Quidditch Question from the Spouse

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 17714

Samaporn wrote:

> I think that, if a player really wanted to, he or she could hang on 
to the
> Quaffle, fly right up to the goal, and try to toss it in. But 
Quidditch
> being the rather intense contact sport that it is, the player would 
become
> the main target of two bludgers, three (?) opponent chasers, and if
> tensions are running high, maybe yet another two beaters mistaking 
the
> player's head for a bludger. 
> 
> Along with these 'personal' considerations, there would also be an 
element
> of strategy, where the person carrying the Quaffle would draw the 
attention
> of most of those on the opposing team, and a good pass to a well-
positioned
> fellow chaser may be the best way to score.
> 
> An opponent could the conceivably repossess the Quaffle by a) 
tackling the
> chaser, or just snatching it out of their arms, b)
> hitting/startling/disorienting the person with a bludger so that he 
or she
> would drop it or be more vulnerable to a tackle, or c) intercepting 
the
> Quaffle during a pass.

Re: (a), you can take the Quaffle but you can't tackle (rule 4, p 28 
of QTA).

I do get the impression that even though one is allowed to carry the 
Quaffle all over the pitch, the Quaffle mainly moves along via passes 
(I'm thinking of the impressive Irish Chasers at the QWC).  So you 
get a lot of opportunities to intercept.

I see Jan's point about how hard it would be to actually wrest the 
Quaffle from an opponent (of course, he flies in planes, doesn't he?  
It's probably a sight easier when it's just your body and a broom).  
I think Samaporn's got the strategic (and safety, LOL) issues down 
perfectly.  One thing that would make it even harder to hold onto the 
ball and play a "running" (flying) rather than a "passing" game, to 
use a USfootball analogy, would be if the Bludgers tended to head for 
whoever had the Quaffle.  This is not the case, however--QTA says 
that unless directed otherwise by the Beaters, they go for the 
nearest player.

Amy Z

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 "I thought it sounded a bit like Percy 
 singing.  Maybe you've got to attack him 
 while he's in the shower, Harry."
            --HP and the Goblet of Fire
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