<P> Quidditch / ˈkwɪdɪtʃ / is a fictional sport devised by author J.K. Rowling for her fantasy fiction series Harry Potter . The story of Harry Potter centres around wizards and witches studying their magical craft at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry . Born out of the lore of witches using flying broomsticks for transportation, Quidditch was developed by the author as the most popular sport in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter; a complex game played completely in the air by wizards and witches on flying broomsticks . </P> <P> The objective of Quidditch, as with most sports, is to be the team that has gained the most points by the end of the match . Matches are played between two opposing teams of seven players riding flying broomsticks; using four balls: a Quaffle, two Bludgers, and a Golden Snitch . Centred around the use of each ball, there are four positions: the Chasers and Keeper (who play with the Quaffle), the Beaters (who play with the Bludgers), and the Seekers (who play with the Golden Snitch). Each team has three Chasers, one Keeper, two Beaters, and one Seeker . Matches are played on a large oval pitch with three ring - shaped goals of different heights on each side . It is an extremely rough but very popular semi-contact sport, and has a fervent fan following in the Wizarding World . </P> <P> Harry Potter plays a very vital position for his house team at Hogwarts: he is the Seeker . Regional and international Quidditch competitions are mentioned throughout the series . Throughout the fantasy fiction, Harry uses his Quidditch skills for gaining respect from his peers, connecting to his ancestry, and even uses them in his hero's quest to defeat the main antagonist of the series, Lord Voldemort . Aspects of the sport's history are revealed in Quidditch Through the Ages, a book published by J.K. Rowling in 2001 to benefit Comic Relief . </P>

Who wins the quidditch cup in book 1