Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-07-18

rss.Ss ON. 49," ~" 1"> 1'"'"'
when an entry culver. n in some competition where h rponxh.
- trained upon h scene there is always a widespread human tendency to
drs IN the old phrase. Lack of nerve"
Tn. study u nerve in competition is easily h. most interesting of all
subjects connected with sport. a it las a deep. general appeal Yet ursets
ocou ven more frequently in this department than in n other adjacent
TAX. tn. a.s of Hodcrness. present British amateur golf champion
For years Ioidcrncss as been n of tho great shot makers of h game.
AZ . sty1Mt he ranked by only me or two ron h tot crest. Yet
Holderns. had a way Of weakening at tho finish. of slipping with tho goal
in sight of just losing It when he seemed to hav. vctouy within easy reach
The rcsult WINS that Holderness some time back found himself unconsideredA
whom probable winners were discussed.
And then. the British championship of 1892 gets under way. Through
after match the san Hoa~ne.. battles along with courar and up-
ususi fortnuda He is fMe o face With extremely critical oments more
than nca only o rise above tem and fight hts way out. H esto the
.,u. where, the cal upon n.V. control M fortrude IS veil a. mo-
skin. Is loud N clear. Yet Holderness survives h issue by one OF tho
Eamest OF all finishes, being forced to sink a tweive-foot putt It a moment
when h. seemed to have tn. match easily in hand.
Holderne~ happened to b e a player who is Tot physically strong This
physical lack is frequently responsible for weakening where the defeot is
charged against nerve or ourase One mar IA come to a critical ,o,
ron n fresh and break his way through. The other may ito tn
same test we'll wor down. with his vitality Mt a low ebb. where hc finds it
impossible to respond to the call He may be ven more rau or sout
hearted than n the man and yet break To- in h stretch.
One of the most peculiar physiological upsets that We know OF involves
the former. possessing greater skill. IA supposed 70 be the n who would
show greater nervousness at the moment Of impact. The latters grim night
in qualities. and strong determination. mixed with co1nos wero 700 ~n
known. Yet II the big test of their careers 1t WIS Nile. Ienglen who seemed
20 70 cooler.
Apart o her xr... skill. which was generally known, ,, 1enrsn
had never heen ahs o control her temperamcntsI emotions when tho sit
uaton hecarn. a uihe vivid. Yet at tho great moment of her tennis. career
she wa, :. 90 as n no,n,n. tpportan WI, at stall. M omv . nnno. t~o
was 10 be considered. 1t my he thai before he matchs he felt herself to be
at tho top o. Ter best form. Or 1t MAJ be that a spell o eary nervousness
and excitement, through it's intensity. had WORT away, bringing back a new
serenity OF mind.
This natter Of nerve control Is often beyond m diagnosis Each com
pet"r finds momen when he is extremely ervou when there is no a-
parent reason for III Again. at other tests. he finds himself COG and
collected where h 70 had expected to ind a nervous crash. PNt of this may
lbe o a physical condition and part to a mental state that has slipped
in upon him without warning
There N stat Of mind in football that IS general. This Is, extreme
NERVOUSNESS upon the part OF every player just before n kickoff. We have
never seen ny n vas not hit in this way. Yet in almost every instance
tirn nervous trmor wears aw~ after he first tackle or M first rush. The
violent physical contact MAJ jar the whhlnS emotions back into place or
the swift ruh O combat mny make n forget everything eMe 1t is a rare
renxans in that state aner n nrt play or W unless he happens to "a the
Iback h II booked to handle kicks sin a p,zling wind Under these conditions
II he misses tn nrt punt he Ne remain upset Throughout, h enttrs con-
test.
The tandnncy 70 refer 70 ia contestants a yellow Is badly operdone
A player - frequently weaken mainly through knoxledse that he
hasn't the necessary sknl TO meet the test at hand This is bound TO break IN
his confidence to a certAne extent We have ceen stout-hearted golfer. wesker
badly st certain Intervals. because they knew for hat N day they were
badly OF were not hitting their shots properly.
the nerve and courage n the world and there are other days when he ma,
break down n seem TO quit under na Those nerve shifts come with IA
greater swrtnes than IN shift IN physical ability.
No small part Of nerve controlc comes from physical skill We have s>r
sevsrnls star bail players. sol under fro when trying to ut tho corner in
World Series gam show a wild futter q nerves when trying to sink a three
foot putt with e few dollars at stake. In the first case physical ability cav
them nerve control n confidence. In The second cae. lack OF physical shuu,
hroke down their control Al left them noundering badly. unab to get bsc
their mental balance.
latter the former nay easily crack into a number Of scattered fragments.