Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

MANAGEMENT OF A MEETING 231 of any really well-known athletes who have entered should be advertised in the local press, on posters, and, if the place is big enough, by means of sandwich– men on the day of the meeting. In this way local people become .interested, and are induced to attend the meeting. Several days before the meeting a programme should be sent to each athlete who has entered, together with his competitor's ticket. Another matter to be considered is the choice of officials, and this is of the greatest importance ; inefficien,t officials lead to confusion in the arena, and put the competitors out of temper- remember that the athlete is ever a nervous, highly strung individual. The fewer the officials the better, so long as there are enough to adequately manage the meeting. First, the secretary must be a good organiser, used to running a sports meeting, and with a sound working knowledge of athletics and the rules govern– ing competitions. The committee should consist of two separate parts, the financial section and the sports section, the latter being made up of six or eight men thoroughly versed in all athletic matters. For the meeting itself there should be two referees, one for the field events and one for the track events ; two field-events judges and three judges for the racing, - all of whom must be thoroughly conversant with the rules governing competitions. There should be two megaphone stewards, to keep the spectators informed of what is taking place, and to announce .., details of interest; two or three timekeepers used to " clocking " races; and six marksmen to see that competitors start from their allotted marks in the handicap races, and to mark the fall of the implements