======Team======
=====Team Information=====
  * **Type:** Sports Team, Competitive Group
  * **Owners:** Team [[Captain]], Team Manager, [[Hogwarts]] [[Head of House]], [[Ministry of Magic]] ([[Department of Magical Games and Sports]])
  * **Maker:** The concept of formal teams, particularly in [[Quidditch]], is governed by rules established and maintained by the [[Department of Magical Games and Sports]].
=====Description and Appearance=====
A team in the [[wizarding world]] is a group of individuals organized to compete against other similar groups, primarily in the sport of [[Quidditch]]. The most clearly defined team structure is that of a [[Quidditch]] team, which is strictly composed of seven players, each with a specific role:
  * Three [[Chaser]]s
  * Two [[Beater]]s
  * One [[Keeper]]
  * One [[Seeker]]
Each team is led by a [[Captain]], who is responsible for strategy, discipline, and leading practices. The [[Captain]] can be any of the seven players on the team.
Teams are visually distinguished by their uniforms, which typically consist of brightly coloured [[robes]]. For example, the [[Hogwarts]] House teams have signature colours: [[Gryffindor]] in scarlet, [[Slytherin]] in green, [[Ravenclaw]] in blue and bronze, and [[Hufflepuff]] in yellow and black. National teams also have distinct colours, such as the blood-red of the [[Bulgaria national Quidditch team]] and the emerald green of the [[Ireland national Quidditch team]].
=====Purpose and Function=====
The primary purpose of a team is to work cohesively to achieve a common competitive goal. In a game of [[Quidditch]], the objective is to score more points than the opposing team before the [[Golden Snitch]] is caught. This requires a high degree of teamwork and coordination.
  * The [[Chaser]]s work together to control the [[Quaffle]] and score goals through the opponent's hoops.
  * The [[Beater]]s use their bats to direct the dangerous [[Bludger]]s away from their own teammates and towards their opponents, acting as a form of defence and offence.
  * The [[Keeper]] defends the team's three goalposts.
  * The [[Seeker]] has the independent but crucial role of catching the [[Golden Snitch]], which earns the team 150 points and ends the match.
Beyond [[Quidditch]], the concept of a team applies to events like the [[Triwizard Tournament]], where each participating school—[[Hogwarts]], [[Beauxbatons Academy of Magic]], and [[Durmstrang Institute]]—effectively acts as a team supporting its single [[Champion]].
=====History=====
The formation of organized teams is intrinsically linked to the history of [[Quidditch]]. As the sport grew in popularity, local teams began to form across Britain. This eventually led to the establishment of the British and Irish [[Quidditch]] League, a professional league featuring thirteen teams, including well-known ones like the [[Chudley Cannons]] and the [[Holyhead Harpies]].
On an international level, the [[Quidditch World Cup]] was established in 1473, requiring countries to form national teams to compete for the title. At [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], the tradition of the inter-house [[Hogwarts Quidditch Cup]] is a long-standing one, fostering rivalry and pride among the four houses for centuries.
=====Role in the Story=====
Teams are central to many subplots in the //Harry Potter// series, serving as a vehicle for character development, rivalry, and world-building.
  * **Hogwarts House Teams:** The intense rivalry between the [[Gryffindor]] and [[Slytherin]] [[Quidditch]] teams is a recurring element. [[Harry Potter]]'s identity at school is significantly shaped by his role as the [[Gryffindor]] [[Seeker]] and, later, [[Captain]]. The matches provide moments of triumph, conflict, and school-wide excitement, and his place on the team is one of the first things that makes him feel like he truly belongs at [[Hogwarts]].
  * **National Teams:** The [[Quidditch World Cup]] final between [[Bulgaria national Quidditch team|Bulgaria]] and [[Ireland national Quidditch team|Ireland]] is a major event in //Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire//. It introduces the international wizarding community and key characters like world-famous [[Seeker]] [[Viktor Krum]] and [[Ministry of Magic]] official [[Ludo Bagman]].
  * **Triwizard Tournament Teams:** In the revived [[Triwizard Tournament]], the champions—[[Harry Potter]], [[Cedric Diggory]], [[Fleur Delacour]], and [[Viktor Krum]]—represent their respective schools. While they compete as individuals, they carry the honour of their "team," their entire school, creating a unique form of inter-school competition and camaraderie.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the film adaptations, the [[Quidditch]] uniforms were redesigned from the simple [[robes]] described in the books into more modern, athletic-style gear, often including player names and numbers, padding, and capes. (film)
  * The supplementary book //Quidditch Through the Ages// provides background information on many professional teams, such as the [[Holyhead Harpies]] being the only [[Quidditch]] team in the British and Irish league to be composed entirely of witches. (Quidditch Through the Ages)