Muggle Quidditch Rules
Posted: 15 Feb 2025. Last modified on 16-Feb-25.This article will take about 6 minutes to read.
Indoor Quidditch Comprehensive Rule Set
Field Setup
- Location: Standard indoor gymnasium.
- Dimensions: Approximately 50 feet by 30 feet (dimensions can be adjusted based on gym size).
- Midline: A clearly marked center line divides the field into two halves.
Goals
Hula Hoops:
- Quantity: Three per team, making a total of six hula hoops.
- Placement: Each set of three hula hoops is placed in a triangular formation on the ground at each end of the gym, about 5 feet apart from each other.
- Goal Area: A designated zone around the hula hoops (approximately 10 feet in diameter) where the keeper can operate.
Equipment
Quaffle:
- Type: Standard ultimate frisbee.
- Size: Regulation size and weight (175 grams).
Bludgers:
- Type: Standard dodgeballs.
- Quantity: Three.
- Size: Regulation dodgeball size (approximately 8.5 inches in diameter).
Snitch:
- Type: Flag football belt worn by a neutral player.
- Flag Length: Approximately 1 foot long.
Keeper’s Broom:
- Type: Soft, padded broomstick.
- Length: Approximately 4 feet long.
- Material: Lightweight and padded for safety.
Team Composition
- Chasers: 3 per team
- Beaters: 2 per team
- Keeper: 1 per team
- Seeker: 1 per team (only used during tie-breaking snitch round)
Team Areas
- Bench Areas: Designated areas on the sidelines for each team to sit when not actively playing.
- Substitution Zone: A clearly marked area near the team benches where players can enter and exit the game.
Additional Field Markings
- Starting Lines: All players start at their respective goal lines. Penalty Box:
- Location: Designated area near the sidelines, one for each team.
- Size: Approximately 5 feet by 5 feet.
- Timeout Areas: Marked zones where teams can gather during timeouts, close to their bench areas.
Basic Rules
- Objective: Score points by throwing the frisbee (quaffle) through the opponent’s hula hoop goals. Each goal is worth 10 points.
- Game Duration: Two halves of 15 minutes each, with a 5-minute halftime break.
- Starting Play: The game starts with a coin toss. The team that wins the coin toss starts with the quaffle in possession of their keeper. Beaters from both teams start at their respective goal lines and can charge to the center for the bludgers at the start signal.
Player Roles and Movement
Chasers
- Movement: Chasers can run freely around the entire gym.
- Scoring: Chasers aim to throw the frisbee through the opponent’s hula hoop goals to score points.
- Passing: Ultimate frisbee rules apply: chasers cannot run while holding the frisbee and must pass it within 10 seconds.
Beaters
- Movement: Beaters must stay on their respective halves of the gym.
- Bludgers: Beaters use dodgeballs (bludgers) to disrupt the play. A chaser hit by a bludger must drop the frisbee immediately and cannot participate in play until they return to their own goal area and touch one of their hula hoops.
- Protection: Beaters can hold a bludger to protect their teammates by using it to block incoming bludgers from the opposing team.
- Restrictions: Beaters cannot cross the midline or interact with the frisbee directly.
Keeper
- Movement: The keeper can move freely within their own half but must stay within the goal area (a designated zone around the hula hoops) when blocking shots.
- Blocking: The keeper uses a broom to block attempts to score, similar to a goalie in hockey.
Fouls and Penalties
- Bludger Contact: Illegal contact with a bludger (e.g., throwing it directly at another player’s head) results in the beater responsible being sent to a penalty box for 1 minute.
- Quaffle Handling: If a chaser runs while holding the frisbee or holds it for more than 10 seconds, possession switches to the other team.
- Keeper Violations: If a keeper leaves the goal area while defending or uses their body to block shots, the opposing team is awarded a penalty throw.
Substitutions
- Teams may substitute players during stoppages in play, such as after a goal or during a timeout.
Tie-Breaking Snitch Round
- Snitch Role: A neutral member wears a flag football belt and acts as the snitch.
- Seekers: Each team designates one player as the seeker for the snitch round.
- Objective: The seekers attempt to capture the snitch by pulling the flag from the snitch’s belt.
- Boundaries: The entire gym is in bounds for the snitch round.
Rules:
- The snitch must use evasion techniques to avoid capture while staying within the gym boundaries.
- The first seeker to successfully pull the flag wins the snitch round.
Outcome: The team whose seeker captures the snitch wins the game.
Winning the Game
- The team with the most points at the end of regulation time wins.
- If the game is tied, the snitch round is played to determine the winner. The team whose seeker captures the snitch wins the game.
Detailed Gameplay
Starting Play
- The game begins with a coin toss to determine which team starts with the quaffle.
- The winning team’s keeper starts with the quaffle in their goal area.
- Beaters from both teams start at their respective goal lines and can charge to the center for the bludgers at the referee’s signal.
Scoring
- A goal is scored when the frisbee is successfully thrown through an opponent’s hula hoop goal.
- Each goal is worth 10 points.
- After a goal is scored, play restarts with the opposing team’s keeper in possession of the quaffle.
Possession Changes
- If the frisbee is dropped, intercepted, or knocked down, the opposing team gains possession.
- Chasers must pass the frisbee within 10 seconds and cannot run while holding it.
- Beaters can use bludgers to disrupt the opposing team, causing them to drop the frisbee.
Keeper Rules
- The keeper defends the goals using a broom.
- The keeper must stay within the designated goal area while blocking shots.
- The keeper can use the broom to block or deflect the frisbee but cannot use their body to block shots.
Safety and Fair Play
- Bludger Safety: Enforce rules to avoid targeting the head and ensure all players wear protective gear like mouthguards and goggles.
- Collision Prevention: Encourage spatial awareness and use padding on walls.
- Field Maintenance: Keep the floor clean and dry to prevent slipping.
- Protective Brooms: Use soft, padded brooms to minimize injury risks.