Elite quidditch teams have excellent ball-handling skills.  Their players are able to throw and catch reliably which allows their coaching staff to focus on strategy over technique.  

In my opinion, players should be taught ball-handling skills, such as throwing and catching motions, without context.  They will learn the context as they become familiar with and use the technique.  This develops the players strategic thinking and they learn situational flexibility.  

Most players exclusively use the overhand throwing motion and would benefit from learning others.  This article introduces the sidearm throw and push throw which, when mastered, will make a player a better ball-handler.  

Sidearm Throw

Sidearm is a compact throwing motion that releases faster than an overhand throw with less velocity.  Sidearm throws are found in gridiron football, baseball, ultimate and handball.  They generate power with hip rotation rather than shoulder rotation, which is more natural for some players.  

These throws are rarely seen in quidditch, but sidearm throws, used in conjunction with overhand throws, allow a player to release the ball from more angles, making them more unpredictable and harder to defend.  While sidearm throws lack velocity compared to overhand throws, there are many situations in quidditch where accuracy is preferred over power.  

To throw sidearm:

• Hold ball in-line with should with hand behind and under ball, ball should be shoulder height and elbow should be bent between 90° and 135°
• Step forward with ball-side leg to twist hips and torso
• Use twisting motion to swing ball laterally 
• Flick wrist and release ball, first finger should point along ball trajectory after release

Push Throw

The push throw is an more compact throwing motion than sidearm that can release faster with less velocity.  Push throws are common in basketball.  The push throw generates power with arm strength.  

Currently, push throws are used mainly by quaffle players who drive.  When driving the quaffle is commonly tucked into the armpit, to avoid stripping, which can transition to a push throw quicker than to an overhand throw.  

Beaters could greatly benefit from learning push throws.  Push throws release the ball with backspin.  After a ball with backspin bounces off a vertical surface, it moves downward.  A beater knocks out an opponent with a push throw, the beater will recover their bludger more quickly because the bludger will bounce towards the ground, instead of ricocheting.   

To push throw:

• Hold the ball at shoulder height in front of armpit, elbow should be fully bent, hand should be between ball and chest
• Extend elbow and push ball forward in a straight-line, keeping hand behind ball
• As elbow fully extends, release ball and flick wrist down, first finger should point along ball trajectory after release

Conclusion

Sidearm throws and push throws are useful for throwing quaffles and bludgers.  Every player can benefit from practicing ball-handling skills and learning these two techniques are only part of becoming a better ball-handler.