MAIN Art & Culture Pop Culture Harry Potter Quidditch

Anyone who's seen a Harry Potter movie or read one of the books is familiar with quidditch.

Each House at Hogwarts has a team and the teams play against each other for the Hogwarts House Cup. The Goblet of Fire introduces world class players in the Quidditch World Cup.

In quidditch, two teams of seven players on flying broomsticks assume specific positions to score goals, play defense, and search for the elusive Golden Snitch.

Chasers try to score with the Quaffle, Beaters control the Bludgers, the Keeper protects the goal, and the Seeker chases the Golden Snitch that must be caught to end the match. The game can be quite dangerous, especially during lightening storms or when dementors cause interference.

Real world quidditch

Today, quidditch has become a movie dream come true — as earth-bound games are played at Harry Potter parties, and real school teams in the US and UK do battle on campus in a modified version of the game played on the ground, resulting in ultimate contests of skill at national matches such as the Quidditch World Cup in New York City.

Around the Web, learn more at top sites offering information on the history and background of the game including instructions on game play, related photos and videos, plus complete rules for Muggles who want to bring the fictional game to life in backyards and school playgrounds...

More about quidditch around the Web:

How to Play Quidditch at Home - Want to organize a game for your next Harry Potter club or party? Here's everything you need including step-by-step instructions and game rules, materials and equipment list for playing the game (without the flying brooms.)

International Quidditch Association - The real world rules for Muggles including school team photos, feature stories, upcoming schedule of matches, community forum and membership information.

Quidditch - Wikipedia - The complete look at the back story and history of the game including rules, positions and game progression with related photos, movie scenes, photos, plus lots of related references and resources.

All Quidditch all the Time - An amazing collection of resources for everything Quidditch on the Web. You'll find sites that are forming teams and setting up tournaments, downloads of demo games, or related online discussions, each with a short informational review...

The Quidditch Handbook - Rules of fictional play, historical timelines, notable teams and a complete A-Z list of terms, rules and fouls every quidditch player should know, including related references and resources from the Harry Potter Lexicon.