Athletics

96 ATHLETICS. ought to be provided in case of breakages. The standards ought to be 6 to 8 ft. apart. Measuring. —Feetand inches oughtto be painted on the posts, but this is merelya rough guide to the height, andto ensure the bar being the same height at both sides. Measurements ought to be taken by a pole, with flat bottom, to the top side of the cross-bar, centrallybetween the standards, where the depression is greatest; from the ground below. If the pole be marked with pencil the distance caneasily be checked by measure (not the first six feet of an old tape measure; if the latter be the only thing available, take such measurements from, say, twenty feet, where there will not be so much stretch and wear on the tape). Two things only remain—to refer to the law on the subject, quoted atthe head of the article, and give a few hints by a practical authority. HINTS ON THE HIGH JUMP. By T. Jennings, President CambridgeUniversity Athletic Club, 1891 ; Winner Inter-'Varsity Sports, 1890 (5 ft. 9^in.); Amateur Champion HighJump, 1889. In high jumping, beginners as a rule make the great mistake ofrunning too hard at their jump. This isfatal for two reasons—firstly, they cannot gauge with sufficient accu­ racy the spot to take off from; secondly, itprevents spring­ ing from the ground as high as they otherwise would be able to do. A good high jumper will trust to the last three stridesto get up sufficient pace, though he will often walk up from a