For a tennis match there should be an official referee, who determines questions concerning the rules; an umpire, who judges all balls except those on the lines, which are judged by the linesmen; a linesman for each of the seven lines, whose duty it is to judge the ball near her line. There may be a scorer, but this duty is generally assumed by the umpire, who announces each point, the score of each game, and how the sets stand.
Each player should enter her name in advance; then each draws for opponent, the winner of one match meeting the winner of another, etc., until the final match is played. This is an elimination tournament. In doubles, the pair may be entered or the partner may be drawn for.
A favorite form of tournament where the number of entrants is small is the round robin tournament, where each contestant meets every other, irrespective of victories. The championship with its trophy is given to the girl winning the greatest number of matches.
Tournament play is greatly to be recommended, especially for schools or clubs. Match play adds considerably to the pleasure of the sport and usually has beneficial results, both physical and physiological. I have seen diffident girls taught to gain self control and composure at all times by competitive athletics. A tennis tournament can be made a gala social event as well as one of keen and interesting sport.
Cricket
Cricket is not widely played by girls, but there is no game which might be adopted to better advantage. It may be played without any danger of over-exertion. A cricket crease may be placed on any level grassy field, usually a ground 100 yards square, although a smaller field may be utilized. The equipment required includes two sets of wickets, a cricket ball, at least two bats, the wicket-keeper gloves and leg guards, and a leg guard for each of two batsmen who are in. There are eleven players on each team and the game is divided into innings; that is, a side has its inning when it is at the bat. Two batsmen are “in” at a time.
The wickets are set in the middle of the field, opposite, parallel and 22 yards apart. On a line with the wicket is the bowling crease, 8 feet 8 inches in length. Four feet in front and parallel to it is the popping crease, of unlimited length.
The batsman who is first striker takes her position with bat on the popping crease, the bowler at the opposite wicket, well behind bowling crease; also the second batsman, bat in hand, ready to run when hit is made. The bowler delivers the ball. It must be bowled, not thrown, tossed, or jerked. The bowler is allowed a run in her delivery, but she must keep one foot on the ground behind the bowling crease and within the return crease, otherwise it is no ball.
The bowler must deliver the ball so that it shall come to the batsman on the ground. If it is delivered high or wide, the umpire shall call “wide ball.” Six good balls make an “over;” the bowler shall be allowed to change ends when she pleases, provided she has not bowled two “overs” consecutively in one inning. The captain of the outs places the field as she deems wise, depending upon the skill of the batsman.
