The sun., 1895-02-17
DIN. M,cURl,r,s INDOOR TEST.
somsthing Abeut the systeru Adoptsa -
the Y. VI. &. A. Connaittse.


somsth,ne Aseut fhe ssstsrr Adopt.s ~
the Y. VI. &. A. Co=rsittse.
The announcements that the International
Committee OF the y. NJ. c. A. had adopted for
general use in tho Y. n. c. A. gyrnnssiums In
this country and CanRds the nll-hround indoor
test for athletics and gymnastics formulated by
DR.. James II. McCurdy, has set the members to
dIscussing what that test really Is. The physi-
col directors understand II, because they have
lad II explain ed to them by She Doctor, who is
enthusiastic ovsr 1t, and Is frsatly pleased that
the international COMMITTEES should have
adopted II as the standard of tbe Y. NJ. c. a.
DR.. McCurdy has sp0nt much time In perfect
Ing his system and his lriends art giao thetu
has not been thrown away.
What tho Pontathlon syteem OF Dt Luther
Gulick is 10 outdoor athleticr tho indoor test Is
10 the all.around work In the gymnasium. But
instead Of hve events As called FOR by the rem
tathlon, the indoor test consists cf ton. These
events have been selected 10 tihrOa ehly de-
velop the all-around physical N 1porties
in man; and they are 50 carefully chosen
that they serve their purpose most |foc-
lively. The events may properly be divhsed
into two kinds, RymnAstic and athletic. In the
list Of eymnastic events are the free exercises.
calstbenics parallel bars. side horse, horizontal
bar and long horse; while the athletic events
include the quarter-mile potato race, three
standing broad jumps, the pole vault, and the
running high jump DIR. McCurdy has divided
his test into three grades. the events that the
men in each grade are required to take being III
proportion to their physical ability.
The elementary grade work is for beginners,
and consists of n contest. at\er sufficient In
struction and practice. In tho following Six |
events: Free exercises, calisthcnics, parallel |
bars, side horse horizontal bar. and the quar- |
ter-mile potato race. The intermediate grade |
work consists Of the above six events, together !
with tho three standing broad jumps and the I,
proficient In which man mutu he all but q !
leader or physical irector, comu -is,s the eight
events before mentioned, In II. rrt dl1ncult |
shapes. together with the long horse and pole
vault events.
tions and tests is that they are too long in ta ing
place. The Pentathlon esmes held at MI
hours TO I've decided, and with oaly fivo events at
that; Dr. McCurdy says thai tho reason Tor
and no proper designation OF the duties Of such
officials. lie intends that ali nectinKa for the
indoor tests shall be held under the direction OF q
referee. six measurers, six ridges of apparatus
work, three timers, one starte:. one marshal. one
scorer, and one clerk OF course. The ms mensurers
and judges OF apparatus work will also he en-
powered TO act as tho Judges n the free ex-
ercise and calisthencs. The mesturrers r are also
and the pole o vault @ 'fcfu o. ooarse ali In ss ocas
will actually be required only at big .meetings.
pss " %os w
quired to Judge Independently. They arc re-
portant of the officials, each contestants ability
The method OF judging. a, laid down by Dr.
McCurdy. is two points for correct approach 10
the apparatus , two points IS for doing the sex exercise
cise, and two points for correctly leaving tho
apparatus. This method Of scoring work on the
apparatus has been used in the Twenty-third
with en awkward appearance on the b.Ts. &c.
which 50 spoils n aymnastic exhibition. The
FREQ exercises Will between AID nf- |
teen minutes time. BY tree exercises Is IN .ant !
marching drilling. &c, and the work requir, . n
great deal Of practice. The calisthenic exrr-
The test on each piece OF apparatus consists of
three exercises selected by the referee. except
in the ad vanced grade, where the contestant is
three exercises are TO be selected from . list of
ten. which have been determined upon by the
pr. McCurdy says that he particularly calls
attention to the advantages Of the potato race
out unsnspected athletic ability or disability III
a man. Our method" said he. - is TO have sew
enteen potatoes or other light objects, and two
set on stands two feet high; These are furnished
each ThS outer sdxes Of
The runner slarts the left side of
the :ul potato box from line parallel
He must RUN around boxes each
time, placing one potato in the empty box. and
iinlsnipE In, at the starting point on the opposite
either stand in any way. or fails to run around
both boxes. or fails to transfer all the potatoes
singy from one box tn the other. he is disQuali-
fed. You see, the potato race Is not the easiest
event on the programme"
In order TO fairly compare the work Of the
men In each grade, each contestants total mum,
her OF points In the different grades is divided |
as follows: In the elementary grade by the
the advanced grade by >. The maximum in
each event IN the contest Is 30 polnts The
scoring table for the athletic events. showing !