Quidditch is full contact and fierce at Magic Island

J.K. Rowling’s blockbuster "Harry Potter" franchise may have run its course (or has it?) but local fans of the wizardly sport of Quidditch aren’t ready to put down their brooms just yet.

In fact, every Saturday the Nightmarchers Quidditch team meets — where else? — at Magic Island, where players run around with broomsticks (OK, PVC pipes) between their legs.

If that sounds nerdy, don’t be fooled. This is full-contact Quidditch, and there is tackling, tumbling and dodgeball-beaning during the fierce competition.

Seneca Pieris, 28, founded the team in 2012 and serves as Hawaii’s representative to U.S. Quidditch, the sport’s governing body that aims to inspire "young people to lead physically active and socially engaged lives," according to its website.

While certainly not a sport for faint-hearted muggles, Pieris admits Quidditch appeals to his quirky side.

"I wanted to be a part of something that proudly embraced nerdiness, something that gave me the sense of belonging," he said. "That’s something that we all look for in life."

Quidditch is played at over 300 universities and high schools throughout North America, Australia and Europe, and by community-based teams. As in the "Potter" movies, there is even a Quidditch World Cup tournament.

Teams comprise beaters, chasers, seekers and keepers.

"The role of a beater could be compared to dodgeball, where you grab the available balls (bludgers in Potter parlance) and aim at opposing team members to knock them temporarily out of the game," Pieris said. "Beaters can also sacrifice themselves by jumping in front of the chasers to take the hit."

It’s the chasers’ job to score 10-point goals by getting the quaffle (a slightly deflated volleyball) into one of the three goal hoops located at each end of the field. The chasers advance the ball down the field by running with it, passing it to teammates or kicking it. Keepers defend the goal hoops.

Anyone hit with a bludger must get off their broom, go back to their goal and touch it before rejoining their team.

Each team also has a seeker whose task is to catch the snitch, a ball attached to the waistband of the neutral snitch runner who tries to avoid capture at all costs. The snitch is worth 30 points and the game ends when one of the teams grabs it.

Nightmarcher team members, who are mostly in their 20s and 30s, take Quidditch very seriously, pausing at times to refer to the 150-page rule book.

When I joined the open practice on a recent Saturday, I think I was out of the game more than I was in. One player scolded me for not having the bludger and leaving our team defenseless during one of my many rests.

But it was a good workout with an element of fun that made the time fly by.

Unless you’re tagged and temporarily out, players must stay on their brooms at all times. Believe me, it’s really hard to run around while holding a broom between your legs.

The Hawaii team is hoping to participate in mainland games for the first time early next year and is looking for additional players. The Nightmarchers also are planning to schedule a local tournament in 2015.

So grab a broom and get swept up in the fun.

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CORRECTION: A previous version of this story had Senecas Pieris’ name misspelled.