Welcome back to another amazing trip through the wonderful world of magical sports, darling SOUP readers! You would not believe the exciting news I have to share with you all. Well, at least I hope it's interesting for you all, and you're not going to get all disgruntled like Kalina and some of my other die-hard Quidditch friends. While I do adore a good spin around the Quidditch pitch, it is not the only way to have fun with a broomstick.
This month, the SOUP Editors asked me to get out and about to see if I could discover any fun and interesting plans to bring other magical broom games to the main UK sporting stage and boy do I have a story for you!
But before I get into the current buzz of news, I need to make sure you all understand what Quodpot is and how it's played, as it's not something all of you will be familiar with unless you have travelled to America to see it in action. The basic premise is that you have eleven players on each team, and the purpose of the game is to get as many Quods into the special cauldrons at the end of the field as you can before they explode. When the Quod is safely stowed in the cauldron full of anti-explosion potion, the team gets a point and a new Quod is brought into the game. If you are holding the Quod when it explodes, you're out of the game. The game ends when all the players have been eliminated.
It sounds like a lot of fun to me, at least. Who doesn't love that slight adrenaline rush of charging down the field on your broom, wondering if you are going to make it to the target in time? I can't be the only one who would love the opportunity to try this game here at home. The only downside of a game with exploding balls is keeping them away from Lugh and his penchant for havoc and destruction. But that is a concern for another day. We need to focus on what a great opportunity is potentially heading our way.
Which leads me onto the exciting news! While I was in San Diego last week to watch several of my friend's Quidditch teams play, I happened to notice a lot of posters and people wandering around in what can only be described as fashion tragedies. A veritable swarm of lime green shirts were lurking outside one of the stadiums trying to convince the visitors to join something called the "International Quodpot Appreciation Society". Given my innate curiosity about broom sports, I homed in on one of the fine looking gentlemen who seemed to be the leader of the petitioning group. Only to discover that he was the great grandson of Abraham Peasegood himself! I could not believe my luck to meet a relative of the games inventor in person. I do have to admit that for once, I was a little flustered. So much so that even my brother Percival noticed and teased me about it. A problem that was easily solved with a quick silencing spell. I just hope that no one noticed that particular move. I was trying to make a good impression after all!
But anyway, back the the news. After speaking to Josiah Peasegood for some time, it became obvious that they are trying to recruit enough enthusiasts to form an worldwide Quodpot league. The IQAS want to make the game as popular internationally as Quidditch and to be honest, I hope they succeed. Nothing will ever be as good as Quidditch, but I do know of some of some great flyers who would love a chance to play in a league team without having to handle the complexities of Quidditch. I'm sorely tempted to give it a try myself. If they can promise not to force me to wear one of their, frankly, obnoxious supporter shirts.
My brothers of course scoffed at their efforts and said that it will never work. But I am optimistic for them. No one knows what the future holds when it comes to magical sports. After all, there are new developments in broomstick technology and duelling spells all the time. Magical sports need to keep evolving and growing as stasis is what makes the spectators and enthusiasts get bored and lose interest. I mean, what's the point of following a sport if it gets predictable and mundane? We might as well just sit and watch flobberworms grow and no one willingly wants to do that now do they?
So, I, personally, am looking forward to seeing what the IQAS can do for Quodpot here in the UK. Just because the it never took off on its own in the past, it does not mean that it won't in the future. All it needs is a dedicated, organised group who won't give up. There is potential for sure. It just needs a bit of a push. So I urge all of you to look out for signs of the game coming to an area near you and have a go! You never know how much fun you could have until you try it!
But that is enough from me for one day I think. So until next time sports fans, keep flying and casting and have some fun! - Tabitha