The game started with the referee releasing all four balls from the central circle. The Bludgers and Snitch were bewitched to fly off of their own accord, but the Quaffle was thrown into the air by the referee to signal the start of play (This is similar to how the games of basketball and Gaelic football, popular Muggle sports, begin by the referee throwing the ball in the air).
Since the lengths of Quidditch games were variable (some games could go on for days if the Golden Snitch was not caught) the game was not played in periods, although captains could call for a time out. Teams continued using the same goal posts to score throughout the game.

Chasers scored by sending the Quaffle through any of the three goal hoops. Each goal scored was worth ten points. After a goal was scored, the opposing team's Keeper would throw the Quaffle back into play.
The game only ended when the Golden Snitch was caught, or at the agreement of both team Captains. Catching the Golden Snitch was worth 150 points to the team whose Seeker made the catch. The Snitch was bewitched to respond to the first witch or wizard to make contact with it, in case there was any dispute regarding which Seeker touched it first. Despite this, there have been several instances in which the Snitch had been fumbled. The winner of the game was the team with the most points, regardless of who caught the Golden Snitch. As a result, it was possible, although difficult, to win the game even though the opposing team caught the Snitch, if your team was one hundred and sixty or more points ahead, as was the case of the final match between Ireland and Bulgaria of the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. It was never explained what happened in the event of a tie.