Charlotte Quidditch will take their talents to the Northeast Recreational fields on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to host Gold Rush Rup II. The tournament is free of charge for spectators and features 12 universities participating. Regional teams such as Appalachian Pygmy Puffs (Appalachian State), Cullowhee Chimeras, Duke University Quidditch, UNCG Quidditch (UNC Greensboro) and Wilmington Warlocks (UNC Wilmington) will take the turf to compete on three separate pitches.
Tournament director and Charlotte Quidditch president Allie Nelson says she feels more confident this time around as she will primarily focus on directing the Cup along with three volunteers. “I’ve done this before so I don’t have to trailblaze again,” said Nelson. “Every little thing from last year that could have gone better will.”
In addition to Nelson’s full-time role as tournament director, changes to this year’s incarnation of the tournament include more staffing in the form of full-time field managers to maintain a timely schedule and a duo of EMT’s on standby in the case of an injury or emergency.
The dozen-team tournament was randomly organized into three pools consisting of four teams. Each team in will play three games within their respective pools, with results being tallied after pool play based on the number of wins and point differential. The top six teams will move on to a single elimination bracket, where the remaining pool will be narrowed down one by one until the finals.
The club that finishes at the top of the bracket will be awarded 22 custom-engraved medals. “I told my team they better win ‘em for me,” said Nelson.
Last year, Charlotte Quidditch made it to the quarterfinals of Gold Rush Cup before losing to Appalachian State, a squad that made it to the finals against College of Charleston.
Charlotte Quidditch’s next tournament appearance will be at Virginia Tech for the Blacksburg Brawl on Nov. 15.
UNC Charlotte Pool A Schedule:
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. UNCC vs. Virginia Tech
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. UNCC vs. TTT
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m UNCC vs. UNCG
Understanding Quidditch
Charlotte Quidditch participates in Carolinas Quidditch Conference along with College of Charleston, UNC, Duke, Appalachian State and several other schools
Quidditch is a co-ed sport that’s a mixture of rugby, dodgeball and tag
With the “Four Maximum Rule” and Title 9 ¾ , Quidditch is inclusive to players of all identities and genders
Three Chasers score goals (worth 10 points) with quaffles (volleyballs) through one of the three hoops at the opposing end of the pitch
- Their job is to move the ball down the field through passing, maneuvering or kicking it
Two Beaters use bludgers (dodgeballs) to hit opposing players to disrupt gameflow for defensive purposes
- Any player hit by a bludgers is out the game, until they touch their own goalposts
One Keeper defends the three goalposts to prevent scoring by chasers
One Seeker searches for and catches the snitch (a ball attached to the waistband of a snitch runner) which is often attached to a neutral athlete who avoids capture by any means necessary
- The snitch is worth 30 points and ends the game, unless it’s tied, then the game goes to overtime
Teams in the tournament:
Appalachian Pygmy Puffs
Charlotte Quidditch
College of Charleston Quidditch
Cullowhee Chimeras
Duke University Quidditch
QC James Gateburg State University
Tennessee Tech Quidditch
Time Turners Quidditch (University of Tennessee)
UNCG Quidditch
University of South Carolina Gamecock Club Quidditch
Virginia Tech Phoenixes
Wilmington Warlocks