Organizing Sport in Canada

Club sport in Montreal: MAAAChanging the guard – masculinity and social class – from the duel to the docks to the playing fields The public man – middle class Masculinity and Sport – Snow shoeingThe professionalThe nationThe hero

1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890

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50

100

150

200

250

Number of Clubs

Sporting Clubs in Montreal, 1840-1894

What happened?

The Elites

Likeminded, business, development of the colonies

Masculine honour through understood codes: family name, land/power, physical challenge

Retreat from the common tavern/the tavern brawl

Codes of Masculine Honour

Dangerous liaisons

Hard times

The new man: middle class

Brutality of the duel and the tavern fight Organizing, rationalizing, ordering –

economy/government Honour through civility, hard work,

Muscular Christianity, public reputation Public man/domestic woman The sporting club – enter the snowshoers

Song of the Montreal Snowshoe ClubSong of the Montreal Snowshoe ClubPass the bottle and fill your glasses,Pass the bottle and fill your glasses,Now that each has munched his grub,Now that each has munched his grub,We’ll drink success to the pretty lasses,We’ll drink success to the pretty lasses,Whose lovers belong to the Snow Shoe Club.Whose lovers belong to the Snow Shoe Club.

Yes tonight we’ll all unite Yes tonight we’ll all unite To success to the Snow Shoe Club To success to the Snow Shoe Club

At racing, we challenge all creation,At racing, we challenge all creation,Let them be prepared for a very hard rub,Let them be prepared for a very hard rub,If among the picked men of any nation,If among the picked men of any nation,Some think they can beat the Snow Shoe ClubSome think they can beat the Snow Shoe Club

Then to-night, with all our might,Then to-night, with all our might,We’ll drink success to the Snow Shoe ClubWe’ll drink success to the Snow Shoe Club

All pretty girls take my advice,All pretty girls take my advice,On some vain fop don’t waste your lub,On some vain fop don’t waste your lub,But if you wish to hug something nice, But if you wish to hug something nice, Why marry a boy of the Snow Shoe ClubWhy marry a boy of the Snow Shoe ClubThen each night, with wild delight,Then each night, with wild delight,You’ll sing success to the Snow Shoe Club.You’ll sing success to the Snow Shoe Club.

Montreal Snow shoeing

“tramps” taverns, dinners Races on horserace courses ’43 “manly virtues” of snowshoeing – the

pretty lasses 1860s and MSSC leader in organizing

races: bands, grandstands, precision in organization, prizes: racism

The masculine was white, middle class, public face of honour – became amateur

The Influence of the ‘Shoers

1000s of snow shoers by 1880s Led to prominence of Montreal

Winter Carnivals of 1880s MSSC leadership led to formation of

MAAA in 1881

Montreal: Setting the Foundation for Amateur Sport Control Montreal Lacrosse Club Montreal Snow Shoe Club Montreal Bicycle Club 1881 The Montreal Amateur Athletic

Association

MAAA Stated Purpose

“the promotion of physical and mental culture among, and the providing of rational amusements and recreation for, its members”

Distinction from the professional sportsman

Institutionalized through the club

Regulated, codified, organized by the MAAA

Amateurism

AAA of C 1884 “An amateur is one who has never

competed for a money prize or staked bet or with or against any professional for any prize, or assisted in the practice of athletic exercises or as a means of obtaining a livelihood.”

Montreal Amateur Athletic Association

MAAA grew out of an idea/system that led to an assertive group with initiative > formal organization and therefore position of power

MAAA Conclusions

Right club … Amateur-based; run in very

business-like fashion Tremendous success Instrumental in forming 10 NSGBs

like CWA, NLA, CAAA

The Professional

Baseball Scottish Highland Games Rifle shooting Rowing Pedestrian contests

Sport and the Nation – building identities (clip) Confederation – sport has new

meaning – the Paris Crew British-Canadian Selling the new economy and politics

of the Dominion of Canada Rifle shooting ‘National Championships’ “National” Sport Organizations

Canadian National Sport Bodies

1867 - National Lacrosse Association 1868 - Dominion of Canada Rifle Association 1880 - National Amateur Lacrosse Assoc. 1882 - Canadian Wheelman’s Assoc. 1884 - Amateur Athletic Assoc. of Canada 1884 - Canadian Lawn Tennis Assoc. 1884 - Canadian Rugby Football Union 1887 - Canadian Lacrosse Assoc. 1888 - Amateur Skating Assoc. of Canada 1892 - Canadian Cricket Assoc.

Canadian National Sport Bodies

1895 - Royal Canadian Golf Association 1895 - Canadian Jockey Club 1898 - Canadian Amateur Athletic Association 1899 - Canadian Gymnastics Association 1899 - Canadian Trotting Association 1900 - Canadian Canoe Association 1906 - Alpine Club of Canada 1907 - Canadian Snowshoe Union 1909 - Canadian Amateur Swimming Assoc. 1909 - Amateur Athletic Union of Canada

Spectatorship

The promoter Gate receipts Town boosterism Professional vs. Amateur

Enter the Heroes