Evening star., 1920-02-09
COLLEGE CONFERENCE
IN EAST IS SUGGESTED
Formation of Special Base Ball
Code for Boys Also Is
Proposed.
BY WALTER CAMP.

There are two important supees-
IONS that have been recently made
IN the athletic world. the first deal
ing distinctively with the colleges
and the second applicable most large
ly to schools for boys under the age
Of sixteen. The first of these is en-
podled in paragraph from Philadel-
phia suggesting the formation of q
body similar to the western confer
ence, namely, group of colleges
gathered into an association for the
purpose of legislation upon athletics
IN the colleges that are represented
Ihe suggestion is made that a similar
conference be established in the east
among the leading colleges to ef-
feet athletic reforms which are de-
sirable. but which have not. in spite
OF considerable agitation in their
favor. ever been enacted into rules
or adopted.
The second suggestion is one COM
ing from critic and writer on pro-
fessional base ball, J. Sheridan. and
Is made to the rules committee of
base ball. 1t is that a special code
shall be made for boys under six
teen. That this code shall arrange
for a special layout of the playing
field. reducing the size from 10 to Is
per cent or thereabouts. and that a
lighter. smaller ball and lighter,
smaller bats be provided for.
Argument IL sound.
His argument so far as its prem
ises are concerned is certainly sound.
for boys under sixteen cannot as a
rule execute the throws from third
base to first base or from the home
plate to second base upon the regu-
iation size field and with the stand
ard ball as used by the regular play
ers. The result is that they only
could play at the game. Whether
his conclusions are equally sound,
If the diamond were in miniature and
the implements were reduced in size
and weights. is the main question.
And there is another one that should
be considered. What would be the
psychological moment for the boy to
jump from baby ball as it would un,
doubtedly be called, up to the real
mans game? And would he be handi-
capped by having been brought up on
the light bats and balls? OF course.
it would not do to establish his age
of sixteen as an absolute turning
point. for that would be too arbitrary.
and many boy of fifteen who has de-
veloped early is far better able to
jump to the heavier play than a boy
of sixteen whose physique may be
much less.
Nevertheless, the suggestion is of
great interest ana WelI worth cOnSlO-
cradle consideration. Even if no rule
making body took it up. it offers a
field for experiment in the younger
schools where there may be many
boys under sixteen.
Picking Foot Ball Teams.
Donald Grant Heming. O7. Princeton.
has done most interesting thing in
choosing an all-Princeton team of
some forty-four players. 1t certainly
brings back to my mind the exploits
Of many of these men whom he has
selected And may one be permitted
to add a few to his list in the rush
line: w Earl Dodge. 81. and T NJ.
McNair. Ben Nicoll of ~. Big Enos
of '7S and Bland Ballard of 80, Will
liam Mann Irvine. 'sS. Also Haxall of
SO for his kicking. although he played
in the line. And behind the line.
wilmington. 80. who won the Yale
game; II. NJ. Cutler. 80; Powers Farr.
81: Harlan. 'S3: Lamar. sc: Luther
Price. 'Ss: also Wagonhurst. 'SS, and
Cook. 'sS. tackle: also Cash. 80:
"Shep" Homans. 80. as a kicker. and
Holly. tackle.
Then too. will not some one pick
them for Penn? Some man in the
days of the first Thayer. Geydin. Far
mum. Elliott Dick. John Bell. Remak.
the agile Hurlie and Harry Mackey:
Copyright, la20.b