Someone should alert local birders: There won’t just be feathered friends taking to the sky at Bauer Park this summer. Several of Madison’s most magical young athletes will also be soaring through the park on broomsticks as part of the third session of the Madison Youth Quidditch League. I’m Sirius.
Ever since its invention in 2005 by college students, “muggle” or “ground” quidditch has been growing in international popularity. The game is a version of the magical sport featured in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series adapted for non-magical humans (the most notable difference being that players must run with a broomstick between their legs, rather than flying atop it – think of a combination of basketball and dodge ball, with a few extra quirks).
Thousands now gather each fall for the World Cup in New York City, and the U.S. national team brought home gold medals at the inaugural Quidditch Summer Games in London last month.
From August 13-17, Madison is proud to host one of the only youth quidditch programs in the world for students ages 8 to 13 (no Harry Potter knowledge necessary).
Hold your hippogriffs! Space is still available, so if you know a young wizard or witch looking for a way to get some exercise and embrace his or her love of the Harry Potter series, please send an owl or visit www.madisonct.org/bauer to sign up! We’ll have them working like house elves and running faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo! See www.internationalquidditch.org for more information.
