Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-03-16

The sixth annual conference of the
schools Of the state with the University
of Vermont came to an end Saturday
morning with a symposium on physical
training, three papers being presented
Abstracts follow
THE TRUE AIM OF ATHLETICS.
Gy Prof. Frederick Topper. Chairman
Committee on Athletics. University Of
NermontD
The friends Of athletics have one reason
to congratulate themselves upon progress
during the past Ave years Athletic condi-
lions are much healthier than they
were few years ago. The college COM
munity expects as a matter Of course
rules and provisions that often ELECTED
much protest A protest must be entered
against the fsllacy that the true aim of
athletics is to advertise school or
college. If by advertising is meant the
securing OF more students through sue
cess in games. then colleges would Ger
tainly fail of their athletic aim for it has
been repeatedly shown that the size of
entering classes bears no relationship
whatovcr to success or failure during
preceding seasons. The aim Of musical
and dramatic clubs is not to advertise
play ard act The object of literary
magazine is not TO advertise q college
hut to teach students to write. The OBJ
Iect Of athletics Is certainly not to adj
vertise a college but to produce through
general participation in sport the physical
advantage of the many Tho chief defect
of our American system Of athletics is
this lack of general participation Presi-
%
can athletics is the tendency to conhne
work to those who are naturally best
adapted to it. while the great student
body takes no active part In games.
Under the system Of athletics at the
English universities every man takes part
In sport. so that it often happens that
game has no spectators, merely because
other undergraduates are taking their
own form Of exercise elsewhere This
system has double advantage. 1t is of
heneht to the individual because every
one obtains athletic practice. 1t is of
benefit to the university because 10
athletic material is overlooked. and it
may be turned to account whenever
needed The English teams are represen-
tative In q sense thai We cannot even
understand
- highly specialized that 1t benefits
only tho few. and the great mass Of stu
dents take part in athletics only by proxy.
This vicarious exercise breeds no Drawn
Loyalty to college teams Is demanded OF
every college man but the restriction o.
athletic interest to tho activities of the
varsity" leads to two-fold evil: tho
feverish concentration Of athletic enthu-
siasm and the killing OF general participa-
ton in sport. Thus the individual loses
tie strength the healthy endurance
which would come to him from exercise
and which would be Of incalculahlc benefit
to him later in business and professional
life. The university loses the reserve
force that exists In second teams and
substitutes. At present il is difficult al
all small colleges to organize even sec
ond squads, and an injury To halfback or
catcher often ieopardzcs the success OF
the season because there are no reserves
TO call upon. How shall We secure this
general participation, this benefit 10 the
greatest number? The problem L. merely
stated by the present speaker \ solu-
tion will be offered 10y the director % ath-
lctics whom these words are Intended to
introduce.