Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-17
Propose Limit
On Number Men
On Track Teams
Coaches Advise Entrants Be
Allowed-Size of Squad
Makes Difference in
Number of Points

FOllOWlHS inc NdtlOHdl n. n. "
outdoor track and field champion.
ships at Pasadena and the country.
wide meet of the colleges held in
:. Chicago there are many mentors
! who favor the limiting of teams tc
! certain number in all events oi
importance.
The limit in the national intercol
legiate was placed at 10 this year
and there are many who favor in
creasing it to at least IS. There
are just as many who favor a
smaller number. illinois won the
meet because of its large team entry
while the Los Angeles A. c. won
the National A. A. U. event because
it threw so many athletes into the
games.
Local Clubs Always Favored.
It is a we'll known fact that insti-
tutions in the vicinities where cham
pionship games are held, have the
advantage, because Of the prepond-
erance of entrants. In former years
the New York A. c., Boston A. A.,
Meadowbrook club OF Philadelphia,
Chicago Athletic and Illinois Ath-
letic club were contenders for Ma
tional A. A. U. honors. AS the
games were held on the coast this
year, the clubs could not spend the
money required to send full
strength. .
The athletic clubs were we'll
drained a year ago, when money had
to be raised to send the American
teams to the Olympic games. Mem
bers of the organizations thought it
best to cut down bit this year,
with the result only skeleton teams
were sent to Pasadena. Several clubs
sent men for the sole purpose OF
keeping the games alive.
No Denying California Stars.
California, however, was entitled
to the championships because OF the
number of sterling performers who
have competed with success in the
Olympic games, the eastern inter
collegiate and in the dual meet be-
tween California and Michigan. In
stitutions on the coast always have
been placed at the same monetary
disadvantage as middle west and
eastern institutions were this year.
In the past only small representa-
ton has been sent east.
If the team entry were limited to
a certain number, many coaches be-
lieve the A. A. u. and college inter-
collegiates would grow in public
favor. Larger institutions, with the
revenue derived from major sports,
foot ball especially, are financially
able OF send big teams, while the
smaller ones are fortunate If they
can send as many as five represen-
tativeS.
Clubs Load Up" With Collegians.
1t is a we'll known fact that at the
close of each college year the ath-
letic clubs load up" with the best
college timber. In the middle west
there is a conference rule which
prevents an athlete from competing
Tor an athletic club while he is in
college. In other sections, however
the star college men are pledged to
some athletic organization the mo-
ment they show signs of promise.
AS result of this loading up
process the athletic clubs are able to
send as many as 80 to 100 athletes
into an important set OF games
This is the reason why the struggle
for first places in all open meets
generally rests between two to flve
organizations. The smaller clubs
are hopelessly shut out of first
place hopes because the larger ones
have so many entries.
Naturally there are strong argu-
ments both for and against limiting
the number of track entries. Cali
fornia journeyed clear across the
continent last May and won the
eastern intercollegiate with Il
athletes by half point over Har-
ward. The meet was held at Cam.
bridge, and the Crimson institution
was represented by every athlete
who had a possible chance.
Many Preliminary Heats Required
Rules exist whereby certain
number of performers can be nom
mated for each event, but only a SCI
number may start. This ruling re-
duces the fields to limited number
but in recent years it has beer
necessary to hold prcliminaries in Z
number of events on the previous
. day.
Every track and field coach strive:
for team balance. He wants to have
n,en in every event who can score
Many mentors claim this even bal
ance cannot be reached with a
limited team, while others believe i
will lead to a greater specialization
and that the coaches will concen
trate on the development OF a ieN
men who will come through despite
the competition. At any rate. more
representation would be received
from smaller colleges and clubs
the team entries were limited, &c
f,.o,,,s, coaches