Quidditch

Though little is known about the actual origins of Quidditch, it is believed to have evolved from a game played over Queerditch Marsh in the eleventh century. The original game involved flying around on broomsticks and trying to get a leather ball into trees at either ends of the marsh. Shortly afterward, two rocks were bewitched to chase the players around, adding to the difficulty of the game. (This idea is believed to have been introduced by a scottish warlock, due to the fact that an old favorite broomstick game in Scotland, Creaothceann, involved trying to catch large rocks falling from the sky in a cauldron strapped to your head.) The game further evolved to include goal posts (actually barrels or baskets atop three poles) and the addition of a third player position to fend off the flying rocks (blooders, they were called at the time) with clubs.
In 1269, the Chief of the Wizards' Council, Barberus Bragge, brought a caged Snidget to a game and offered One hundred and fifty Galleons to anyone you caught the bird during the game. The players all immediately began to ignore the game and chase the bird, which was kept in the pitch by repelling charms from the audience. Finally, a witch named Madam Rabnott, summoned the bird and released it outside. The game was forever changed. Snidgets were soon released at every quidditch game with one player on each team to catch it. Catching the bird meant 150 points for your team and the end of the game. When snidgets became close to extinction, the Ministry of magic made thier use in the game illegal. The game remained intact however, by a wizard named Bowman Wright of Godric's Hollow, who created a small metal, winged ball that could mimic the swift directional changes of the snidget's flight patterns. Three hundred years after first being played, Quidditch was now truely born.

The Pitch

A pitch is the field on which quidditch is played. It is oval in shape, 500 feet long and one hundred and eighty feet wide with a small circle in the center. Scoring areas are located at each end of the pitch in which three goal posts (tall poles with hoops on top).

The Balls

The Quaffle - Alone of all the balls in the game of Quidditch, the Quaffle was not originally enchanted. Later on, gripping charms were added to allow a better hold on the ball without the use of straps or finger holes. A further charm was also added to slow the quaffles desent towards earth if dropped to make it easier to grab in mid-air. The ball is made of leather, is twelve inches in diameter and seamless. It was colored scarlett after a heavy rain made it indistinguishable from the muddy ground. The main ball of Quidditch, it is passed from player to player and thrown through the goal posts for ten points.

The Bludgers - Formerly called Blooders, were originally, as mentioned before, enchanted rocks. However, the magically reinforced bats of the beaters could break the rocks, leaving the players getting pelted by persueing gravel. Bludgers were them made from lead, but any intentation from a bat would affect the ball's abillity to fly straight. Now bludgers are made of iron and are ten inches in diameter. Bludgers are charmed to chase players indiscriminately, and will chase whatever player is closest to them.

The Golden Snitch - As mentioned before, the snitch is a walnut sized ball with tiny wings that is enchanted to evade capture for as long as possible. Capture of this ball is worth 150 points and the end of the game.

The Players

The Chaser - Chasers are the oldest of all positions, as the game once consisted of nothing but goal scoring. Chasers pass the quaffle back and forth to each other and attempt to throw the ball through the goal posts for tem points each. Only one chaser may enter the scoring area at a time. Defiance of this rule is known as stooging. There are three chasers on a team.

The Keeper - The position of keeper has been around since at least the thirteenth century. They used to be chasers with the additional responsibilities of making sure that the other team didn't score on thier goal. With the addition of scoring areas in 1620, thier job was simplified. They were advised to remain in the scoring area and gaurd thier goals, though they are allowed to leave the area if the wish to fend off or intimidate chasers. Each team has one keeper.

The Beater - The position of beater has existed since the introduction of the bludger. The beater's duties have remained reletively unchanged since that time. They are to protect thier teamates from the bludgers with the use of bats, knocking them toward players on the other team if possible. It requires a great deal of strength and balance to be a beater, so it is often wizards rather then witches chosen for this position. There are two beaters to a team.

The Seeker - Seekers are usually the fastest and lightest players on a team. They need to have a sharp eye and amazing balance, with the ability to fly one or no handed a must. Thier job is to locate and capture the snitch before the other team's seeker. As they are the most important players on a team, being able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, seekers are the most fouled players in the game.