The San Francisco call., 1908-08-23
By Iohn B. Foster


Olympic games at London, added
to their formidable showing in the
Olympics at Athens and the wonderful
records which have been made in the
competitions in their own country in
the last two years between those inter
national struggles. has confirmed some
experts in the belief that in certain
trials of sport the athletes of this
country have obtained world su-
premacy.
Ia track events. especially those Of
the shorter distances. in events that
require skill. good judgment. strength
and suppleness Of body. like the pole
vault, and in contests which call for
sheer brawq and great animal strength
with a necessary endurance, Americans
lead the competitors OF all nations and
lead them handny
That our short distance runners.
taken collectively. surpass those of
other countries may be ascribed in part
to the spirited national temperament
and in part TO the method of instruc-
tion- That the American principle of
short distance running is superior to
that Of other nations never was illus
trated better than in the stadium in
London. where the fat footed and
poorly taught runners of other nations
shambled awkwardly along as com
pared with the high bounding and free
Looping sprinters of the United States
Sheppard's unexpected success in the
1900 meters and his remarkable tri-
umph at 500 meters would indicate
that the American runners are we'll
equipped in principle to meet the run
ners of other countries who are ordi-
narily more successful at the long dis
tance, and that our athletes have been
slow in making progress in the dis
tance runs largely because of apathy
existing in that style of sport and the
scarcity of those who would devote
themselves to any events for a greater
distance than 22O yards.
The steady progress of long dis
tance running. due to the good mis-
sionary work of some of the important
instructors and leaders in athletics re-
suited in a Marathon triumph in the
Olympics and made the United States
even more famous than the United
Kingdom for its long distance men.
In vew Of the Olympic achievements
OF American athletes. and the fact that
they are a continuation of progress
which has been in evidence for two
decades and more, it is interesting to
learn the opinions which are held by
the leading athletic teachers in re-
gard to the proficiency which is stead
lily being demonstrated in athletic cir
cles in this country.
With that purpose in mind questions
were put TO some Of the more promi-
nent trainers, as follows:
First-Do you attribute this prof.
cheney to more skill on the part of
teaching. or to a gradual increase in
strength and endurance on the part
OF American men who participate in
athletics?
Second-Do you consider that Amer
ican young men, as a body, are grow
ing more powerful physically because
Of the widespread interest in ath-
letics?
Valentine Flood. who is the phys
ical trainer at Princeton and who is
constantly in touch with the athletes
of that university in the various kinds
Of sport which are taken up by the
students, said in reply to the first
question that. in his opinion. skill. good
teaching, greater endurance and in
creased strength all have been potent
factors in bringing about the results
Of recent years
The coach Of today, says Flood,
does not bullyrag the pupil when
asked if some other way of accomplish
ing some physical test or feat may not
be as good or better. He realizes that
there are more ways than one of carry
ing out the same principle. No two
men walk, jump, run or box alike, or,
in fact. do anything alike, although
the same principle underlies whatever
they attempt in physical way. Each
must, Of necessity, have his individual.
way Of arriving at a common end. The
coach to be successful must learn the
faults Of each man and seek to elm
mate them in order.
First correct the worst mistakes.
then the lesser evils. never interfering
with the good and never discouraging
the candidate" X
uTo the old egotist who asserted
that his way was right and that
there was no other none of the
credit belongs. Training methods have
improved as well as the pupils. Not so
many men are ove~trained these davs
as formerly The reason for this is
that more natural and more common
sense methods are employed. These re-
late to drinking, eating and working
i know of men who would think If
criminal for a boy to take a cup of
water after getting through the hard
est kind of work. when the body was
craving for a little of that to be re-
stirred which hoo,,