Written by Leslie Rutkin
You’ve read about it in every Harry Potter book and seen it in every movie, and this weekend, you’ll get the chance to see it live - Quidditch. NAU’s Quidditch team will play their first game of the year against Arizona State University this Saturday.
NAU’s Quidditch team, known as the Narwhals, gained club status last November after a group of students, led by president Bridget Petersen, decided that they wanted to play. Today, there are 46 players total, split into a competitive A team and a recreational B team. Team members practice for two hours three times a week, scrimmaging and practicing ball handling and footwork.
But how is Quidditch, a game that relies heavily on magic in the world of Harry Potter, even possible in the real world?
As Eric Andres, Quidditch player and KJACK engineer, explains it, “Muggle Quidditch” stays as true to the Harry Potter original as possible. The basic rules of the game are exactly the same - players try to score goals by throwing a ball known as a Quaffle through a hoop, and points can also be earned by catching the Golden Snitch. Players also ride brooms, though flying is replaced by running. Every position seen in the books and movies is included in the Muggle version.
Of course, changes have to be made as well. Bludgers, the iron balls that fly around and try to knock players from their brooms, are replaced with dodge balls, which Beaters throw at members of the opposite team. The Golden Snitch, the tiny golden ball that flies around evading capture, is a tennis ball inside of a sock. This is then tied to a runner who spends the entire game trying to avoid Seekers from both teams in any way possible. The Snitch Runner may even leave the game entirely - anything to keep the Seekers guessing.
Quidditch teams worldwide are members of the International Quidditch Association, which began in 2005. The IQA standardized the rules of the game and hosts the World Cup every year. Quidditch has definitely become a worldwide phenomenon, with hundreds of teams in 22 countries.
The camaraderie and competition between teams is one of Andres’s favorite parts of the game. “Yes, you’re competitive, and yes, you want to win,” he says, “but afterwards, you all go out together and have a good time.”
The NAU Narwhals will face off against ASU on the field in front of Wall Aquatics at noon on Saturday. Spectators should bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on. The game will also broadcast live on the KJACK website and channel 55.
