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Old 11-27-2017, 02:33 AM   #17 (permalink)
Bazinga
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Join Date: Aug 2011
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American Invasion: Is Quodpot the New Quidditch?
May, 2094
By Andrew Chae
Quodpot: Students who attend Hogwarts grow up learning about this sport as a variation of modern day Quidditch. In America, however, Quodpot dominates the sports headlines. Sure, kids still play Quidditch and the cities have their own teams, and a National team to boot, but Quodpot took off in a way that no one anticipated when the Founding Fathers established America in the 18th century. Just like the Muggle sport of football (or soccer, as we Yanks refer to it as) fell in to obscurity once the two nations separated, a similar process happened in the Magical world.

Why was Quodpot the chosen sport over it's arguably safer counterpart? It was simply a matter of someone - in this case, Abraham Peasegood - being in the right place at the right time. Peasegood was an English immigrant who came to America in the early days of it's independece. While traveling, he accidentally charmed his Quaffle to explode when it was tossed around, and thought it added a fun element of danger to the game. Yes, you read that correctly - Peasegood didn't think Quidditch was dangerous enough, and thought it would be fun to charm the rest of the balls to act similarly. Just like that, Quodpot was born.

No one knows for sure why the new magical educational institute Ilvermorny chose Quodpot as its primary extracurricular activity, but one guess might be the desire to separate Ilvermorny from Hogwarts, it's predecessor. After all, Muggles in America were doing just about everything they could to distance themselves from England and show the world that they were able to be their own country. It's easy to assume that similar thinking went in to establishing Ilvermorny. Now, three centuries later, it might be ready to make its way overseas - that's right, the time might be right for Quodpot to establish itself as a dominant, if not THE dominant, sport in the UK.

I know what you're thinking - blasphemy! How could Quodpot possibly take over Quidditch as the preferred sport of British witches and wizards everywhere?! Anyone who has a child who is Hogwarts age knows the answer. Quidditch has not been played at the school in nearly a decade, all because of a threat against the school that prompted the shutdown of the extremely popular program. Despite the fact that the threat has not been followed through with, Quidditch has, as of press time, yet to be re-instated at the school. Kids attending Hogwarts these days know nothing of the thrill of watching their house team soar to victory above them, or know what it feels like to hold your breath as the two Seekers battle it out to catch the elusive Golden Snitch. Competition and sports have many benefits for children - it encourages camaraderie, it helps keeps kids in shape, and it provides leadership opportunities for kids looking to pad their applications for university.

In America, Quodpot is very safe thanks to very rigorous referees who monitor every aspect of the game that they can - if there's any monkey business whatsoever, they're on it. Multiple safety charms are put in to place on the players and equipment, so even when the Quod explodes, the person holding it is left with, at worst, a singed eyebrow. These safety precautions could no doubt be implemented should the sport take up a following in the UK - and the time is ripe for the rise of Quodpot in the UK.

Think about it, Hogwarts students - Quidditch has been gone for what feels like ages. Students need an outlet to foster friendly competition (emphasis on friendly). Not only is Quodpot a FANTASTIC workout, but it also offers all the benefits that dear old Quidditch used to provide students - opportunities to make new friends, foster leadership skills, engage in friendly house competitions, and provides much needed entertainment, especially when exams and typical teenage drama cause all sorts of stress to the typical student.

If Quidditch is not making it's return, Quodpot should step up to take its place. Quodpot youth leagues are sprouting up across Great Britain as we speak, and Hogwarts is obviously trying to foster a better relationship with America after hosting the IMPS competition last year. Quodpot could fill the gaping hole that currently exists in the extracurricular lineup at the centuries old school, and Hogwarts students would probably be thrilled at the chance to show their worth - this time, on the Quodpot field instead of the Quidditch pitch.
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