SPORTS CENSUS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 13

SPORTS CENSUS

CLASSES OF EXERCISE

CULTURE.OF THE BODY

DEFECT IN EDUCATIONAL

SYSTEM.

(By James Doyle.)

The Government Statistician proposes to compile a sports census of the Dominion, and in that connection an article recently appeared in "The Post" pointing out how the census ' would/be of value in showing what proportion of the young, people of the Dominion spent their leisure time in sport. It was stated, inter alia, that the matter was one of national importance, as it .had a directbearing upon public health. Our educational system ia admittedly one of the best possible, but has at least one serious defect. The wonderful advance during the last, fifty years, it will be noted, has bee* mostly on tile intellectual side, the culture of the body being left to the quackV and the antiquated gymnasium, which is-useless. I-have no hesitation in saying that notwithstanding the "quack" and the inadequate methods employed iii the schools; the scientific care of the body is still non-existant. Without going into details the question arises :• Is the highly-educated weakling of more value to society than the robust ignoramus? I don't think he is, bet ft ise the highly-educated weakling cannot transmit his intellect to his children;; but he cannot avoid transmitting his bodily disadvantages; while the robust ignoramus may get education, or his progeny may have greater facilities for procuring it. .-.'■■ The writer of the article ■ referred to stated- that there are 14,000 bowlers in the Dominion, and he noted the large proportion of young men, which,- he said, disposed of the idea that bowls is an old man's game. It would perhaps be nearer the. truth to say that it is a suitable and pleasant exercise for men in their declining years. This suggests the question: Is the present generation, as virile as its predecessor? I think not.' Bowls is for elderly people perhaps the most fascinating, sociable, and levelling of all games. A man takes his place on the green in accordance with his ability as a bowler and •'his personal .character, and not because of his social position. Speaking with wide experience of nearly "every branch of athletics, I may ; say that fifty years ago no -healthy young man would care to be known" as a bowler. The reasons may be: the introduction of labour-saving machinery into;every department of industry, the consequent crowding of people into large .manufacturing centres, where the conditions of life aTe less favourable and the necessity for personal effort (which is, in effect, bodily training] almost absent. This latter' is an important factor. Specialisation and professionalism are other factors, but is the professional athlete or specialist of any practical use?

.. SPORT AND .SELF-CONTROL. Sports generally may be divided into two classes—sport that provides for exercise only, and sport that provides exercise, and, in addition, has a tendency to develop qualities which come into practical use in after life, when the athlete and his records are forgotten. Among the latter I would place boxing easily first, because it develops more qualities which may be of permanent ■ value in facing the real business of life than any other. For example, the first lesson the boxer learns is to keep his temper. He haa to learn this, because every, time he loses it he is reminded in. ,the. most forcible manner of his fault, and everyone knows' that in batt/e, in business, or in debate, he who loses bis- self-con-trol is at a disadvantage. .It also teaches fortitude. The boxer will not be cast down in spirit by being knocked down in body, and he will often, by fortitude and perseverance, turn'seeming defeat into victory. The same remarks, apply to football; it develops force of character, which is invaluable in life.

Wrestling is now an extinct sport, more is the pity. It flourished during the last century, and it is worthy of note that when wrestling and prize fighting were in fashion the British (and there are no finer men in the -world) were preeminent in athletics; now they are not. "What is the remedy? Physical education is surely as important as mental education. Therefore, it should form part of our educational system, which should include a physical culture department. Athletes would thenjhave the advantage of scientific direction. I wonder how many modern trainers know anything of the first principles of physiology as applied to athletics, the phenomena of correct breathing in its relation to blood aeration, the function of the digestive organs, the danger of excessive cigarette smoking and inhalation of tobacco smoke, gum chewing, and the neglect of an upright carriage, etc. Although it might be rash-to say that these matters are not understood generally, I. have not met one trainer who knows anything about the business beyond rubbing- a man down. In any case, they don't advertise it! ,

The gymnasium is.an antiquated institution of little or no;use. The apparatus, mainly tiie horizontal bar, trapeze,, Roman rings,- etc., is eminently calculated to develop the pulling muscles. If the development of a first-class gymnast and a monkey is compared, the striking similarity will be at. once noted. The biceps, pectoral trapezias, and^ deltoid are almost identical, with the advantage on the side of the monkey, because, being of arborial habits, the pulling muscles are in constant use. With the gymnast, however, when he leaves the gymnasium, he loses his ability to emulate tiie monkey. Nature reasserts herself, and the abnormal development (never of any practical use) disappears.

GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

A young man who takes up athletics with the sole object of winning* an athletic contest is, to a great extents wasting his time in bodily training. There is"'a much greater, a much more important object involved—the object should be to develop, and to conserve the bodily powers so that he might live logger, live better, and extend his period of usefulness as a member of society. The athlete per se is of no use in the world except, as an example, or as ah incentive to the proper care of the body. It is not given to everyone to be strong, but everyone can be improved, and everyone owes a duty to himself to improve. Facilities should be provided by the authorities. ••

Athletic bodies such as control sports having a tendency to • develop qualities which make for good citizenship should be subsidisod, or, at least, relieved from avoidable taxation. More playgrounds should be provided, teachers should be qualified, and the department should be guided by a man of scientific as well as practical knowledge. Swimming is one of the best of exercises, and probably one of the most useful and, with the facilities at hand, one of the most easily acquired arts. When one thinks of the number of deaths from drowning in the Dominion "in the year on« wonders why it is not subsdiseu and made compulsory in schools.