Arizona republican., 1918-01-02
MILITARY CAMP TRAINING ID bE
 ATHLETIC BOOST
tBy Charles A. Dean, President Ana teur Athletic Union of the United GfaAnrA


 teur 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. Most | of it however will be of a different 1 than the competitive athletics we have 1 been accustomed to for many years. The United States government IS de- Veloping the greatest lot of athletics that the world has ever known and although they may not have the sys- tematic physical training that the Ger mans have had, it will not take this country many years to suIpass them, if the athletic training in connection with the military training at our var ious army and navy camps is kept up the same as in the past six months.
 It has been proven the past few months that athletic training and competition are as big an essential to military training as shooting or bayo- net practice. Instead of our biggest competitive games and meets being open affairs this coming year most of these are going to be in connection with army and navy camps. Never theless just as many athletic meets should be held and l believe will be as in former years. The performance may not be as classy but We still have the athletes to draw from who are either under or over the draft age be- sides the athletes now in the service and adjacent to centers where meets will be held
 As regards championships all the national championships in every line of sport will be held and an endeavor made to have the fourteen different associations of the A. A. L. hold all their sectional championships also. These championships as we'll as all the big open athletic meets the coming year should be, and ninety per cent of them will be- run for the benefit of athletic equipment funds for the diff ferent camps for our soldiers across the water. The football season just closed has netted thousands of dollars for this fund for the different camps and the indoor season which is so much longer should net thousands of dollars additional.
 These camps are all badly in need of athletic buildings to play basket ball, volley ball, hold boxing and wrestling and other sports. Every one of the g. camps should have two or three buildings large enough to mark off at least three basketball courts These buildings would probably cost in the neighbOrhoOd of $25,000 each So it can readily be seen what a large amount of money will be required These buildings are an absolute neces- sity, especially in the northern camps where outdoor athletics cannot be in dulged in for possibly six months out of the year. All competitive athletics should be kept up during the war a: We cannot afford to let our athlete. lose even one year and deteriorate phy- sically This is President Wilson. wish and we who are vitally interested in the welfare of amateur athletics ar, going to do everything in our power t, keep the games up to standard.
 l have been asked many times wha will all these athletes that the govern ment is making do after the war i over. We will take care of them Where one meet a week is held now three or four a week will be held il gil the large centers and then whe we get the much needed universal ser vice let physical education and com petitive athletics be a part of militar training