Muggle Quidditch (Yes, It’s a Real Sport!)

By Alex in Film, Sports on Nov 29, 2008 at 1:24 pm

Remember the game Quidditch in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books? Well it turns out that a non-wizard version of the game is taking college campuses by storm. And yes, they do it with broomsticks up their butts:

The earthbound variation is called Muggle Quidditch. The sport originated in 2005 when a student at Middlebury College adapted the game for the nonmagical world. Its popularity quickly spread, and today more than 150 colleges throughout the United States have Quidditch teams. [...]

While the wizards in the Potter series play Quidditch on flying broomsticks, Muggles (author J. K. Rowling’s word for nonmagical people) run holding a broom between their legs. It’s a lot harder than it looks, and just as awkward, says Stack, who is team captain while Culleton is studying abroad.

“We’re a small, kind of ragtag group,” she says. “Not everyone has brooms yet, so some people play with Wiffle bats or lacrosse sticks. And we only have two hoops. You’re supposed to have three on each end of the field.”

As in the fictional game, each Muggle Quidditch team has seven players: three chasers, two beaters, a keeper, and a seeker. Chasers score points by throwing a quaffle, or volleyball, through one of three hoops (worth 10 points) while trying to avoid bludgers, or dodgeballs, that are thrown by beaters. (If chasers are hit by a bludger, they must drop the quaffle.) The keeper’s job is to protect the three goalposts, while the seeker must capture the snitch — a sock stuffed with tennis balls carried by a person (typically a cross-country runner) dressed in gold. Capturing the snitch nets an additional 30 points and ends the game.

Aah, to be young and going to nerdvana, er … college: Link (with video clip goodness, of course) – via Geekologie


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  1. ted
    Nov 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    Ummm…. there is a difference between a broomstick between your legs and one up your butt.

    I assume (although I’ve never tested it) that it would be a lot harder to run.

  2. AnnieW
    Nov 29th, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    I would totally play this. It would be a good way to get all the pasty kids at my art school to go outside for a while as well.

  3. Ali S.
    Nov 29th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    Neat, but I think Ms. Rowling is gonna not like this. She didn’t like that fan made encyclopedia thing what says she’ll not sue pantaloons off of these kids?

  4. ChocolateHorse
    Nov 29th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    I go to UW Madison and we are starting up a quidditch team in the Spring. I used to be a track/cross country runner but at college everything is so competitive I didn’t even want to try for that kind of commitment. I miss playing sports though, so I definitely think that Quidditch is a great idea for people who want something fun, low-key, and a good form of exercise.

    Plus I LOVE Harry Potter and always wanted my own broom.

  5. Tempscire
    Nov 29th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    I’m not sure whether that’s cute and fun or just kind of sad. The broomstick angle sort of pushes it.

  6. Moon
    Nov 29th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    NO! It’s NOT a real sport!

    Running around with a broom doesn’t make it a sport! Yes, I’m looking at YOU, curling!

    :)

  7. raina_c
    Nov 29th, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    Probably one of the dumbest and funniest things I’ve ever seen. Thank you!!!

  8. Joe_N
    Nov 30th, 2008 at 12:49 am

    Prior to this there was “Australian indoor rules quiddich” seems kinda sad that didn’t get much press outside of webcomics

  9. Evilbeagle
    Nov 30th, 2008 at 6:33 am

    I love Harry Potter, but this is a bit much. It’s strikes me more as cosplay dressed up as a sport than anything else, and I know, I know, they aren’t in “character”, but still… pretty stupid, especially with the broom involvement.

  10. Z
    Nov 30th, 2008 at 8:49 am

    That is just absolutely ridiculous… Give me a break, people running around with brooms between their legs? What are we, 5 year olds? Like, come on, we aren’t wizards and warriors people, grow up, you are in reality, what the HELL can holding a broom between your legs possibly do for you? Wow, it makes running harder, oh my gosh, how about you ditch the broom, and just, RUN HARDER! Christ Almighty, you nerds have fun with your game, but if ‘I’ had to choose between gettin’ pussy, or playing some nerdy-ass witches and wizards game… Let’s just say, I’d set my broom on fire…

  11. JET
    Nov 30th, 2008 at 9:16 am

    The reason it’s not a real sport or game is because Rowling’s rules are idiotic. It’s all about the snitchgrab and everything else is entirely incidental. The other players might as well sit down and wait for that to happen. An outcome that doesn’t end with the snitchgrabber winning the game is a one in a thousand event, at BEST -not least since there is no incentive to grab it if it means you do not win.

  12. liphttam1
    Dec 1st, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    We did that at my camp in activity called hogwarts. Only it was a soccer net because we didn’t have the hoops.

  13. Scooter
    Dec 2nd, 2008 at 11:32 am

    JET you are wrong grabbing the snitch doesn’t mean you win the game, Grabbing the snitch ends the game and give the team who grabbed it 30 points. if you are 30 points or more behind you don’t win. It’s just the only way to stop the game.

    Personally I think it would be fun. The brooms do seem a bit pointless. But, I would still have fun playing, and after all isn’t that what every sport should be about.

  14. vero4902
    Dec 5th, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    This is from a college? O.o Very cute if it’s from elementary school. Totally stupid if it’s played above 6th grade.

  15. rutti123
    Feb 4th, 2009 at 10:31 am

    hi im ruth elisabeth en i dont now you at all

  16. Z hater
    Oct 8th, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    Ok “Z” your a total dumbass. There is a point to holding the broom because it’s part of how the game is played. Think about how stupid other sports are.. Like fucking retarded football you throw around a lame lumpy ball and dress up in all this padding that makes you look like a space case.. And you would rather get pussy than play this game? Chances are you aren’t getting pussy anyways so I would pick up my brroom if I was you.

  17. Branden
    Dec 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 am

    i think you guys just should just have some imagination because obviously you guys are too stuck up to realise how this is actually pretty cool and ,aybe before you start bitchin at this i have a good idea TRY IT first before you go all o this sport is ridiculus.

  18. sucka
    Dec 3rd, 2009 at 2:53 am

    to vero4902 over the 6th grade let me see what grade are you in… and there is over 200 schools in the usa and canada that play it so do you and all the other people here that are bitchin bout this please just do all of us a favour and dont say anything. if you are gonna say anything about this say something nice instead of shooting this down HAVE AN IMAGINATON

  19. Wow Grow up
    Jul 27th, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    I can’t believe pre-professional people are running around on broomsticks like they’re 8 years old. I fear for society. No one had enough creativity to invent their own sport, so they had to steal one from a fictional book. This is why young people are getting dumber and more irresponsible than ever, because acting like a juvenile at 18-22 years old is perfectly acceptable in today’s world. Pathetic in my opinion.


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