What does a Beater do on the Quidditch team?

Beaters are responsible for protecting their teammates from Bludgers, large black balls that fly around and attempt to knock players off of their broomsticks. Beaters carry bats to deflect the Bludgers away from their teammates and towards the opposing team. They also work together to direct the Bludgers towards specific players, disrupting the other team's plays and creating openings for their own teammates to score.