Why? The Science of Athletics

I22 WHY?-THE SCIENQE OF ATHLETICS Staleness is another .condition which is Staleness almost inseparable from athletic training and competition, although it does not afflict all athletes ; it is much more likely to occur late, rather than early, in the training period. This condition is not easy to define or explain, and even the rriost experienced of coaches cannot always save their charges from going stale. Harry Andrews, whose quali– fications no one can question, since he trained Shrubb, Holbein and Morton, says in his book Training (or Track, Field and Road, "No ru1e or regulation, no patient care or watchfulness, is of the slightest protection against the sudden and often disastrous appearance of staleness." But Andrews' book was written best part of twenty years ago- and athletic science has made great strides during the post-war period. To-day we are at least able to recognize the early symptoms of staleness in athletes and to take measures to bring about a speedy recovery ; while it is often possible to tide a youngster through the difficult period without his ever suspecting that he has bee.n threatened with the unpleasant state of staleness which, while it lasts, takes all the joy out of life. Before considering that questiop further, let us agree that a properly designed scheme of training should lead to nothing but the improvement of the athlete day by day, provided the preparation is watched over by a coach who knows his job and understands the psyc}wlogy of his pupil. That is the first and often the principal consideration. The athlete should feel fit and he should be happy, he should want to get to work, not for the sake of seeing _ if he can do better than he did yesterday, or last week, but just for the sheer joy that comes from activity when one is physically fit. Work, too, should be followed by that delightful, contented tiredness, when there is almost a desire to purr under the stroking of the masseur's hands, for that sort of tiredness means that fatigue is being followed by rapid recuperation.