Please bring your student ID with you, it is required in order to play.

General rules

1. All players must present their Brock University student cards to play. No Exceptions! Participation will be denied to anyone without their current, valid student card.
2. Proper athletic attire must be worn.  Games are played outside so make sure that you are dressed appropriately.
3. Substitutions may be made on the fly at the half line except no player may replace the seeker position.
4. Each team will have six players, including two chasers, two beaters, one keeper and one seeker.  Teams must have at least five players to avoid a forfeit, including one player in each of the four positions.  At least two females must be on the field at all times during game time.
5. Quidditch is non-contact! Penalties are subject to two minutes in the penalty box.  This includes but is not limited to tripping, tackling, elbowing, slapping, sliding, diving, stalling, and illegal substitutions.  Other fouls may be called at the official’s discretion.
6. Game time will consist of two 20 minute halves. When the referee begins play, the Snitch will be released along with the Bludgers and the Quaffle. Seekers will be held for 2 minutes before beginning to chase the snitch. If the snitch is caught before 10 minutes, the game will extend until the 10 minute mark of the match. At this time, the match will end and the team with the higher score wins.
7. Broom must be between legs at all times. If a player “falls off” their broom or gets hit with a bludger, they are “knocked out,” meaning they are required to drop any balls they are in possession of and must immediately dismount their broom, put one hand up in the air and return and touch their side’s goal hoops before re-entering play.
8. Players are forbidden to touch the equipment of another position.  That is, only the chasers and the keepers may touch the quaffle (volleyball), only the beaters may throw the bludgers (dodgeballs) and only the seekers can remove the snitch (flag belt) from the snitch runner (impartial player).  If a player does touch/use the equipment of another position it will result in a two minute penalty.
9. Players may not dive or slide to catch, secure, or avoid any of the balls in play.  Any of these actions will result in a two minute penalty.
10. Player positions:
    1. Chasers (wearing blue, 3 persons each team) take the quaffle ball (main ball – slightly deflated volleyball) and score through the hoops (3 hoops – worth 10 points each). They advance the ball down the field by taking a maximum of three steps with the ball, passing it to teammates, or kicking it. Each team has a keeper, whose job is to defend the goal hoops from opposing chasers. Chasers are not permitted to pick up Bludgers
    2. Beaters (wear white, 2 persons each team) job is to hit and “knock out” the chasers with the bludger (dodge ball) which makes the chaser out of play and they must then drop the quaffle if they have it, dismount their broom and return to their end line.  Once they have touched their end line they can return to play. Quidditch uses three Bludgers, and beaters cannot be in possession of more than one at a time. The bludger should not be aimed at the head of any player.  If a player is hit in the head they will still be in play while the beater (thrower) will receive a two minute penalty.
    3. Keepers (wear orange, 1 person) are goalies The Keeper is immune from Bludger hits within the Keeper Zone, however if the Keeper were to exit the Keeper Zone (12 yards from endline) they are subject to the same rules as Chasers. Keepers are not allowed to pick up the bludgers.
    4. Seekers job is to catch the snitch and capture the flags without actually touching the snitch. The Snitch is not on either team, does not use a broom, and may stiff arm or flag guard to avoid “capture.” Snitches may not tie their flags or tackle Seekers to avoid “capture.” A game of Quidditch ends when the flag has been cleanly snatched from the Snitch and returned to the field of play. The team whose Seeker catches it receives 35 points.
11. Players are not allowed to play in a manner that is potentially dangerous or reckless. Safety for all players is our number one priority. Any action(s) that is deemed dangerous and/or reckless by the referees or intramural convenor will result in either an unsportsmanlike penalty and or an ejection depending on the severity of the incident.
12. All penalties will result in a direct free throw at the spot of the foul.  Like soccer, the offending team must allow 3 yards in any direction of the thrower.

Start of game

All Chasers and Beaters start with one foot on their end line. The Quaffle and Bludgers will be placed at the center line. The Seekers will be held out of play. The referee will begin play by yelling “Brooms Up” at which point, the Chasers and Beaters may advance to retrieve the Quaffle and Bludgers. The Snitch will be released by the referee and will have a two-minute head start before the Seekers are “released” and may begin pursuing the Snitch.

Scoring a goal

1. In order to score a goal, a Chaser can throw or kick the Quaffle through one of the three hoops.
2. The entire ball must pass completely through the hoops to receive the 10 points for a goal.
3. Goals may be scored from either side of the hoops.
4. There is an offensive restriction zone where the offense is not allowed to enter. You cannot shoot from within this circle.
5. A goal is worth ten points

Restarting play

1. Following a goal the keeper must retrieve the quaffle to resume play while the offensive chasers return to their own end line before returning to play.
2. To restart play after a penalty or foul has been called the chaser or keeper will take a direct free throw from the spot of the penalty/foul.  All beaters must freeze in place when the play is called dead. Beaters may keep Bludgers already in their possession, however they cannot pursue uncontrolled Bludgers. Any thrown Bludgers will be considered “dead” upon release until play is resumed.