Absolutely! If not incorporated as an actual P.E. class, then perhaps a unit of P.E. If neither are capable, then a club is the next step. It's no secret that the number of girls participating in High School P.E. has been decreasing. Quidditch presents something entirely different and new into the P.H.E. program. It can change the way students engage in P.H.E. By incorporating Quidditch into a P.H.E. class, students can be exposed to a unique experience, that still provides all the elements of active living, physical exercise, and even social development.

     The lure of quidditch appeals to young and old, nerds and jocks, the popular ones and the outcasts. It unites a strange cluster of people that would otherwise have never interacted. It can meld the lines between being athletic and being a fan. Not all players are athletes, and many have never played sports before, but the lure of their favorite book series' sport becoming a reality was too much. They signed up and have not looked back. This same effect can be seen in a High School P.H.E. environment, if we are willing to incorporate it into the education system. It can bring back the female ratio in a P.E. class, as it is one of few Co-Ed sports. The best part is, the Co-Ed factor isn't just a suggestion--it's a rule! Quidditch needs at least two members that identify with a different gender than those on the field. This means it needs both male and female players to compete together.

     There have also been studies that show students are more engaged and motivated to try something new in P.H.E. As quidditch would be a new experience, both the aspect of discovery, and the sheer silliness of the sport can attract interest. It can also be used as an example of how sports and activities can be created using imagination. Teachers can take this concept a step further by sorting the students into houses: Griffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. These houses can work together and develop meaningful connections. A final project for them can be creating their own sport or game. This will allow students to develop problem solving skills, and create a game that they enjoy, and can take pride in.

     Finally, it can also aid the new curriculum. The community and respect factor embedded in the game can transfer to teaching students proper affective skills, and how to be respectful of others. The application does not stop there, however, it can also apply to mental health. The release of stress and emotions through activity has always been around, and still applies here. Quidditch can go a step further, and bring reading back into the lives of our youth. After seeing a peculiar sport, they can learn about where it came from by reading the Harry Potter series. All it takes is one interesting book to hook someone into exercising their imagination. Studies on children have also shown that one of the top predictors for literacy in school is whether they were read to as a child. If quidditch can engage more students into reading, not just Harry Potter, it can not only promote literacy, but also stress relief and mental well being.

     One might suggest a full contact sport like quidditch is too risky for a school environment, however, they'd be wrong. League rules have been adapted for kids. In a High School League, there is no tackling. None. This significantly reduces the risk factor, and flips the tables to even the playing field for boys and girls. There are no tackling hazards, or one all star player weighing in at 210lbs charging down the field towards a young boy or girl. This concept is also debunked with the use of a bludger. A simple touch of a bludger will stop even the strongest player in their tracks.

     The four different positions also open the doors to different skill sets. A seeker does not need the same strength as a chaser, and beaters do not need the same stamina as chasers. There is a position that will appeal to everyone, and their abilities. If a student can't throw, but loves to run, they can seek. If a student can't run, but can throw, they can become a defensive beater.

     Ever run into the problem of student's saying, "I don't like basketball.", or "I'm just not good at that." Quidditch is new, and as such, its something no student has tried before. They're all on even playing field, and they are all experiencing it first-hand. Students are more likely to try something new, than get excited for a sport's unit that they don't like. They are also more likely to participate, knowing what the class entails. If they sign up for a Quidditch-only P.E. class, they know that they won't have to play basketball, or football, or another sport that doesn't appeal to them. As such, they are choosing something that interests them, and when something is of interest, a student is going to be more willing to try.

     Quidditch has the potential to change the way we look at sports. It can attract new faces back into the P.E. atmosphere. It can become a gateway into new sports, new ways of thinking, and new friendships. I've seen this happen first-hand with the UVic team. Players bond and become a family, something more than a team. I am a quidditch advocate, are you?

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