Why? The Science of Athletics

WHY?-THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS four or five hours daily, and the home study period, · which in any case imposes an undue and an unjust strain upon small muscle groups, should undoubtedly be devoted to big-muscle activity. Home-work is responsible for retarding impulsive development, that is to say, it goes ·a long way towards destroying the will to do things. Training, or, in other words, the conditioning of athletes for competition, should be made up of activities which develop individual 0rganic power ; those activities, ·however, must be free from drains and strains wh~ch might prove harmful to the individual. Finally, the creation of further organic power must be utilized for the production of impulsive power, in order that the individual may make the fullest use of his newly acquired organic capacity. As the athlete, be he boy .or be he man, develops, so he must be kept interested, by being challenged with fresh activities. In no circumstances must his training become hackneyed.