The Spirit of Fives
An essay by John Reynolds (2015) on why a game with no referee, even at the highest level, teaches honesty, generosity and character.
Fives is a game like no other in the world.
The hazards and proportions of the court create an environment of unpredictability which can be by turns fascinating, infuriating and hilarious. But what really sets Fives apart is the absence of a referee, even at the highest level. The reason for this is that it would be an impossible game to officiate. There are frequently events when only the players can tell if, say, they have hit it cleanly or if they were impeded by their opponents.
Fives players develop a sense of truth and justice. Indeed, Fives teaches honesty. On the court, because players need to make judgements so frequently — every time they hit the ball, are asked if they’d like a let and when there is doubt about whether the ball is in or out — they learn to be honest to themselves and to others. The alternative is to be dishonest, expose themselves to the contempt of other players, corrupt the game and make it unplayable.
The only penalty for obstructing opponents or getting in the way of the ball is a let. In other sports such as squash players would lose the point. Every time Fives players obstruct their opponents they are taking advantage of the laws and so fair-minded and self-aware players do their utmost to avoid this. The extent to which they do so, of course, is an accurate measure of character.
Players learn to vote against themselves and their self-interest, to declare carries and to refuse lets. They learn to disagree with their partners when they have a different view of the ball or let in question. Players learn to discuss among themselves any points of doubt (because there is nobody else to turn to for a ruling) and even learn to argue in the interests of their opponents. This might sound unlikely, but it is a common occurrence on a Fives court to hear players trying to persuade their opposition to accept a let.
If in doubt, players tend to follow the spirit of the game, rather than any law. They have this ability because they — and not a referee — are the arbiters of their game. So, even if the laws do not suggest a let should be given (when, say, the ball has gone into play even though whoever played it was obstructed and has been disadvantaged as a result) and if a player feels that natural justice requires one then he or she is able to offer it and try to encourage their opponent to take it.
There are many more reasons to love Fives — for instance, the way your hands feel when they make contact with the ball; the fact that it’s still largely an amateur game; the ledges that make it seem like a kind of human pinball; the collaborative and social nature of the game (and the frequent calls of “good rally” after players have enjoyed an exchange of shots); the premium on skill and tactic rather than strength (which allows players to carry on into their sixties and seventies); the ambidexterity and athleticism it requires and develops.
But what makes Fives unique is its ability to give players opportunities to be generous. This is surely the most compelling reason to agree with Jock Burnett, the founder of the Jesters Club, when he said that Fives was the best game in the world.
A few questions you might ask yourself
- Do you ever disagree with and vote against your partner?
- Do you ever go through a set without declaring a carry?
- Are you always sure that what you think you’ve seen is what happened?
- Do you always take lets when they’re offered?
- Do you ever try to convince your opponent to take a let?
Reproduced with thanks. The words above are John Reynolds’; the rest of this site exists to help more people experience the game he describes. Learn the game or find a court near you.