Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-11
Hours of Patient Practice
} and Long Walk, With
4 Only T,Uo Meals Under
the Belt, Required
REGULAR HOURS KEPT
BY JOE MAYER

By JOE MAIEh
NaS3enal Amateur Bllllavd Champion 1911
\ vF A football trainer or coach found
i his men in the shape my "chnrges'
are IN on the eve Of championship
match. I think he would be in despair.
I am neither trainer nor coach for
ne world famous players here to com
pete for the International Amateur IS. 2
billiard Championship at the Manufac-
I. turers' Club neat week. Rather my
3 duties are that of host.
To such persons as come in contact
with these star players now at the club,
fbe thought must come that the billiard
contestants are "stuck up" grouchy
(. and not of the linking type" They
salk the halls or practice by themselves
not minglng much in the club life. It's
easy to explain, however. The men ore
IN strictest training.
4 am sure that the average billiard
player never even thought about train
ins, especially the amateur. but to the
championship contender this Is a mat =
er Of the greatest Importance.
N There are two sides Of billiard train.
ing, physical and mental. After tell
Ing the physical requirements in this
article, will try to take up the mental
sspects on Monday and why the players
keep to themselves.
Trying Ordeal
From my own experience in train
. ing for big billiard matches and from
observation Of the players at the Manu-
iacturers' Club training for the matches
next week, know that billiard train.
ing Is the most trying of ordeals. The
physical part of it Is to put the mental
side in perfect condition.
The player arises about s o'clock
after nine hours sleep. Plenty of sleep
r. an essential part Of trimming. When
he enters tournament the player
must necessarily take vacation from
his business for a few days and, there
fore, can do rs he pleases without his
desk to worry him..
80 he saunters down to a leisurely
breakfast about 0 80. He has re-
Hricted himself to two meals during
his training session and, therefore, eats
a hearty breakfast.
Long Walks
After that lie will 60 outdoors for
trisk walk. The players here generally
take turn down Broad street, two or
three miles in all.
Returning refreshed and in good
kulhor. the player now takes his cue
from its case and settles down to a
long session of practice. The usual
procedure is to play the shots as they
come. When one Is missed the player
tries again. playing 1t over and over.
His practice session lasts until he be-
gins to tire. In all, the players make
II rule to get in from four to five
hours Of rehearsal each day.
:. They. are careful. however, not to
overdo 1t, as this will develop what we
csll "tired" stroke, the result of
being physically and mentally fatigued.
He allows himself time to rest up
before dinner, which he sits down to at
o'clock in the afternoon. 1t is sec.
ond and last meal of the day. lie
makes 1t good one.
The dinner of billiard player il
generally soup, followed by assteak and
plenty of fixings. SO long, once more,
ss there is nothing fried or greasy in
cluded. He generally omits dessert,
particularly pastries.
Substantial Food
Broiled chicken or any broiled meats
provide change from steaks and. of
course, there is plenty of variety in
the matter of vegetables. The careful
billiard player Is exceedingly particu-
lar of his diet, at the same time eating
heartily of good, substantial food.
He is cautious not to overload the
stomach. 1t is we'll known that the
condition of the nervous system affects
the digestion.
A player always allows four hours
1t least between eating and playing a
match. The normal time for digestins
food is from an, hour to two hours. But
for billiard players before a match it
g four hours, due to the keyed-up con-
bition Of the nerves.
He takes his ease after dinner. on
days Of training, probably practicing
an hour or two before retiring. The
hour for that is II o'clock. When he
goes to bed 1t is to sleep.
Too early is as bad as too late.
On Monday ] will toll Evening Public
Leoger readers tho HOw's md Why's Of