A well-balanced quidditch offense uses fast breaks in addition to set offenses to score goals.  In this three-part series we will examine each fast break in the second New York City Titans and Boston Nightriders game at the 2018 MLQ championships.  

In Part I, I will introduce the fast break concept and how it differs from a standard set offense.  I will also introduce each of the seven fast breaks in the game.  

In Part II, I will provide breakdowns on key moments and decisions in each of the seven fast breaks.  

In Part III, I will suggest a general fast break strategy that could be installed in a team’s gameplan.  

What is a fast break?

The majority of offensive plays are set offenses, a team purposefully sets up a formation before moving the quaffle.  Set offenses are typically used when an offense and defense are close in skill and/or numbers.  

Fast breaks are used when an offense has a skill or numbers advantage.  A fast break is an offensive play where the goal is to score as quickly as possible, before the defense is set.  Once a defense is set, an offense will also need to set, ending the fast break opportunity.  

Fast break offensive strategy consists of offensive beaters opening driving lanes, driving to draw defensive attention, and passes to open players.  

During a fast break, the defense is focused on setting up their formation, which ends the break.  This is done by applying pressure to driving quaffle carriers, using beaters to force bad passes or shots, and blocking shots.

Because fast breaks are difficult against a defense with both bludgers near the hoops, a conservative team will keep at least one bludger on their own half during offensive possessions.

Play I

The first fast break of the game occurred before either team scored, just after the play examined in Single-Play Breakdown: Offensive Opportunities and Beater Defense.  Boston knocked out both the New York keeper and a beater and a New York keeper was off-broom because of a dismount.  This gave Boston a quaffle player numbers advantage.  

• Boston passes the quaffle to an unguarded chaser behind the hoops.  
• The New York beater runs behind the hoops and pump fakes at the Boston chaser.
• The chaser shoots at the right hoop and is blocked by the New York keeper.  

Play II

To start this fast break, Boston recovered the quaffle after forcing an errant pass.  Boston has bludger control and every player on both teams is on-broom.

• A Boston chaser recovers the quaffle on the ground near the midpoint of the field and tosses it to the already sprinting Boston keeper.  
• The armed New York beater begins a throw at the quaffle carrier.
• The quaffle carrier passes the quaffle to the left.  
• The armed New York beater spins and throws their bludger at the new quaffle carrier.  
• The quaffle carrier passes back to the Boston keeper after the New York beater releases their bludger.  
• The Boston keeper steps and shoots at the left hoop, scoring.  

Play III

Boston recovered the quaffle after a driving New York player was knocked out by a bludger throw.  

• Boston chaser picks up the quaffle.  
• They begin driving at the left hoop. 
  
• The New York beater is knocked out while trying to pick up a loose bludger.  
  
• The quaffle carrier jukes the point defender and cut right.  
• A New York chaser attempts to wrap the quaffle carrier who spins.  
• Another New York chaser and the New York keeper shift to the right.
• The Boston keeper moves to the middle hoop.  
• The quaffle carrier passes to the Boston keeper who dunks on the right hoop.  

Play IV

Boston bats a handoff between the New York.  The Boston beater shields the loose quaffle until the Boston quaffle players can pick it up, starting the fast break.

• A Boston chaser picks up the quaffle and begins running wide right around the hoops.  
• The New York point defender initiates contact with the quaffle carrier and pushes them.  
• The quaffle carrier shoots at the right hoop and misses.  
• The New York keeper catches the quaffle, ending the fast break.  

Play V

To start this fast break, the Boston keeper intercepts a New York pass behind the hoops.  

• The Boston keeper runs across the midfield line with the quaffle.  
• The point defender initiates contact.
• The quaffle carrier bounce passes to an open teammate on the right.  
• The new quaffle carrier sees that the defense is set and ends the fast break.  

Play VI

After a Boston goal, the New York keeper received the quaffle from the goal referee.  Boston had bludger control and one of their beaters was behind the New York hoops with both New York beaters.  

New York substituted two of their chasers.  Seeing that New York was substituting, Boston also substituted two of their chasers. 

While Boston is substituting they do not have a set defense, so the New York keeper decides to start a fast break.  

• The New York keeper begins running at the Boston hoops.  
• The Boston beater runs towards the New York hoops, not noticing the drive.  
• The two Boston quaffle players on the pitch attempt to gang tackle the quaffle carrier and are both shrugged off.  
• The quaffle carrier scores on the left hoop with a dunk.  

Play VII

A New York chaser drops a pass behind the hoops and the Boston keeper recovers it and begins a fast break.  

• The Boston keeper runs towards the New York half.
• A New York beater throws a bludger towards the quaffle carrier.  
• The quaffle carrier push passes the quaffle towards the right New York hoop.  
• Both a New York chaser and a Boston chaser jump to catch the quaffle.  
• They scuffle for the quaffle and it rolls away.  
• A Boston chaser recovers the quaffle and runs behind the hoops.  
• They juke two defenders and shoot at the middle hoop.  
• The quaffle sails over the middle hoop, missing.  
• A New York beater shields the quaffle, knocking out the Boston keeper.  
• A New York chaser recovers the quaffle.  

Upcoming

Fast Breaks II will analyze the each of these seven plays in finer detail focusing on both offensive and defensive decisions.  It will be published on Monday, October 22nd.