What sport did J.K. Rowling create for the Harry Potter universe?

J.K. Rowling created Quidditch as the wizarding sport in the Harry Potter universe.

Quidditch is played by teams of seven flying on broomsticks. Players use several magical balls: Chasers handle the Quaffle, Beaters deal with Bludgers, and the Seeker pursues the Golden Snitch. Catching the Snitch usually ends the match and awards 150 points to its team, although the scoring system does not automatically determine the winner in every situation.

The sport first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, where Harry becomes a Seeker for Gryffindor. Rowling has said the idea was influenced by a real argument with a boyfriend and by ordinary sports, while the game’s rules and vocabulary were developed for the fictional setting.

Quidditch should not be confused with the separate real-world sports adapted from it, including ground-based versions played at universities and in international competition.