Stooging is a Quidditch foul used by Chasers against the opposing side's Keeper. It is first referenced to in Quidditch Through the Ages.[1]
About[]
Stooging is where two Chasers hold back and beat up the opposing side's Keeper inside the scoring area so that the third Chaser has a better chance at scoring with the Quaffle. There is now a rule that only one Chaser can be in the scoring area with the Keeper at one time in order to prevent this unfair situation. If the rule is broken, the goal is disallowed. This is called a "Stooging Penalty".[1]
History[]
Stooging was once a popular tactic used quite frequently by Chasers. In the late nineteenth century, the use of the tactic increased and Keeper injuries were a regular occurrence. In 1884, the Department of Magical Games and Sports decided to stop this by introducing a new rule that only one Chaser can be in the scoring area with the Keeper because it "will be more cleaner and fairer". If the rule is broken and a goal is scored, it is disallowed.[1]
This was not received very well by stunned Quidditch fans who did not consider the tactic to be cheating. In response, they harassed the department and threw Quaffles at at a representative after they tried to defend the decision. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement had to disperse the crowd who were then threatening the Minister for Magic. This was reported in the Daily Prophet which included a quote by a young boy who was crying because he loved watching the Keepers get "flattened" and didn't want to watch Quidditch anymore.[1]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter Six: Changes in Quidditch Since the Fourteenth Century