The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-12-02
INJURED IN Fl. S.
FOOTBALL IN LAKE
COUNTY IN 1909

As result of the playing of football
In the high schools of Lake courtv
there have been fifteen high school stu
dents injured. Some of these injuries
have been more or less permanent. In
the case of Russell Gavit of the HAM
mond schools he was out OF high school
for month with a sprained ankle.
One of the whiting boys had a ten
don In his hand strained and his hand
may be stiff for the rest of his life. A
few facts to be taken into cOnsidera-
fiOn are that there were six high school
teams in the field this yenr. This
means that there were at least sixty
six players on the teams, and the ssuhsv
who tried for the teams will probably
bring the number of high school boys
who played football In Lake county up
to 100.
1t is apparent then from these ng-
ures that Is per cent of those who par
ticipated In high school football this
year were injured. One boy in every
INJURIES CONCEALED.
The Times has ascertained these facts
from interviews with the principal or
superintendent of each of the schools
which had football teams in the neId.
In most cases the tendency was to
conceal the true seriOusness of the IN
jurtes and the number of injured rath-
er than to enlarge them. As a re-
suit IL is very probable that the lists
printed below do not contain a complete
list of the seriously injured, although
1t is complete as 1t Is possible TO
make 1T.
noteworthy fact Is that large
number of the professors and superfn-
tendentS In the schools admit that the
game, as 1t is now played, Is too dang
erous 20 be made permanent high
school institution. They are almost
unanimous in the opinion that the game
as a form of high school athletics
should be modified.
The following interviews will contain
some valuable suEEestiOns as to the
Improvement and modification of high
school football.
| HAMMOND BOYS INJURED.
Russell Gavit-Had foot injured in
| scrimmage; out OF school for several
weeks, is still lame and finds 1t hard
to walk
| Robert Moft-Knocked out in Gary
Hammond game; insisted on playing
after first injury; no permanent results
of injury.
Walter Kennedy-Had knee injured
early in the season. but was able 10
play in every game on the schedule.
The list of injuries does not include
| g number OF minor ones which were
Of no consequence to the player. Con-
| sidering the length of the Hammond
schedule and the fact that several OF
| the opposing teams were heavier than
the local aggregation. the list OF in
juries in Hammond was remarkably
| small
MDANIEL MAKES SUGGESTIONS.
i superintendent Z. II. Mcdaniel Of the
Hammond high school is of the opinion
! that high school football should be
reformed rather than abolished. Be
fore high school student IS allowed
TO play he IS Of the opinion that the
following precautions should be taken.
!. The boy should be up in his
studies
2. The parents permission should be
secured before he is allowed TO play.
8. A physical examination should be
made at the beginning Of the season TO
determine the exact physical condition
OF the candidate for the team and sup
Elementary examinations should be
made as the season progresses TO de-
termine that the strenuous exercise IS
not having an Injurious effect on the
boy.
4 player who IS injured should
. be taken out ~ the game and not bs
permitted To play again until he has
fully recovered from his injuries. The
effort to win games should not leopard
ize the life and limb Of the player.
3 The rules Of the game should be
modified TO eliminate. as nearly as pos
slble. the elements of danger to the