Why? The Science of Athletics

HUMAN MECHANISM 6r done superlatively well. He had the high jumper's natural eye. Few other Englishmen have ever jumped more than 6 ft. 3 ins. J. F . Michie, the Scottish Cham– pion, for example, was inches clear of the bar at 6 ft. 3 ins. when he won for Great Britain against France in I934, but at 6 ft. 4 ins. he never looked like getting over, simply because he did not know where to aim his free– leg kick, in order that he might get his body elevation at the right point in relation to the lath. Given the right kind of visual training I have no doubt that Michie would do 6 I/2 ft., or more. The Americans pay attention to these things; that is why they have dozens of jumpers beating 6 ft. 5 ins., while the negroes, E. D. Burke and C. Johnson, are reputed to have jumped 6 ft. ro ins. Waiter Marty has an accepted world's record of 6 ft. 9 r/8 ins., but the U.S.A. negroes, C. Johnson and Al. Britton, tied for the American championship, I936, at 6ft. 9 3/4 ins. The care of the eyes and their training is important in another connection, for it must be remembered that the head is the athlete's "rudder". Normally speaking, the position of the head dictates the angle of the body, and the "set" of the head is often unconsciously controlled by the direction of the eyes. In this way we know that the habit of fixing the eyes on an imaginary moving spot located on the track some I 2 to r5 yards ahead of the runner will automatically adjust his body balance to the correct angle. (See Fig. 49, Plate I2.) Similarly, if the hurdler when taking one flight will fix his eyes upon the top-rail of the hurdle next beyond it, he is less likely to take a toss by rapping the top of the hurdle he is then clearing. (See Fig. 43, Plate Io.) In conclusion, one word of advice to the athlete. Do not merely be content to let your coach teach you to u~e your eyes ; go ·to an oculist now and then and let h1m test your sight, and by an oculist I do not mean a man who sells ·spectacles and pretends to test vision, but a pukka qualified medical practitioner who specializes in eyework.