The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-11-23
BRAIN MUST Do ITS WORK
A PROFESSOR SAYS INABILITY
COMES TO ATHLETE FROM
MENTAL DISPOSITION.
Gives That as Reason for the Loss
of Many Football Games
in the East.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Nov. 23-Speaking
of the recent Chicago Northwestern
football game, Dr. Walter Dill Scott,
professor of psychology, of North
western university, said that the game
was lost by the team from the Method
list institution because of the players
mental condition during the contest
rather than because of the physical in
letes. In discussing the psychology of
football in general, the professor said:
Il have made tests in the psycholo-
gical laboratory of young men who are
prominent athletes and of others who
are lacking in all athletic ability l
have thus tested scores of men from
Northwestern as we'll as several from
other institutions. l have found the
characteristics of athletes to be pro-
nounced.
THE first thing brought out in the
tests was that athletes are not
stronger than any other healthy young
men. Many good football players are
not particularly strong in tests of
strength.
The next thing which I found in my
tests was that athletes become ex-
hausted more quickly than non-ath-
letes when both are putting forth their
best energy for a continuous period.
In my tests to reach complete ex-
haustion, 1 found that athletes would
be exhausted within a few minutes or
even in a few seconds, but persons of
less athletic ability could not be ex-
hausted in the same time.
MY explanation is that an athlete
is man who has all his muscular en-
ergy under control, and is able to try
harder than others. He is thus able to
exert himself in such an extreme man.
ner that the tissues of the muscles and
nerves are unable to recuperate as fast
as they are torn down, and exhaustion
results rapidly as a natural conse-
quence.
Il have found in laboratory tests
that a mans ability to put forth eff
fort is dependent upon many conii-
tions other than his general physical
condition. Thus 1 have discovered
that some athletes are able to double
their strength under coaching When
a man is trying his best he still may
not be putting forth more than half
his possible strength.
Another thing that affects physi-
cal strength is the general condition
of the mind of the person tested. Thus
every element of pain reduces the
strength, and every element of pleas
produce more in a day under pleasant
than unpleasant conditions. Pain re-
duces the vitality; it affects the work.
ing of the lungs, the heart and the
general condition
Pleasure of any sort enhances the
working of the bodily functions. Thus
under pleasure the heart functions are
more effectual, the respiration is bet
ter, the wasted tissue in nerve and in
muscle is carried off rapidly and re-
cuperation keeps pace with exhaustion.
Thus l assume that the players on both
teams are especially athletic and that
pitch. The energy put forth by both
teams was at first practically equal
and results were equal, but the situa-
ton became discouraging and thus
weakening to one side and pleasing to
the other and stimulating them to re-
! newed efforts.
The results soon became apparent
The Northwestern players were using
their strength up faster than Chicago,
and the difference between the two
teams in amount of available energy
became greater as the game pro-
crossed. The Northwestern players
had not sufficient vitality left to with
stand the strain and many became in
capacitated before the game was COM
pleted."