GIRLS AND SPORT

Southland Times, Issue 20524, 28 June 1928, Page 8

GIRLS AND SPORT

ARE THEY OVERDOING IT?

RESTS NEEDED.

"JOLLY, BUT DANGEROUS.”

London, June 25. Are girls overdoing sport ?”

Newspapers feature Miss Betty Nut hall’s collapse in the French tournament, and suggest that experience in recent years is that moderation, especially in tennis, is forgotten in the glamour and excitement of the game with serious physical results.

Mrs Nut hall describes Betty as “mentally and physically tired out” through constant competitive playing. She will require weeks of absolute rest to recuperate before Wimbledon.

The Daily News says that Miss Nuthall’s experience opens a wide field of discussion. She is big and strong, and if tennis overfatigues her, what happens to the more fragile and more delicate girls who are not “set” physically? Despite that they are immature they play strenuous tournaments week in and week out.

Modern lawn tennis is an extremely hard exercise, and dangerous in excess, the paper adds. One tournament every three weeks is enough for a girl player.

It will be recalled that Miss Wills broke down in Paris, and was operated on for appendicitis. Miss Godfree had a period of indifferent health, and Miss Evelyn Coyyer eased off like many others. The trouble is that girls form the tournament habit, and it is not easy to shake off. It is jolly but dangerous life. Undoubtedly girls play tennis in the day and dance half the night, and thus store up a dis» astrous legacy.