South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-30
AMATEUR TRACK
BY Charles A. Dean.

President Amateur Athletic Union
of the United States.
The year 1918 is going to see more
athletic competition than at any
time in the history of our country.
Mos. of il will, however, be Of a
different nature than the competi-
tive athletics we have been accus-
toned to for many years. The
United States government is devel-
oping the greatest lot Of athletics
that the world has ever known, and
although they may not have the
systematic physical training that
the Germans have had, il will not
take this country many years TO
surpass them, if the athletic train
ing in connection with the military
training at our various army and
navy camps IS kept up the same as
in the past six months
IL has been proven the past few
months that athletic training and
competition are as big an essential
10 military training as shooting or
bayonet practice. Instead Of our
biggest competitive games and
meets being open affairs this COM
ing year most OF these are going 10
be i'm connection with army and
navy camps. Nevertheless just as
many athletic meets should he held
and / believe will be held as in for
mer years. The performances may
not be as classy, but we still have
the athletes 10 draw from who are
either under or over the draft age.
| besides the athletes now in the
/ service and adjacent 10 centers
where meets will he held
As regards the championships, all
the national championships in every
| line Of sport will be held and an
endeavor made TO have the Il diff
ferent associations of the a. a. L.
/ hold all their sectional champion
ships also. These championships.
as well as all the big open athletic
meets the coming year, should be.
and 90 percent of them viii be, run
] for the benefit Of athletic equip
ment funds for the different camps
or for the camps for our soldiers
across the water. The football sea-
son just closed has netted thousands
of dollars for this fund for the diff
ferent camps and the indoor sea
son which is so much longer
should net thousands Of dollars ad-
ditiOnal.
These camps are all badly in
need of athletic buildings TO play
basketball. volley ball hold boxing
and wrestling and other sports.
! Everyone of the 80 camps have
two or three of these buildings
! large enough to mark off at least
! three basketball courts. These
buildings would probably cost in
the neighborhood OF $4,000 each
| So il can readily be seen what a
large amount Of money Will be re-
! quired. These buildings are an alb
sOlute necessity. especially in the
northern camps, where outdoor
athletics cannot be INDUCED in for
| possibly six months out Of the year
All competitive athletics should be
! kept up during this war as we can
not afford TO let our athletes lose
even one year and deteriorate ply
sically This is Pres't Wilson's
wish and we who are vitality inter
ested i'm the welfare OF amateur
athletics are going 10 do everything
in our power 10 keep the games W
! TO standard.
] I have been asked many times
/ what will all these athletes that the
| government is making do after the
war is over. We will take care OF
them. Where one meet a week is
held now three or four week will
/ be held in all the large centers and
then when We get the much needed
universal service let physical educa-
ton and competitive athletics be a
part OF military training