The Leeds Uni Harry Potter Society has 300 paying members. Out of that, around 60 members participate in the sport 'Quidditch' at least twice a week.
What is the objective of the game?
"The object of the game is to score as many goals as possible before the snitch is caught. The snitch catch is worth 30 points for the team who's seeker catches the snitch. So the aim for the people who are on the pitch, is to get enough goals so that your team is out of 'snitch range' so to speak. The aim for the seekers, who are generally off the pitch, is to catch the snitch before the other seeker does."
What is the furthest you have travelled for a match?
"We have travelled to Oxford, Leicester, Keele, Derby, a number of other places, but Oxford is probably the furthest."
What are the rules of the game?
"It is a full contact sport, the rules of the game are primarily, the chasers have to use the quoffles to score goals through the opponent's hoops, the beaters have to use bloggers, which are dodge balls, to knock out opposing players. If you are knocked out, then you have to get off you're broom, drop any balls you are holding and go back to your teams hoops then you can go back in the game. The sneekers have to catch the snitch and the keepers have to stop the balls going through the hoops."
Do you have specific positions?
"Yes. Seeker, chaser, beater, keeper."
Is there an age limit?
"Not to my knowledge. The youngest player I know of are in sixth form. It is played predominantly by university students so the oldest players at University are the mature students in their 30's and 40's. There is a separate game called kidditch, which is taught to kids in primary school."
How long has the club been going for?
The club has been going for about two and a half years now, the Quidditch team has been going for about two of those years.
How many players are on a Quidditch team?
21 players on a team, but on the pitch at any one time there will only be 7 players. 1 keeper, 3 chasers, 2 beaters, and a seeker. Because there is no half time, subbing happens throughout the game, at any point a player can sub off.
Are there any kit regulations?
Although we are playing in whatever today, there are kit regulations. We all wear studded boots and there are recommended safety regulations- things like gum shields and shin pads.
Are you in a league?
Yeah, we do play league games. We play them a few times a semester, whenever we can organize it. There are tournaments regularly as well. We have got a tournament in two weekes time, then a tournament two weeks after that. The northern cup is happening in a month, the valentine cup is happening in two weeks.
Here is a link for the society.
Leeds University Quidditch Society