Sports provide a unique outlet for athletes to express their creativity and physical capabilities, and the reasons for which they are special are because they all are different and require certain skills to succeed. Mainstream sports are forgiving to the common man because they are able to appeal to all audiences, but higher class sports have not received as much success because of the limitations they place on themselves.
There is a common belief regarding those who play the “upper class” sports that they are stuck-up, snobby individuals who are oblivious to those around them because they hold themselves to higher standards. This is part of the problem with sports like tennis, golf, and crew; people are inclined to think that just because a portion of those who partake in those sports are affluent and conceited that most of them are the same. In fact, they are correct to a certain extent; sports like tennis and golf are considered country club sports and are played by your old and rich neighbor that lives next door, but this stereotype should not ward off people from attempting to play.
Another one of the limitations that holds upper class sports back is that the conditions required to play them must be ideal. Golf and tennis become extremely difficult to play in gusting winds, and both must endure new hazards such as slippery courts or water-logged grass. Football, soccer, lacrosse all can handle playing under extreme conditions, but in terms of tennis and golf, play is hindered by weather immensely and becomes a situation where playing on would only create more problems and dangerous outcomes for players.
Athletes of mainstream sports cannot fathom not being able to play because of a little inclement weather, but if they ever find themselves playing an upper class sport in rough weather they will develop empathy.
The one thing that outsiders and players of high society sports can agree on is that they are scared of contact. Affluent individuals avoid playing sports that involve contact because they would much rather hit a ball than be hit instead. The thought of a 240 pound lineman running at full speed for a tackle is not necessarily appealing to everyone, especially for fragile-bodied teenagers or brittle-boned seniors, which are typically the audiences that upper class sports attract.
In the case of high society sports, hate the player, don’t hate the game.
Be conscientious that not all players are spoiled kids or rude old people and that there is a lot of potential to have fun if they put aside their preconceived ideas that they have of the sports. These are sports that are essential to learn because they can be played at any stage in life and deserve to at least be acknowledged before common sports fans dismiss them to the abyss as they typically do. If the cost prevents people from playing, know that equipment can be rented or bought at a low price and that there are always public facilities that can be utilized. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on these sports, put aside the bias and go play.