Athletic Training

FOOTBALL INJURIES 167 all of the injuries and the few fatalities attrib– uted to football could have been avoided by using ordinary common sense such as I have indicated. Precisely as I pointed out in dis– cussing the treatment of injuries among track athletes, the great majority of injuries in foot– ball can also be avoided ·by the use of care and common sense. No person should par– ticipate in a football game until he has been in training long enough for his muscles to be properly hardened and for his endurance to be well developed. Not only this, but a player should be taken out of the game when he is exhausted. It is at such times that nine-tenths of the injuries are re– ceived. As long as football remains a game in which there is so much physical contact, those who play it will be subject to the usual num– ber of minor injuries. If what I have said about physical condition is observed and the right kind of costume worn, most of these acci– dents can be prevented. I am a strong be- · liever in plenty of padding, which should be placed beneath the suits rather than sewed on the outside.