Quidditch on the Quad from UA Creative Campus on Vimeo.

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- They can't fly on brooms. They're not even witches and warlocks. They are, in Harry Potter language, muggles.

But that won't stop the University of Alabama's Creative Campus from holding a World Cup Quidditch tournament from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, on the UA Quad. Based on the broomstick sport from J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" books, quidditch has been modified into "ground quidditch" or "muggle quidditch" to be played in the real world.

According to media reports, muggle quidditch has become somewhat of a phenomenon at college campuses across the country. And now it's coming to a campus a bit more celebrated for a different ground sport.

Creative Campus invited the student body to form teams representing different countries competing in the World Cup. The tournament will feature 47 registered teams from campus groups including the UA School of Law, chemical engineers, the Million Dollar Band, Capstone Men & Women and the Japan Club. More than 490 players are expected to participate.

During the tournament, the Alabama International Relations Club is coordinating the teams to create table displays from each of the 47 represented countries. Displays will include information about the country's culture and literature as well as information on UA's study-abroad programs.

In addition, Creative Campus and the Honors Assembly will offer a book drive to benefit the Alabama Literacy Initiative. Book drop-off sites will be around campus and at the event. Teams and spectators are challenged to participate in the book drive. The team that collects the most books will receive special benefits in the tournament schedule.

Tournament teams will be following the rules of the International Quidditch Association, which created the sport in 2005 at Middlebury College. The sport is a fast-paced combination of rugby, soccer and volleyball. Participants hold a broomstick between their legs at all times. Players shoot "quaffles" (semi-deflated volleyballs) through gold-painted hula-hoops on sticks and have to avoid getting hit by "bludgers" (dodge balls).

The snitch is a cross-country runner dressed from head to toe in gold and has free rein to run throughout the campus. Teams score points by shooting the quaffles and capturing the snitch. Teams are co-ed and are composed of seven to 12 players. Games last about 30 minutes, with 7 players from each team on the field at a time.

A preliminary round will be at 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, on the University Recreation fields. The event is free and open to the public.