New-York tribune., 1911-12-17
LIGHT ON ATHLETIC LAW
GuStavus T. Kirby |nterpretS
New Ruling of A. A. u.
REFERS TO COLLEGE MEN
Makes Exhaustive Statement to
End Controversies Over the
Legislation.

.
the legislation enacted at the annual meet
| ing Of the Amateur Athletic Union rela-
tive to college men competing in open
games Gustavus T. Kirby, the new presi-
dent OF the union, has prepared a state
ment. which serves as an Interpretation
which should settle all questions. Mr..
! Kirby says in a letter to James T.. Sulli-
van, secretary of the union:
Certain controversies have arisen a. 10
| the meaning of the recent amendment TO
! Article y, Section l. Paragraph - OF the
/ constitution, you have asked me Tor my
| opinion as TO the scope and application ut
! such amendment. TO the end that ] mlSht
/ the better bc Informed ia the matter, l
/ have consulted the chairman OF the leslS-
! latiOn committee and the minutes OF the
| last annual meeting. at which such amend
mcnt was passed; and of course nave also
/ taken into consideration my persohdl
| knowledge of the conditions Affecting com
petition by those in educational institu-
| tionS.
! Before giving my opinion, permit me to
| call your attention TO typoslaphicdl error
! i'm the amendment as set down upon the
! page headed. Legislation adopted AT the
! annual convention OF the Amateur Athleuc
! Union. November -, 1911, which became
/ operative at that time" As stated ON such
]
words registration" and represent in
| the third line of such amendment, "hen IN
point Of fact such word should be 10
| the amendment as actually passed redulhS
| as follows:
! "a student representing a university. COL
| ege, school or other educational lnSutu-
! tiOn, must consider such institution ms
TesidcIfce for the purpose OF registration
! 10 represent such institution in competition.
! Such stedent between June l and October
| J may transfer his registration TO cIuD
| or other organization belonging To an dc55
/ tive or allied member of this union locdlcI
/ In the district of his actual residence ana
! upon the opening OF the scholastic year he
may retransfer TO his educational lhslitu-
| ton"
In my opinion this paragraph means that
| a member of an educational institution IL
/ he takes part i'm open athletic events IT, e.
! events requiring a sanction from the ANA
| teur Athletic Union. and thereby the regis
! tration Of the athlete with me Aiild!ttur ,tii.
! Athletic I'nion) must elect as TO whether
/ he shall represent his educational lnSttu-
| tion or his athletic club during the perl0d
! from October / to June |. ana that II no
! elects to represent his educational lnSutu-
| tion his residence for the purpose Of regis
! tration shall be considered that OF the pldcc
where such institution is located. Ana tur-
J thcr, and most important. that Whcn ne
J has made his election he must stand ny the
/ same and cannot transfer his representa- =
! tiOuS from his club to his educatlondl lnSil-
! tuition until the opening OF new SchoidSti'
| wear. the following October. or IRON MS
! education institution 10 his club until atter
/ rbe close of the scholastic icar on the flrst
J Of the following June. unless II happens tildt
/ he has actually severed his connection with
| the educational institution by graduation or
I otherwise.
/ If tho athlete has elected to represent hi
! educational institution during the scholastic
wear he il also privileged after June ! 10
/ transfer his representation 10 thc clup MII'u
! bc is otherwise qualified TO represent au'I
4 "a
not be debarrcd- from open competition
either because ne lid not desire TO represent
/ his educational institution or was nU' PG'
mitted To do 80 by such institution loI inc
reason that tho amendment lS not Hlahud !.
( tory I'm compelling an athlete TO represent
his educational institution or not AZ ar ~
| on th" contrary. permits nm 10 u'"h' "l'
choice and If he 50 desires ne may cnoos'
/ his athletic club or run unattached " h' u
otherwise qualified 10 DO so.
Not only am | Of the opinion that Sucn
an Interpretation of the an"n1ll'u' - a.
correct ono but I also helifN" mat sue"
was the intention of inc ahe"ui",n. ~
finally adopted; and that were II not So
great hardship would result 10 many ll our
schools and colleges who are ln'H=lpl' 10
represent such institution. Tor u niuS' ~
remembered that il docs not loHoW tud' ~
causo a hnv goes 10 n certain edu'dll"lIAl
institution ho ie ip~o facto. entitled 10 rep
resent in athletic contests slich INSTITUTION.
The fact ~ that IN many instances ~ "r
. ,ude,NOred to do 50 ho would ne SUSPENDED
,horofrom. and that II ne continued ~ Nio
late the rules of such institution ds To attn
I.ti, connection his 'ypulSion thcrcitom
would follow. N,r would II 10" iair ." th'
clubs of tho union to hay" rule winch
would debar from representation "l SUN
cul during the winter an athlete VINO lS
cudoavoriul To improve his educational at
taiumeuts bv attending night school "r
some other educational institution. ..
The minutes Of the annual meet ng, aS
vrU a. my recollection oi mat Wh'h was
there stated indicate that th" naW p"i o.
poses of the amendment Ia Article %
the constitution were to prevent athletes :
residing at a great distance from cldb
reprcscptinc that club in the district cnain-
linpships and through such Limitation u"
make N irruosshle for 4 popular or int'-
.utisI athletic club To suddenly bring ml"
its membership ana have compete FOR n a
number Of college or other champions VINO.
while actually residing Witnn the dl tl't
were nevertheless living several hundred
miles away from the home OF such club;
and also Ia prevent the ABUSE difeduN
spokcn of. of an athlete reuresenting q
club ono night and his educational lnstitu-
ton the next
Tho adoption OF that amendment which
granted 10 the various associations tn"
right 10 fix = zone OF residence for th"
purpose of district cham 'lonshlps shouid
rcrtaiuIK arromplish the desired end a. 10
club rcbrcscntation thereat ana the adoI-
tlon Of mn. amendment under discussion
should also prevent the other abuse re-
lcrr,d 10
SUNDAYS NEW YORK TRIBUNE