Coaching and Care of Athletes

MAKING A CHAMPION forced into third place, Hill failed because of that sensational trial he had run in Yorkshire before leaving England. Good judges thought that the exceptional performance he had achieved must have taken the edge off his keenness. G. M. Moll, of Bedford School, will supply my second case. A wonderful natural athlete, Moll in 1927 made a Public Schools junior record in the high jump of 5 ft. 5 ins. when he was not yet sixteen years of age. In 1928 he was again jumping well, but came up against that phenomenal performer H. A. Simmons, of Taunton's School, Southampton, who in ·that year established the Public Schools Championships high jump record of 5 ft. rot ins. Gerald Moll was rather inclined to worry, so in the following year (I 929) I made up my mind never to let him realize his full capabilities until they were actually required. During his training for the Bedford School sports in I 929 I had Moll constantly at work in his sweat suit at heights which I was certain he could clear. In this way his style developed splendidly, and about a week before the sports we decided on a final trial. He was most eager to strip, but it was a cold afternoon for one thing, and, for another, I was particularly anxious that he still should not have definite proof of his limitations; so when he had jumped up to 5 ft. 6 ins. very easily in his sweat suit I said, "All right, Gerry; that will do for to-day." He looked rather surprised, and was more than a little anxious to go on, ' but none the less I had said what I wanted him to do, and he was quite willing to abide by my . judgment. The School sports took place a few days later, and Moll, jumping stripped for the first time that season, went up to 5 ft. IIl ins., to establish an English Public Schools record which has not yet been surpassed. With this experience to guide me I followed much,_ the same principle of training when my own son went up to Cambridge University in October 1934. The Oxford and Cambridge Sports -were to take place in March 1935, so Dick continued working easily for style during the Michaelmas term and the- Christmas vacation. When the next term started he managed to come home from Cambridge to Biddenham, a matter of perhaps thirty miles, twice a week to get his vaulting at our own private ground and under my personal supervision. Throughout the next term we took things very quietly, building G 97