Fives facts for kids

Fives is a cool British sport that's a bit like tennis, but you use your hands instead of a racket! In Fives, you hit a ball against the walls of a special court. You can use gloves or just your bare hands to propel the ball.

What is Fives?

Fives is a unique sport. It's thought to have started from the same ideas as many other racket sports. But instead of a racket, your hands do all the work!

Where Did the Name "Fives" Come From?

The name "Fives" might come from an old slang term. "A bunch of fives" used to mean a fist. Since you use your hands to hit the ball, the name makes a lot of sense! This game was also sometimes called hand-tennis a long time ago.

Fives' History and Related Games

Historically, Fives was often played in England. People would use the strong walls between church buildings as their courts.

Fives is connected to other similar games. These include Irish handball and North American handball. In recent years, Fives clubs in Britain have even started to connect with clubs in those countries.

It's important to know that Fives is not the same as Long Fives. Long Fives is a different game played on a real tennis court.

Types of Fives: Rugby and Eton

There are two main types of Fives:

• Rugby Fives
• Eton Fives

Eton Fives is usually played with two teams of two players (doubles). Rugby Fives can be played as a singles game (one player against another) or as a doubles game.

Images for kids

• 

  A public notice for a Fives competition in Brecon from 1786.

• 

  A Fives wall in South Petherton. Another one is still standing in the nearby village of Shepton Beauchamp.

• 

  A Fives court at Abingdon School in the 1930s.

• 

  This shows a knee-height step on the High Elms Country Park Eton Fives court. It copies a special part of the Eton College chapel.

• 

  A Rugby Fives court in Retford, Nottinghamshire. This court is a Grade II listed building, meaning it's historically important.