THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011
PAGE 7
IS QUIDDITCH?
IE PITCH
The seekers need to find and catch the snitch by pulling the tennis ball in a sock from the snitch-runner's shorts.
They must snatch the snitch cleanly without knocking down the snitch runner.
The seekers begin on the end line with the other players, but once "brooms up" is called, they move to the seeker box and remain there until the referee tells them that the seeker floor has been removed. After the seeker floor is removed they are free to search for the snitch.
The snitch in the novels is a magical ball. In the real-life version of quidditch, the snitch became a snitch runner.
Everything snitchin'
Unlike every other player in quidditch, the snitch runner does not use a broom.
They are the most cunning players on the field. The IQA handbook says:
"The snitch runner is not on either team, does not use a broom, and can use any means to avoid "capture," including physical contact like wrestling takedowns or trickery like riding a bicycle, climbing trees or hiding in the audience."
The snitch is allowed at the beginning of the game to get a head start running away from the pitch to hide and avoid capture. They are allowed to run anywhere as long as they return to the pitch after about 15-minutes.
HANNAH WISE
hwise@kansan.com
GET TO KNOW THE BASICS
Players, except the snitch runner, must run with a broom between their legs at all times.
There are seven players on a team: three chasers, two beaters, one keeper and one seeker.
The game has been called a hybrid between rugby, dodgeball and tag. Players take this very seriously, and people do get hurt.
The game begins when the referee yells, brooms up." The game is finished with the snitch is snatched.
KEEPING SCORE
Each time the quaffle (a volleyball) passes through a hoop, the team is awarded 10 points.
The team that catches the snitch is awarded 30 points.
- When the snitch is caught, the game is over, but the team with more points is the victor.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Hula Hoops
The goals are made of Hula Hoops and PVC pipes. Each endzone has two short hoops and one tall hoop.
A volleyball acts as the quaffle, the main scoring ball in the game. The chasers and keepers are the only players to interact with the quaffle.
A tennis ball stuffed inside of a sock is the snitch. A player called the snitch runner, who is not affiliated with either team in the match, lets the snitch hang from his or her shorts. The snitch is caught by pulling the tennis ball in the sock from the player's shorts.
Be cautious young wizards, this game can get rough
Quidditch is an aggressive sport. Players other than seekers may legally tackle other players who use the same ball, according to the IQA Handbook.
Legal tackles include:
The player who is being tackled possesses the ball.
The tackle is clean. It does not hit the head, neck or groin.
When wrapping another player, only one arm is used.
Illegal play can result in:
The person being tackled can see the tackler in his or her peripheral vision.
The player being forced to return to his or her hoops
A yellow card being issued
Ejection from the game
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