Quidditch on the Quad - Thanks for the sport, Harry

by Rebecca Atkinson | photos by Crystal Weigle, Phylicia Hollis, & Courtesy of Quidditch Team

As the Myers Quad fills with students dressed in yellow, green, blue and red T-shirts on a cool, breezy day in February, excitement is in the air. People in yellow and green shirts toss a Frisbee to each other casually, as if they are warming up for an Ultimate Frisbee match. But anyone on the Myers Quad today knows this is not the start of any ordinary game. It is the first game of the spring semester for the University of Georgia Quidditch League.

As the Quidditch match starts with playful banter from the spectators and cheering sections on the sidelines, it is easy to imagine that Myers Quad is not in the middle of the UGA campus but rather somewhere in Scotland at that magical place called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry-minus the robes, flying and magic spells.

Formed during the 2007 fall semester, the UGA Quidditch League spread by word of mouth and quickly gathered enough students to make four teams-Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. The League combines Ultimate Frisbee, dodge ball and X-treme scavenger hunting to create one unique and innovative sport. Students at UGA came up with their own rules to play, even creating an official UGA Quidditch League guidebook.

UGA Quidditch Rules of Play

Though Quidditch, as described in Harry Potter books, is whimsical perfection, the differences in wizard and Muggle lifestyles make it impossible for UGA Quidditch to remain completely the same.

Q & A with a former UGA Snitch

One of the biggest differences in the UGA Quidditch League is that the Snitch is a person instead of a ball. This factor presents new challenges to the person who must play Snitch. Alex Squires, a second-year cognitive sciences and cellular biology major from Richmond Hill, Ga., was the primary Snitch for the first season of Quidditch at UGA and provides insight on the strategy and mindset needed to be a successful Snitch.

Q. What is the first thing that runs through your mind as soon as you're allowed to hide?
A. I pick a direction, and then I start going through all the possible hiding spots in my mind that I will pass.

Q. What are some good hiding places?
A. Cheap question...basically, anywhere that conceals you while letting you see around you is awesome. Also, the more escape routes the better the hiding spot.

Q. What kind of skills does a person need to make a good Snitch?
A. Patience is key. I can sit somewhere for 20+ minutes while they are looking for me. Also, speed is crucial, since a slow Snitch doesn't make for a very exciting catch.

Q. What is the first thing that runs through your mind when you realize that you're trapped?
A. I don't think it's appropriate to publish, but you get the idea.

Q. How long do you normally last before you're captured?
A. My best run was over 45 minutes, my worst was about five minutes, and I average around 35 minutes.

Q. Do you have a memorable game that you played Snitch in?
A. Second to last game fall semester-we had a great crowd turnout and I managed to get back to the middle of the quad. The seekers chased me through the middle of the crowd, and I had numerous good dodges. It was intense. It might be on film somewhere, I think.

Q. What is your favorite part about being Snitch?
A. Being chased and trying to make a fool of the seekers once the chase is on.

Quidditch is Just Plain Fun
Squires remembers that at first he thought Quidditch was going to be kind of lame but then saw how awesome it really was. He also adds, "We've taken out bushes and run through crowds . . . people will be walking to Snelling, and I'll be crouched in the bushes, but once they see my Snitch t-shirt they realize what's going on and laugh. It's fun."

Though tensions that might make Quidditch less enjoyable arise between the four houses in the Harry Potter books, players on the UGA Quidditch League do not see much conflict. Kenny Adcox, a second-year telecommunications and anthropology major from Dunwoody, Ga., is a Beater for Ravenclaw. "UGA Quidditch is competitive but you don't feel like you have to win. I don't think anyone [on Ravenclaw] was disappointed last season that we didn't win."

Dressed appropriately in a red Gryffindor t-shirt and a UGA beanie, Chase McCallum, a second-year international affairs major from Marietta, Ga., is the Gryffindor captain and a Chaser. McCallum is right at home playing Quidditch. "I really like Frisbee, and I really like dodge ball. It's just like playing Frisbee on the [Myers] Quad with twists, and it's cool to participate in something unique."

Erin Wilson, a second-year public relations and psychology major from Marietta, is the Hufflepuff captain and a Chaser. "Quidditch is really fun. I'd never really done sports before but we definitely welcome non-athletic people to join us. It's a bonding experience," she says.

But the main reason why UGA students enjoy playing Quidditch is clear just by watching the teams warm up. Every Sunday as the Quidditch teams meet on Myers Quad, the players are meeting to enjoy each other's company, to have fun and to keep the magic of Harry Potter alive.

In the last few minutes of the first game of spring semester 2008, before the release of the Snitch, Hufflepuff and Slytherin fight each other intensely to score. Suddenly, Hufflepuff receives the Quaffle to the excitement of the team and the sidelines. But then, to Hufflepuff's dismay, a player from Slytherin immediately steals the Quaffle back. The Slytherin player runs down the field and shouts, "I love this game!"

STOP: If you don't know what the terms Quidditch, Harry Potter, Hogwarts, or Muggle mean, read this sidebar. * Harry Potter is the only survivor of Lord Voldemort's, an evil wizard trying to take over the wizarding world, attack. Harry eventually defeats him and saves the wizarding world from destruction. * Quidditch is the popular game in the wizarding world (comparable to football in the Bulldog Nation) that Harry Potter plays in all seven of the Harry Potter books written by J.K. Rowling. * Four House teams play: Gryffindor (Harry's house!), Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. * There are four positions: Beater, Chaser, Keeper and Seeker (our hero Harry plays Seeker). * There are three balls: Bludger, Quaffle and Snitch * Broomsticks allow the players to fly around the field. * Hogwarts is the Magical School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that Harry Potter and his friends attend. * Muggle is the term used for non-magical people. In the books, Muggles do not know that Hogwarts exists or that Harry Potter is a hero among wizards.

Harry Potter's Quidditch UGA Quidditch Positions Beater - uses Bludger to prevent Chasers from scoring Chaser - uses Quaffle to score points Keeper - protects goal by blocking Chasers on the opposite team from scoring Seeker - focuses on finding Snitch Positions are same as Harry Potter's Quidditch. Number of Players 7 9 Balls: The Bludger and Quaffle Two Bludgers -the Beaters hit Bludgers at Chasers to prevent them from scoring. If hit by a Bludger, player may fall off broom and be sent to hospital ward for treatment. The Quaffle - passed between Chasers who score points by throwing Quaffle into goal. (10 points) Two dodge balls (Bludgers) - the Beaters hit Bludgers at Chasers to prevent them from scoring. If hit by a Bludger, player must spin around five times. The Frisbee (Quaffle) - passed between Chasers who score points by throwing Quaffle into the goal. Chasers must comply with all general Ultimate Frisbee rules. (10 points) The Snitch Small, golden ball Seeker must catch. Catching Snitch means the game is over. (150 points) Person that must stay within boundaries of Lumpkin, Stanford, Carlson and Cedar Street. After 25 minutes of play, everyone takes a water break and Snitch is released. To end game, Seeker must catch Snitch by wrapping arms around him in a hug-like fashion. (100 points) Goal Three upright hoops attached to three poles -very high Three hula hoops standing upright off ground with PVC pipe - about as high as a person Uniform Long flowing robe in color of respective House (Ravenclaw is blue, Hufflepuff is yellow, Slytherin is green and Gryffindor is red.) T-shirt in color of respective House (same colors apply) Flying Yes No