Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-16
FOOT BALL TRAINING.
Its Advantages in Forming a Young
Mans Character.
REGULAR HABITS ARE NECESSARY.
The Body Strengthened and the
Mind Made Active.
LAR HABITS ARE NECESSARY.
AN EXPERTS OPINION.


special correspondence OF Inc Evening Star.
NEW YORK, November H. 1893.
Stories of the deeds of the mighty Hef-
felfinger have been legion since he first
donned the canvas for Yale. 1t is safe to
say that when he was graduated from col
lege he was the most widely known of all
foot ball players. The attention of James
j. Hill, the western railway magnate, was
drawn to him during his college career, and
Mr.. Hill was at once impressed with the
idea that a man who could do so much as
foot ball player ought to make his mark
in business. He therefore offered a position
to Hefelfnger. who accepted it gladly.
Shortly afterward Mr.. Hill said: Il have
employment for all the foot ball players
Yale can turn out" Mr.. Hill probably sin
gled out Yale simply because at the time
his son was student at that university.
He nd the foot ball man in his mind, how
ever, not simply the Yale student.
Many other prominent men have made
remarks similar to this. thus showing to
what extent a foot ball training is consid-
cred advantageous in after life.
Resulting Mental Development.
Its physical advantages are, of course
obvious, but the mental development re-
sulting from participation in the game may
not perhaps, be quite as clearly perceptible
to all. This development is nevertheless, a
fact, as can be seen from a consideration of
the game and what it is necessary for a
man to do in order to become proficient in
IT. Take first the preliminary training
through which every one who wishes to be-
come player must go. Those men who
are considered the most promising candi-
dates for the eleven are selected and taken
under the captains supervision Each man
Is required to keep regular hours and to eat
only such things as really tend to build up
10Th md tNtaf u - 1l,x,rt
cal and mental condition.
He must refrain from everything that will
cloud his brain as well as from what will
rrerder his body unwieldy Here the man
learns one of IT, most valuable lessons in
life, tc be regular in his habits. He ac-
quireS a methodical way of doing things
which, when 1t comes to be directed in af-
ter years to affairs of more moment, will
give him an advantage over the man who
has not gone through a similar course.
Regular Habits Established.
Then comes the regular practice in the
gymnasium at fixed times, and for just so
long, and the daily runs and other kinds of
exercise, for each Of which there is a spe-
cial time. AL of these things tend to es-
tablish regularity of life as well as to
strengthen mans physique. Even If the
candidate for the foot ball team never plays
in game he derives great benefit from the
preliminary training, How much greater Is
IL
part in steady practice against it as a MEM
Der of the second eleven becomes evident
when one realizes the number of faculties
that are thereby called into action and put
to the test. In order TO be good foot ball
player a man must be clear of brain, cool
headed. quick to see and to act logged in
perseverance, calm and unmoved under the
greatest provocation. and. above ALL he
must keep his mind fixed on one object
His purpose must be single, and to it he
must unremittingly devote all this thought
energy, and time.
Must he a Specialist.
As a successful man in life has to be a
specialist. so a foot ball player must de-
vote himself to one branch of the game
lie can be a good tackle "a good guard, a
good end, q good back. but he cannot be
all these in one. In order to succeed he
must excel In one position. and be able to
play that position better than any of the
other candidates for 1t. An aggregation of
specialists working for one object and in
perfect unison is the modern foot ball
eleven. To be specialist one must excel
IN some particular line, and an important
lesson is learned when a man, ambitious TO
become tackle on the foot ball team real
ICES that ii Is not enough for him to do as
we'll as any other candidate for the place
but that he must do better.
The narrowed sphere of the foot BALL play-
err or today operates to his advantage
instead of Knowing little of many things
nv huONS Oilc tliilS well. 10 KNOW that one
thing well he has had to work hard and
persistently, and he has thus acquired a
ha bit which will cling to him throughout
life But in doing this he has gained many
other advantages. No game. no species of
athletics or exercise of any kind calls more
faculties into play than does foot ball, The
iusher must not only keep his eye on the
man opposite him and anticipate his every
movement, but he must also know exactly
what is about to be done with the ball and
must be ready to do his share toward carry
ing out the plan
BrOadens the Scope of His COmpre-
hensiOn.
He broadens the scope of his comprehen-
sion by grasping the entire situation at
once. When the ball is put into play he
must see that his man does not get through
and at the same time must himself aid the
runner or get down the field under the kick
His knowledge of the signal tells him what
it has been decided that the unit shall do,
and he has to instantly make up his mind
as to what he a component part shall