Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

THE POLE-JUMP 119 to the upper one as the right hand is above the head, and to turn the body face downwards as the bar is crossed. With reference to the sliding up of the lower hand, it is as well to point out, for the guidance of the tyro, that the hand is only slid up as far as the top one, and by the rules of the game "the top hand must not shift its grip, nor may the lower pass above the upper hand once the pole has been planted." The question of diet is of importance to the pole– jumper. His food must be light, wholesome, muscle building, 'and likely to improve the nerve forces and staying powers without materially adding to the jumper's weight; for the light man runs far less risk of injuring himself thari does his heavier brother. The pole-jumper, in addition to the development of the lower limbs, of course including the perfection of springy feet, must possess a fine development of arms and of the muscles of the upper half of the trunk (see photographs of musculature of A. E. Flaxman, in Chap. XV). When crossing the bar, the athlete must hold himself in a horizontal position parallel to it. In this attitude he has to support himself practically by his clutch of the pole, and support his weight with the upper limbs; therefore a great feat of strength has to be accomplished by the muscles of the front of the chest and back, by which the arms are attached to the body. The jumper is much in the position that gymnasts attain upon the horizontal and parallel bars. The introduction of bamboo poles simplifies the effort of getting over the bar in these modern days. Their lightness and ease of poise give far greater facility of taking off for the jump. The pole can be tilted at an easy angle for the "run up," and can be