Quidditch is the most beloved and widely played sport in the wizarding world. It’s a cornerstone of the Harry Potter series, too—from the title character’s gifted seeker abilities to the excitement and festivities surrounding the Quidditch World Cup, the game is central to the worldbuilding and storytelling that fans love so much.
Curious about Quidditch? You’re not alone; we’d like nothing more than to mount a broomstick and take flight, whipping and dodging through the air in pursuit of that elusive Golden Snitch. Sadly, our Muggle brooms are of little use beyond sweeping; but we can still chase the magic in audio.
We’ve curated an essential guide to the ins-and-outs of the game: what it is, how it works, and how it fits into the larger world of Harry Potter.
What is the history of Quidditch?
The first mentions of Quidditch arrived with the first book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone but the fictional history of Quidditch is much longer—by almost a thousand years!
Luckily, listening to Quidditch Through the Ages fills in those historical gaps. Quidditch Through the Ages is a richly imagined text, existing as a book in the Hogwarts school library written by the historian Kennilworthy Whisp. It’s made all the more special in audio with narration from BAFTA nominee Andrew Lincoln and additional performances from Annette Badland and Imogen Church.
From 11 July 2014: The Final
Performed by Imogen Church and Annette Badland
According to Whisp, the first mention of a Quidditch-like game comes from a witch called Gertie Keddle in the 11th Century. In her diary, Keddle recalls a game some witches and wizards were playing in which they would fly around on their brooms in teams and try to knock a ball into the opposing side’s stand of trees. The location of these loose competitions was Queerditch Marsh, which would lend its name, in the way language so happens, to the game that would be known as Quidditch.
From Chapter Two: Ancient Broom Games
Performed by Andrew Lincoln
Wait, so what is Quidditch? And how do you play?
Each Quidditch game is played by two teams of seven players on an oval-shaped pitch. At either end of the pitch, there is a set of three rings of differing heights. The goal of the game is to outscore the other team by getting the Quaffle, a round scarlet ball, through the other team’s hoops. Each goal is worth ten points.
All players ride a broomstick, and must face off not only against their adversary on the pitch—but also the game’s magical Bludgers, iron balls with no allegiance that serve one purpose: knocking unwitting players off their brooms (in fact, Bludgers are such chaotic, havoc-wreaking items that they must be restrained in specially-built cases when not in use). The Golden Snitch, meanwhile, is the ultimate prize in Quidditch. Notoriously fast and difficult to see, this swift and shiny magical ball is released at the start of each match. If either team catches the Snitch, they are awarded 150 points and the match ends immediately. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.
Our favourite Hogwarts Quidditch players
Oliver Wood: Keeper
The Keeper’s job is to keep the opposing team from getting the Quaffle through the goals. Using their hands, feet, head, or broomstick, the goalkeeper can either catch the Quaffle or knock it away. Burly, confident, and committed to victory, Oliver Wood is the captain of Gryffindor’s Quidditch team in Harry’s first, second, and third years at Hogwarts; it’s Wood who helps Harry harness his innate flying abilities into something truly special as the team’s Seeker. Other notable characters who played keeper include Harry’s best friend Ron Weasley.
From Chapter Nine: The Midnight Duel
Performed by Stephen Fry
Fred and George Weasley: Beater
Each team has two Beaters who wield bats. Their job is to protect the other members of their team from getting distracted, derailed, or injured (or worse) by the Bludgers. A skilled Beater will not only hit the Bludger away from a teammate—they will also send it careening toward a member of the opposition. It’s no surprise that Fred and George are our favourite Beaters in Hogwarts history—their rascally behavior is a fitting match for this high-energy position. Other notable characters who played Beater include Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
From Chapter Nineteen: The Lion and the Serpent
Performed by Stephen Fry
Ginny Weasley: Chaser
The Chasers, three per team, are the heart of most Quidditch matches. They have one task: to get the Quaffle through the other team’s goals. Once in possession of the Quaffle, Chasers can fly with it down the pitch or pass it to teammates. Once they are within striking distance, Chasers attempt to throw the Quaffle through one of the hoops. And when it comes to Hogwarts Chasers, we have to tip our caps to yet another Weasley. Ginny’s agility and dogged determination on the Quidditch pitch is unmatched. Other notable characters who played Chaser include James Potter, Katie Bell, Dean Thomas, and Marcus Flint.
From Chapter Eleven: Hermione's Helping Hand
Performed by Stephen Fry
Cedric Diggory: Seeker
Each team has a Seeker whose sole mission is to catch the Golden Snitch. Seekers are generally the fastest, most agile flyers on a team. Sure, Harry Potter would be the clear and obvious choice for the book’s top Seeker, but if we’re playing favourites, can you blame us for being a little partial towards Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory? Other notable characters who played Seeker include Draco Malfoy, Viktor Krum, Cho Chang, Ginny Weasley and Charlie Weasley.
From Chapter Nine: Grim Defeat
Performed by Stephen Fry
How do you win a game of Quidditch?
The team that has the most points at the end of the match wins. If one of the teams manages to catch the Golden Snitch, that ends the game immediately and almost always means they win the Quidditch match too (yes, we said almost: Viktor Krum caught the Golden Snitch in a match where his Bulgarian team was down by one hundred sixty points, albeit even the automatic one hundred fifty points for catching the Snitch wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit).
From Chapter Eleven: Quidditch
Performed by Stephen Fry
How is Quidditch played at Hogwarts?
At Hogwarts, each of the four houses fields a Quidditch team, and every year, they play each other as part of the competition for the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup. The team that has scored the most points across all their matches are victorious, and therefore win the Quidditch Cup at the end of the year. Total points determine the Quidditch champions, so the winner and loser of each match matters less than the number of total points scored. However, head-to-head victories come with something just as, if not more, important than points: bragging rights.
From Chapter Eleven: Quidditch
Performed by Stephen Fry
Quidditch game victories at Hogwarts also count toward the House Cup standings, though the precise way that Quidditch scoring and victories are included in House Cup standings is not explicitly detailed.
Quidditch beyond Hogwarts
In the Harry Potter series, Quidditch offers one of the most significant cultural glimpses of the series’ large-scale worldbuilding. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Quidditch World Cup shows teams, players, fans, and traditions from all over the magical world.
The Quidditch World Cup (QWC) began in 1473 (with Transylvania winning) and has since taken place every four years. The popularity of the Quidditch game among witches and wizards and the importance of the QWC led to the biggest crisis in keeping the magical world concealed, as the multi-day tournaments brought so many magical beings together in one place. An administrative body, the International Confederation of Wizards Quidditch Committee was formed in response, their main responsibility finding venues for and ironing out the details of QWC matches.
From Chapter 8: The Quidditch World Cup
Performed by Stephen Fry
Experience Harry’s world in audio
Harry and his friends go on a myriad of adventures throughout the Harry Potter series, taking them on a journey from magical, whimsical beginnings to a battle for the wizarding world and mugglekind alike. Curious about where Harry’s adventures take him? You’ll have to listen in to find out.
