As a tomboy I was forever trying to find sports in which I could excel.
I was good enough at baseball that if there had been a little league for girls I would have had it made.
Ice skating was a lot of fun, but I was tall for my age, accident prone and just clumsy enough to decide to forgo figure skating.
Besides my 59 year old grandmother went skating with me, an event that I was sure would humiliate me and scar me for life, but in the end she kept lapping me and even taught me how to skate backwards.
If there had been a figure skater in my family it would have been Grandma Do Do hands down. She was 5'4" and 110# of pure determination and athleticism. What I wouldn't have given to be my grandmother.
The availability of sports for women was not as great from 1958 and into the 60's as it is today. I was also limited by what happened to be offered by the local park district.
From the ages of 12 to 15, since tennis lessons were offered at the park, I bought a racket, a can of balls and registered. Of all things, I learned that my paperboy was the "tennis instructor."
Today's Must Reads
This was good news and bad news. I had a crush on him, but there would be several older girls closer to his age in the class, some who already knew how to play tennis. Curses!
Tom turned out to be a completely unreasonable instructor. To actually be able to get on the court for a real lesson he insisted that each student be able to hit the ball on top of the racket 100 times without losing control of the ball or letting it hit the ground. The first year I never progressed past this point.
At home I spent hours hitting a ball into the garage door. After awhile I was actually pretty good at returning the ball this way, as long as I didn't hit any of the depressions around the square panels, I was in business and could occupy myself for long periods of time.
Eventually I played tennis without the net with an older girl who lived up the street. We played in the street and thank heavens there was little traffic to contend with so we could volley for quite a while before being interrupted.
My third year of tennis I got to play in a tournament. Tom must have had some other summer job that year because I didn't have to do the dreaded 100 hits on the top of my racket to qualify to play.
The girl I played was older and a lot more advanced in her game than I was, and she was very gracious in victory, so it wasn't so bad losing to her.
I didn't go farther in tennis because once I turned 16 I was able to drive myself out to the barn and ride my horse all day every day in the summer and did not need any other diversions.
Now days seeing Serena and Venus Williams as they play at Wimbledon I reminisce about "the old days" and wonder if it weren't for Tom and the 100 rule if I could have ever become a successful tennis player.
At any rate, I am glad the Williams girls had tennis lessons and persevered in becoming two of the best women tennis players in the world.
Whether Tom and the 100 hits rule would have discouraged them, like it did me, I'll probably never know.
comments (7) write a comment »
write a new comment
2 months ago
I second that opinion on the Williams sisters, they are brash but have a big heart! Wonderful take Dorothy!
2 months ago
Why isn't there / wasn't there a baseball league for girls? That doesn't seem fair at all.
from 2 months ago
It didn't to me either.
2 months ago
Wow! I couldn't agree more. I'm 51 and as a kid there just weren't sports oportunities for girls except dance, and baton twirling. In fact I have been taking tennis for almost a year. One of the phrases I hear over and over is release like you do when you throw a ball. At first my instructors didn't believe me when I said I really didn't know how to throw a ball. They also take it for granted that I know all sorts of physics that apply to the motion of a ball.
again, they were astounded at my lack of just practical sports knowledge. But on an up note, I think I am finally making some progress. I take lesson 2 times a week and drill classes too. I don't expect to be great but it is sure more fun than running. I also enjoy the friends I have make who are also midlife novices. Let me encourage you. It isn't too late.
from 2 months ago
Thanks Nancy. You will have to be my proxy as I have Multiple Sclerosis a disease that has sidelined me from all my favorite sports and pastimes. Watching others chase their dreams is great too, and it keeps me pretty busy cheering my grand kids on to their goals; I do love that.
23 days ago
I think Toms 100 hit rule was a good rule because it was a challenge. If he was my tennis coach I would love his 100 hit rule. I would challenge my self everday to see if I could beat it. I am only 14 so maybe I am looking at it at a different perspective. So please respect my perspective bcause I will respect yours.
I love tennis and which to play it. I love basketball and i played it for 2 months. my coach name was Mr. Crump and he was mean and hard on us but we came out on top and we were tough. So don't let a 100 rule stand in your way. Even if you couldnt make it try your best at everything. Like my teachers say shoot for the moon if you dont make it you may touch the stars.
23 days ago
What a beautiful saying. Writing my articles here is how I am shooting for the stars now at the age of 62. Tom was vwry tall and a hunk, so I was vey nervous being his student and jealous of the attention he paid to the girls more his age. As we grew older we dated and he was indeed the most gentlemanly guy I ever dated and just the nicest guy I knew before I met my husband. His parents insisted he must marry a Catholic, and unfortunately, I am a Protestant. I will always have a very special place in my heart for Tom as being a great (if demanding) tennis instuctor and an all around good guy!
Thank you for reading my article and taking the time to comment. I hope you will realize yur dream, I had things which got in the way of mine, as far as tennis goes.
write a new comment