What is muggle quidditch? The not-so-magical worldwide sport
Twenty-three countries will battle it out in a real-life version of Harry Potter's favourite game
If you read Harry Potter and dreamed of hurling the quaffle through the hoop, fending off fiendish bludgers or grabbing a golden snitch, that dream can become a reality thanks to muggle quidditch.
Initially cooked up by students at Middlebury College, Vermont, in 2005, the fictional game is now played across the world, mostly on university campuses.
As Potter fans will remember, Quidditch is played by two seven-a-side teams mounted on broomsticks trying to throw a ball – known as the quaffle – through one of three hoops at each end of the pitch. Each team has a seeker who looks out for the golden snitch, a tiny flying ball worth a usually game-winning 150 points.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At this point, you're probably thinking there is something fundamentally missing from a real-life version of Quidditch: magic.
In muggle quidditch, players still ride broomsticks, although in the absence of enchantments they simply straddle them while running. The quaffle is a slightly deflated volleyball and the bludgers are dodgeballs.
As for the golden snitch, the game's creators came up with a novel solution: a designated person runs around the pitch with a sock containing a tennis ball hanging from their shorts. The seekers then attempt to grab this.
It might sound like a somewhat comical alternative to the high-flying magical action described in JK Rowling's bestselling books, but muggle quidditch has grown steadily in popularity.
USQuidditch estimates there are now more than 300 teams worldwide, in countries including Belgium, Uganda and Vietnam.
For the national teams, the ultimate goal is making it to the annual Quidditch World Cup, organised by the sport's own version of Fifa, the International Quidditch Association. Twenty-three countries will compete in this year's tournament, which will be hosted by Frankfurt, Germany, on 23 and 24 July.
In the UK, regional teams can also try their luck in the British Quidditch Cup, organised by governing body QuidditchUK. Sixteen teams from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland competed in the 2016 tournament, which was won by the University of Oxford's Radcliffe Chimeras.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Arizona kicks off swing-state early voting
Speed Read The voting began with less than a month to go before the presidential election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - October 10, 2024
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - Donald's DNA, deficit blues, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Biden, Netanyahu talk ahead of Israeli hit on Iran
Speed Read The pair spoke for the first time since August
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
JK Rowling's transphobia controversy: a complete timeline
In Depth How did we get to this point, and what, exactly, has the author said?
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
8 touring theater productions to mark on your calendar this fall
The Week Recommends A pop icon, Shakespeare reconsidered and a sublime musical about mortality are all on the boards
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
The UK's best film and TV studio tours
The Week Recommends From King's Landing to Diagon Alley, these are some of the country's most impressive sets
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Top 10 best debut novels of all time
feature Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone took top spot in a poll of British literary lovers
By The Week Staff Published
-
Judy Blume: the US tween writer finally hitting the big screen
Why Everyone’s Talking About The 85-year-old author is set for Hollywood acclaim at last with film adaptation of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet Published
-
Hogwarts Legacy and other boycott backlashes
Under the Radar Controversial Harry Potter video game is topping sales charts despite the J.K. Rowling controversy
By Sorcha Bradley Published
-
Hogwarts Legacy: to buy or to boycott?
Talking Point A new Harry Potter video game is facing a backlash from trans activists over J.K. Rowling’s views
By Asya Likhtman Published
-
Sport on TV guide: Christmas 2022 and New Year listings
Speed Read Enjoy a feast of sporting action with football, darts, rugby union, racing, NFL and NBA
By Mike Starling Published