Quidditch,[4] also known as quadball, is a sport of two teams of seven players each mounted on a broomstick, and is played on

a hockey rink-sized pitch. The sport was created in 2005 at Middlebury College in Vermont, and was inspired by the fictional
game Quidditch in the Harry Potter books by author J. K. Rowling.[3] It is sometimes referred to as "muggle quidditch" to
distinguish it from the books-based fictional game that involves magical elements such as flying broomsticks and enchanted
balls; in the Harry Potter universe, a Muggle is a person without the power to use magic. The sport is played around the world.

In contrast with the books, in which the pitch is oval, the "muggle" pitch is rectangular 60 by 36 yards (55 by 33 m) with 3 hoops
of varying heights at either end.[4] The ultimate goal is to have more points than the other team by the time the snitch, a tennis
ball inside a long sock hanging from the shorts of an impartial official dressed in yellow, is caught. Rules of the sport are
governed by the International Quidditch Association (the IQA) and events are sanctioned by either the IQA or that nation's
governing body.

To score points, chasers or keepers must get the quaffle, a slightly deflated volleyball, into one of three of the opposing hoops,
which scores the team 10 points.[6] To impede the quaffle from advancing down the pitch, chasers and keepers can tackle
opposing chasers and keepers at the same time as beaters using their bludgers—dodgeballs—to take out opposing players.
Once a player is hit by an opposing bludger, that player must dismount their broom, drop any ball being held, and return to
touch their hoops before being allowed back into play.[7] The game is ended once the snitch is caught by one of the seekers,
awarding that team 30 points.[8]

A team consists of a minimum of seven (maximum 21) players, of which six are always on the pitch: three chasers, one keeper,
and two beaters. The seeker comes onto the pitch after the 'seeker floor', which is 20 minutes under USQ rules and 17 under
IQA. Teams are required to abide by the gender rule, which states that a team may have a maximum of four players who
identify as the same gender on the field at one time, making quidditch one of the few sports that not only offers a co-ed
environment but an open community to those who identify as nonbinary.[10] After the seeker floor, the snitch runner moves
onto the pitch and tries to evade the two seekers.

In games that use the IQA rulebook, a snitch catch adds 30 points. Catches that result in the catching team leading in points end
the game immediately with the catching team winning. In the event a team catches the snitch but this results in them still
trailing in points (or being in a tie for points), the game goes into an overtime period where a target score of the non-catching
team's score plus 30 points is set. The first team to reach the target score wins the game, however either team may concede at
any time during this overtime period. Matches or games often run about 30 to 40 minutes but tend to be subject to varying
lengths of time due to the unpredictable nature of the snitch catch.

In MLQ and USQ, catching the snitch results in 35 points which help teams reach a set score, 60 (MLQ) or 70 (USQ) points above
the leading team before the seeker floor. The first team to reach this set score wins the game.
History
Quidditch has its roots in the fictional Harry Potter sport of the same name. To denote the difference, the fictional sport uses
the capitalized "Quidditch" whereas the sport played as per the IQA rules uses the uncapitalised "quidditch". In April 2017
Oxford Dictionaries recognized "quidditch" as a word.[5]

The sport was brought to life in 2005 at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, by Xander Manshel and Alex Benepe, who
later became the first commissioner of quidditch.[6] It has grown into its own separate and distinct sport after ten[7]
publications of rulebooks.[8]

After beginning in 2005, the sport grew to the point where, in 2007, the first Quidditch World Cup took place with Middlebury
taking the place of the top team. Since then, yearly until 2014, there was a World Cup within the United States, where
collegiate and community teams would compete to be the best team. While Canada often sent several Ontario or Quebec
teams, and Australia, Mexico and France each sent a team once, the World Cup in its state never saw true international
competition. In 2012, the IQA hosted the Summer Games, where five nations sent national teams. Two years later, the IQA
hosted the Global Games, during which the United States defeated Australia for the gold medal.[9] There is now an IQA World
Cup every two years, though the 2020 World Cup was cancelled and the 2022 World Cup has been delayed.

Since beginning at Middlebury College, the sport has grown through universities such as UC Berkeley in the United States. It
soon grew internationally, arriving in Canada through McGill University and Carleton University in 2009. In 2010, UCLA became
the first major university to create a permanent Quidditch pitch, through the generosity of actor-alumnus Matthew Perry.
[citation needed] Quidditch began to take shape around the world with teams beginning in Australia,[10] the UK,[11] and
France.[12] It soon spread across Europe and the Americas, arriving in Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Mexico,
Argentina,[13] and Brazil. There are now active teams in Malaysia, China, Uganda, the Philippines, New Zealand and Vietnam.
In December 2021, it was reported that some leagues involved in the sport, US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch, were
planning to change the name of the sport they engage in. The leagues had stated that this was in order to distance themselves
from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's views on transgender people and related civil rights, that have been criticized by some
people as transphobic, as well as the fact that the film studio Warner Bros holds the trademark to the word "Quidditch".[14]
Names suggested include Quidball, Quadball, Quickball, Quicker, Quidstrike and Quadraball.[15] In July 2022, the new name of
"Quadball" was announced.[16]
Positions
Chasers are responsible for passing the quaffle and scoring points by throwing the quaffle through one of the opponent's goals
for 10 points. When a bludger hits a chaser in possession of the quaffle or the broom that they are on, they must drop the
quaffle, remove the broom from between their legs, and touch their own hoops to rejoin play. Chasers are not allowed to
interfere with bludgers. Chasers not in possession of the quaffle must perform the same knockout procedure when hit by a
bludger, but do not have a ball to drop. Chasers may enter into physical contact with opposing chasers or keepers. There are
three chasers on the field for each team, identified by a white headband.
Keepers can be likened to goalies in other sports, and must try to block attempts to score by the opposing team's chasers. The
keeper is invulnerable to bludgers as well as having indisputable possession of the quaffle when within their team's keeper
zone, an area around the team's hoops. Once outside of the keeper zone, the keeper may serve as a fourth chaser. Keepers
may enter into physical contact with opposing keepers or chasers. There is one keeper on the field for each team, identified by
a green headband.
Beaters attempt to hit the opposing team's players with bludgers and attempt to block the bludgers from hitting their team's
players. Beaters are subject to the same knockout procedure as chasers or keepers when hit with a bludger, but unlike chasers
and keepers, they may attempt to catch a bludger thrown at them. If they succeed in catching a bludger, they are not knocked
out, and the beater who threw the bludger may remain in play. However, if they attempt to catch the bludger but drop it, they
must remove the broom from between their legs and touch their own hoops to rejoin play. As there are three bludgers for the
four beaters on the pitch, the fourth, bludger-less beater puts pressure on the team in control of both bludgers (often called
"bludger control" or "bludger supremacy"). If a beater is on a team that has no bludgers, they may raise a hand above their
shoulder with their fist closed and claim "bludger immunity" to prevent being knocked out by live bludgers as they collect the
third bludger. A team that has two bludgers may not prevent the other team from collecting the third bludger. Beaters may
enter into physical contact only with other beaters. Two beaters on a team may be in play at a time, identified by black
headbands.
Seekers attempt to catch the snitch. They may not contact the snitch but are permitted to contact the other seeker. Seekers are
released after 18 minutes of game time. There is one seeker on the field for each team, identified by gold or yellow headband.
Equipment
The game is played with six standing hoops, three on each side of a square pitch. Each player must hold a broomstick between
their legs. There are three different types of balls in play, and five in total: the quaffle, three bludgers, and the snitch.

One quaffle and three bludgers lined up for "brooms up" before a quidditch match
Broomstick
Probably the most iconic piece of equipment for quidditch, the broomstick serves the purpose of being a handicap such as one-
handed dribbling in basketball or using only one's feet in association football.[17] The player must stay mounted on their
broomstick for every moment of play unless they have been hit with a bludger, in which case the player needs to dismount
from their broom and return to their hoops.[18] To be mounted on the broomstick means that the player must hold the broom
between their legs and not have it fully on the ground. It can be supported by their thighs or hands equally, just as long as it is
not attached to their person nor fully resting on the ground. Because it is a handicap, sometimes players do not play with the
brooms.

Players can substitute a variety of objects for brooms depending on the level of seriousness. Many teams play on PVC pipes of
about 3 feet or 1 meter in length; these are usually made, but can also be purchased from specialist quidditch suppliers.

Hoops
Three hoops are placed on either side of the pitch of differing heights (3 ft or 0.91 m, 4.5 ft or 1.4 m and 6 ft or 1.8 m), placed
two broomsticks apart (92 in or 2.3 m).[19] Chasers and keepers can score by throwing the quaffle through any one of the
hoops, from either front or back, gaining ten points for their team per score. Any player experiencing a knock-out effect from
either dismounting their broomstick or getting hit with a bludger must touch with any part of their body excluding the broom
any one of their hoops before returning to play.

Quaffle
The quaffle is a slightly deflated regulation volleyball that can only be manipulated by chasers or keepers. Used for scoring, it
may pass through any hoop from either side. Regardless of which team caused the quaffle to pass through the hoop, as long as
it is in play, a goal is scored against the team whose hoop was scored upon, which is counted to be 10 points.[20]

Bludgers
The bludger is a slightly deflated dodgeball that can only be manipulated by beaters. At any given time there are four beaters in
play, but only three bludgers. The bludgers are used to hit any other player on the field. Upon being hit by a bludger previously
in the possession of an opposing beater, the player suffers the knockout effect. This means they must dismount their broom,
drop any ball that they may have been carrying, and touch their team's hoops before resuming play. There is no friendly fire,
meaning that bludgers thrown by beaters cannot affect any of their teammates.[20]

Snitch

Seeker (l) and Snitch (r) at King's Cup Quidditch Tournament, Syracuse University, April 2015.[21]
The snitch is a tennis ball placed at the bottom of a long yellow pouch that is attached to the back of the snitch runner's shorts
as if it were a tail. The snitch runner may do everything in their power to protect the snitch from being caught by seekers, for
example pushing, running, or even throwing the player's broom away. Only seekers may make advances towards the snitch or
the snitch runner, and no forceful contact with the snitch runner is allowed. If the snitch is not caught within a certain period of
time, a series of handicaps go into effect against the runner to limit their freedom of movement, one at a time. In most leagues,
the game ends when one of the seekers grabs the snitch, awarding 30 points to their team.[20] However, some leagues are
tinkering with snitch rules. For example, in 2019, Major League Quidditch made the snitch worth 40 points. Instead of ending
the game, a catch contributed to a "set score" that a team must surpass to win.[22]

As of the release of Rulebook 8, the snitch is relegated to playing only on the field in the same fashion as the other players.
Previously, snitch runners left the pitch to be pursued by seekers returning to the field after a predetermined amount of time.

Rules
USQ (originally IQA) has released 15 iterations of the Rulebook, each building upon the last. The modern IQA has released 5
iterations of the Rulebook since it split from USQ.

Playing
Each match begins with six of the starting players (excluding the seekers) along the starting line within their keeper zone with
brooms on the ground and the four balls lined in the centre of the pitch. The head referee then calls "brooms up!" at which
players run to gain possession of the balls.[23] After brooms up is called, the seekers must not interfere with other positions,
and wait near the pitch until the end of the seeker floor, usually 18 minutes. The snitch goes on the field at 17 minutes, and the
seekers are released at 18 minutes.[24]

Play runs rapidly, with quick change-of-hands of the quaffle, because every goal (each being worth 10 points) scored against a
team gives that team the ball. Once a point is scored, the quaffle must be given to the other team's keeper, and almost
immediately returns to the offensive[25] with the chasers returning to their keeper zone or proper side of the pitch;[26] beaters
are not bound to return to their side of the pitch nor exit the opposing team's keeper zone at any point.[27] Games can last any
length of time longer than 18 minutes, depending on the skill and endurance of the seekers and snitch. Many tournaments
introduce snitch handicaps, such as asking the snitch to use only one hand, no hands, or remain on the centre line, to ensure
games fit within reasonable time slots.

The game is won only after the snitch has been caught cleanly, and the team that caught the snitch is awarded 30 points.[28]
The winner is determined not by the snitch catch but by the number of points earned; thus it is not unknown for teams that are
losing by a wide margin to try delaying a snitch catch so that they can narrow the opponents' lead, along with the reverse, with
the winning team trying to extend their lead.

Fouls and illegal plays

Depending on the severity of the foul, a player found committing an illegal play will result in a blue, yellow, and/or a red card.
Cards are issued at the discretion of the Head Referee. If need be the Head Referee may consult with their AR's (Assistant
Referees) to determine which card should be given to the offending player.

When a blue card is issued, it is considered to be a non-stacking yellow card, and can either result in being sent back to hoops
or spend one minute in the penalty box. When a yellow card is issued, the player must sit in the penalty box for one minute and
the rest of the team plays a person down for that minute. If the opposing team scores before the minute is up then the player
will be allowed to return to the game. They are still considered off-broom and must tag their team's hoops to resume play. If a
player receives two yellow cards, then they are ejected from the game but do not receive a red card. If a player receives a red
card, then that player is barred from the rest of the game and the player's team has to continue with a player down for two
minutes.

If a Keeper is sent to the penalty box, they must give their headband to another chaser on their team, both teams are required
to have a keeper on the pitch at all times.

Contact rules are fairly straightforward and are similar to other contact sports. Tackles are legal between the knees and
shoulders. Two-handed tackling is allowed. All tackles must be initiated from the front side of the opposing player. Any back
tackles made will result in a yellow card, however, if the player turns their back into the tackle with no chance for adjustment, it
is not considered illegal. Players can only tackle other players of their same position (with keepers considered chasers) if they
have the ball. Pushes are allowed if the arm is held straight; it is illegal to push if the arm is bent and then extended when
pushing another player.[31] Players are not allowed to dive for balls, slide into contact, trip opposing players, or initiate contact
around the neck or over the shoulder. If a player is found making any of these offences it will result in a card depending on the
severity of the offence.

After several various types of illegal play, after an injury, or after a snitch catch, the head referee will blow their whistle three
times to indicate stoppage of play, in which every player must drop in place their broom.[33]

The snitch can no longer leave the pitch and is also subject to 'brooms down' (which is when play stops and no one can change
location or headband), but can 'take a knee' by having any part of their body except their feet touch the floor. In this case, the
seekers cannot advance towards the snitch at all until three seconds after the snitch is back up – if they do so, they will be sent
back to hoops.

Pitch
The quidditch pitch is usually marked with cones or with painted lines,[29] and it is where all play occurs (a rectangle of 36 by
66 yards or 33 m × 60 m around the pitch).[30] Balls are not allowed to be kicked off the pitch under penalty, nor is play allowed
in the spectator zones. Players are asked to return to the pitch when play continues out of bounds.

On the edge of the pitch is a penalty box where players who have committed fouls that warrant yellow cards are sent for one
minute.[31]

Officials
Each official game requires having several referees present as well as an official snitch. The referees consist of:

Head referee, who enforces the rules, takes disciplinary action against players, and is the only official who may directly issue
penalty cards;
Assistant referees, who assist the Head Referee in calling whether players are subject to the knockout effect, watching plays
away from the quaffle and watching for balls and players going out of bounds;
Snitch referee, who watches plays around the snitch runner, including knockouts and potential catches, ruling whether the
snitch runner is down, and enforcing snitch handicaps;
Goal referees, who watch the shots taken towards the goals and ruling whether the quaffle is out of bounds at their endline.
[32]
The snitch runner, being a neutral player and assistant referee, may help the referees to determine whether or not the catch
was clean.[32]

There is also usually a timekeeper and scorekeeper for each game.

Rules history
The rules of quidditch have changed significantly as the sport has developed over time. New rulebooks are released
approximately every one or two years.

Rulebook 8
The release of Rulebook 8 coincided partially with the reformation of the IQA. As USQ released the rulebook, the IQA chose to
adopt the eighth iteration as the de facto international standard where the proceeding rulebook will be released under the
guise of the IQA. The changes from Rulebook 7 to Rulebook 8 were minimal except in two areas: blue cards and snitching.
A technical foul results in a blue card on a player where that player must substitute with another player of the same position.
The substitution does not, however, result in a power play for the other team, and play is not stopped when this card is
rendered. A play may accrue an unlimited number of technical fouls during a match.[33]

Snitching also changed in Rulebook 8 resulting in the deletion of off-pitch seeking. Where before, the snitch would be
"released" before each match by running off the pitch during a set amount of time, now the snitch is released to the field,
limited to the playing area, at 17 minutes (the seekers being released at 18 minutes). Many NGBs chose to continue playing
under Rulebook 7 rules.[33]

Rulebook 9
The release of Rulebook 9 coincided partially with the reformation of the IQA. As USQ released the rulebook, the IQA chose to
adopt the eighth iteration as the de facto international standard where the proceeding rulebook will be released under the
guise of the IQA. The changes from Rulebook 8 to Rulebook 9 were minimal.

Rulebook 9 requires that if a chaser or keeper decides to reset the play by throwing the quaffle back to their side of the pitch,
there must be a chaser and/or keeper to receive the quaffle. If there is no one to receive the ball, it will be considered a
turnover and the offending team will lose possession of the quaffle.

Rulebook 10
The release of Rulebook 10 coincided partially with the reformation of the IQA. As USQ released the rulebook, the IQA chose to
adopt the eighth iteration as the de facto international standard where the proceeding rulebook will be released under the
guise of the IQA. The changes from the Rulebook 9 to 10 were minimal.

Rulebook 10 now requires that once an opposing team has scored, the keeper and or point chaser must keep the ball moving
forward at all times. The rulebook has become more strict on tackling and cards are given at the discretion of the head referee.
In addition, moving screens are illegal. This means that if a person wishes to screen for another player that has the quaffle, the
person setting the screen must have their feet planted.

2020-2021 rulebook changes

The 2020-2021 IQA rulebook is notable for making significant changes to several aspects of the game. The most major changes
are chaser positioning when restarting play (after third bludger interference and most penalty cards), two yellow cards no
longer resulting in a red card, a new setup for the start of games and snitch catches when the catching team is behind no longer
ending the game.[34]

The start setup was altered so players no longer line up on their starting line but instead enter the pitch from the side. One
bludger starts in the middle of each team's keeper line, whereas the quaffle and third bludger are placed on the midline. One
beater and one chaser from each team are chosen as designated runners who line up on the midline. The other players on the
team all line up anywhere on the sideline on their half of the pitch, excluding one chaser who acts as the offensive zone chaser
and starts on the sideline in the opponents' half.[35]

In the event a team catches the snitch but this results in them still trailing in points (or being in a tie for points), the game now
goes into an overtime period where a target score of the non-catching team's score plus 30 points is set. The first team to reach
the target score wins the game, however either team may concede at any time during this overtime period. Catches that result
in the catching team leading in points still end the game immediately with the catching team winning.

2022 rulebook changes

The upcoming 2022 IQA rulebook will add in two-arm wrappings and tackling, allow initiating contact from behind if a player
has come to a complete stop and extend the seeker floor from 17 to 20 minutes (bringing it in line with the current USQ/MLQ
seeker floor). It also adds other minor rules such as required extra breaks during high heat or humidity, allowing plastic shin
guards and metal cleats, penalizing beats thrown to the head from less than 5 meters away and new rules about specific
scenarios with regard to resetting and stalled quaffles.[36]

One additional change was proposed but failed receive enough votes which was a "3 maximum" gender rule that would allow
teams to only have up to a maximum of 3 players of the same gender on pitch before the seeker floor (compared to the current
4 maximum of the same gender on pitch at any time).[37] QuidditchUK have decided to implement this rule change starting in
2023.[38]
International Quidditch Association
Main article: International Quidditch Association

World Map of quidditch activity. Dark blue indicates full member, light blue indicates associate member.
The International Quidditch Association serves as the central governing body for quidditch worldwide and helps to coordinate
with national associations around the world through the IQA Congress. Previously, The IQA held a World Cup for qualifying
members of the association at the end of every season, the first being held in 2007, ending in 2014 with its restructuring.[39]
Now, the IQA hosts World Cups featuring national teams, as well as Continental Games in the years between World Cups.

Each nation in which quidditch is played has or is in the process of developing a national organisation. The job of the national
organisation is to organise quidditch within the country, create membership policies for teams, organize referees, snitches, and
coaches and be the bridge between that nation's teams and the IQA