Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

174 SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS ready for the kick, which will generate the impulse for the spring forward. Now, if the first style is used, the left leg may be kicked high and then brought down in front of the body to the level of the right external ankle-bone; simultaneously the right knee is bent, and the athlete lunges forward in the spring. (See fig. 72, nos. 1 to 8.). But if the other, and we really think the better, method is to be employed, then, after the leg has been kicked high and straight t0 the front, it will be swung down again and up to the rear of the right leg (sketch 2, p. 171), thus causing the body to go forward and the right elbow to come up and overset the athlete's point of balance, so that if he did not bend the right knee and spring forward by straightening out the right leg he would land on his face. In order to make the spring properly, the left leg is swung through to the front just as the right leg is thrust out, and the athlete glides forward and lands firmly .on both feet with the left foot well against the toe-board and the right foot at the centre of the circle (sketch 3, p. 171). NoTE.– In the hop forward the feet must pass as close to the ground as possible. The second photo of R. S. Woods (fig. 68) shows the athlete springing forward, but his left foot- is a little too high above the ground for the true gliding action ; however, he has the body held nicely low for getting all the abdominal muscles at work later, and also for getting in a good arm drive. This picture demon– strates very clearly how the power comes from under upwards. It is a matter of controversy as to how far the initial spring should carry the athlete into the circle, it being held by some people that the front foot should