GIRLS’ SPORTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 October 1924, Page 10

GIRLS’ SPORTS.

(Australasian.) There are certain questions which periodically are revived and discussed with much beat, and then are suddenly dropped. One of these is, “Should girls be athletes?” The question is an open one, and is guaranteed to bring forth a flood of theories from doctors, school teachers, sports mistresses, and, most vehement of all—from the girls themselves. A few years ago Melbourne buzzed with discussion when a certain doctor declared that girls were in danger of becoming “second-rate boys” through aping their brothers at sport. He also declared against too strenuous sport for girls on health grounds. An English doctor has come forward with a different objection. He contends that games tend to ruin beauty, and holds that tennis spoils the figure. “Tennis enthusiasm,” he says, “causes elbow, strained muscles of the arms and legs, and fixation of sight due to keeping the eyes constantly on the hall in the blaming sun. As most women are righthanded players, the right side of their bodies become over-developed, while the soft, rounded flesh is reduced until they become lean, tough and unattractive. Moreover, the constant wearing of heelless rubber shoes makes the feet flat and ungainly, and spoils the shapeliness of the legs.” I should think that the doctor -would readily change his opinion if h© could witness most- of the, girl players at one of the wearehousemen’s tournaments in Melbourne. There the players, in their cool linens, fugis, and fresh ginghams, are a pleasing sight on the courts and none of them could be described as

“lean, tough, and unattractive.” A more broad-minded view of sportswomen has been taken by Major W. H. Marchant. director of physical education at the London Polytechnic.

“Physically and mentally,” he says, “the modern girl is far fitter than the early Victorian girl. Almost from infancy she has been brought up to share equally in the sports of her brothers and boy friends. This must have a wonderful effect on the future of the race. Its value is recognised by all authorities, who assert that within their own experience the mentality of the average girl has greatly improved. People have been declaring that the games-playing girl loses her feminity or romance ,or sentimentalism, or call it wliat you will. I do not think so. I do not think that games tend to make a girl hard or masculine. Rather, I think it broadens their outlook on life to mix more freely with her brothers.” There will always be those extremists who will oppose strenuous sport for girls, and who seek to make them lead a cotton-wool existence, and there will also be those other extremists who approve the Amazon type, and would have girls as strong as navvies. The safety line lies between these two extremes, and if ordinary common sense is used, and careful supervision is given by sports mistresses to school their girls’ sport, their games will he benificial to the players and the effect on the race will be splendid and far-reach-ing,

None of the Australian sports played by girls need be over-strenuous. School games include tennis, hockey, basketball, baseball, and running—occasionally cricket/ Each sport is in charge of a games mistress who sees that the girls are not over-exerted or subject to strain. The Girls’ Private Schools Sports Association has lately abolished all semi-final and final contests in hockey, basket-ball, and tennis, so that the strain and' excitement of these deciding matches may be avoided. Points are awarded instead for each match played during the season, and the school scoring the highest number is awarded the championship. Of all games indulged in by Australian girls- football is the only one against which fair criticism may be levelled, and as yet football has only been played by the very few. It is not, and never will be. a school game for girls: There are plenty of fine, healthy games for girls without football, and the girl who sticks to these is in little danger of losing her looks or her femininity, provided she plays them aright. Another branch of sport in which women are showing an unexpected interest is athletics. The second Women’s Olympiad was held at Stamford Bridge on Monday, and attracted a vast crowd, estimated at 25,000. It was organised by the Women’s Amateur Athletic Association, which was formed in 1922, and already controls more than 300 clubs. The rules of the association show the lines on which athletics for women are likely to progress. First and foremost, no girl is allowed to compete in any race under W.A.A.A. rules unless she is properly trained. At present the trainers are men. but in time it is hoped that women will be fitted to take up the work. Running is limited to. 1000 metres or under, and long jumping is not allowed for girls under 17. In the hurdle races the jumps are never more than 2ft. 6in. Other directions in which th© competitions differ from those of men are in the weight-putting and jayelin-throwing. Both, have been specially introduced into women’s athletic sports because they develop the important abdominal muscles, and two hands are used instead of one, as in men’s sports. The javelin is thrown with both hands, and the eight-pound shot is “put,” first with the right hand and then with the left, the total of the two “puts” being added together' in estimating the winning, score.' World’s records were broken with wonderful ease on Monday, and in some cases the women approached male times. Thus, the winner of the hundred yards took only a second longer than the standard time for men. Women’s athletics in England owe much to the -sports clubs run by the big London drapery houses, teashops. and stores. Some of these have athletic clubs, which number thousands of members. and their grounds extend over many acres. With ,sucb a large membership talent is easily found and systematic training is possible. In. a few years the standard of athletics among women nail have improved even beyond the existing standard.