Athletics (British Sports Library)

30 ATHLETICS In America every high school, college, and university has its well-qualified athletic coach, whose salary not infrequently runs into four figures a year; but we do not yet enjoy those amenities in Britain, and in the meantime it is up to games masters and parents to see that juvenile athletes do not overdo things, either in training or in the matter of too much competition in the space of a single afternoon. There is yet one more point to be dealt with. At present only a few schools include the Javelin and Discus events in their programmes, but Hammer Throwing and Shot Putting are much more common. For all these events firms like A. G. Spalding Brothers, of High Holborn, London, supply impedi– menta specially designed for the use of youths. For example, a short javelin, a 3-lb. discus, as against the men's implement weighing 4! lb., and light shots and hammers can be purchased and should be used. I emphasize this point, as it is obviously absurd to expect immature boys to juggle with hammers and shots weighing l6lb., since it is only the very strongest of fully grown and .well-developed men who can perform successfully with implements of this weight. Shots and hammers are made · in three weights. Boys under fifteen years of age should be kept to the 8-lb. shot, and boys between