Reflection on A Popular Sport at ISU

A number of students at ISU have taken up brooms to play a unique sport called Ground Quiddtich. This sport is a sport adapted from the Harry Potter book series. From the yelling of “Brooms up!” at the start of the game to the seeker catching the snitch and ending the game, Quidditch is a unique sport that makes Normal-- well-- less normal.  The sport of Ground Quidditch started in October of 2005 at Middlebury College of Vermont. From there, Quidditch has taken hold at hundreds of campuses across the world. Illionis State University is one of 33 teams in Illinois. What makes ISU stand out, is the fact that ISU is one of the top ranking teams in the Midwest. Quidditch came to ISU in 2010 and the team on campus rapidly grew in members. Today, ISU Quidditch is a large team and is subdivided into the four houses of Hogwarts (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin) for practices to increase in-school competition.

Game play is fairly close to the Harry Potter magical version. The positions remain the same. Three Chasers try to score by putting a ball, or Quaffle, through three hoops. A Keeper defends the hoops much like a goalie in soccer. There are two Beaters who use Bludgers, or dodge balls, to hit other players. When hit with a Bludger, a player has to run and touch his or her own hoops before he or she can be back in the game play. This aspect makes the Beaters important members to the team.  Another important position is the Seeker because only the Seeker can catch the Snitch and end the game. The Snitch is the a person who is not on either team; he or she wears an all yellow costume with a tube sock sticking out from the back of his or her pants. The Seeker has to pull the sock to “catch the snitch.”  To tell the different positions apart on the field players wear different color headbands, yellow for Seekers, green for Keepers, black for Beater, and white for Chasers.

In this picture, one can see the traditional three hoops, each at a different level, are in the center. The hoop in the middle is the tallest. The photo was taken from the back [of the game?]. The keeper has just caught the ball in mid-air in front of the hoops. He is still in mid jump from grabbing the Quaffle. Although his headband is not clear in the picture, it could be assumed he is the Keeper because he is the closest to the hoops where the Keeper traditionally stands guard. There are various Chasers in front of the hoops and are all looking toward the ball. There is one on the left, wearing a dark green t-shirt and black shorts, in mid-run toward the Quaffle. He appears to be in mid-stride and able to turn to run back down the field.  A girl in bright yellow wears her headband around her upper arm, which is totally legal. She looks reading to charge in to the Keeper to recover the Quaffle for her team.  A player with a black t-shirt is in the back of the players; his green headband is barely visible. Given the way his arm is bent, it appears he was the player who threw the ball.  There is a Beater holding a Bludger behind the hoops for defense.  She is keeping an eye on the Quaffle. On the far right of the photo is a hoop judge who decides if the ball went through the hoop or just past it.  A girl is standing next to him and they both looked amazed at the Keeper’s catch.

Ground Quidditch is a fast-paced game full of mind-blowing, spectacular moments that can keep audience members on their toes, full of excitement. All of this in Ground Quidditch makes Normal a little more abnormal compared to the surrounding towns and cities. -- Amanda Million