You read that right. USF has a quidditch team. They're not defying the laws of physics and flying around on Nimbus 2000s or anything (unfortunately), but they've turned this fantasy sport in the Harry Potter series into a real, viable and fairly competitive real-life game.
And they're not the only ones. Over 30 teams from across Florida, including the Ringling School of Art, University of Florida and University of Miami just to name a few, have formed their own teams to turn this sport, once existing solely in the text of Harry Potter, into a new form of the game called muggle (or, human in non-Potter vernacular) quidditch. This collection of teams, known as the Florida Quidditch Conference, is the first ever incorporated quidditch conference.
As for the rules, we won't go into too much detail on the ins and outs of muggle quidditch, but basically it involves two teams facing off on PVC broomsticks and vying to score through three elevated hoops on each side of the field. Slightly deflated volleyballs act as the "quaffle" while dodge balls serve as the "bludgers" in the game.
If you've read the Harry Potter series, you're probably wondering about the elusive snitch; the tiny, winged golden ball that flies around the field and, if captured, gains the capturing team a whopping amount of points usually causing them to win the game.
In muggle quidditch, the snitch is a person set free at the beginning of the game. They're given free reign to roam where they please on and off the field and its the seeker of each team's job to capture the snitch for points; capture as in, pulling a sock with a tennis ball inside usually hanging from the back end of the human snitch's waistband.
The USF Quidditch team practices three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays) at 6 p.m. and welcomes anyone interested to come and see what they're all about. Practice is held on the field between the Music Recital Hall and the Life Science building. If you're looking for a unique, recreational activity on campus, USF muggle quidditch is definitely worth a try.
For more information, visit the USF Quidditch Facebook page here.
