How to play Quidditch
Quidditch is a mix-gender, full-contact sport best described as a mix between rugby, basketball, and dodgeball. Teams are made up of 21 players, with six on the pitch from the game start till the 20-minute mark; then, a seventh and final member is added (the seeker). Players on the pitch must always play with a broom between their legs. At first glance, Quidditch will seem chaotic and hard to follow, but once the basic rules/roles are understood, it's a fantastic game of strategy to play and watch. We recommend watching this video of the US Quidditch Cup 2022 – Collegiate Championship featuring Creighton Quidditch vs. Texas Quidditch to see what a competitive game of quidditch looks like. Our intramural league is much more relaxed and is a great way to get into quidditch!
There are a few different positions on any given quidditch team:
Unlike the books/movies that Quidditch was originally based on, the game does not end when the snitch is pulled off of the Snitch Runner. Instead, a “set score” is decided at the 20-minute mark (determined by taking the leading team’s score and adding 60), and once that score is reached or passed, the game ends.
Gender Maximum Rule: A team may not have more than four players who identify as the same gender in play.
If interested in a more detailed description of rules and fouls, please read the most recent US Quidditch Rule Book.
To see more examples of Quidditch in action, explore the Major League Quadball Youtube Page.
There are a few different positions on any given quidditch team:
- Quaffle Players (players who can only hold the quaffle):
- Chasers (3 per team) score goals with the Quaffle, each goal worth 10 points. The goals are scored by players running the ball up the field, passing to teammates, and throwing the Quaffle through any of the opponent's hoops.
- Keepers (1 per team) guard each team’s hoops. They can not be ‘beat’ by a bludger within 5 feet of their hoops.
- Bludger Players (players who can only hold a bludger):
- Beaters (2 per team) use dodgeballs called Bludgers to "knock out" other players. When hit with a Bludger, that player must dismount from their broom and tag back in at their own hoops; they then may resume play. Beaters are used offensively and defensively depending on how many of the three total bludgers that team has (max of two per team).
- Utility Players (seekers):
- Seekers (1 per team after the 20-minute mark) are tasked with catching the Snitch. The Snitch is a flag-football Esq object attached to the waistband of a neutral ref called the Snitch Runner. The Snitch Runner is released at 20 minutes and tries to avoid having their Snitch Tail caught. The Snitch catch is worth 35 points.
Unlike the books/movies that Quidditch was originally based on, the game does not end when the snitch is pulled off of the Snitch Runner. Instead, a “set score” is decided at the 20-minute mark (determined by taking the leading team’s score and adding 60), and once that score is reached or passed, the game ends.
Gender Maximum Rule: A team may not have more than four players who identify as the same gender in play.
If interested in a more detailed description of rules and fouls, please read the most recent US Quidditch Rule Book.
To see more examples of Quidditch in action, explore the Major League Quadball Youtube Page.