An Athletics Compendium

E 52-61 Training forAdults formulae are invoked. Of the authors, Webster's name is well known; Dr. Pryoe-Jenkins was a rugby international anRd. Vivian Mostyn a County Cricketer and 'expert ainthletic dynamics'. 52 Training, and how to keep always/fitCharles Walker Cathcart. Edinburgh: Livingstone, 1921. 52p BL: 7383.dd.21 53 Practical athletics and how to tr/ainAlec Nelson. London: Pearson, 1924. 132p; illus; index BL: 7911.dd.39 Nelson was coachto Cambridge University AC. Tihsis one of the finest books aolln-round athletics written up to this time. The book is strongest ruonning but also surprisingly good sounch unfashionable evenatss the triple jump and pole vault. ^ Subsequent ed. E65 54 Track & fieldathletics: a book onhow to train/ S. A. Mussabini. London: Foulsham, 1924. 94p; illus Spine title: Field <&Track Athletics BL: 12209.ppp.8/18 Reprinted as Modern track and field athletics in1931 and 1937, 55 Athletics / F. A. MW.ebster; illustrated by A. W. Close. London: Allen & Unwin, 1925. 224p; illus (British sports library) BL: 07908.e.22/4 56 The secret of athletic training / Harry Andrews and William S. P. Alexander. London: Methuen, 1925. xi, 152p; illus BL: 7904.ee.24 A backward-looking view of athletics training. Only three years later the Abrahams brothers p duced a book, Training for Athletes which is years ahead in outlook. This book is mainly devoted to trainingfor running and walking andhas an interesting chapter by Joe Binks on marathon-training. Andregwivses high priority to massage (decried in a later chapter by Binks) and includes a rather involved chapter on sprinting style abou' the mechanical sprint style' and 'the modified chop and full stretch stride'. On the credit side, he comes out strongly against the Mussabini cross-arm action and gives a great deal of solid, practical advice. 'The object of massage is to remove poisonous substances frtohme muscles(and can be employed with most excellenrt esults itnhe case Ionffluenza), strengthen tshineews and ligaments, promote growth of bone and muscle, andtone up thenervous system so asto create perfect co-ordination between it and the muscular energy.' 57 Track and field:principles and details of training and practice for each event / Thomas E. Jones London: Scribner's, 1925. xiv, 214p BL: Mic.A.8210(8) (microfilm copy) Jones was coach thteo University Wof isconsin. 58 Athletics / Harold M. Abrahamfosr;eword by Sir Montague Shearman. London: Harrap, 1926. 126p; illus (Masters of sports) BL: 7920.aaa.l1/7 59 Illustrated text-book oafthletics / Carl Silfverstrand and Moritz Rasmussen. London: Athletic Publications, 1926. 190p; illus Forewordby H. B. Stallard; translation of:lllustr. laerbogifrijdraet BL: 7906.ccc.39 60 Running, walking andjumping: track and fieldathletics, a book on how to trai/nS. A. Mussabini. London: Foulsham, 1926. 94p; illus (Foulsham's sports library; no. 6) BL: X.629/6605(6) This must have seemed an old-fashioned approach, even in1926. Mussabini wasprobably the last thoef old-time trainer-coaches and h d a highly successful career, specialising maininlythe training of sprinters. The chapters on running are fairly sound, but those on field events are extremeplyoor. One illustrative high- jump sequence, purportedly of Lewden (France), has the jumper changinhgis take-off leg several timesin mid-sequence — a skill calculated to puzzle the cleverest. 61 Training for athletes / H. M. Abrahams and A. Abrahams in collaboration with Lord Burghley, D. G. A. Lowe, F. R. Gaby, B. HowarBdaker and M. CN. okes. London: G. Bell, 1928. viii, 189p; illus BL: 07912.ff.23 This book was well ahead of its timein outlook. The general chapters on training are undoubtedly the best written up to thispoint, and could be followed with profit even today. The athletic sections are given over tospecialists (wasas thechapter on training, written by Sir A. Abrahams) and represent the best in practical knowledge available at the time. Abrahams, undoubtedly under the influence of the great coach 5. A. Mussabini, stresses cadence rather than stride-length in sprinting, a view which modern coaches have rejected. Similarly, his comments on the value of the hitch-kickhave since been nullified. M. C. Nokes contributes a chapter on hammer-throwing which is a technical and literary gem. In discussing certain of the field events, the authorsreflect the insularity then prevalent in English athletic circles. 'The only events excludeadre the hop, step and jump, throwing the discus and javelin and the pole jump. The first-named calls for no special consideration; the discus and javelcinannot be considered to beBritish events; whilst the pole-jump, although originally an English pastime, now failsto secure any considerable following in this country, and there is not at the present time any exponent in England who is in a position to write with authority.' [ 100 ]