Muggle Quidditch Provides a Different Kind of Athletic Experience for Players
Formed in 2013, the Simon Fraser University Marauders Muggle quidditch team has been around since before the first Quidditch Canada National Championship. Yet the team doesn’t pride itself on longevity or number of wins but the club’s welcoming atmosphere.
According to Nathan Ross, the team’s president and longstanding member of the club, the sport particularly appeals to the traditionally non-athletically inclined. Ross himself joined as a massive Harry Potter fan, but for him, it’s been the sense of community and the tight-knit bonds formed within the team that has developed his passion for the sport.
He also credits the positive atmosphere of the sport for its popularity. Ross believes that the highly competitive nature of more traditional sports puts off many players who would prefer a more relaxed playing experience. Instead, it’s the open community, lack of pressure, and sense of camaraderie within the SFU Marauders that retains players.
However, the team does compete in regular matches against other university teams like the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria and regional teams such as Edmonton and Calgary, leaving plenty of room for anyone drawn to the competitive element of the game.
Furthermore, the team has competed in the Quidditch Canada National Championship, the culmination of the Canadian quidditch season. Last season, the team finished tenth in the national rankings but didn’t qualify for the national championship. While they did send players to assist Calgary to second place in 2018, it was in 2017 where the team made its last appearance, finishing in seventh place.
The team hopes to qualify for the championship in the upcoming season and will be looking for new recruits to assist them. The team has a simple policy regarding new members: If a player shows dedication, they will be trained.
Ultimately, Ross believes that quidditch is a fantastically rewarding, albeit niche, experience.
People come because they’re looking for something dumb and fun to define their university experience.
If you like the sound of quidditch with the Marauders, why not check out their Facebook and Twitter for further information about the team!
Which Muggle quidditch position do you think you’d be best at?
