The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-02-08
ATHLETICS MUST
EMBRACE MAN !.
.AF TER 7 He WAR.
College Authorities Feel Com
petition Should Not Be
Limited To A Few.
PLAN FOR BOAT RACES
ny Associated Press to Tho Bannerl

lBy Associated Press Ia The BaunerJ
NEW YORK, Feb. 7-Opinions |
among followers of eastern college
athletics appear to indicate radical
changes in intercollegiate contests
after the war. Up to the present time
there has been no concrete sugges.
tion or plan offered Incorporating the
ideas under discussion but it is con.
sidered likely that there will be rap.
Id progress in this direction once the
agitation reaches plane above ideal.
istic propaganda. Notwithstanding
the attitude of certain faction to
the contrary, it is generally conceded
that inter-varsity competition is the
stimulus necessary to lift participa-
tion in exercise and sport above the
level tof daily college routine.
Just how to accomplish this, while
giving opportunity for participation
In these games to hundreds of stu
dents instead of chosen few spec
ialists or experts, is the problem that
must be mastered by those who are
advocating the change. That much
of the unnecessary and uncholastic
glamor Will be stripped from such in
tercollegiate contests appears inevi-
table but beyond this point suggest.
ed action merges into discussion
But one suggestion looking toward
REIMBURSEMENT in prominent eastern
intercollegiate sport has been adj
vanced to date.
This is the proposal to supersede
the intercollegiate championship re-
gatta with series of short, dual boat
races in which each college crew
would meet each rival in turn during
the spring rowing season. Just how
THIS would increase, to any extent,
the number of oarsmen now compet-
ing Is not made clear. Providing
that given college crew was to
row even a onemile race against
rival eight each Saturday during
May and June, as football elevens
play contests in the autumn, It is
likely that the coach, once he had
seated satisfactory and winning
combination iii the shell would send
about the same eight to the line each
weekend
That there is need of greater par
4 ticipation in sport exercise and train
ing by the average student is point
ed oT by no less an authority than
| pr. Dudley a. Sargent, director of
llemenway gymnasium, Harvard uni
versity. DR.. Sargent, in Il recent ar.
ticle in the Harvard Alumni Bulletin
states in part:
Presumably the students who en-
! ter Harvard come to prepare them.
selves physically as well as mentally
and morally for life's great game. Re.
cent examinations have shown that
from % peaeent to so percent of our
/ young men are physically unprepared
for military service. History shows
us that gymnastics and athletics
were originally practiced for the pur-
pose of preparing men for war Gym.
nastics furnished the preliminary
training; athletics afforded the op-
pOrtunity for competition.
in view of the conditions con.
fronting us as people, would II not
be wiser plan so to conduct our
athletics as not only to select the fit
i and eliminate the unfit from the ma,
jor contests which are the basis of
the present system--of which ] ap-
prove as far az ii goes-but so to
modify. supplement and conduct
these or other athletic contests as to
encourage the unfit TO contiaue their
practice and try and make them,
selves more fit for the duties OF cit.
izen and a possible soldier?
THE one great difficulty that is
continually operating against such a
modification OF our present.day meth
cd Is the high standard demanded by
the candidate OF our major athletic
sports. In my opinion any game ol
sport that has become so highly or
ganized as 10 require n special apti
tude or ability on the part of every
; player who would engage in 1t ha.
ceased TO be OF practical service in {
democratic community, except as {
source of occasional entertainment
and amusement
1T is almost impossible TO keep III
any interest In Il highly specialize,
game after leaving college, for tn,
simple reason that not. enough skill
ed players can he found to form
team. 1t is largely on account OF III,
simplicity OF the game and the readi
ness with which one may fiud som
J OF equal ability with whom TO play
. that tenuiS aud golf are proving s.
| popular of late"
Esr