Coaching and Care of Athletes

COACHING AND CARE OF ATHLETES in order that they may function more efficiently when they become warm, it is well to remember that the first responses of the muscles to exercise are irregular, and therefore are liable to cause erratic performances. This is a state of things which the athlete must try to avoid both in training and in competition. What he must try to achieve is a uniform optimum condition of the whole organism in which the muscles will be able to contract properly. His object will be attained by limbering up thoroughly while wearing his sweat suit. When the temperature of the body is raised all the vital processes go on more quickly, and there is a more ready response, because the tone of the muscle substance is also improved. Finally, the responsiveness of the muscles is equalized by the improvement in circulation and respiration which is brought about by limbering up: In this way the athlete ensures the production of steady and reliable performances. Directly the limbering-up process has corrected the erratic tendencies which at first appeared, and has brought about regu– larly increased activity, responses better than those which have preceded them will be in evidence. Functional activity produces a certain degree of irritability, which is known scientifically as the 'staircase phenomenon,' by reason of its step-like character. When the staircase phenomenon h'as been produced it may be main– tained for varying periods, and excellent performances will be done, but the time for which the phenomenon remains in evidence is dependent upon the stage of training which the athlete has reached. The staircase phenomenon is said to be due to the formation in the muscles of chemical substances which cause these· muscles to give better responses. As I have said, training supr,lemented by proper limbering up will allow the staircase phenomenon to be maintained for a considerable period, perhaps throughout the whole contest. This is very important, because it must be obvious from what has been said already that the athlete will produce his best performances while the staircase phenomenon is fully maintained. Here, I think, an additional word of explanatio:p. is probably necessary in relation to the staircase phenomenon as concerning various events. If the athlete requires but one peak effort, as in a roo yds. sprint or a 120 yds. hurdles race, then obviously he will get his best effect towards the end of the staircase phenomenon, and that may imply a much longer and more strenuous limbering-up 1 54