Quidditch finals coming to Hamilton
Harry Potter chasers, beaters, keepers, seeker at Hortons Field in spring
In Harry Potter, the game of quidditch is played on flying brooms with magical balls.
But in the real world, non-magical “muggle” folk are playing a version of the game by running around a field with a pipe between their legs. As the sport — described as a mix of rugby, dodge ball and handball — has evolved, so too has its popularity, particularly on college and university campuses, including at McMaster University.
Quidditch Canada announced Hamilton will host its 2018 National Championships after beating out five other cities that bid for the honours. Teams will play at Tim Hortons Field in a tournament March 30 to April 1.
Hamilton is looking forward to welcoming participants and showcasing the city, said Alana Henderson from the city’s tourism and culture division.
“It’s a new and emerging sport in Canada and I think that uniqueness, just to have an opportunity to host in our community was definitely a wonderful thing to peruse,” she said. “We’re extremely excited to bring them here.”
Quidditch Canada has been around for going-on four years, but people have been playing the sport in North America for 12, said Sachin Kotecha, events director for Quidditch Canada.
The 21-year-old University of Waterloo student began playing the game as a Harry Potter fan.
“But I stayed because how great the sport is, how great the community is,” he said, adding that players and organizers are very proud of its gender equity.
Games are played between two teams, with the goal to get the most points. The positions are the same as in the fictional magical version: three chasers, two beaters, a keeper and the seeker on the pitch at a time.
To score points, the chasers and keeper work together to pass the quaffle (like a volleyball) through their opponent’s set of hoops for 10 points. The keeper is also like a goalkeeper. The beaters use bludgers (like dodgeballs) to knock people (temporarily) out of the game.
At the 18-minute mark of the game, the snitch is released — an independent player typically dressed in yellow, with a ball in a sock — the “snitch tail” — stuck to them. The game ends when the seeker is able to grab the “snitch tail” for 30 points.
Kotecha said most games last about 25 to 30 minutes.
The sport is now moving toward “the athletic side of it,” he said, adding they’re shying away from the Harry Potter brand image.
The championships in Hamilton will be the biggest venue the sport has ever been played in Canada, according to Kotecha.
In all, there are about 21 teams in Canada, most on university campuses.
McMaster is expected to hold tryouts for its team after school starts in September.
For more information visit quidditchcanada.com