Quidditch 101 with Greg Lestrade!!

[di_intraining]

WHO: Greg Lestrade, Arthur and Victoria Kirkland on Saturday, and Hufflepuffs interested in trying out for the team and who might want some tips for it before the real tryouts. Saturday is locked to Arthur and Victoria, while Sunday is open to Hufflepuffs and other people who might be at the field on that day.
TONE: PG-13
RATING: PG-13
WHEN: 9/8/2012 (Saturday) and 9/9/2012 (Sunday)
WHERE: Quidditch field
WHAT: Saturday: Greg promised to help out Arthur and Victoria on their Quidditch skills. Sunday: Greg offers to take a look at what the skills of interested Hufflepuff Quidditch players and provide suggestions to improve their game before tryouts.
STATUS: Ongoing.

[Thankfully, the good weather from Friday has stretched over the weekend. If your name is Arthur or Victoria Kirkland, than Greg will be waiting for you on Saturday for your respective slots. Hufflepuff team prospects, come by on Sunday instead. Whatever it is, Greg's here to give pointers on improving your game. Gatecrashers are welcome on Sunday, but the whole field was booked for the private lessons on Saturday.]

Comments

[nobodyscrumpet]

[She harassed Arthur out of them, so none of her things would get dirty.]

I know your name. I just said it after all.

[She gives a slight cheeky grin at him. As the quaffle flies at her, on reaction she drops her broom and catches the ball with both hands, looking more like she's attempting to hug it than catch it.]

You nearly knocked my glasses off!

[Sounding more surprised than annoyed.]

[di_intraining]

[Good idea. Still, he's impressed she caught it.]

You don't want to hug the Quaffle, it's probably covered in sweat. It can also throw your balance off, so try to get a good grip on it before it's too close to your body.

[nobodyscrumpet]

[Looking down at the ball with a very unimpressed look, pulling it away from her body once Greg mentions the ball could be sweat covered.]

Please tell me they wash this after each match, then...

[None the less she gets a grip of it with one hand, letting the other hand drop her her side.]

Like this?

[di_intraining]

[He's going to walk over to her to better supervise.]

They're supposed to.

Hold it with both hands, but don't catch it like you want to hug it. Here, throw it at me and I'll show you.

[nobodyscrumpet]

I'll be on my broom. I couldn't possibly catch it with two hands then... Could I?

[She looks down at the quaffle, then throws it firmly at him. It flies straight towards him]

[di_intraining]

It's possible.

[He catches it neatly and firmly with both hands.]

You catch it like this. That way you prevent it from smashing your face and knocking you off your broom.

[nobodyscrumpet]

Well, that makes sense. Especially as a Keeper.

[She nods at the advice.]

[di_intraining]

Let's practise a little of this. I think you've got the reflexes for catching the Quaffle, so if we get this right then we can move to practising on brooms.

[He'll spend a few minutes with Victoria going through this with her, until she's comfortable enough with catching the ball.]

[nobodyscrumpet]

Well at least we're moving in logical directions.

[She gives him a teasing smile, before earnestly going through his drills. Paying attention to everything he says. Taking him as seriously as any professor about now.]

[di_intraining]

[He's pretty satisfied with how well she can catch the ball on the ground. She's definitely got a quick eye and the reflexes to go with it, so basic catches can be done.

When she passes the ball back to him after awhile, he nods at her.]

Good job Victoria. Let's try on the brooms now. We'll hover above the ground, just enough so that your toes are barely off it, and then we'll continue practising catching. It'll be a little different when you'e flying, but I think you can do it.

[nobodyscrumpet]

[She nods and mounts her broom, hovering slightly. She hooks her ankles, a habit she seems to have gotten into. Then gets comfortable one the broom and then gives him a prepared look.]

Am I sitting okay?

[di_intraining]

[He takes a look, checking her posture.]

You need to sit back a little more; you're a little too in front. Also, try not to hook your ankle, because your legs actually help you to balance when you're on the broom.

[nobodyscrumpet]

[Unhooking her legs, Victoria straightens her posture.]

I hook them so I don't fidget when I ride.

[She pouts a little.]

[di_intraining]

Yeah well if you don't you might find yourself tipping over the side of your broom.

Right, that's better.

[He gets on his own broom and levitates so that he's at eye level with her.]

You ready? I'll throw the Quaffle to you.

[nobodyscrumpet]

Well that wouldn't be good.

[She watches him then nods.]

I'm ready.

[di_intraining]

[And Greg lobs the ball at her, hard and fast. It's a straight forward throw, so she should be able to catch it.]

[nobodyscrumpet]

[She catches it easily, and looks pleased with herself.]

[di_intraining]

[He'll build up the pace and the strength behind each successful catch, testing to see how far Victoria can go. In between he'll call out some encouragement to her for support.]

[nobodyscrumpet]

[She does pretty well only dropping the ball once or twice through the whole time, starting to look confident with what she's doing and looking very encouraged by his words.]

[di_intraining]

[Good, because he hopes she's ready for the last few throws. He's really putting her to the test, because he's lobbing it at her with just below what he puts into each swing of his Beater bat.]

[nobodyscrumpet]

[She grunts as she manages to catch, choosing to ignore that her glasses fall off somewhere in between the last few throws]

[di_intraining]

Well done Victoria!

[He grins at her before he notices her fallen glasses. Immediately he picks them up and hands them to her, taking note to brush off some of the dirt on them.]

[nobodyscrumpet]

[She smiles at him politely for returning her glasses.]

Oh, thank you, Gregory.

[di_intraining]

[He's so pleased that he doesn't even say anything about her calling him Gregory.]

I'd say you've got a really good grasp on being a Keeper. Pun not intended. But that's just a straight forward throw. We'll practise some proper goal keeping now, see how you'll react in a situation with someone trying to slip the Quaffle in.

[nobodyscrumpet]

[She looks amused at the un-intended pun, but manages to not actually giggle.]

I think I can manage that.