The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-09-06
SIllI7lfY

One of the methods to be used this
and subsequent weeks to develop the
muscles of the boys who come out for
football at the High School is known
as the Grass Drill.
Tho Grass Drill is an extraordinary
means of development for the long
boys, whose back muscles especially
seem to need strengthening. And for
all who participate in it, this exercise
leads to perfect muscular co-ordina-
ton through movements arduous, but
interesting, because involving both
mental and physical effort besides an
intense spirit of competition. The drill
demands and teaches immediate re-
Spouse to the word of command-an
indispensable requisite of football. 1t
also has the priceless value that the
test of endurance takes place under
the direct supervision Of the coach.
The lazy man only too easily and nat
urlally foregoes very large percent
age of the value derived from the ord
mary calisthenics, it being next to i'm
possible for the leader to discover the
lack of individual effort as the exer-
else is conducted. Again, in the ord
mary exercises one is apt to hold the
legs in too rigid position. This posi-
ton of the legs is especially to be
~ in
the contrary. shrould be made to loos-
en- the muscles of the upper leg and
to increase their flexibility and snap.
In the grass drill, the squad is lined
up at intervale. of six feet. The COM
mands are few in number, among them
being the we'll known Attention"
when each members assumes the
equally well-known position of the
soldier. The arms. in all positions
other than attention" are purposely
placed in the most clumsy and least
helpful position, in order that the
transitions from back" or 'front.' to
left" or. right" may be rendered as
difficult as possible and the muscles
less frequently used brought into ac-
ton. At these commands the squad
revolve their bodies in the fastest pos
sible manner. All movements are to
be made with the least possible motion
but with the greatest possible speed.
At the command front, if the men
are at attention, they throw their
feet behind them and fall on their
stomachs, at the same time folding the
arms so that the hands protrude from
beneath the arm-pits. If the next ocm-
mand is back" the movement, when
completed, finds them with feet and
heads in reversed positions, the body
lying supine and the arms folded be-
hand and beneath so that finger tips
protrude at the waist.
Hands, body, feet, neck. everything
in fact, is used in making the reyolv-
ing twisting movements. The purpose
is to throw the body into each sue
ceeding position with the greatest
speed and to make it difficult to get the
hands into a position to help.
One might conclude from this de-
scription that the drill is too rough
and might easily lead to broken bones.
AS a matter of fact, the boys readily
acquire the skill needed to make a
perfect fall, and, according to Major
Cavanaugh who introduced the drill
at Dartmouth, there has never been an
injury resulting from the grass drill.
The mental benefits are often as
pronounced as the physical. Just as a
boy in football scrimmage finds him
self unable to think quickly while his
body is in an unnatural position, just
so participants in the grass drill find
it difficult to follow and instantly exc
cute the commands. Ever after the
drill has been thoroughly mastered,
the mental processes demanded are by
no means simple, as greatly increased
speed is called for Logically, the drill
develops creator speed and accuracy
of thought in the boy, and the ability
to think speedily and accurately what
ever the physical dilemma.