RACQUETBALL History
The game of racquetball originated in the United States. It developed out of the game of paddleball in the late 1940s. Earl Riskcy of the University of Michigan is credited with being the individual who came up with the original concepts of the game. While watching tennis players practice their shots in a handball court, he decided that one could play a game that was similar to handball, but would also include the skills of tennis. It was necessary to first use improvised equipment, such as tennis balls and paddle tennis racqucts. The first rules of the game were adopted from handball and as the game spread, many local adaptations were added, especially in regard to the type of paddle racquet and ball utilized.
In 1949 Joe Sobek of Bridgeport, Connecticut, observed members of the Greenwich YMCA play a paddleball game in which a wooden paddle was used.
He felt that the game could be improved by using a string racquet rather than a solid-faced wooden type, as the string rac- quct would afford better control and could impart better speed to the ball. The first ball was a pink rubber ball, similar to the inside of a tennis ball. In addition to this ball, Sobek developed a softer blue ball that was used by many players.
As players from the Greenwich YMCA moved to other parts of the country, they introduced the new game and the sport increased in popularity. Sobek was instrumental in the spread of the game, as he contributed equipment to various YMCAs so they could experiment with the new activity. As a result of these activities the sport spread rapidly during the years between 1949 and 1959.
In time the game was adopted by many YMCAs and recreation departments. Because of the inexpensive equipment and fast pace of the game many people become interested in playing racquetball. Since one can get an excellent workout in approximately thirty minutes, many businessmen were attracted to the game. They found that much of their daily tension and frustration could be expended and released on the racquetball court. Also all ages and both sexes find the game easy to learn. During this time, and into the 1960s, the game spread and was played under many different names, such as “paddle-rackets,” “paddleball,” and “paddle tennis.” On April 26, 1969, players and officials attended an organizational meeting in St. Louis and selected a name that was felt to describe the game well. It was decided to officially adopt the name “racquetball” and the International Racquetball Association was formed. During this time the first International Racquetball Association Championships were held. Today local, regional, and national championships are held for both men and women. The official organization for racquetball in this country is the American Amateur Racquetball Association (AARA), which has its headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Since that time the popularity of the game has spread, and one now finds players of all ages and both sexes playing racquetball. In order to become skilled in many activities, many hours of individual instruction and a great amount of practice time are required. The basic skills of racquetball, however, can be taught and learned in a relatively short period of time. The increase in interest, the development of facilities, and the addition of racquetball into physical education curricula have done much to promote the sport.
Racquetball is a fast game requiring endurance, skill, and body control. It requires the utilization of nearly all parts of the body. Because of its demands on the cardiorespiratory system, it ranks as an excellent conditioning activity. Research indicates that racquetball is an excellent means of providing the stimulus to bring about gains in endurance. Racquetball can help in the control of body weight because of the high caloric expenditure required in playing the game. In our sedentary society there is a need for physical activity to relieve the stress and tension of modern life. The fact that racquetball provides a means of relieving this tension makes it worthwhile in the development of good mental health. Racquetball, however, needs no outside justification, for it is a wonderful game to be enjoyed by itself.
Racquetball is an excellent activity because it doesn’t require a great amount of time to get a vigorous workout. In just thirty minutes one can receive enough activity to gain many healthful benefits. In many areas it is played as an enjoyable corecreation- al activity, and the pace of the game is adjusted to meet the skill level and ages of the competitors. Racquetball is one of those rare sports where you can obtain a tremendous conditioning stimulus, but also have fun and totall enjoyment at the same time.
Racquetball may be played by two (singles), three (cutthroat), or four (doubles) players. It may be played on a one-, three-, or four-walled court. Most of the information contained in this book applies to four-walled courts, but the basic strokes and shots also apply to one- and three-walled courts. The game of racquetball does not require a lot of expensive equipment and can be played anywhere a court is available. The rules of the game are simple and easy to learn and one can become quite proficient in the basic skills in a short time. Many people continue to play racquetball until they are quite old, utilizing strategy and experience to offset their lack of speed and endurance.
What does sports mean to modern people? An escape from a tiring daily life, a catalyst for a smooth social life, a way to maintain a healthy life, sports-related activities have become a part of modern people’s lives in some form. They can relieve daily fatigue and stress by watching their favorite sports games, and they can confirm their national identity through national competitions such as the World Cup. The advancement of modern technology has made it possible to watch broadcasts at home or at work through mobile devices as if they were watching live at the stadium without having to go to the stadium. There are many companies that specialize in streaming sports broadcasts, and sports consumers only need to choose a service provider that suits their tastes. Recently, among streaming companies, Sonokong TV has been receiving great reviews from consumers for its top broadcast quality and real-time broadcasting by continuously improving customer complaints. 손오공 티비
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