TENNIS AS POPULAR RECREATION SOMETIMES KNOWN AS REAL TENNIS OR ROYAL TENNIS

 WHAT IS REAL TENNIS?  MAKE A DIRECT COMPARISON WITH MOB FOOTBALL

 WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMPARE REAL TENNIS WITH MOB FOOTBALL. Think about who played it, where it was played, rule structure, numbers involved, dress, levels of skill or force, regularity of play and so on. Specific reference to who, when, where why and how.

 Became popular in the 14th century.  Exclusive game for kings, nobles and merchants, who played in purpose-built highly sophisticated courts.  The sophisticated exclusivity of real tennis was the exact opposite to the rustic simplicity of folk games.  Developed as a reflection of high culture in Tudor England.  The game had become the exclusive property of the nobility, supported by a servant class of professionals in the cricket mould.

 The game had complex rules and required high levels of skill.  The early tennis courts were often constructed in existing courtyards or quadrangles, leading to a great variety in court dimensions and rules. Some were enclosed yards with various hazards. Some courts were more elaborate with a spectators gallery.  With the rise in popularity of rackets and lawn tennis, an exclusive clientele continued to regard tennis as the ultimate game. The Lord’s, queen’s Club, Hampton Court and Royal Leamington Spa served simply to reflect its Royal status.  There are a number of features which reflect the exclusive group who played it.  Special facilities and equipment, complex rules of play and etiquette, and laws limiting play to the nobility.

 Most universities had a court.  OTHER VERSIONS  Variety of bat and ball games were called tennis.  Those not eligible to play, played their own versions against church or pub walls.  Games were sometimes called tennis, fives or rackets.

FIVES

HOW DOES IT CONTRAST?  TO WHAT EXTENT DID REAL TENNIS FIT THE NORMALLY ACCEPTED MODEL OF POPULAR RECREATION? WAS IT?  LOCAL  UNCODED  COURTLY ( DIGNIFIED AND POLITE)/POPULAR  IRREGULAR/OCCASIONAL  CRUEL/VIOLENT  RURAL  OCCUPATIONAL  WAGERING.

OTHER PRE-INDUSTRIAL VERSIONS OF TENNIS  RACQUETS- DEVELOPED BY GENTLEMAN OF HIGH SOCIAL STANDING IN PRISON  FIVES- DEVELOPED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AGAINST NATURAL WALLS  RECREATIONAL AND DIFFERENT VERSIONS, ETON FIVES AND WINCHESTER FIVES.  LITTLE SCOPE FOR DEVELOPING CHARACTER

SQUASH…  THE GAME OF RACQUETS LED TO STANDARDISED COURTS BEING BUILT  FOUR WALLS INSTEAD OF ONE, WITH A ROOF LED TO THE GAME OF SQUASH BEING DEVELOPED  LAWN TENNIS, INVENTED FOR AND BY THE MIDDLE-CLASSES  EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN

PROBLEM…..  NOT WELCOMED BY THE BOYS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT A TIME WHEN MANLINESS AND COURAGE WERE ALL IMPORTANT  ORGANISATION AND STATUS WAS MUCH LESS THAN TEAM GAMES  WHY?

 NON-SERIOUS  COURTS TOOK COMPARATIVELY LARGE SPACE  DID NOT REQUIRE COURAGE OR PHYSICALITY  COULD NOT COMPETE AGAINST THE STATUS OF MAJOR GAMES  DID NOT REQUIRE TEAMWORK OR CO- OPERATION OF MAJOR GAMES  REPUTATION OF PAT BALL AND SUITABLE ONLY FOR GIRLS  NEW INVENTION, THEREFORE TREATED WITH SUSPICION

HOMEWORK  FIND OUT HOW TO PLAY FIVES AND RACKETS