Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-23
Psychology in Ath-
letics Taking on In
creased Importance

Crbana. ILL.,, March 22-The lncre1S-
ing Importance of psychology in ath-
letics is indicated by the recent addi-
ton of a representative of the De
partment OF Psychology tC the fac
ulty advisory staff of Coach Zuppke
at the University of Illinois. and the
establishment of a research organiza-
ton to dclve into the mysteries of
head work" on the gridiron dia-
mond, and track.
DR.. Coleman r. Griffith, Associate
in Psychology at the University, has
undertaken the task of exploring the
new field. which promises to have an
important bearing upon future coach
ing practice. Results already have
demonstrated the value oEth work,
in the view of Illinois athletic officials.
Following Il fun years experimental
ton on the local campus, in which
psychic aspects of all the major
sports will he studied. text book on
the subject will be compiled, and q
course for future coaches and athle-
tics developed for inclusion in the
university curriculum which will at
tempt to explain the psychological
phenomena of competitive games.
The work of DR.. Griffith will be
seen first as 4 factor, in the gridiron
clashes of the Illinois team next sea-
son, when the athletes, who for years
have appeared in dark blue jersies,
will be attired in blending combina-
tons of orange, canary yellow, and
white. The change is ordered by the
G. ,,,1n ~
looking from the cornc, of the eye
only certain COlorS are visible. The
football star. in picking a man for a
pass. will be greatly aided by the rain
bow-like dress of his teammates. The
baseball pitcher. basketball PLAYER,
and track cntrant. all of whom also
are forced TO rely to 4 great extent
upon indirect vision for the success
of their play. will be helped by the
new uniforms.
One of the most interesting of a
series of experiments will be made
this spring when DR.. Griffith will sub
Ject every member of the football
squad to an exhaustive series of tests
through which he will attempt to Sc
lect the personnel Of the 1922 con-
ference eleven.
Another plan Of interest to the
coach is that. to determine reactions
in the players. BY combining the
data on a large number Of athletes
Or. Griffith has Csta blished an av-
crage reaction time for competitions
in the various departments of sports.
as an index of relative mental and
muscular speed. The tests are made
with a unique instrument, the Yer
nler ChronoScOpP. which measures
| time in thousandths of a second and
may be made visual or tactual to de-
/ terminc the various types of reaction.
numerous experiments are planned
, to develop other phases of psychology
as related to athletics.
The course which Dr.. Griffith is
formulating will present data reveal
ing cross sections of the pIaver's
! mind at various moments in the
same and viii urge the practical ap-
plicatlon of psychology to the
coaches everyda:- problems. Such
questions as action attention. in
slInct. emotion. memory and person.
! ailty VIII DC treated and the prob
! icmS OF fight, selection. morale. and
| mental health, approached from a
new angle.
l. Lhlll he can make an exhaustive
study OF athletes under all conditions,
Or. Griffith refuses to call his finding
/ science. but to date his prophecies
! have checked so well with the results
obtained on the gridiron that Director
| or Athletics Huff and his staff have
great hopes for the future of The
! Psychology Of Athletics"