Magical sport sweeping its way across college campuses
Daniel Stefan
Issue date: 9/11/09 Section: Sports
Started by students at Middlebury College in 2005, the fantasy-turned-reality game of Quidditch has cast a spell on college campuses around the world.
While originating in the popular Harry Potter series, the game has spread from fans of literature to fans of athletics alike. Founded by Jared Katz '12, Gus Henninger '12, Megan Schultz '12 and Rin Metcalf '12, the Lafayette Quidditch Team is beginning its inaugural season with matches against Vassar, Chestnut Hill and Bucknell this fall.
In addition to these matches, and possibly more, they have received an invitation to the ESPN covered Intercollegiate Quidditch World Cup at Middlebury College, and with that, a chance to defeat two year defending champion Middlebury.
Boasting a rooster of over 100 students, this coed team is getting ready to both teach newcomers how to play, as well as prepare for intercollegiate match play at their twice weekly practice.
While the rules developed by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series form the basis of the game, there are some slight tweaks, accounting for the students' lack of wizarding skills. "[We are] staying true to the game without flying," said Henninger.
The players-beaters, chasers, a keeper and a seeker-run around holding a broom with one hand between their legs, symbolizing the flying broomstick. The beaters' job is to return the opposing team to their respective hoops (home base) by hitting them with a dodge ball (bludger), in turn delaying them from scoring.
Chasers throw a volleyball (quaffle) to one another with the hope of passing the opposing teams keeper and landing the ball in one of the three hoops. In turn, the keeper is responsible for defending his or her team's hoops and preventing the other team from throwing the volleyball through them.
The biggest difference from the book is the golden snitch. The snitch, a magically enchanted golden ball that flies around trying to elude the seekers, is played by a neutral participant wearing all gold with a tennis ball strapped onto his or her back. This person runs around the area of play, attempting to avoid the seekers who are trying to chase down the Snitch and claim the ball.
When the snitch is caught, 30 points are delivered to that team, and all points are tallied. Ten points are given per volleyball in the opposing teams hoop. With these rules in mind, Katz described this one-hour game as "a combination of rugby, lacrosse and soccer."
All interested participants are urged to contact Katz. The only qualification is being a muggle.
While originating in the popular Harry Potter series, the game has spread from fans of literature to fans of athletics alike. Founded by Jared Katz '12, Gus Henninger '12, Megan Schultz '12 and Rin Metcalf '12, the Lafayette Quidditch Team is beginning its inaugural season with matches against Vassar, Chestnut Hill and Bucknell this fall.
In addition to these matches, and possibly more, they have received an invitation to the ESPN covered Intercollegiate Quidditch World Cup at Middlebury College, and with that, a chance to defeat two year defending champion Middlebury.
Boasting a rooster of over 100 students, this coed team is getting ready to both teach newcomers how to play, as well as prepare for intercollegiate match play at their twice weekly practice.
While the rules developed by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series form the basis of the game, there are some slight tweaks, accounting for the students' lack of wizarding skills. "[We are] staying true to the game without flying," said Henninger.
The players-beaters, chasers, a keeper and a seeker-run around holding a broom with one hand between their legs, symbolizing the flying broomstick. The beaters' job is to return the opposing team to their respective hoops (home base) by hitting them with a dodge ball (bludger), in turn delaying them from scoring.
Chasers throw a volleyball (quaffle) to one another with the hope of passing the opposing teams keeper and landing the ball in one of the three hoops. In turn, the keeper is responsible for defending his or her team's hoops and preventing the other team from throwing the volleyball through them.
The biggest difference from the book is the golden snitch. The snitch, a magically enchanted golden ball that flies around trying to elude the seekers, is played by a neutral participant wearing all gold with a tennis ball strapped onto his or her back. This person runs around the area of play, attempting to avoid the seekers who are trying to chase down the Snitch and claim the ball.
When the snitch is caught, 30 points are delivered to that team, and all points are tallied. Ten points are given per volleyball in the opposing teams hoop. With these rules in mind, Katz described this one-hour game as "a combination of rugby, lacrosse and soccer."
All interested participants are urged to contact Katz. The only qualification is being a muggle.
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