6: Standard Manoeuvres: Chasing
There is little point in being the best chaser in the world if at the end of the day, a lack of power in the old broomstick fails to catch you the final snitch. Nor is there any point in playing fast and loose without good defensive tactics in beater and keeper skills that will guard both your own hoops and those of your witch, while fending off any opposition.
Therefore this book will guide you through the tactics needed at each position in the great game, with basic and advanced tips, according to your own prowess. Essentially, Quidditch relies both on the skill of the individual and the complementary skills of your team. Your witch also will seldom play the earliest matches solo, although the later matches are nearly always played one-on-one, except in exceptional circumstances more may be invited. You cannot, however, rely on your team-mates to make up your deficiencies if you can barely ride your own broomstick. There is a limit as to how much can really be achieved if they are perpetually bolstering up the weakest members of the team. The art is in learning to ride well, single-handed, and with confidence, and to trust to your own instincts.
#1: Know your broom
Get to know your broomstick thoroughly, and learn what to expect when asked to perform under certain conditions. You should know how it is likely to behave in certain situations, particularly in response to tension. This way, if it suddenly bucks or jolts, then you have some idea what you are in for, and possibly have some strategy for how to deal with it. If necessary, you may find you prefer to wear loose- fitting Quidditch robes, for ease of access and manoeuvrability.
Once you have this knowledge, get over yourself. Do not devote all your energies into comparing models, excessive servicing, polishing, admiration or attempting to subdue it to your complete control. Accept that it is wilful, and has its own magical inclinations, and work with it, rather than against it.
#2: Play with your Balls
There isn't only one ball in a game of Quidditch you know. Bludgers and Quaffles are as important as that golden snitch, and one does not have to catch the snitch every time in order to have an enjoyable time. (The authors note however, that generally catching the snitch is a very good thing, but should not be accompanied by excessive celebrations). Passing the Quaffle is best likened to good communication between the team members, and between the opposing sides. It should be thrown cleanly with account made for circumstance and company. Each Quaffle is different, and you should practice carefully with the ones you have, nothing the speed with which they fall, the acute sensitivity to atmospheric conditions, and their own quirks and faults. Using tricks and feints cautiously is always sensible - too much and they cease to have the element of surprise, too many and no one will trust you or want to play with you any more. Quaffles are more independently minded than you might think, though less capricious and elusive than the snitch, and more docile than a pair of Bludgers. In the advanced tactics section, we will look at the different ways of passing the Quaffle to your team-mates, and how this can improve your play. In this section, we look at the basics.
Practises: Learn to do commentary with the minimum of waffle. Introduce your team with the salient information, remembering that there are many exciting plays going on, and you don't want to waste too much time. Be prepared to elaborate if necessary, but start from a position of brevity. Know who's on your team. One of your friends may find the initial sighting of a witch enough to lose his head and his broom for half an hour. Keep his witch distracted until he's able to rejoin the team- play, and be prepared to bring him up to speed. If they are easily phased, then regular exposure to understanding witches is essential if you are to function well as a team.
#3: practice improving your balance Keep one hand over your broom at all times, and try to function the rest of the time as normal, without anybody noticing. Learn how to fly no hands is an important skill, and having a high degree of control over your broomstick is very important. You need to be at one with your broom, accept it as being as much a part of your body as your brain or your hands. Full control comes with time, but even experts may find themselves discomfitted by a well-executed pass. If you find yourself getting excessively hot during warm ups, then you need to think cooling thoughts - remember the last very cold shower you had. A cooling charm will interfere with your body's standard responses, and may result in hypothermia and possibly frostbite. The latter in particular should be avoided - Conglacio is not a charm for amateurs, as it can cost the limb you intended to cool.
Practices: learn how to cast Contego adequately, and how to apply it to the area immediately in front of your broomstick. Remember that ther
#4 Catching and throwing Learn this on the ground first. Not all quidditch balls are adequately charmed, and some may require skills closer to those of a seeker to improve your chances of catching them. Natural camaraderie and comic routine among a team can prove eye-catching to the witch population. Most witches rate 'Natural Charms' and 'Good Sense of Humour' as being the most important assets that a wizard can have. ('Bulging Wallet' was suppressed from the questionnaire - not everyone can be Lucius Malfoy).
Practises: Have a couple of witty anecdotes, either from your own experience or those of your friends. Avoid being trapped by Urban Legends, or other such atrocities. If you don't know the background of your witch, then leave the 'Magic in Muggleland' tales for another time, as they come across as being something worthy only of an eleven year old in his first flying lesson.
There is little point in being the best chaser in the world if at the end of the day, a lack of power in the old broomstick fails to catch you the final snitch. Nor is there any point in playing fast and loose without good defensive tactics in beater and keeper skills that will guard both your own hoops and those of your witch, while fending off any opposition.
Therefore this book will guide you through the tactics needed at each position in the great game, with basic and advanced tips, according to your own prowess. Essentially, Quidditch relies both on the skill of the individual and the complementary skills of your team. Your witch also will seldom play the earliest matches solo, although the later matches are nearly always played one-on-one, except in exceptional circumstances more may be invited. You cannot, however, rely on your team-mates to make up your deficiencies if you can barely ride your own broomstick. There is a limit as to how much can really be achieved if they are perpetually bolstering up the weakest members of the team. The art is in learning to ride well, single-handed, and with confidence, and to trust to your own instincts.
#1: Know your broom
Get to know your broomstick thoroughly, and learn what to expect when asked to perform under certain conditions. You should know how it is likely to behave in certain situations, particularly in response to tension. This way, if it suddenly bucks or jolts, then you have some idea what you are in for, and possibly have some strategy for how to deal with it. If necessary, you may find you prefer to wear loose- fitting Quidditch robes, for ease of access and manoeuvrability.
Once you have this knowledge, get over yourself. Do not devote all your energies into comparing models, excessive servicing, polishing, admiration or attempting to subdue it to your complete control. Accept that it is wilful, and has its own magical inclinations, and work with it, rather than against it.
#2: Play with your Balls
There isn't only one ball in a game of Quidditch you know. Bludgers and Quaffles are as important as that golden snitch, and one does not have to catch the snitch every time in order to have an enjoyable time. (The authors note however, that generally catching the snitch is a very good thing, but should not be accompanied by excessive celebrations). Passing the Quaffle is best likened to good communication between the team members, and between the opposing sides. It should be thrown cleanly with account made for circumstance and company. Each Quaffle is different, and you should practice carefully with the ones you have, nothing the speed with which they fall, the acute sensitivity to atmospheric conditions, and their own quirks and faults. Using tricks and feints cautiously is always sensible - too much and they cease to have the element of surprise, too many and no one will trust you or want to play with you any more. Quaffles are more independently minded than you might think, though less capricious and elusive than the snitch, and more docile than a pair of Bludgers. In the advanced tactics section, we will look at the different ways of passing the Quaffle to your team-mates, and how this can improve your play. In this section, we look at the basics.
Practises: Learn to do commentary with the minimum of waffle. Introduce your team with the salient information, remembering that there are many exciting plays going on, and you don't want to waste too much time. Be prepared to elaborate if necessary, but start from a position of brevity. Know who's on your team. One of your friends may find the initial sighting of a witch enough to lose his head and his broom for half an hour. Keep his witch distracted until he's able to rejoin the team- play, and be prepared to bring him up to speed. If they are easily phased, then regular exposure to understanding witches is essential if you are to function well as a team.
#3: practice improving your balance Keep one hand over your broom at all times, and try to function the rest of the time as normal, without anybody noticing. Learn how to fly no hands is an important skill, and having a high degree of control over your broomstick is very important. You need to be at one with your broom, accept it as being as much a part of your body as your brain or your hands. Full control comes with time, but even experts may find themselves discomfitted by a well-executed pass. If you find yourself getting excessively hot during warm ups, then you need to think cooling thoughts - remember the last very cold shower you had. A cooling charm will interfere with your body's standard responses, and may result in hypothermia and possibly frostbite. The latter in particular should be avoided - Conglacio is not a charm for amateurs, as it can cost the limb you intended to cool.
Practices: learn how to cast Contego adequately, and how to apply it to the area immediately in front of your broomstick. Remember that ther
#4 Catching and throwing Learn this on the ground first. Not all quidditch balls are adequately charmed, and some may require skills closer to those of a seeker to improve your chances of catching them. Natural camaraderie and comic routine among a team can prove eye-catching to the witch population. Most witches rate 'Natural Charms' and 'Good Sense of Humour' as being the most important assets that a wizard can have. ('Bulging Wallet' was suppressed from the questionnaire - not everyone can be Lucius Malfoy).
Practises: Have a couple of witty anecdotes, either from your own experience or those of your friends. Avoid being trapped by Urban Legends, or other such atrocities. If you don't know the background of your witch, then leave the 'Magic in Muggleland' tales for another time, as they come across as being something worthy only of an eleven year old in his first flying lesson.