Athletic Training

PHYSICAL CONDITION 5 In addition to the technical training, which I shall describe at length in the various chapters, there are certain requisites of good physical condition common to every person who aspires to become athletic. Of prime importance, I should name cleanliness. A clean, healthy body is the first essential to hecoming a good athlete. I am, therefore, a firm believer in the health-giving properties of the early morning bath, followed by a vig– orous rub-down, deep breathing, and a few simple calisthenic exercises. The best morn– ing bath is a shower, but the majority of my readers will not have facilities for it. A tub bath is virtually as .good, and if that is not possible either then practi.cally the same re– sults can be obtained by a sponge bath with a bowl. If the athlete can take a cold bath, so much the better, but if that has a bad reaction upon his system the chill should first be taken off the water. The bather can tell for himself which is better. If after the cold bath he experiences a warm glow he need have no fear of its ill effects, but if he is inclined to be anremic and the bath leaves him uncomfort-