Quidditch is a sport first introduced in the beloved series Harry Potter. Played on broomsticks, Quidditch is the most popular sport in the wizarding world and it is quickly gaining popularity in the real world. Arlington High, as well as many other high schools and colleges, has an active Quidditch team that plays a non-magical variation of the made up sport.

“People know what it [Harry Potter] is and people actually know what Quidditch is and it has become a real sport,” Dianna Morales, sophomore, said. “I just think it’s cool.”

Like any regular sport, the objective of Quidditch is to score more points than the opposing team. Each team has seven players divided into certain positions: three chasers, two beaters, one keeper, and one seeker; and has four balls: the quaffle, two bludgers, and a golden snitch. The tricky part is that the players play with broomsticks between their legs.

The three chasers score goals by putting the quaffle, a volleyball, through one of three hoops. The keeper defends these hoops, like a goalie in soccer or hockey. The two beaters use dodgeballs to knock their opponents off their guard. And finally, the seeker tries to catch the golden snitch, which is actually a ball attached to the waist of a snitch runner. The capture of the golden snitch is worth 30 points and getting it ends the game.

“If this was a real sport I would play it all the time, but it’s not,” Morales said. “Quidditch on the floor is going to be as good as I get.”

There aren’t many requirements to be on the Quidditch team, just show up and try your best.

“You have to want to participate, you have to pay your dues, and show up,” Erica Bode, Quidditch Club Sponsor, said. “We’ve had people who had physical differences, it was hard for them to play, but they still showed up and had a good time.”

And in the relatively short time the team has been together, the players have had a good time.

“It’s really fun, and I’ve made some really good friends,” Melissa Snow, sophomore, said.

For those interested in playing, the team meets every Thursday from 3-4:45 p.m. Currently they play against themselves but in January they will be going head-to-head with the Martin Quidditch team in their first tournament.

“I think it’ll be a really amazing experience,” Snow said.