The times., 1897-05-16
ATHLETICS FOR GIRLS
New York Gymnastic Teacher Gives
His Experience,

His Experience.
Ibelievc after much experience that Young
girls, IL the proper example and facilities
are afforded them, come to love athletic
sports as well as boys. | also believe that
they can participate in nearly every
masculine sport, deriving as much benefit
as do boys. Physical strength in girls is
quite as desirable as it is in boys, nd is
a subject TO which their mothers should
give serious atten ton. or course the
average girl cannot he expected 60 deveiop
quite the strength OF boy OF her own age.
But | have found that with the excep-
tion OF the very heaviest work in tn. gym
.ss.asn. girls OF fifteen to nineteen years
OF age can take every exercise to which
boys Of that age are accustomed One OF
the most marked results achieved in tina
gynnastic and outdoor work Of the girls
in Adeiphi cademy is the equalization cf
their muscular development.
Thus. upon taking the measurements Of a
new girl, it has frequently been found that
her right arm and hand, as well as the
muscles of the right side of her body, are
uRduly developed from tennis playing.
Moderate but systematic exercise at hand
ball and basketball md with the apparatus
ccuEteracts this effect, bringing the left
side up TO the standard of the right SINH
larry many girls are Ieft-ilanded, and ln
their case attention is directed to the right
side
Young girls under twelve years Of age
wear short dresses and are not bothered
with long skirts, so that in exercising they
may wear their ordinary clothes But
the long skirts usually worn by girls Of
~, min .
decided impediment to freedom OF action
of the limbs
As one branch of athletic work, am an
earnest advocate of the bicycle for girls
l ride a wheel myself nd nearly all my
pupils do likewise, the youngest knowing
hcw To ride d wheel even when they do not
own one. After much observation Of the
effects of bicycling on girls, have yet 10
fiad serious objection to the sport Like
all athletic sports for girls, il is good for
them ifinduIged in in moderation would
earnestly recommend it 10 mothers desiTous
OF having strong, healthy daughters that
they see to il that they begin exercising
under a gymnastic teacher at an early
age. In the case of girl OF, say, fifteen
years of age, beginning athletic exercise,
who has never before received instruction
VI ILLS klLibf II Is IluCh HeT
at the start than it is for boy of the
same age.
Unless she commences with the mildest
exercise her body becomes stiff and sore
and she is apt TO become preiudiced
against all sports tits necessary to arouse
the interest of the pupils in the work. Girls
are likely TO be timid when first brought
into the gymnasium l have pointed out to
paratus. but could not induce them TO try
the exercise IN the presence OF anybody
else
But going out, leaving these girls alone
in the gynasGm, 1 have seen them try
one kind of exercise after another Their
curiosity had first TO be aroused and this
timidity could only be overcome by familiar
izing them with the gymnasium and WITH
the sight Of their classmates OF work. A
good healthy girl, when the novelty has
once worn off and she has INDUCED in
rough and tumble work in the at thietia
field with her girl friends, is as eager for
another game as any boy.
In the Adelphi Academy athletic work
is compulsory among the girls uQ to fif-
teen years Of age After that it is op-
tional But all Of those who have taken
tHt SAEtCi>S GeipiS IillccH years OF age
continue it steadily after that from pure
delight and zeal.
The changes in the physique and general
health Of girls which this sort OF exercise
effects are remarkable Young girls grow
so rapidly that the ordinary physical mea-
surenents taken at big college gynna-
Sums are not of much use to the teachers
in their case, except as a guide TO indl-
vidual characteristics. But the appetite,
the complexion, the grace and agility and
mental alertness are sure indces TO the
physical condition, and with the proper
kind Of exercise all OF these show a de-
cided Improvement
The most popular games among the girls
now are handbaII and basketball The
former is one Of the best games for a
uniform development Of both sides of the
body, exercise both equally, legs anil arms
alike, and we have two handball courts
One of the advantages of basketball Tor
large school is that there are five on each
side, so that ten girls can be in the game
at one time. My girls exercise in the boys
gymnasium, and they do all kinds Of
work there, except the very heaviest New
York Journal