Evening star., 1939-10-01
Larry Conant, Former
Co||egian, Makes
RD 49,, =
En- Win, Too
4
IS and IS Founders Aim
To Duplicate Perfect
Record Of 1888
BY ROBERT HENRY.

Provided you're young, little and
strong, a great spot awaits you in the
local peewee football sun, and
whether you make the team-it's a
cinch that you'll enjoy these brisk
autumn days learning how to play
the game as taught by Larry Con-
ant, coach of the Cleveland Clip
pers.
For the past six years Conant,
former Exeter and M. I. T. athlete,
has been gathering a group of kids
ranging from 9 to 13 years of
age and weighing between rs and
100 pounds and teaching them how
to play the game, which includes,
football, baseball and the game of
life.
He's had unusual success and is
satisfied that he has enjoyed it as
much as his youngsters. The highly
gratifying results in number of
games won is incidental to the
knowledge that he has shown hum
dreds of kids how to act under diffi-
cult circumstances.
Self Reliance Is Taught
II teach them," he said the other
day while watching group of them
scrimmage at Tilden Field in Rock
Greek Park, ''how to play football,
but more important, how to take
care of themselves, how to respond
when the going gets tough, and how
to take it, They're all mighty inn
portant in this world and it's sur
prising how quickly they catch on"
The 'idleness is bad for kids"
philosophy is responsible for the
present Clipper team. About six
years ago group of Cleveland Park
parents. including Conant, decided
that their children should have
something definite to do after the
3 o'clock bell dismissed school. Con-
ant offered his services and since
then has seen the outfit grow from
a mere handful to a bunch of 80
eager boys.
The word "eager" is conservative,
as any one seeing them go through
their PAGES would realize They're
positively rambunctious, perhaps be-
cause they know it will take quite
some pep and drive to repeat their
undefeated season of last year,
which saw them run up 211 points
to their opponents II in a dozen
games.
Study Plays at Odd Moments l
This fall Conant is minus several
star members of last years team,
many having outgrown the age and
weight limits. However, several new
prospects are showing great form in
these afternoon practice sessions,
which are held on Mondays. Tues
days, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Conant goes about teaching the
boys in we'll established, systematic
manner. Besides showing them how
to escape needless injury and the
various fundamentals of the grid
iron game, he gives each a card on
which is printed six or seven fairly
intricate plays, all of which have
stood the test of time
In fact, just to make sure they
were sound plays, Conant sent them
to many leading college and profess
sional coaches, who have given the
plays their hearty approval. The
boys carry these cards around with
them and give plenty of study to
each. Its better than blackboard
practice" they say.
Two Teams Organized
The number of boys out this year
has made it possible to schedule
games for two separate teams, one
averaging about 95 pounds and the
other about IS. On the big" team
Conant is depending on Sandy Lyle,
fullback; Peegee Lee, blocking back;
his son Bill, quarterback, and Bobby
Needham, husky guard. Two BROTH
ers, jeff and Bill Metzel, both new
comers, are fighting for places in the
line, as is Frank Marvaso, speedy
end, who shows ability at snaring
passes.
The midget outfit, which is no
pushover for the larger boys, is re-
lying on Dutch Leonard, who pre-
fers football to ice cream, and Bobby
Stout, who is set to follow in the
footsteps of his brother William,
who starred at left guard last year.