Figure 1.--.
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Figure 1.--. |
Many of our great team sports can trace their origins to England. Basketball is one of the few exceptions. Modern cricket dates from the 1780s, when the Laws of Cricket which still rule the sport today were first formalized in England. Unlike rugby, the sport did not develop at the public schools, but it is strongly associated with the public schools. Many schools devote the afternoons or many afternoons to sports. This varies greatly by season. Cricket is the main summer sport and many afternoons during the summer are devoted to cricket. This includes drills as well as games. Often the players are separated ny both skill and age level for these sessions. There is normally some sports teachers, but masny of the academic staff also participate in afternoon games. Of special interst to prep schools are matches with other schools. School teams are formed for these matches at different age levels. The senior team is called the "1st 11". The junior team is called the "colts". Some schools even arrange matches for younger boys, such a "Under-Nine" teams. School magazines include detailed accounts of these inter-school matches. The various schools are very interested in showing parents successful sports teams, but there are variatins on the emohasis here. Players who do well earn their colors. Some of the minor sports like golf and squash are done as clubs rather than major school sports. In the case of cricket this is a major sporing activity, but some schools include a cricket club in the activities programas well. This is for students who want a little extra coaching and practice period. It is generally chosen by children already very good at cricket.
Many of our great team sports can trace their origins to England. Basketball is one of the few exceptions. Modern cricket dates from the 1780s, when the Laws of Cricket which still rule the sport today were first formalized in England. Unlike rugby, the sport did not develop at the public schools, but it is strongly associated with the public schools.
Sport in America has always been seen has a leveler. Sport could be enjoyed and played by anyone despote their social back ground. There were some exceptions like golf and tennis, but most sports have been played by individuals of diverse backgrounds. What was important was the persons. The sports that developed in Britain was quite different. Sport was initially an upper class diversions as they could afford the spare time to persue the sport. The upper classes, however, had no desire to mingle with the great unwashed masses. Thus skills were developed at the country's public (exclusive private) schools were lower class boys had no realistic opportunity to attend. In addition, rules restricting the sport to amateurs were developed which created barriers for people without means to play the sport. These rules have become increasingly difficult to maintain in the modern world, but were used against atheletes from modest back grounds, like the great olympic athelete Jim Thorpe.
Cricket developed in England. British colonial rule brought cricket to countries around the world. No sport is more associated with England than cricket. During the 19th century the British carried soccer to the far reaches of their empire. Thus cricket today is a popular sport not only in England, but colonies including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, the West Indies and other countries.
Many schools devote the afternoons or many afternoons to sports. This varies greatly by season. Cricket is the main summer sport and many afternoons during the summer are devoted to cricket. This includes drills as well as games. Often the players are separated ny both skill and age level for these sessions. There is normally some sports teachers, but masny of the academic staff also participate in afternoon games.
Of special interst to prep schools are matches with other schools. School teams are formed for these matches at different age levels. The senior team is called the "1st 11". The junior team is called the "colts". Some schools even arrange matches for younger boys, such a "Under-Nine" teams. School magazines include detailed accounts of these inter-school matches. The various schools are very interested in showing parents successful sports teams, but there are variatins on the emohasis here. Players who do well earn their colors. While school caps were no longer widely worn, boys playing cricket in school matches, often do wear caps.
Some of the minor sports like golf and squash are done as clubs rather than major school sports. In the case of cricket this is a major sporing activity, but some schools include a cricket club in the activities programas well. This is for students who want a little extra coaching and practice period. It is generally chosen by children already very good at cricket. Given the substantial time devoted to cricket in the Summer Term sports program, it seems a little strange that boys would want even more cricket, but quite a number of boys take sports very seriously and choose the Cricket Club for extra time with the sport.
