Make sure you stop watching the Harry Potter Marathon from your couch and get outside to see some live quidditch action at Troy Park in Howard County this weekend for the US Quidditch Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships!
The US Quidditch Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships are bringing in 25+ collegiate and adult teams to Elkridge this weekend. Admission is free and open to the public. There will also be free quidditch lessons for elementary, middle and high school students. Wear your best Harry Potter outfit for ultimate fun! Volunteers are still needed for this weekend’s event, so feel free to click here if you are interested in volunteering.
Quidditch is a full contact, competitive, mixed gender sport inspired by the Harry Potter series. It began in 2005 and has since spread to over 300 colleges, high schools, and community teams nationwide. Quidditch is played with seven players to a team all mounted on brooms. Three chasers score goals by putting the quaffle (a volleyball) through any of three hoops at the opposite end of the field. A keeper defends the hoops, while two beaters throw bludgers (dodgeballs) at opposing players to temporarily knock them out of the game. Meanwhile, each team’s seeker tries to catch the snitch: an autonomous yellow-clad athlete who has a tennis ball in a custom-made velcro tail hanging from the back of their shorts, similar to flag football. A game of Quidditch ends when the snitch tail is caught, and the capturing seeker’s team is awarded an additional 30 points.
“We are extremely fortunate to have a great TEAM Maryland partner in Howard County. The hosting of the US Quidditch Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion, at Troy Park, is a testament to their understanding of how valuable the sport tourism market truly is here in Maryland and the county.” stated Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director, Maryland’s Sports Commission. “We look forward to seeing all the athletes, fans and families here in Howard County, Maryland in November.”
For more information regarding this weekend’s event, please visit their website.
