Technique Workshop – Precision Passing and Shooting the Quaffle:
Passing is an essential part of every team sport. Passing gets the ball from one player to another, and is the fastest way to move the ball around the pitch. A quick look around at other popular sports, and you will find that with each new ball comes a modification in technique. Even within certain sports there is a dispute about techniques to use. This is extremely evident in baseball where there are many pitches, and many ways to deliver each pitch (submarine, side arm, three quarters, and the traditional over the top pitching) all of which are divided between the wind-up and the stretch starting positions. In basketball, you can bounce pass or chest pass, and deliver it from above your head, a pushing pass, or even move your arm out to your side to wrap the ball around the defender to complete your pass. This goes on for many sports. There is no one-size-fits all technique for every player in every situation.
Teaching proper technique of a young sport to another player is difficult. Difficult mostly because there is not yet a core set of experienced coaches who agree in teaching the same technique meaning that there is not a consensus among top players/coaches what the technique for passing/shooting should be. I have seen techniques ranging from pushing the quaffle, to a football throw, to a flick of the wrist, to (what I use) a dart throwing motion.
The Ball:
The quaffle is very unique in its flatness. It is a partial deflated volleyball (some teams use soccer balls, and some water polo balls, but IQA official are volleyballs). The flatness of the ball is a big obstacle to overcome in ensuring a consistent trajectory. However, there is one advantage when throwing that comes from the flatness, and that is the importance of the laces or pattern of the ball being less than if the ball was fully inflated. With a good squeeze the ball can fit the shape of a passer's hand rather than the passer find where the pattern is to get a good push with the finger tips as seen with basketballs when shooting and footballs when passing. Once the ball has fit the shape of hand, the fingers can extend and push the ball no matter which part of the ball the fingers are touching.
Commonalities in Passing Techniques in Quidditch:
There are some common characteristics off all the techniques that work well to pass or throw the quaffle. The first is pushing off of the ground. This is where all the power comes from. This is the came in almost every sport (the exception being when, in team handball, someone jumps towards the goals and shoots in the air). Even in basketball the upward momentum of the ball comes largely from the jump on a jump shot. For a good pass in quidditch the back foot must be pushing against the ground during the pass. The second is a follow through. Whether this from a full arm motion, or from a quick wrist flick. After the ball has left the hand the arm, wrist, and hand continue in motion. This helps to ensure as much momentum was put into the ball as possible. The third and final characteristic is good timing on the pass. A good passer needs the ability to lead the receiver when he/she is on the run. Every working technique for passing in quidditch has this. This is best accomplished by good footwork, so you can put your back foot in line to where you want to throw the ball.
Examples of Different Techniques:
The most common technique I have seen is throwing the quaffle like a football. The arm comes over or just to the side of the shoulder. The index and middle fingers are propelling the ball, and there is a wrist flick at the apex of the throw to ensure maximum velocity. This technique involves rotation of the body and shoulders to give the ball additional velocity on top of moving the arm and flicking the wrist. Stepping into the throw is also very important here. The spin is normally spin at an oblique angle.
The way I pass is similar to how to throw a dart. The ball begins slightly in front of the body, and above the head when ready to pass. From there, step with the opposite foot of the throwing hand, and flick the ball using the elbow as a pivot point. I like the accuracy of the pass, but the power is less than that of a football-like throw. Unlike the football-like throw, this does not rotate the body allowing the passer to make passes to his/her side without sacrificing power. The spin that comes off the ball is similar to that of a free throw in basketball.
Because of the predictability of long throwing motions, a flick is all that is needed for shorter passes. It is still important to have a planted foot on the ground a flick to ensure that the passer's body is not moving away from the intended target. Mastering a good flick pass gives the passer the ability to make quick no-look passes over short distances.
What to Take Away:
Proper technique will continue to develop in a growing young sport. No matter what the arm mechanics are, a good passer needs to be able to plant a foot, follow through with the pass, and be able to throw to players who are on the run. Gripping the ball firmly, so the fingers and hand make solid contact with the ball through the throw is important. A person's natural arm motion and strength will dictate specific throwing technique that works best for them. The important thing to do is to find a motion that is consistent for you.