Quidditch

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 191456



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Nathaniel" <natti_shafer at ...> wrote:
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> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Geoff" <geoffbannister123@> wrote:
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> Nathaniel:
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> It's unclear whether Wood tried to play the game as 6 players against 7, or he hastily grabbed a replacement who just wasn't a good enough seeker. In either case, having a reserve who had practiced with the team would have come in handy.
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Steve:

Let's make sure we are seeing and understanding the core question. 

The question isn't 'why don't they have backup players', but rather 'why don't they have backup players who regularly practice with the team'?

It seems replacement players can be pulled in between games, but once the game commences, if a player is injured, they must continue to play without the player unless he can be healed within a standard time out. Or perhaps healed during the course of the game. 

Not for extended games (days, weeks, months)it seems that substitute player can be brought on the field, but only for currently uninjured players.

I suspect wise coaches to take on a couple of reserve players to hold in reserve in case of injury. Harry does this. He hold tryouts and note the value of each player, and keeps that in mind. When player are injured he pulls in second best player. But this only occurs between games. 

As to why Wood doesn't continue this practice, I suspect is due to over confidence. Now that he has a first rate Seeker, he feels they can't be beat. And while he may have players in mind for substitutes, he has probably not told them or made sure they at least had enough practice to keep them in form. A tactical error on his part. 

As Harry does, Wood probably assumes the few practices between matches will be enough to get substitute players in shape. In that sense, Harry and Wood are not play a totally bad strategy, though I wouldn't go so far as to say they are playing a good strategy either. 

I think it would be wise to have a couple (or three) extra players on the team for practice. That way they could divide into more workable practice teams and play as some what truncated but still more realistic game.

Still, being kids, I don't imagine they have the best long term strategy. 

Steve/bboymimnn