Why? The Science of Athletics

I 62 WHY?-THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS 6. Press-ups. To develop strength of arms and back muscles. 7· 25-yards Swim. Gener al strength and speed, and also as a safety mea– sure. The study of the results of the scores in the various motor events produced two sets of norms, i.e., age norms and combination age-height-weight norms. The former represents an average in any event, and the latter is also an average, with weight considered as a sliding scale performance ; "standard" being the goal of achievement, represented by the score reached, or exceeded, by only I 5% of those taking part in the test. Importance of Securing Reliable Statistics As we shall see when we come to the consideration of physical types for various events, it has been possible to ascertain by measurements and records of seventy-four individuals what is the ideal build for a sprinter, and how the American Society of Directors of Physical Education in Colleges was able to supply for the preparation of Dr. Tait McKenzie's statue, The Athlete, charts of students' measurements between the ages qf r6 and 25 which had been kept by Dr. Dudley Sargent over a period of forty years, together with Dr. Paul Phillips's dimensions of sprinters and McKenzie's own statistics regarding skaters. The measurements for Dr. Tait McKenzie's glorious statue, which will survive the test of time itself as the epitome and true presentation of the ideal athlete of the twentieth century, were secured by means of a double test; since, of 400 men who had excelled in all forms of sport and had undergone the inter-collegiate strength test, the average was taken of the 50 strongest men, as revealed by the strength test during a five-years' period. The American inter-collegiate strength test is made scientifically by means of a dyna– mometer. · I have quoted the American system of measuring