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Lawn Games for Spring and Summer
From croquet to badminton, bocce, and Frisbee, there's something for everyone.
By Christine Alhambra
It's springtime in Annapolis. The flowers are blooming, the boats are back in the water ready for sailing, and the tourists have returned. But Annapolis in springtime wouldn't be complete without the annual croquet match between St. John's College and the Naval Academy. The five-set afternoon match, occurring every April, has been a long-standing rivalry between the "Johnnies" and the "Mids."
This year the match takes place on April 23; every year this game turns into a giant lawn party, with elaborate fashions, swing music, and lavish picnics.
"It's fantastic to see the enthusiasm of the people that come out," St. John's Imperial Wicket Matthew Mangold says. "The historical rivalry consistently draws a large crowd."
For many spectators, the appeal of the event is seeing students from two starkly different institutions come together to compete for the Annapolis Cup. The Johnnies play in uniforms that are kept secret and change themes every year. Last year it was Napoleon Dynamite with players wearing "Vote for Pedro" T-shirts. In contrast, the clean-cut Mids adhere to the United States Croquet Association's code, wearing letterman whites along with white pants, sweaters, and shoes.
Midshipment dressed according to the U.S. Croquet Association Code
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Over the past 2 decades, the Johnnies have won 15 matches out of 20. Last year, however, it was the Midshipmen who were victorious.
"Midshipmen are competitive by nature and we got tired of just accepting an annual loss to St. John's," Naval Academy Croquet team member Midshipman First Class Dustin Woods, 28th Company, says. "We have now sought outside coaching and beefed up our practical skills. It's certainly a different perspective coming into this year's match as winners and having to defend the Annapolis Cup, but our strategy won't be much different. We have some strong players that will enter the match with every bit of confidence that we can repeat last year's victory."
This time around, the Johnnies are ready to reclaim their title. "A lot of people are watching, and it can make you nervous," says Mangold. "But I'm working on a strategy for the team on how to approach being in competition with another school."
Croquet is a challenging and intriguing sport that is more dependent on tactics and strategy than on pure physical skill. The ancestry of croquet can be traced to the 14th century. It is said to be an adaptation of pallemaille (ball mallet), played in France during the 14th century.
Croquet became popular in the 19th century because it was one of the few sports that gave young people a chance to be with members of the opposite sex. The game not only offered the ladies a chance to participate in the game but also gave them the opportunity to play against the men. Croquet was the game of polite society until lawn tennis became popular, leaving no lawn space for croquet.
America's love affair with lawn games began at a time in the nation's history when the dream of owning a plot of land-and having enough leisure time to enjoy it-was being realized by the middle class. The lawn was the place to entertain, socialize, and enjoy backyard games. Lush green lawns were seen as a luxury expense for only the wealthy, who could afford groundskeepers to maintain them. Croquet hoops set out on the lawn added to the aesthetic of the owner's estate.
Lawn games remain popular in America as the ideal complement to garden parties, family gatherings, and other social events. Sports like croquet and badminton allowed spectators to lounge comfortably along the sidelines without having to move around to avoid missing anything (or being hit).
A "Johnnie" lines up the ball at a croquet match between historic rivals St. John's College and the U.S. Naval Academy
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If you'd like a more physically challenging sport, badminton, another popular backyard game, is known as the fastest racket sport when played as serious sport. Badminton dates back at least 2000 years and made its debut in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Although croquet is not yet an Olympic sport, more serious croquet enthusiasts may be interested in playing for the United States in the competition for the MacRobertson Shield. The match, beginning in 1925, includes Australia, Great Britain, and New Zealand; in 1993, the United States joined the competition.
A lawn game that dates back to classical Rome, bocce has a different style from the aristocratic croquet. Bocce is also a game of skill and strategy. Two to eight players alternately roll two balls (the boccia) and take turns aiming for the smallest ball (the pallino ball), which has already been thrown onto the field. The players are given points for balls thrown closest to the pallino ball.
As with croquet and badminton, bocce is also a tournament sport. Matches are held weekly, some with large cash awards. Bocce is now a part of the World Corporate Games, is an event in the Special Olympics, and is even under consideration by the Olympic committee.
Attending this month's croquet match may well put you in the mood to set up your own backyard tournament. Perhaps a game of badminton or bocce can precede your Sunday brunch. What did you play in the backyard growing up? Maybe it was Frisbee, volleyball, or horseshoes. No matter which sport you prefer, these lawn games are great ways for family and friends to socialize, relax, and be outside.
Christine Alhambra is a senior journalism major at the University of Delaware.
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Lawn Party Recipes Cucumber Mint Tea Sandwiches
In a small bowl combine the mint, butter, and cream cheese and stir the mixture until it is combined well. Spread the bread slices with the butter mixture. Top 3 of them with the cucumber, distributing the cucumber evenly and seasoning it with salt, and top the cucumber with the remaining bread slices. Cut off and discard the crusts and cut each sandwich diagonally into quarters. Makes 12 tea sandwiches. www.epicurious.com |
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Peach or Raspberry Iced Tea
Pour boiling water over the tea bags in a heat-safe pitcher. Steep for 5 minutes and strain; discard bags. Add sugar, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Cover and let stand until cool. www.BellyBytes.com |
