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At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Hogwarts Legacy & Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions. |
- "This ball's called the Quaffle. The Chasers throw the Quaffle to each other and try and get it through one of the hoops to score a goal. Ten points every time the Quaffle goes through one of the hoops."
- — Description of a Quaffle and its function[src]
A Quaffle was a ball used in the wizarding game of Quidditch.[2] It is approximately the size of a football.[3] When a Chaser used it to score once, they earn ten points for their team.[2]
Description[]
The Quaffle was twelve inches in diameter. It was a red, leather-covered ball used as the main object of play and was the only one out of the three ball-types that was practically immobile. The three Chasers carried and passed the Quaffle to their opponent's goal hoops, where they tried to score points by throwing it through one of the three rings. Each time it passed through the hoops, the scoring team gained ten points.[2]
Quaffles had to be thrown into the goal hoops in order to score, failing to do so (like carrying through the goal hoop) resulted in a Haversacking foul. Also, the Keeper had to defend the goal hoops from the front of the ring and not the back (a Flacking foul).[2][4]
History[]
According to the entries in Gertie Keddle's diary, the Quaffle was the first ball used in the early form of Quidditch played at Queerditch Marsh. Originally, the ball was not enchanted, and made of patched leather with a strap attached to it to allow players to throw and catch it one handed. Some Quaffles had finger holes instead of the strap, rather like a Muggle bowling ball, or a coconut.[1]
In 1711, the Quaffle was changed to its current scarlet colour, after a match played in heavy rain made it indistinguishable from the muddy ground. Shortly after, the witch Daisy Pennifold came up with the idea of enchanting the Quaffle so that it dropped to the ground slower than normal. Chasers were complaining of having to dive to the ground to retrieve a dropped ball, and the new enchantment gave the Chasers time to retrieve the ball while still in the air. The ball became known as the "Pennifold Quaffle".[5]
In 1875, Gripping Charms were discovered, allowing the players to hold onto the Quaffle without using a strap or finger holes.[5]
Fouls[]
Quaffle-pocking was a common foul that consists of altering the Quaffle somehow, such as poking holes in it to make it fall faster or zigzag. Only Chasers could commit this foul.[5]
Behind the scenes[]
- In the film series, Quaffles had four large indentations on them instead of being perfect spheres, which was likely done to better distinguish them from Bludgers as both share the same colour (the latter is darker in colouration upon closer inspection).
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter sells a foam replica of a Quaffle.
- The Quaffle-pocking foul may be a reference to the cheating methods Baseball pitchers sometimes use to gain an advantage by altering the ball in some way, such as coating it in a sticky substance to increase contact with the hand and increase the ball's spin when thrown.
Translations[]
- Catalan: Bomba ("bomb")
- Chinese (Simplified): 鬼飞球 (Gui fei qiu) ("Flying Ghost Ball")
- Chinese (Traditional): 快浮
- Croatian: balun
- Czech: Camrál
- Danish: Tromler ("steamroller")
- Dutch: Slurk
- Estonian: pomma
- Faroese: Bjølga
- Finnish: Kaato
- French: Souafle
- German: Quaffel
- Greek, Ancient: κολοφῶν
- Greek, Modern: κόκκινη μπάλα ("red ball")
- Hebrew: קואפל
- Hindi: तूफ़ान tūph.ān
- Hungarian: kvaff
- Icelandic: tromla
- Irish: Cuaifeal
- Italian: Pluffa
- Japanese: クアッフル (kuaffuru)
- Latin: Quaffle
- Lithuanian: Kritlys
- Norwegian: sluff
- Polish: kafel
- Portuguese (Portugal): Quaffle
- Portuguese (Brazil): Goles
- Romanian: Balon ("ball")
- Russian: Квоффл (kvoffl)
- Serbian: Квафл (kvafl)
- Slovak: Prehadzovačka
- Slovenian: lokl
- Spanish: quaffle
- Swedish: Klonken
- Ukrainian: квафел (kvafel)
- Welsh: Llyncill
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Mentioned only)
- Quidditch Through the Ages
- Daily Prophet Newsletters (Mentioned only)
- Pottermore
- Wizarding World
- LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
- LEGO Harry Potter
- Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
- Harry Potter for Kinect
- Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- LEGO Harry Potter
- Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
- Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
- Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
- Hogwarts Legacy (Mentioned only)
- The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac
- Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter 3 (The Game from Queerditch Marsh)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 10 (Hallowe'en)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8 (Flight of the Fat Lady)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 11 (Quidditch)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter 6 (Changes in Quidditch since the Fourteenth Century)
Game of Quidditch | |||
---|---|---|---|
Officials: Quidditch referee | |||
Player positions: Beater • Chaser • Keeper • Seeker | |||
Playing equipment: Beater's bat • Bludger • Broomstick • Golden Snitch • Quaffle |