What is J.K. Rowling’s fictional sport played on broomsticks?

Quidditch is J.K. Rowling’s fictional broomstick sport.

In the Harry Potter books, two teams of seven players compete while flying on broomsticks. Chasers try to score through three hoops with the Quaffle, Beaters use bats to redirect Bludgers, and the Seeker attempts to catch the Golden Snitch. Catching the Snitch usually ends the match and awards 150 points, although the team with more points wins.

Rowling said the name was inspired by the fictional Hogwarts-founded game and that she invented its detailed rules for the novels. The sport became one of the most recognizable parts of the wizarding world, appearing in school matches, professional history, and discussions of wizard culture.

Real-world adaptations later developed as non-magical contact sports, originally using the name “Muggle Quidditch.” In 2022, the International Quadball Association adopted “quadball” for the sport’s international name. The real game differs from the magical version because players cannot fly and use physical substitutes for its equipment.