The New York herald., 1922-04-09
A. A. U. TO CONTROL
GIRLS ATHLETICS
Indications at Conference
That National Body Will
Soon Be in Charge.
ny LUCY CALHOUN.

Are girl athletes good sports? Will
they in competition on the field treat
their opponents with sportsmanlike
courtesy?
These questions were brought out
yesterday in meeting of amateur
Hotel McAlpin to discuss with repre-
sentatiyes OF the Amateur Athletic
Union the question of Standardization
and regulation of field and track ath-
letics for girls. in preparation for their
competition in the 1928 Olympic games.
That American girls would compete In
such events was confidently predicted.
I'VE have asked you to meet to-
gether because there is no longer any
doubt that athletics for girls in an es-
tablished fact" said William C. Prout
OF Boston, president of the A. A. u. ad-
dressing an audience composed of rep
resentatives of Industrial concerns
schools and various athletic clubs In
five States. "The time has come fol
properly regulating the girls athletics
Numerous Requests Received.
Numerous requests have come In
from clubs in the A. A. u. asking that
girls events be put on field day pro-
grams. There is a great demand. and
I agree that the women of America
should be put upon the same physical
basis as the women of other countries
We don't want to let them get too far
ahead OF u.s. He called upon his audi
ence for a show of hands. rs there
cry one opposed?''
Miss Nita Sheffield Of the New York
Teachers College arose.
II am not opposed to athletics Tor
girls" she said, but I must point out
the dangers even Of intercollegiate com
petition in these events. Even with
medical supervision disasters have oc-
Cured. Ought we not to get the support
Of the medical profession?'
Mr.. Prout declared that he had. DIR.
Dudley A. Sargent OF Cambridge has
been much interested in this subject"
he said, "and has expressed himself In
favor of regulation of track and field
athletics for girls, Just as they are regu-
lated for boys. The girls have become
athletes. We can't stop them. We must
simply standardize their games" He
mentioned five or six other medical au-
thorities who were interested, including
Dr. Copeland. Health Commissioner OF
New York.
Question Of Health.
education in the Newark IN. J.) schools.
-
the health of circus lady athletes. 1T
was discovered that they were not
muscle bound" said he. They have as
healthy children as any women. : 1t
seems to me that we need something In
this country to make our women more
vigorous. The girls are keenly inter-
tested Let us help them to grow into
healthy women" He said that in a meet
of the Eastern District American Physi-
cal Education Association to be held in
Newark April 20, 21 and %. there were
to be various field events for girls, races,
hurdles, &C.
You women in the colleges may not
need the help Of the A. A. IT, said
Miss Charlotte Epstein, who repro
sented the Women's Swimming Asso-
citation of New York. but the girls out
side do They want 1t, and they ought
to have it,
well" Mr. Prout suggested tact
fully, I'VE need not interfere with OF
foist our advice upon the women's col
leges. but we can seek their coopera-
ton by asking that they send a mem
ber to sit on our committee and lend
us her aid
DR.. Harry E. Stewart of New Haven.
Chairman of the Women's National
Track Athletics Committee, urged that
help be forthcoming to send small
track team of American girls to the
international meet to be held in Paris
this August. He threw something OF
a bomb into the meeting by telling OF
the decision of one woman's college
which withdrew its girls from competi-
tive athletics because "the girls could
not treat their opponents with cour-
tesy." :.
~ do not believe that was the fault
of athletics or girls he said. The
fault Law somewhere else. But would
not more practice in the art o. grace