The trouble with Quidditch

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 169013

---  Bart Lidofsky <bartl at ...> wrote:
>
> horridporrid03 wrote:
> > *My* issue with quidditch is the lack of any sort 
> > of bench.  I mean, even if players aren't allowed to
> > trade out *during* a game, why not have fully 
> > trained substitutes ready to go if something happens
> > pre-game?  Though really, why no substitutions? Is 
> > that some sort of wacky British thing? 

> Bart: 
> 
> I'm trying to remember anything that indicates that
> a disabled player cannot be replaced. Not going back 
> through the books, it seems to me that every time a 
> player was disabled, the game ended before anything 
> could be done in the way of substitutions (or even a 
> "time-out").
> 
> Bart
>

bboyminn:

I wonder if it isn't a case of 'play what you brought'?
In other words, you can only play the team you brought 
to the field that day. Based on what we find in the
books, it seems reserve players are allowed; in other
word, the second string. Also, the year Harry is 
captain, he substitutes players several times before
the matches. 

But, once you step on to the field, or perhaps into 
the locker room, you are stuck with the players you 
have. If you brought reserves to the field then if
needed you can play them. But you can't just grab a
friend out of the stands to play, if you are one
player down. 

As to why each team doesn't have a second string of
reserve players, it seems very hard with enrollments
at Hogwarts so low, to put together a good team, much
less come up with a second team of reserves.

Also, if I am right, the team would be able to 
substitute and train a replacement player, if the 
injured player goes down well before the next match.
So, there really is not need to complicate training
by including reserve players. The captain just
concentrates on his main team, and keeps in mind
other classmates who flew well in try-outs should
he ever need to bring one of them in.

This method seems to cover the most bases. It is just
Harry's unfortunate luck to have been taken out of 
the game in ways that did not allow a reserve to be
brought in. For example, if Harry is injured in the
middle of a game, and they didn't bring a reserve
Seeker to the field, then they are stuck playing 
without a Seeker. However, they would be able to 
bring a new Seeker to the next game.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn