Quidditch Pitch


Our kids have been wanting to play Quidditch for quite some time.  How do you make the field?  I found several tutorials using PVC pipe and solvent cement.  If you plan to play Quidditch every weekend, then these industrial strength courses are just for you.  If you plan to play for 30 minutes at a party, and re-use the hula hoops and garden stakes for other things, then this post is for you.

This version is often referred to as Muggle Quidditch, as, unfortunately, our brooms don't actually fly.

The Quidditch Pitch (Course)
Six garden stakes, six hula hoops from the 99 cent store, nails, and cheap Halloween brooms, under $40 in total

This is what you need:
  1. Open field/yard (the Quidditch "pitch" or course)
  2. One broom for each player
  3. Six goal hoops (Keepers try to keep the quaffle out of the goals)
  4. One Quaffle (the ball the Chasers throw through the goals to score)
  5. Two Bludgers (Beaters try to hit other players with these balls)
  6. One snitch (Seekers try to get this ball)

Each team has 7 players:

-Three Chasers
-Two Beaters
-One Keeper (you could add another keeper if you have more kids)
-One Seeker
(You need one referee to organize the mayhem)

How to play:
  1. Place one Quaffle (largest ball) and two Bludgers (medium sized balls) in middle of field, hide the snitch somewhere in the yard (smallest ball)
  2. Each team starts from their end and runs to middle to try to get their assigned balls (except the Keeper who stays by the goals)
  3. Chasers try to obtain the Quaffle and score
  4. Beaters try to obtain the Bludgers and throw them at the opposing team members
  5. Seeker tries to find the snitch
  6. Keeper defends goals 
  7. When the snitch is found, that match is over, whoever has the most points wins

Rules:

-Each goal is 10 points
-The team that finds the Snitch gets 50 additional points
-Stay on your broom
-Don't throw Bludgers at the Keeper
-You cannot touch anything but your assigned ball
-If you get hit by a Bludger, you have to sit out for 10 seconds (kids can count themselves)
-If you were holding the Quaffle when hit by a Bludger, you have to drop the Quaffle and sit out for 10 seconds

Tip: Drive the stakes in the ground first with a mallet, then nail on the hula hoop.
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