Quidditch, the fictional game from the popular “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling, has been translated to the real world and is finding a niche on college campuses.

The game, played with broomstick firmly between legs, is gaining popularity in the United States. Quidditch leagues are sprouting up across the country, and the trend is continuing at Wartburg.

Eric Dreibelbeis, Peter Ostiguy and Clancy Quinn are the three founders of the Wartburg Quidditch Team (yet to be officially named).

“Quidditch is the sort of game that will hopefully involve people who aren’t usually into athletics,” Ostiguy said. “We hope everyone will be interested in playing.”

Off to a good start
The team had its first meeting last Saturday with an attendance of around 20 interested students — more than enough to start a Quidditch team requiring eight players.

Still, Dreibelbeis, Ostiguy, and Quinn are hoping for a growing interest from the student body.

“This year we’ll probably just start with some pick-up games to let the campus see what we’re doing,” Quinn said. “Next year we’re hoping we’ll be able to start an intramurals league and prepare to compete with other schools.”

The Wartburg Quidditch Team has conditional recognition from Student Senate as a campus group and are hoping they can gather enough interested students to get funding for the activity.

“Our budget is pretty much zero right now,” Ostiguy said. “But we’re hoping for funds from Senate and we’ll probably try to get some fundraising going before anything with Senate pans out.”

Quidditch conference growing
The closest Quidditch team is at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. Though Wartburg is in the center of about five teams — a prime position for hosting meets — competing at other institutions could pose financial problems.

Approximately 65 teams comprise the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association (IQA). The organization began at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt., and the college unofficially heads up the loosely affiliated teams in the IQA.

Rules for play
“Muggle” Quidditch (“muggle” is the term used by Rowling in her books to describe non-magic-users) is played on foot while carrying a broom between the legs.

Teams are composed of eight players on each side and the game is played with four balls of three different types.

Three to four “chasers” use the single  “quaffle” to score points in any of the three goals on the opponent’s side of the field.

One “keeper” acts as goalie and prevents the quaffle from entering the three goals.

Two “beaters” throw either of the two “bludgers” at players to “knock them off their brooms.” This means players are forced to take a lap around the goals and go back to where they were hit before continuing play.

Finally, there is a “seeker” who searches for the “snitch.” The snitch (a magically flying ball in the books) is played by an impartial person whose only job is to stay away from the seekers.

“We have a couple of Track & Field people that showed interest in being the snitch,” Quinn said.

The snitch and seekers may run all over campus while other players must stay on the field. Once the snitch is captured, the game is over and that team receives 50 points. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Challenges facing the activity
“The biggest problem that we’ll probably have to deal with is the ‘nerd-stigma,’” Ostiguy said. “But when people start realizing how awesome the game is, hopefully they’ll get over it.”

The Wartburg Quidditch Team will play a pick-up game the weekend after Easter Break on Clinton Field.