Tennis Flashcards
Who played real tennis (pop rec)
It was an exclusive game for kings, nobles and merchants who played on purpose-built, highly sophisticated courts which varied in shape and size
Was real tennis difficult (pop rec)
It had complex rules and required high levels of skill
Most what had real tennis courts (pop rec)
University colleges
Why were there other forms of tennis to real tennis in pop rec and where were they played
Those not eligibility to play real tennis would copy their social superiors and play their own versions against church or pub walls
What were other pre-industrial versions of tennis (pop rec)
Racquets
Fives
Squash
Who was lawn tennis creased for (pop rec) and why
What did it lead to
Middles classes as social experience
It also became a vehicle for the emancipation of women
Who invented, patented and popularised lawn tennis and when (rat rec)
Walter Clompton Wingfield in 1874
What was lawn tennis originally played on (rat rec)
An hourglass shaped court
What was lawn tennis originally called and what shape did the court change to (rat rec)
Sphairistike but later changed to lawn tennis and the court was changed to rectangular
Who was lawn tennis brought by (rat rec)
The most fashionable upper-middle class families
What happened in 1877 (rat rec)
All England Croquet Club intruded lawn tennis at Wimbledon
22 competitors took part and the finals attracted 200 spectators
By 1885, 3500 spectators watched the men’s final
Why did public school boys reject lawn tennis
Took up a lot of space
Didn’t required the courage or physicality of football and cricket
Was not able to rival contemporary status of football or cricket
What did Eton and Winchester have different versions of (public schools)
Fives
Tennis is stage one of public schools
Informal hand and ball games against suitable available walls and buildings, referred to as fives or tennis (real tennis)
Tennis in stage two of public schools
Some fives courts built though gives still an informal activity
Game of racquets developing as more formal alternative
Also squash racquets
Tennis in stage three of public schools
Fives continued as a recreational game, racquets was a more formal game of higher status
Lawn tennis compatibly low status in boys’ public schools thought was very popular in summer I’m girls’ public schools
What is tennis today focuses on
Clubs with school links important
What class could be argued is still the main class for tennis (today)
Still predominantly a middle class sport
What technology exists today
AstroTurf Titanium rackets Low compression balls Ball machines Other coaching aids
What schemes are there to increase participation (today)
LTA
What is there an increasing number of and what does it mean (today)
Increasing number of indoor courts
Eg David Lloyd
Means more are able to play throughout the year
Other than indoor courts, where else are courts that increase provision (today)
Public parks
What creates role models (today)
Media coverage
Wimbledon - available to everyone, BBC?
Barriers to participation (today)
Public perception is that tennis is a game for wealthy people
Many community parks are neglected and in disrepair
Summer game - schools off in the summer, unpredictable weather
What happened during the 14th century (pop rec)
Real tennis organised in France and became popular in Britain
