Harry Potter's Quidditch now part of Welsh school curriculum

London, Apr 7 (ANI): Quidditch, the game that was a famous part of JK Rowling's Harry Potter stories, has now become a part of Welsh secondary school pupils curriculum, though it is played without brooms.

Ferndale Comprehensive School in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, has adapted the game for the non-magical "muggle" community after similar variations were a hit in American schools.

Muggle quidditch is not exactly the same as the wizarding version, but the confines of reality have still enabled the school to keep most of the fictional sport's rules, ending up with a cross between dodgeball and handball.

The game is played with "chasers" attempting to put the "quaffle" or ball, past the goalkeeper whilst the opposing team's "beaters" try to hit them with different balls called "bludgers".

"Quidditch is a good fun game, it is fast and has lots of exciting moments. My favourite position has got to be the chaser, I like it because you get to score most of your team's goals," the Telegraph quoted Keiron Port, a Year Seven pupil at Ferndale Comprehensive School, as saying.

The development of Quidditch at the school is part of the 5x60 scheme, a Welsh Assembly Government initiative aimed at getting children active with new and different sports.

Ferndale Comprehensive School became the first school in Wales to bring in Quidditch as part of the 5x60 programme when PE teacher James Vale, who runs the scheme at the school, drew up his own rules based on American versions of the game.

"When playing, standing still is not an option as doing so will certainly catch the eye of a beater and a bludger will be heading your way," Vale said.

"This means that players are always on the go unlike in other sports where players are sometimes not really involved in the game.

"As well as improving general fitness levels the game also improves hand eye co-ordination, concentration, awareness and promotes team work. The year seven pupils have picked up the rules really quickly and have even thought of some changes to improve the game," he added.

The 5x60 scheme, launched in October 2006 at a cost of 7.6 million pounds, is already under way in 98 percent of secondary schools across Wales and is expected to encompass all schools in the country by the end of the financial year.

The 5x60 scheme aims to make sure all secondary school pupils do at least an hour of sport and exercise five times a week. (ANI)