I have to write a paper and give a power point presentation on sports played in England in the 1600’s as part of a section on Shakespeare. Does anyone know of good web sites (or even books) that might shed some insight into this. So far I have found the Croquet was started around then, but it was mainly for the rich. What did the average person do for fun?
Football was played then - but it bore little resemblance to the modern game. Huge mobs would compete to move a ball from one end of town to another.
Also, real tennis (an indoor sport resembling a hybird of tennis and squash) was played by the aristocrats, but if you’re specifically excluding sports only for the rich then this won’t help.
The article I linked mentions handball and hockey as well.
For those who could afford it, hunting and riding were popular leisure activities.
Shakespeare also mentions tennis (Henry V) and wrestling (As You Like It).
Who could forget Archery? (Robin Hood, Agincourt)
This site may be useful (but has no paragraphs :rolleyes: ):
‘The modern sport of target archery originated in England during the 14th century, when the longbow became the English army’s most important weapon, first at the Battle of Crecy (1346) and later at Poitiers and Agincourt. From 1330 to 1414, English kings banned all other sports because they diverted time from archery and a royal decree of 1363 required all Englishmen to practice archery on Sundays and holidays.’
No, I am not specifically excluding sports only for the rich. Also, sports actually mentioned in Shakespeares plays is great. We are only reading two of them, but any references anyone knows would be fantastic.
Here’s a cite for sports in the 1500’s 
