The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-25
AMATEUR BODIES WILL HAVE MEETS DURING THIS WEEK
National Collegiate Athletic Association Is Most Impor-
 tant Governing Body
By WALTER CAMP special Correspondent of The Age Herald Copyright, 1921, by The Age Herald.)


 New York. December 24-Christ- mas week will witness the annual roundup of amateur athletics here through meetings of controlling pr interested bodies. Most prominent among these is the meeting of the National Collegiate Athletic associa- ton, with Col. Palmer E. Pierce as president, and Professor Nicholson of Wesleyan as secretary and treasurer.
 Then, there Is the meeting of the Athletic Research society, of which pr. A. K. Aldinger of New York is president, and Elmer Berry of Springfield Y. M. c. A. college secre- tary and treasurer. Also the meet ing of the committee of football coaches. a body appointed at meet ing last winter of the executive board and of which Major Daily of West Point. John Heisman of Penn sylvapia and Dr. J. w. Wilce of Ono State university are the committee in charge. There is to be also meet ing of the Society of Physical Di- rectors in Colleges.
 The Big Association
 Of these bodies the National Cot legiate association is the most promi- nent and really the parent factor, This association now embraces rep resentatives from practically every college of importance in the country and hears reports of the condition of athletics In the various sections. besides appointing rules committee for football, basketball and other amateur sports.
 A general discussion of all mat ters appertaining to the interests of college athletics is held at this meet ing, and 1t really acts as a clear ing house for ideas along these lines. The association was formed many years ago through the instrumental ity of Colonie1 Pierce with only a few institutions, but it has grown, through wise and judicious manage ment, to be the large and controlling body that it is.
 The Athletic Research society was started as a sort of addenda to the National College Athletic association and, in its early days, was much in debted to Dr. Ray Croft for it's or ganization and carrying on.
 Its function is to make a close study of the difficult problems which arise as to the future of sports. Committee on Coaches
 The committee on coaches is new body formed only last year, acting in cooperation with and of assist ance to the football rules committee, and Is designed to maintain the high est standards in the football coach- ing profession and to work for the improvement of conditions in Amer ican football. Voting in this organi- zation will be by institutions, and they will be represented by their head coaches. At their meeting will come up the first suggestions for al- terations in the playing rule submit ted later to the rules committee
 As it's name implies, the Society of Physical Directors is a gathering of those men who really are the fac ulty representatives of athletics. Here is the direct connection link between | the coach and the chairman of ath- letic committees in most institutions
 There Is still another organization which really was almost forced in.o being by the various organizations all ready mentioned, and that is a body of professional trainers. This is made up of men who have for years han lded physical conditions of teams Tn the colleges.