The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-01-27
SPORTS of TIMES
Average Size
No Handicap
By LOU FABRO
Times Sports Editor

Oftentimes a would-be athlete is ruled out Of
competitive sports for one basic reason: slze-or lack
OF it. This is especially true at large high schools and
most colleges.
a TALENTED PLAYER lacking Drawn has a
tough time making the football team; If he lacks
height, he has only a fair chance of making the basket
ball team.
Of course. there are exceptions-numerous ones.
But remember, these are only exceptions. Further
more, there are exceptions only because the players
are so outstanding that their ability far o~utWeighs
their physical disadvantage.
Even these small gifted players find many situa-
tons during contests when their lack of size works
against them.
SOCCER Is a SPORT in which an averaged-sized
guy has just as much chance to be a star as some big
bruiser. OF course a player has to develop some skills
to become a soccer star. But Drawn or ganghng height
aren't the determining factors.
This is one reason-probably the best-Why SOC
Ger has shown accelerating growth In the U.S during
recent years.
Since World War II, some 200 H.. S. colleges adopt
ed soccer as an intercollegiate sport SO that today there
are more than 800 college soccer teams in the country.
A Catholic university-St. Louis, won the 1860 Nation
al Collegiate Athletic Association soccer champion
ship. In fact, the Billikens have won the national title
two years in a row.
Many high schools also have taken up soccer,
some at the expense of football which, admittedly,
still reigns as the king of US. sports.
ALTHOUGH soccER'S POPULARITY is limited
in the u. S, it has the reputation of being the favorite
team sport in the world. Soccer game crowds in Eu-
rope ana OOuln America OIlenLlmeS are larger THAN
the crowds at football games in the U. 5. Thanks to
soccer's great popularity, Italy was able to build its
$50 million Olympic center with funds from the ma
tional soccer pool.
Soccer. which dates back to the 18th century,
actually is the sport from which the y, S. brand OF
football was developed back in 1875 when Yale and
Harvard PLAYED the first grid game.
IN FACT. SOCCER is known as football in many
countries. Actually, soccer is more deserving the
name of football than u. S. football, because the
primary means of advancing the ball in soccer is with
the foot.
Players also can use their heads and shoulders.
Only the goalkeeper is allowed to use his hands in
SOCCER TEAMS, incidentally are composed Of
IL men each. Games are played on fields approx
mately the same size as u. S. style football gridirons.
Soccer is basically a non-contact sport and thus players
are equipped only with shoes, kneelength socks, bas-
ketballtype shorts and j%ersies.
We dwell on soccer because of the comments last
week of Jim Weaver, coach of st. Mary's College
(Calif) basketball team and of Bob Kennedy. u. S,
Attorney General.
Weaver blasted educators "who are trying to kill
college athletics" He said there's no reason for
them TO stampede us. When we see how many kids
are turned down by the military service for physical
reasons, it's obvious that the nation needs to remain
in good condition.
"A BOY HAS TO BE a whole person and can't
be without benefit of intercollegiate or intramural
sports"
Bob Kennedy. broher of President John F. Ken
nedy, also cited the importance of athletics for physi-
cal fitness.
IN ACT, he STATED the new administration
SIS going to work on a program which emphasizes that
all children should participate in sports. All children
should recognize the need for physical fitness. All chill
dren should realize that excelling in sports is import
ant"
We suggest that soccer is an ideal sport in which
ALL can participate, regardless of size.