Teeth protectors and goldfinch in shorts. Read how Quidditch is played in Prague | Company News
The players of the Prague Quidditch Club Prague Pegasus, which was founded in 2016, prove that people are playful and creative.
The beginnings of the Prague Quidditch
At a time when the Olomouc Quidditch team was already organizing various programs related to Quidditch, which originated in the magic world of JK Rowling, the idea was born to establish a team in the capital of the Czech Republic. The Prague Quidditch Club decided to establish three enthusiasts who were interested in the fact that such teams exist in the Czech Republic at all. In 2016, they started to start the family in Prague, but the turning point came two years later, when the solid core of the current Prague Pegasus team was formed.
Although it is a sport based on the Harry Potter books, the Quidditch community did not take much from the tradition of these works, according to team members Sylvie Řezáčová. “One of the few Harry Potter traditions that the Quidditch community, at least in Europe, adheres to, is to name teams to include alliteration. Several different names were considered in our country, but because the name Prague Panthers was already taken, Prague Pegasus won it, “ she told Prague Gossip Sylvie Řezáčová.
The team does not lack diversity
Apart from the fact that the Prague family club does not like the tradition associated with the school of lines and goats, there are only a few active Harry Potter fans in the team, according to Řezáčová. The rest of the people rather liked the special sports, among which Quidditch is guaranteed to belong. The Quidditch thus impressed most members with its unconventionality, not because it is a sport from a popular fictional world.
The Prague Pegasus team consists of about thirty members, including students and staff from completely different fields. The line-up is very diverse. “There is a difference of 16 years between the youngest and the oldest member. We value this diversity because we can talk about anything together – from sports matches, through calculations to physics to book tips, ” claims Řezáčová.
The aim of the game is to get more points than the opponent’s team, by shooting a goal in one of three hoops (for 10 points) or by catching a “goldfish” (for 30 points). Goals are scored by shooters and goalkeepers who play with a “camral” (volleyball ball). The bouncers help them in defense and attack by “beating” (ball to hit) their opponents, who are so ranked that the games until they touch one of their own hoops. Everyone must have a “broom” (a plastic stick) between their legs throughout the game, which serves as a handicap (for example when catching a ball) and an indicator of whether someone is discharged. In the eighteenth minute of the match, one catcher from each team comes on the field, whose task is to pull the “goldfinch” (tennis ball in the bag) from the back referee, who physically prevents him from doing so. In a match for a team of seven players – the goalkeeper plays, three shooters, two bouncers and a catcher, they can take turns freely. There can be a maximum of twenty-one players on the substitution. Because it is a mixed sport, it is a condition that the team has a maximum of four players of the same sex on the field.
He looks at training like in regular sports
Quidditch training is as demanding and important as training in regular sports. Athletes train various exercises for speed, agility, perception and endurance. They also pay attention to so-called drills for technical skills such as recordings, shots for hoops, tacking (landfills) and discharging.
“We all train basic skills together, but we often also divide into shooters and reflect and practice a more specific game situation. Of course, we also train team strategy in preparation for the match. We usually end the training with the game itself, “ described a member of management, saying that she now trains only once a week. Before the pandemic, they held two two-hour training sessions a week. Those interested who would like to see how the athletes from Prague Pegasus train can arrive in Letenské sady on Sunday at two o’clock in the afternoon.
“When a new player comes to training, he always has the opportunity to choose which position he would like to play, and he often tries them all. The shooters have the task that is easiest to understand and at the same time the team needs them the most. The role of the bouncer is again very tactical and cannot be compared to other sports. Goalkeepers are usually played by those who can communicate well and organize the game. Catchers must be agile and persistent, “ says Řezáčová, noting that the coaches do not interfere in the selection in any way and the players try to give good advice. According to the coaches, it mainly depends on who the player feels best about.
Teams can shine in regular format competitions
“The Czech Republic championships are held in the Czech Republic every year, and the Czech Quidditch League has recently been established. Our team participates in both of these competitions. We can continue to go to the European Cup (Quidditch parallel to the Champions League), for which the teams qualify from the Czech championship. Since 2020, we have also been participating in the Central European Quidditch League. Various friendly tournaments take place throughout the year, and we have already visited Odense, Bratislava, Vienna and Krakow. Some of our players also join the Czech national team, which plays at the European and World Championships, these events take turns every year. If all goes well this year, we can take part in about eight competitions, “ Rezáčová said.
The Prague Pegasus team also has proper team jerseys, which show night Prague and the constellation Pegasus. In their free time, athletes wear team tops and sweatshirts. The mandatory equipment of the players is a tooth protector.
Who can become a member of Prague Pegasus?
“Anyone who wants to try Quidditch can join us. The only restrictions apply to tournaments, players must be at least sixteen years old. However, there is no maximum age limit, which is why people over the age of forty sometimes play Quidditch. We accept new members throughout the year outside of recruitment training, so all you have to do is stand by Letná. We always publish specific training information on our Facebook profile. And if someone outside Prague is interested in Quidditch, they can contact the Phoenixes Plzeň, Budweis Bigfoots, Brno Banshees or Occamy Olomouc teams, “ Řezáčová claims, stating that they organize a larger recruitment training for those interested in Quidditch at least twice a year. In addition to the special recruitment event, Prague Pegasus also organizes a family Quidditch day and friendly matches with other Czech teams.
Healthy playfulness and rivalry
According to Řezáčová, there is a rivalry between the teams mainly in the matches, because they try to give their best and win. The biggest rival of Prague Pegasus is the Brno Banshees, against which Prague enthusiasts regularly play very exciting matches. “We are sincerely glad that this is the case because we motivate each other to perform better. The Czech Quidditch community is relatively small, thanks to which we are good friends outside the field and we try to develop Quidditch as a whole, “ she concluded.