Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
TRAINING FACTOR
Natl Collegiate Assn to
Encourage Athletics
Recommend Subscribing Athletics to
Military Preparations-Would Cut
Down Expensive Coaching and
Broaden Scope Considerably

New York, Dec. 2S.-That athletics IN
every form conducive to preserving all
that is stimulating and productive Of
physical development among the STU
dents in American colleges should be
encouraged and maintained was the
unanimous opinion Of the delegates to
the 18th annual convention Of the Ma
tlonal Collegiate Athletic Association
which was held here today.
Colonel Palmer Z. Pierce, L. ). A..
president of the association, presided
at the three sessions. the last of which
ended near midnight. and representa-
tives Of more than so universities and
colleges took part in the discussions
during the day. Letters from Secretary
Of War Baker and Secretary of the
Navy Daniels were read at the after
neon session and tonight by a unani-
nous vote the following recommended
ions were adopted:
Resolved, That we recommend to all
cducational institutions. collegiate and
secondary:
First. That athletic sports be made
.ubServient to the work Of military
preparation and lee made. therefore, an
essential factor in military training.
Second, That intercollegiate and in
terscholastic schedules be arranged for
so long a time and so far as national
and local conditions permit and that Ill
possible encoura cement be given to the
development of intramura sports with
q view to promoting the participation
of all students.
Third, That professional coaching
and expenses incidental thereto be re-
duced TO y minimum.
"Fourth-That there be no preseason
coaching or practice, no scouting except
at a public intercollegiate contest, and no
training table.
''Fifth-That the number of officials at
intercollegiate games fees be kept as low
as possible.
"SiXth-That the association reaffirms
its belief in the ineligi'bility rules which
1t has already endorsed, including the
freshman rule, and therefore recommends
that there be no lowering of eligibility
standards during the present crisis"
A resolution recommending that colleges
and secondary schools, so far as possible.
take up military rife practice as part OF
athletic training also was adopted.
All the officers of the association we're
Reelected.
War Offers Priceless Opportunity
LII Val OlltTS COlISSe dlnlSllCS a
priceless opportunity of a raisement and
revision" declared President w. II. p.
Faunce of Brown University in an address
before the 18th annual convention of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association
here today.
The most expensive paraphernaHa Of
sports are suddenly swept away" he
said. Gone are the training tables which
have fostered professionalism by treat
ing athletes as a separate caste. Gone
are the Pullman cars and the southern
trips, which have been an expensive det-
riment. Gone arc some of the costly
coaches, who regard the faculty as a ma
tional foe and who must turn out n win
ming team or lose their jobs. Gone in
some cases is the whole varsity team.
which may have regarded a single letter
on a sweater as far greater honor than a
Phi Beta Kappa key.
Now is the opportunity such as Ameri-
ca has not seen for so years to evaluate
the play OF young men, to discover its real
junction in the national life and decide
whether to continue or abandon or reform
II.
Unless college sports can demonstrate
today that they are more than triees /!
more than costly advertisement. more
than a pedestal for individual potorjetv.
unless they can be shown to make better
citizens, and so better soldiers. they will
be sent to the scrap heap by an indignant
people.
We do not want athletics as usual ba-
cause they nave usually been abused, nor
DO we want them abolished. But we -an,
all business and all sport. all work and
all play, stripped for action in the ma
tons service. and co-ordinated with the
laboratory and in the library and the
class room In the endless task of erov.
ing men 1T to be citizens of America"
Dr' ). l.. Raycroft of the Wal depa rt-
ment commission on training can,n .c-
INVITES. in discussing the athletic work
in tho ~cantonments. stated that 1880
men participated in one regimepta,
cross-Country run 5000 had been coon
swimming at one time: there were
more than 45o basketball teams in ono
encampment. and AZ games of football
had been played in one afternoon at
another camp He stated that IL rro-
Iesslonal boxers were at present en-.
saseo In coaching hundreds of soldier
instructors and more thar 5000 men
ma" engaged az one tlme.- in company
ooNinR Only one-sixth Of the neces-
shry ath'etlc equipment was availaBle
at this time and $3.50 was needed TO
provide the paraphcrnaiia REQUIRED at
all the camps.
walter Camp. secretary Of the foot
nall rules committee, requested the
ioaning of prominent college athletic
ain to I'll" various aviation train
ms camps. as advocated by the Aero
fluh of America. He stated that in no
ether department of the service was
there greater need for the perfect CO.
ordination Of mind and body.
The cancellation OF the annual win
ter meeting of the football rules COM
mittce was advocated by DIR. Williams
in order to save expense at this time:
sue matters as might he necessary TO
consider to he handled by the inter
rrctation committee.