Keepers

• Type: Quidditch Player Position
• Team Complement: One per team
• Primary Objective: To guard the three goal hoops and prevent the opposing team's Chasers from scoring with the Quaffle.

A Keeper is one of the seven playing positions in the wizarding sport of Quidditch. Each team fields a single Keeper, who functions as the last line of defence. Their primary responsibility is to fly in front of their team's three fifty-foot-high goal hoops and block the Quaffle, a red leather ball, from passing through them. A goal scored is worth ten points to the opposing team, making the Keeper's role crucial to a team's success. While a Keeper is permitted to fly anywhere on the Quidditch pitch, they typically remain within the scoring area in front of their goals. This area is a key defensive zone where much of the interplay between the Keeper and the rival Chasers occurs. A skilled Keeper must possess exceptional reflexes, agility on a broomstick, and a keen strategic mind to anticipate the offensive plays of the opposing team.

The Keeper is the only player explicitly permitted to block the Quaffle with any part of their body or broom. When Chasers attempt to score, the Keeper must move swiftly to intercept the ball. The dynamic between Keepers and Chasers is a central element of Quidditch gameplay. In the event of a foul, a team may be awarded a penalty shot. During a penalty, a single Chaser from the fouled team flies from the central circle towards the scoring area for a one-on-one confrontation with the opposing Keeper. All other players, including the Keeper's own teammates, must stay back and not interfere. This situation isolates the Keeper and places immense pressure on their individual skill.

The Keeper position evolved alongside the sport of Quidditch itself. Early versions of the game used baskets on poles as goals, and it became evident that a designated player was needed to guard them. As described in Quidditch Through the Ages, the role was formalized with the introduction of the scoring area and the modern goal hoops. Over the centuries, famous Keepers have been celebrated for their acrobatic saves and contributions to championship-winning teams, solidifying the position as one of honour and importance.

The Keeper position is featured prominently throughout the series, particularly through the experiences of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

• Oliver Wood: As Gryffindor's zealous Captain and Keeper for the first three books, Wood is Harry Potter's first introduction to the intensity of the sport. His rigorous training sessions and desperate desire to win the Quidditch Cup define the team's early dynamic.
• Ron Weasley: Ron's journey to become the Gryffindor Keeper is a major subplot in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. He struggles with nerves and public pressure, epitomized by the Slytherin taunt “Weasley is Our King.” His confidence is boosted when he believes Harry has given him Felix Felicis, leading to a spectacular performance that helps secure the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor. He proves his mettle again in his sixth year.
• Cormac McLaggen: A boastful and arrogant student, McLaggen briefly replaces Ron as Keeper in the sixth book. His poor performance, including knocking Harry Potter unconscious with a Beater's bat, highlights the teamwork and temperament required for the position, which he lacks.
• Quidditch World Cup: The 1994 Quidditch World Cup final showcases two world-class Keepers: Barry Ryan for the Irish National Team and Levski for the Bulgarian National Team. Their professional-level play demonstrates the pinnacle of skill for the position.
• Other Notable Keepers: Other named Keepers in the books include Miles Bletchley and Herbert Fleet of the Slytherin team.

• The role of the Keeper in Quidditch is the magical equivalent of a goalkeeper in many Muggle sports, most notably football (soccer), ice hockey, and lacrosse.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first Quidditch match visually establishes the Keeper's role when Marcus Flint scores the first goal past Oliver Wood. (film)