Private Message to Cedric
Dec. 30th, 2012 11:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_linusCedric,
I have been considering your suggestion that attempting to quantify what you referred to as the intangibles of quidditch team dynamics would be a worthy project, and I believe you are correct. At the very least, I shall get some practice in charms for displaying the analysis of various data, which may prove helpful in classes and other projects. To that end, I should like to ask you and other followers of the game some questions about noteworthy teams and their best (and worst) seasons. If you have recommendations as to useful informants on the topic, I would be most grateful -- and suggestions on highly-regarded reference works would be happily received as well.
What you said about Oliver Wood being a perfectly competent Keeper but making his whole team play better definitely caught my interest. I plan to see if I can use the performance measurements of teams that suddenly demonstrate an upturn in skills (both individual and teamwork) to spot the hitherto unnoted effects of such unseen catalysts (or anti-catalysts). It's a bit like what Professor Siz described to us when she was teaching us to "see" stars that we couldn't see by noticing what they did to the ones that we could see.
Oh. Thank you again for your encouraging words on the duties and comportment of a prefect, by the way. I took them to heart, along with Padma's exhortations, and things did seem to be improving by the time we left for hols.
I have been considering your suggestion that attempting to quantify what you referred to as the intangibles of quidditch team dynamics would be a worthy project, and I believe you are correct. At the very least, I shall get some practice in charms for displaying the analysis of various data, which may prove helpful in classes and other projects. To that end, I should like to ask you and other followers of the game some questions about noteworthy teams and their best (and worst) seasons. If you have recommendations as to useful informants on the topic, I would be most grateful -- and suggestions on highly-regarded reference works would be happily received as well.
What you said about Oliver Wood being a perfectly competent Keeper but making his whole team play better definitely caught my interest. I plan to see if I can use the performance measurements of teams that suddenly demonstrate an upturn in skills (both individual and teamwork) to spot the hitherto unnoted effects of such unseen catalysts (or anti-catalysts). It's a bit like what Professor Siz described to us when she was teaching us to "see" stars that we couldn't see by noticing what they did to the ones that we could see.
Oh. Thank you again for your encouraging words on the duties and comportment of a prefect, by the way. I took them to heart, along with Padma's exhortations, and things did seem to be improving by the time we left for hols.
no subject
on 2013-01-01 03:30 am (UTC)The first person you should talk to once we are back at school is Professor Raz. He still has enough connections to the professional scene he may be able to put you in touch with people who work for the teams who might allow you access to some of their data. Any of the captains can point you at their heros and favorite players. Any of the Weasleys will talk about “great” Cannons players all day. I haven’t talked to Wood since he left, but someone in Gryffindor might be able to put you in touch with him. I’m partial to Wendi Watsen and her effect on the Harpies during her tenure.
In terms of books, the most recent edition of Quidditch Through the Ages has discussions of important rule changes. Obviously anything after the codification of the current rules in 1750 could be your starting point. However, the Snitch construction changes in the early 1800s and the Quaffle/Chaser rule changes of 1884 make anything before then for seekers and chasers/keepers difficult to compare to modern numbers. There have been some other more recent changes but nothing as radical. Règlement officiel pour le quidditch internationale du sport des sorciers is obviously the place to start for making sure your terms all all properly defined. The Encyclopedia of Modern Quidditch (1977) will talk about all the greats up until a generation ago and has mostly complete rosters for the twentieth century. It’s also a good resource for matching coaches up with players as well. It’s bibliography is also massive. Protectorate Quidditch Watchers Monthly and Fantasy Quidditch Enthusiast are both excellent for current stats. The Diviner’s Guide to Fantasy Quidditch is highly suspect and only comes out once a year, just before the season starts. I would avoid it.