is currently experiencing.

One of the more unique aspects of Quidditch is that it is mixed gender. A key pillar of the rulebook is what is known as the 'gender rule' which limits the number of players on pitch who identify as the same gender.

As such the game is perhaps the most inclusive sport being played in the UK right now, and it is this which is further driving its popularity.

'The tweaks to the gender rule have been pretty important' says Sophie Osborn who picked up Quidditch in her first year of university.

'You can have no more than four players who identify as the same gender on pitch at once. The word identify is key because it ensures transgender players are allowed to play as the gender they identify as which is not the case in all sports.'

Essentially this prevents a team, for example, playing more than four players who identify as male, meaning inclusivity becomes an integral part of any successful team.

Warren was quick to emphasise the role of this progressive attitude in attracting a wide range of demographics to the game. 

'This is important, because it stops people relying on first impressions like size or bulk, the nature of Quidditch means that many other types of people can easily excel, regardless of size or gender.'

'The gender rule not only offers but enforces protection of non-binary and non-cis genders. That kind of progressiveness doesn't exist in many places, let alone in sports, and so it's struck a chord with university students.'

That's not to say the game is only for university students. Community teams took the gold and bronze medals at the national championships this year and they are likely to continue growing as more players graduate. 

So will community teams be the future of the game?

'I definitely think it's a little early to assume community teams are going to dominate' says Sophie.

'Especially whilst almost all if not all uni teams still have graduate players with tons of experience'.

Although Warren is unsure that university teams will be able to keep up as the sport grows.

'Eventually it will be incredibly difficult for uni teams to touch the experience of community teams that have maintained the same players for half a decade.’

'However, university teams, are unlikely to decline completely. I think they will always be the incubators of Quidditch players.'