Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-02
CARL A. HUMMEl
On New idea In Athletic TralnlnQ


A NEW idea and one which is working
n out admirably in mass athletic training
is now being put into effect in philadelphia.
according to Carl A. Hummel, supervisor
Of athletics for boys in the public schools. i
athletic work" said Mr.. iiummeI. as
lines, especially when applied to mass train ain.
ing. Therefore some innovations have been
made and they are working very success
fully. To illustrate one Of the main prim,,,
ciples which we are now following. VIII
speak Of representative track meet ,,A,t AZ
schools Of this city, at kensington. whicm
comes off in n day or so, each schooi VIII
send eighty boys. divided into four teams
OF twenty each
These eighty will be the honor students
in the track and field work of the year and
they represent the pick of from 1900 to 1900
pupils.
Eliminating the star
1.-The great point Of this system is that
it will eliminate the star because each
of the members of the four teams will take
part in every athletic event.. The points
scored by each individual will 60, not TO
him, but to his school. Then the totals Will
contestants and the average thus obtained
will be the average of the school for the
event. The total of the points in the
various events will be the average OF the
school for the day and the meet
This course has number of distinct
advantages. In the first place it does away
with the possibility that any one or two
athletic boys can run away with the meet,
and, in the second place. it does away with
the danger Of over specialization III the sew
eral events.
'But perhaps the greatest and best of
all is the effect which this method Of
scoring has upon the less brilliant OF the
contestants. The child which needs athletic
training the most is usually the one who
does not rank at the very top. The one who
does this is usually sufficiently interested IN
the snort to do his best under any circum-
stances and does not need the opportunities
so much as do some others. This method
of scoring puts them all on level. as az
school and not to the credit of any one con-
testant.
Many Field Days Held
"We are trying to get away from the
spectacular In athletics and work, not only
in the mass. but to encourage those exer-
cises which have been found to be the most
beneficial to the children. Formerly only
the best were chosen to represent the school
we nre getting to the idea of playing games
with greater numbers We now have ten
volleySaIl courts and ten captainball courts,
so that twenty teams are able to play the
games at the same time. Thus within two
hour. every child in n school will take part
in the game.
"Therc are four essentials in athletics
runninp. jumping, throwing and climbing
All games are simply some form of these
four essential athletic activities; there is
nnthing else, as every activity falls into
one OF these four classihcations. To test
The all.rOund athletic ability of a child
oil that is necessary is to test his ability
IN one activity in each of the four groups.
dumping is one of the most valuable ea.
| ,rard was taken when it was decided to have
iumping pit placed In every yard OF the
";ty Throwing, running and climbing can
10 done equally we'll with a cement or brick
| Sard, but the jar In jumping Is too great 10
ia safe on so hard a surface. Therefore n
| bos been decided to take out eight of the
! cement blocks in every yard which has the
il.cement yards and put In jumping nit
| OF sand.
| Increase In Interest
..The increase in interest in otb,ot,os
| has been very noticeable on The part ~ ,hs
Younger people during the last three ycar.
| IL was undoubtedly fostcred 10 n conSiG :
cradle extent by the war years, but il ha:
been retained and we are doing all we can
to stimulate 1t. 81"
'"The children practically conduct thos,
athletic councils themselves and tbev o.o
closely linked up with the regular scbnnI
work. Each class has two teams and thn
captains of these teams form the councm ,ie
The teacher or principal acts only in m
advisory or guiding capacity to see that n"
1 sevtous false steps are taken. Thus The
l chiidven est practical 0emonstratis, -
the real elements Of democratic government ~