Horseball compared to magical Quidditch

The sport of horseball has been compared to Quidditch, the game made famous in the books and films of the Harry Potter series.

Quidditch

Horseball has recently drawn some attention from American news channel CNN, which called it ‘Quidditch on horseback’.

With balls flying through the air and competitors travelling at speed, you could say the two sports are pretty similar – if you ignore the total absence of broomsticks, balls that fly of their own accord, and that essential component of magic.

Global sport

Horseball started in France at the end of the 1970s, and is now played all around the world. Like Quidditch, the game attracts both male and female players.

There are World and European Championships, a Champions League and numerous national championships, and there has even been some calls to make horseball an Olympic sport.

Fast pace

The fast pace of the game also makes it exciting to play and watch. Each game only lasts 20 minutes, during which time two teams of four players try to shoot a ball into a high net.

Players have to pass the ball three times before they can score and are allowed to tackle each other.

The ball has six handles, so the riders can grab hold of it. Another vital piece of kit is the ‘pickup strap’, which ties the stirrups together, allowing competitors to lean down from their to horse to pick the ball up, without falling off.

More information about clubs in your area can be found on the British Horseball Association website.