The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-01-01
AMATEUR TRACK AND
FIELD ATHLETICS
(By Charles A. Dean, President, ANA
teur Athletic Union Of the United
States)

States)
The year 1918 is going TO see more
athletic competition than at any time
in the history of our country. Most
of it will, however, be Of a different
nature than the competitive athletics
we have been accustomed to for many
years. The United States Cavern
ment is developing 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, 1t will not
take this country many years to sur
pass. them, If the athletic training In
connection with the military training
at our various Army and Navy Camps
! is kept up the same as in the past six
months.
1t has been proven the past few
months that athletic training and
competition are as big and essential
to military training as shooting or
bayonet practice. Instead of our big
gest competitive games and meets
open affairs this coming year most of
these are going to be in connection
with Army and Navy Camps. New
ertheless just as many athletic meets
should be held and I believe will be
held as in former years. The perfor-
mances may not be as classy but we
still have the athletes to draw from
who are either under or over the draft
age besides 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 an endeavor
made to have the fourteen different
Associations Of the A. A. U. hold all
their Sectional Championships also.
These Championships as we'll as all
the big open athletic meets the COM
ing year should be, and ninety per
cent. Of them will be, run for the ben.
eft Of athletic equipment funds for
the different Camps or for the Camps
for our soldiers across the water. The
football season just closed has Melted
thousands of dollars for this fund for
the different Camps and the Indoor
Season which is so much longer
should net thousands of dollars addi-
tional
These Camps are all badly in need
of athletic buildings to play basket
ball. volley ball, hold boxing and
wrestling and other sports. Everyone
Of the thirty-two Camps have two
or three of these buildings large
enough to mark off at least three bas-
ket-ball courts. These buildings
would probably cost in the neighbor-
hood of $4,000 each. So 1t can read.
lily be seen what large amount of
money will be required. These build
; ings are an absolute necessity, espec.
tally in the Northern Camps where
outdoor athletics cannot be INDUCED
in for possibly six months out of the
year. All competitive athletics should
&c kept up during this war as we can.
not afford to let our athletes lose ev.
en- one year and deteriorate physic-
ally. This is President Wilson's wish
and we who are vitality interested in
the welfare of amateur athletiss are
going to do everything in our power
go keep the games up to standard.
l have been asked many times what
all these athletes that the Gov eminent
Is making do after the war is over.
We will take care of them. Where
one meet week is held now three
or four a week will be held in all the
large centers and then when we get
the much needed Universal Service
let physical education and competitive
athletics be part of military training.