Usually, when one thinks about the game of Quidditch, they picture flying broomsticks, dodging bludgers, and of course, magical golden snitches. This might sound like pure fantasy, but real life Quidditch, also known as Quidball, inspired by the fantastical sport in the “Harry Potter” series, has been turned into a sport played around the world. The sport began in 2005 at Middlebury College in Vermont, and quickly spread throughout other universities. Though of course, players do not truly fly through the air after golden snitches, they have adapted the game to make it accessible to Muggles everywhere.
The idea began with two people who decided that they wanted to bring the incredible game to life. It rapidly became a popular sport among colleges across the world, with the first Quidditch world cup taking place only two years after the sport was officially created. Today, the magical sport brought to life has a governing body, the International Quidditch Association, and there are global tournaments every two years.
One popular quidditch team is the University of California Berkeley team. The local team won the 2024 Dvision 2 National Championship. This team is small but mighty, with only 12 players from a variety of grades. “We all joined for many different reasons, but the main thing is just our appreciation for the sport,” said UC Berkeley Quidball co-captain Chloe Foo, “It gives us a chance to meet people we probably wouldn’t have met before.”
The game stays almost the same as the fictional version, beginning with six players on each side, only excluding the seeker, whose main objective is to catch the snitch. The seeker joins later in the game, and is able to conclude the game by catching the snitch with a “clean catch,” which is checked by both the snitch referee and the head referee. The main difference between Muggle Quidditch and wizarding Quidditch, aside from the clear lack of magic and flying in the Muggle version, is that catching the snitch doesn’t automatically win the game in the real life version. It instead gives the catching team a 30 point advantage. Players do have to play with broomsticks between their legs in order to keep the game authentic. While this may seem funny and absurd at first, it actually creates an additional physical challenge for the players, and makes the sport more unique.
Quidditch’s thoughtfulness does not end with its gameplay. It also strives to create an inclusive space for all players, which is why the four-maximum rule was created. This rule promotes gender equality on the field, stating that there cannot be more than four players of the same gender playing at one time.
“Quidditch is so unique due to the four max rule. I can’t think of many other team sports that have been co-ed since the beginning,” reflected UC Berkeley student Sing Chan, another member of the Cal Quidball team.
The four-maximum rule fosters a welcoming and open environment for players of the co-ed game, allowing every player to feel comfortable and heard on the Quidditch field, regardless of their gender.
In all, the sport of Quidball has become a way for college students and “Harry Potter” fans to connect all across the United States. “The sport creates an accepting and close-knit community here at Cal,” Foo said, “We can’t take it for granted.”