The trouble with Quidditch

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 169039

---  "horridporrid03" <horridporrid03 at ...> wrote:
>
> > >>Betsy Hp:
> > > *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 ...
> 
> ...
> 
> ...
> 
> > >>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.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> That's what it seems to be, yes.
> 
> > >>bboyminn:
> > Based on what we find in the books, it seems reserve
> > players are allowed; in other word, the second 
> > string.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Yeah, but they're weird about it.  For example, Dean
> *only* practices with the team *after* Katie is hurt.
> ...
> 
> > >>bboyminn:
> > <snip>
> > 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.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> I'm not saying they'd have a *deep* bench.  But why 
> not have anyone who's interested ... be on the team 
> as reserves?  ...
> 

bboyminn:

You argument is right, but I think different captains
have different strategies. We hear in the game commentary
by Lee Jordan that Katie or one of the other players
on Harry's team was a reserve the previous year.

However, more members means more training, and far more
complex training. I suspect some team captains prefer
to concentrate on the main team instead of wasting 
limited and valuable training time on a second string.

In principle, I agree with your assessment, and in a 
larger school, it certainly would be wise to have an 'A'
squad and a 'B'-squad. But Hogwart's enrollment seems 
very small at the moment. We see that when Harry (or the
team) needs players, competent ones are hard to find. The
players they do find and use in OotP are just marginal at
best. The players they pull together in HBP, are better,
but still not up to the grade of Harry's original team.

So, it's two things, extra players means a dilution of
the practice time for the main team and the attention of
the captain, and the extra players available are limited
in skill.

> > >>bboymin::
> > 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.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Wait, how?  Are you saying that an injured team is 
> allowed to delay their next match? 
> 

bboyminn:

To a limited extent, yes. Draco, rescheduled a game 
when he was injured, but we suspect that was more of
a strategic ploy than an actual need.

No, what I am saying is that you play the team you
brought to the field, something you agreed with. But
between games, substitutions can be made without 
problems. Harry and Slytherins make many member
changes between games. 

So, in a just finished game in which a player is 
injured, there is plenty of time to train a new
player before the next match. That type of substitution
is allowed without restriction.


> > >>bboyminn:
> > 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.
> > <snip>
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> I totally disagree.  The captain is supposed to just 
> note that *way* back in the fall, ...

bboyminn:

Yes, a captain is always thinking about who flies well 
and who doesn't. When Harry needed a new player he 
remembered Dean flew well in trials and brought him
onto the team. Harry also knew Dean's temperament and
general likability, as well as his skill.

All I am saying is that more players complicates
practice and dilutes the captains time and attention.
Some captains might not mind, and feel having the
reserves always at the ready is a bonus. Other captain, 
like Harry and Wood, might want to concentrate on the
main team, and merely keep in mind who would work for
a substitute. 

One of the points I'm making is that at this level of
play, it is not that often that a single player simply 
can not go on after a reasonable time-out and therefore
an in-game substitution is rarely needed. So, it's up 
to the temperament of the captain, and what his priorities
are. If he is a risk taker, he concentrates on his first 
string and hopes for no serious injuries. If he likes
to play it safe, he accepts the dilution of his 
training time in trade for having a second string at
the ready.

It's not just about the rules, it is also about the
circumstances and preferences of the captain.

Just passing it along.

Steve/bboyminn