Quidditch through the Ages

[Meg]

Chapter One: The Evolution of the Flying Broomstick
"No spell yet devised enables wizards to fly unaided in human form." There are some Animagi who turn into a flying creature, but they are rare. Currently, levitation is the closest wizards can come to flying by themselves. The question approached in this chapter is simple: Why did wizards choose brooms over other objects? A broom is easy to hide and common in Muggle homes. The earliest recorded broom flying was in 962 A.D. However, brooms at that time were simple and uncomfortable.

Chapter Two: Ancient Broom Games

"Broom sports emerged almost as soon as broomsticks were sufficiently advanced to allow fliers to turn corners and vary their height and speed."
Annual Broom Race- Began in the 900s AD. Fliers race almost 300 miles across Sweden.
Stichstock- From 1100s to 1300s. German origin. The game had a twenty-foot high pole with an inflated dragon bladder atop. The goal of the game was to puncture the bladder with the sharp ends of brooms.
Aingingein- Game played in Ireland. The goal of the game was to get the ball through a barrel. However, on the way to this barrel, you had to go through many flaming barrels.
Creaothceann- Began in Scotland. The poem about the game goes like this:

The players assembled, twelve fine, hearty men,
They strapped on their cauldrons, stood poised to fly,
At the sound of the horn, they were swiftly airborne
But ten of their number were fated to die.

The players strapped a cauldron on their head. The goal of the game was to catch as many falling rocks and boulders as possible in the cauldrons. Many wizards died from this game. It was made illegal in 1762.
Shuntbumps- Popular in Devon, England. The goal of the game was to knock all of the other players off of their broom.
Swivenhodge- Began in Herefordshire. Kind of like table tennis and badminton. Players hit around a bladder. When someone missed it, the other person received a point.

Chapter Three: The Game from Queerditch Marsh

Gertie Keddle was one of the first to witness the beginning of Quidditch. She was also the first to write about it. Her journal entries showed many things: The beginnings of the Quaffle and the Bludger. This all took place at Queerditch Marsh. A century later, Goodwin Kneen wrote a letter to his cousin, Olaf. This letter talked of Catchers, Blooders, and an early form of a Beater. Also, this letter talked of barrels on stilts that were used for scoring.

Chapter Four: The Arrival of the Golden Snitch

"From the early 1100s, Snidget-hunting had been popular among many witches and wizards. The Golden Snidget is today a protected species, but at that time Golden Snidgets were common in northern Europe, though difficult to detect by Muggles because of their aptitude at hiding and their very great speed." However, Snidget hunting was the cause of many Muggle broomstick sightings. Before a Quidditch game, someone brought a caged Snidget to a game. He made a deal with the players. Whoever could catch the Snidget, would win one hundred and fifty Galleons. Even though a crowd member ran off with the Snidget before anyone caught it, this soon became a tradition in Quidditch games. Each team would have a Hunter whose job was to catch the Snidget. Whatever team got the Snidget first was awarded 150 points. Soon, the Golden Snidget became a protected species and Quidditch teams had to find a substitute for the bird. "The invention of the Golden Snitch is credited to the wizard Bowman Wright of Godric's Hollow. Wright created a metal ball that perfectly imitated the flight patterns of a Snidget. "The introduction of the Golden Snitch may be said to have finished the process begun three hundred years before on Queerditch Marsh. Quidditch had been truly born."

Chapter Five: Anti-Muggle Precautions

Wizards soon came to realize that anti-Muggle protection was necessary for Quidditch. Some good rules to follow by were to play at night, to play on deserted moorland, and to use Muggle repelling Charms. "In 1419, the Council issued the famously worded decree that Quidditch should not be played 'anywhere near any place where there is the slightest chance that a Muggle might be watching or we'll see how well you can play whilst chained to a dungeon wall.'" In 1692, every Ministry of Magic was in charge of the consequences of magical sports played in their area. Now, Quidditch teams go to pitches where sufficient anti-Muggle precautions are in use.

[Meg]

Chapter Six: Changes in Quidditch since the Fourteenth Century

Pitch- "Zacharias Mumps describes the fourteenth-century pitch as oval-shaped, five hundred feet long, and a hundred and eighty feet wide with a small central circle (approx. two feet in diameter) in the middle. Mumps tells us that the referee (or Quijudge, as he or she was then known), carried the four balls into this central circle while the fourteen players stood around him. The moment the balls were released (the Quaffle was thrown by the referee), the players raced into the air. The goalposts in Mump's
By the seventeenth century, there were scoring areas. Scoring areas were used as guides for the Keeper on where to stay while guarding the goals. Also, the baskets that were used for scoring were higher and smaller. By 1883, the scoring baskets were replaced by the goalposts currently used.

Balls-

The Quaffle

The early Quaffle was made of leather and was not enchanted. It had straps and finger holes. However, in the late 1800s, the Gripping Charm was invented. This made straps and finger holes useless for Chasers. "Chasers were becoming increasingly irritated by the necessity of diving continuously to retrieve the Quaffle whenever they missed a catch and sothe witch Daisy Pennifold had the idea of bewitching the Quaffle so that if it dropped, it would fall slowly earthwards as though sinking through water, meaning that Chasers could grab it in mid-air. The 'Pennifold Quaffle' is still used today."

The Bludgers

The earliest Bludgers were flying rocks that could be cracked easily by the Beaters. This meant that the players would be chased by gravel for the remainder of the game. Currently, all Bludgers are made of iron. "Bludgers are bewitched to chase players indiscriminately."

The Golden Snitch

"The Golden Snitch is walnut-sized, as was the Golden Snidget. It is bewitched to evade capture as long as possible. There is a tale that a Golden Snitch evaded capture for six months on Bodmin Moor in 1884, both teams finally giving up in disgust at their Seekers' poor performances."

Players-

The Keeper

In the thirteenth century, "the Keepers performed like Chasers with extra responsibilities." However, by 1620, a Keeper's job was simply guarding the goalposts. If a Keeper was intending to throw off an incoming Chaser, then he/she could leave the scoring area.

The Beaters
A Beater's job is to protect their fellow teammates. They have never been goal-scorers. "Beaters also need to have an excellent sense of balance, as it is sometimes necessary for them to take both hands from their brooms for a double-handed assault on a Bludger.

The Chasers

"Chaser is the oldest position in Quidditch, for the game once consisted wholly of goal-scoring. The Chasers throw the Quaffle to each other and score ten points for every time they get it through one of the goal hoops."

Usually the lightest and fastest fliers, Seekers need both a sharp eye and the ability to fly one- or no-handedSeekers are most likely to be fouled by members of the opposition." Seekers also are prone to receive the worst fouls of the game.

Rules-

Players can fly as high as they want, but may not go out of the pitch. This results in their team surrending the Quaffle.
Players are only allowed to touch the ground during time-outs. The length of a time-out differs according to how long the game has been going on.
For penalties, a Chaser gets a shot at the goal with no players but the Seeker to stop it.
The Quaffle may be stolen, but not by grabbing "hold of any part of any player's anatomy.
If someone is injured, the team may not substitute. They must play on without the injured player.
Wands are allowed on the pitch, but may not be used against opposing team members, brooms, balls, referee, or any people in the crowd.
There are two ways that a Quidditch game can end. The most common way is when the Seeker catches the Golden Snitch. The other way is by mutual consent of both team Captains.

Fouls

There are seven hundred fouls in the game of Quidditch. It is said that all of these occurred in the Quidditch World Cup of 1473. A list of all these fouls is not available to the wizarding public. "Ninety percent of the fouls listed are, in any case, impossible as long as the ban on using wands against the opposing team is upheld." There are ten common fouls that are the most likely to occur in a Quidditch match.

Blagging- Slowing down opponent by grabbing onto their broom.
Blatching- "Flying with intent to collide."
Blurting- "Locking broom handles with a view to steering opponent off course."
Bumphing- Hitting a Bludger at the crowd.
Cobbing- "Excessive use of elbows towards opponents"
Flacking- "Sticking any portion of anatomy through goal hoop to punch Quaffle out.
Haversacking- Hand remaining on Quaffle as it passes through the goal hoop.
Quaffle-packing- Tampering with the Quaffle in any way, shape, or form.
Snitchip- Any player besides the Seeker catching or touching the Golden Snitch.
Stooging- Two or more Chasers in the scoring area at the same time.

Referees-

There is only one referee death during a match ever recorded. However, there have been several incidents of broom-tampering. The most common case of broom-tampering is turning the referee's broom into a Portkey. Sometimes, the referee would end up in the Sahara Desert. An effective Quidditch referee "he or she has to watch the antics of fourteen players at once and the most common referee's injury is consequently neck strain.

"While amateur games are permitted as long as the appropriate guidelines are followed, professional Quidditch teams have been limited in number since 1674 when the League was established."

Chapter Seven: Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland

Applebee Arrows
Country of Origin: England
Year of Origin: 1612
Robes: blue with silver arrow
Information: Fierce competition with Wimbourne Wasps. They had a tradition of shooting arrows every time that Applebee scored. However, this was outlawed in 1894, when the arrows harmed the referee.

Ballycastle Bats
Country of Origin: Ireland
Year of Origin: N/A
Robes: Black with scarlet bat
Information: They have won the Quidditch League twenty-seven times, making them the second most decorated team in the Quidditch League.

Caerphilly Catapults
Country of Origin: Wales
Year of Origin: 1402
Robes: Light green and scarlet
Information: A Chimaera ate The Catapults best player, "Dangerous" Dai Llewellyn, while he was taking a vacation.

Chudley Cannons
Country of Origin: N/A
Year of Origin: N/A
Robes: orange with cannon ball
Information: They have won the Quidditch League twenty-one times, but have not won since 1892. In 1972, the club motto "We shall conquer" was changed to "Let's all keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best."

Falmouth Falcons
Country of Origin: N/A
Year of Origin: N/A
Robes: dark-grey, white, with falcon emblem
Information: The Falcons have a reputation for playing aggressively. This is shown by their club motto: "Let us win, but if we cannot win, let us break a few heads."

Holyhead Harpies
Country of Origin: Wales
Year of Origin: 1203
Robes: dark green with gold talon
Information: The Harpies are known for only hiring witches.

Kenmare Kestrels
Country of Origin: Ireland
Year of Origin: 1291
Robes: emerald-green with two "K's" on the back
Information: One of their Seekers, Darren O'Hare, is said to be the creator of the Chaser Hawkshead Attacking Formation.

Montrose Magpies
Country of Origin: N/A
Year of Origin: N/A
Robes: black and white with two magpies
Information: The Magpies are the most accomplished team in the Quidditch League today. They have won the League a total of thirty-two times. One of their Seekers, Eunice Murray, petitioned for a quicker Snitch because "this is just too easy".

Pride of Portree
Country of Origin: Isle of Skye
Year of Origin: 1292
Robes: deep-purple with a gold star
Information: They are known as the "Prides." One of the team member's sons is a lead guitarist with the Weird Sisters.

Puddlemere United
Country of Origin: N/A
Year of Origin: 1163
Robes: navy-blue with two golden bulrushes
Information: Puddlemere United is the oldest team in the Quidditch League. Its team anthem is "Beat Back Those Bludgers, Boys, and Chuck Those Quaffles Here."

Tutshill Tornadoes
Country of Origin: N/A
Year of Origin: 1520
Robes: sky-blue with a double "T"
Information: The Tornadoes won the Quidditch League five times in a row in the early 1900s. One of their previous Seekers, Roderick Plumpton, holds the current record for the fastest catch of the Snitch in a game at 3 and a half seconds.

Wigtown Wanderers
Country of Origin: N/A
Year of Origin: 1422
Robes: blood-red with a meat cleaver on the front
Information: The Wanderers were founded by the descendants of the butcher Walter Parkin. This is why they wear silver meat cleavers on the front of their robes.

Wimbourne Wasps
Country of Origin: N/A
Year of Origin: 1312
Robes: striped yellow and black with a wasp on their chest Information: Wimbourne has won the Quidditch League eighteen times. They adopted their nickname from an incident that occurred in the 1600s. Their Beater hit a wasps' nest toward the opposition's Seeker. The Seeker was forced to leave the game, and Wimbourne won.

[Meg]

Chapter Eight: The Spread of Quidditch Worldwide
Europe

By the fourteenth century, Quidditch had a strong foundation in Ireland. Various resources tell us that by the 1400s, Quidditch had spread to even more of Europe. From excerpts in poems and plays, it is assumed that Norway and France became Quidditch-playing countries at an early time.

In 1473, the first Quidditch World Cup took place, and every team involved was European. The reasons for this were believed to be: owls with letters of invitation that could not complete the journey and laziness. The two teams competing in the final of the Quidditch Cup were Transylvania and Flanders. This game has gone down as the most violent of all Quidditch matches, as all 700 fouls were utilized in this match. Since the meeting of Transylvania and Flanders, the Quidditch World Cup has been held once every four years.

There is also a European Cup that was founded in 1652. It is held every three years.

The "Harlem Globetrotters" of Quidditch were the Vratsa Vultures. They were well known for the "long goal", taking shots far from the scoring area. The Vultures won the European Cup seven times.

Other notable teams include: France's Quiberon Quafflepunchers, Germany's Heidelberg Harriers, Luxembourg's Bigonville Bombers, the Braga Broomfleet of Portugal, and Poland's Grodzisk Goblins.

Australia and New Zealand

In the 1600s, Quidditch was introduced to New Zealand by a group of herbologists. They were working in New Zealand and began to play Quidditch to relax, to the awe of the local magic society.

Australia was not introduced to Quidditch until the eighteenth century. Australia is supreme Quidditch playing territory, as it has many vacant areas where a pitch can be set up.

Some of the top Quidditch teams in New Zealand and Australia are: the Moutohora Macaws, the Thundelarra Thunderers, and the Woollongong Warriors.

Africa

It is presumed that the broomstick was first shown to Africa by European wizards who were there looking for information on alchemy and astronomy. Today, Quidditch is gradually gaining popularity in Africa.

Talented African teams include: the Patonga Proudsticks, the Tchamba Charmers, the Gimbi Giant-Slayers, and the Sumbawanga Sunrays.

North America

"Quidditch reached the North American continent in the early seventeenth century, although it was slow to take hold there owing to the great intensity of anti-wizarding feeling unfortunately exported from Europe at the time." Although it was off to a slow start, later on, Canada produced some of the finest teams in the world. These teams are: the Moose Jaw Meteorites, the Haileybury Hammers, and the Stonewall Stormers.

Meanwhile, the United States of America is yet to produce a high number of quality teams. The reason for this is because Quidditch is competing with a very popular American sport, Quodpot. Abraham Peasegood invented Quodpot in the 1700s. Peasegood originally intended to form a Quidditch team in America, and he brought a Quaffle with him. However, his wand had unintentionally made contact with the Quaffle, so when he threw it around nonchalantly, it exploded. "Peasegood, whose sense of humor appears to have been robust, promptly set out to recreate the effect on a series of leather balls and soon all thought of Quidditch was forgotten as he and his friends developed a game which centered on the explosive properties of the newly renamed "Quod."

Eleven players take part in the game of Quodpot. The players pass around the Quod in an attempt to get it in the pot at the end of the field before it exploded. If a player has the Quod when it explodes, they must leave the game. Every time that the Quod is successfully put into the pot, the team that scored gets one point. Quodpot has had minor success in Europe, but many wizards stay true
Two Quidditch teams from America are notable: The Sweet-water All Stars of Texas, and the Fitchburg Finches from Massachusetts.

South America

Even though Quidditch is played in many parts of South America, Quodpot is more popular. Prominent teams from South America include: Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and the Tarapoto Tree-Skimmers.

Asia

"Quidditch has never achieved great popularity in the east, as the flying broomstick is a rarity in countries where the carpet is still the preferred mode of travel." Quidditch is regarded with skepticism in Asia, but it has a few fans here and there. However, Quidditch is becoming increasingly popular in Japan. The Toyohashi Tengu are currently the most victorious team in Japan.
Chapter Nine: The Development of the Racing Broom

Many broomsticks lacked comfort until 1820, when Elliot Smethwyck invented the Cushioning Charm. The Cushioning Charm created an invisible cushion that was placed on the broomstick's handle. When a flyer sat down, they would sit down on the cushion, and not get splinters in unwanted areas.

However, most of the brooms made in the 1800s could not go very fast or very high. An individual made most brooms, and they lacked quality.
The Oakshaft 79- This broom was made in 1879 by Elias Grimstone. It has a broad handle that is made of wood. The Oakshaft 79 was designed for endurance flying and to withstand high winds. It is now a vintage broom that sells at high prices, but it was never a good broom for Quidditch. The reason for this being that it was too bulky to turn at high speeds.
The Moontrimmer- The Moontrimmer was invented by Gladys Boothby in the year 1901. For some time, this broom was in highest demand as it revolutionized the broomstick industry. It had the ability to go higher than any broom before it, and was still navigable at these altitudes. However, one witch alone was not able to get all of the orders filled, and this let a new broom to take over.
The Silver Arrow- Leonard Jewkes created this broom that overtook the Moontrimmer because of its incredible speed. It could go up to 70 mph. But like the Moontrimmer, the demand exceeded the supply.

Bob, Bill, and Barnaby Ollerton founded the Cleansweep Broom Company in 1926. The first broom they made was the Cleansweep One. It was a raging success as it was produced in numbers never before seen. It was marketed as a sporting broom, and because of this, every Quidditch team in the league used it.

However, competition arrived just 3 years after the founding of Cleansweep. Randolph Keitch and Basil Hornton created the Comet Trading Company in 1929. The first broom made by Comet was the Comet 140. 140 is the number of models that had been tested prior to the broom's release. An addition to the Comet 140 that was never before used by broomstick companies was the "Braking Charm," a charm that kept players from overshooting and flying off of the pitch. The Comet 140 was very popular among teams from Britain and Ireland.

The competition between Cleansweep and Comet brought about more versions of each- the Cleansweep Two and Three, and the Comet 180.

the Tinderblast was a hardy broom. It did not reach the speeds of Comets and Cleansweeps, but was still a popular broom for some time.
The Swiftstick- The Swiftstick was introduced in 1952, but never gained popularity, as it loses power in ascent. The Shooting Star- Universal Brooms Limited made the Shooting Star in 1955. It was an inexpensive broom that was an instant success. "Unfortunately, after its initial burst of popularity, the Shooting Star was found to lose speed and height as it aged, and Universal Brooms went out of business in 1978."

The Nimbus Racing Broom Company was organized in 1967, and it electrified the world with the Nimbus 1000. The Nimbus 100 could reach speeds of 100 mph and had incredible agility. Nimbus later produced the 1001, 1500, and the 1700. Nimbus is now the leading broomstick company, and their brooms are the choice of most professional Quidditch teams.
The Twigger 90- The Twigger 90, made in 1990, was intended to replace Nimbus at the top. It introduced entirely new devices like the Warning Whistle and the Self-Straightening Brush. However, the Twigger 90 was found to deform under high speeds and did not gain popularity.

[Meg]

Chapter Ten: Quidditch Today

"The game of Quidditch continues to thrill and obsess its many fans around the world." Many challenging moves have been created over the years. Here are some of them:
Bludger Backbeet- A move by which the Beater strikes the Bludger with a backhanded club swing, sending it behind him or her rather then in front. Difficult to bring off with precision, but excellent for confusing opponents.
Dopplebeater Defence- Both Beaters hit a Bludger at the same time for extra power, resulting in a Bludger attack of greater severity.
Double Eight Loop- A Keeper defence, usually employed against penalty takers, whereby the Keeper swerves around all three goal hoops at high speed to block the Quaffle.
Hawkshead Attacking Formation- Chasers form an arrowhead pattern and fly together towards the goalposts. Highly intimidating to opposing teams and effective in forcing other players aside.
Parkin's Pincer- So named for the original members of the Wigtown Wanderers, who are reputed to have invented this move. Two Chasers close in on an opposing Chaser on either side, while the third flies headlong towards him or her.
Plumpton Pass- Seeker move: A seemingly careless swerve that scoops the Snitch up one sleeve. Named after Roderick Plumpton, Tushill Tornado Seeker, who employed the move in his famous record breaking Snitch catch on 1921. Although some critics have alleged that this was an incident, Plumpton maintained until his death that he had meant to do it.
Porskoff Ploy- The Chaser carrying the Quaffle flies upward, leading opposing Chasers to believe he or she is trying to escape them to score, but then throws the Quaffle downwards to a fellow Chaser waiting to catch it. Pinpoint timing is of the essence. Named after the Russian Chaser Petrova Porskoff.
Reverse Pass- A Chaser throws the Quaffle over one shoulder to a team member. Accuracy is difficult.
Sloth Grip Roll- Hanging upside down off the broom, gripping tightly with hands and feet to avoid Bludger.
Starfish and Stick- Keeper defence; the Keeper holds the broom horizontally with one hand and one foot curled around the handle, while keeping all limbs outstretched. The Starfish without Stick should never be attempted.
Transylvanian Tackle- First seen at the World Cup of 1473, this is a fake punch aimed at the nose. As long as contact is not made, the move is not illegal, though it is difficult to pull off when both parties are on speeding broomsticks.
Woollongong Shimmy- Perfected by the Australian Woollongong Warriors, this is a high-speed zigzagging movement intended to throw off opposing Chasers.
Wronksi Feint- The Seekers hurtles toward the ground pretending to have seen the Snitch far below, but pulls out of the dive just before hitting the pitch. Intended to make the opposing Seeker copy him and crash. Named after Polish Seeker Joseph Wronksi.