graduated periods of vigorous effort and rest which follow each
other in fairly rapid succession.

This study sought to eliminate subjects suffering from ill health,
and to provide approved hygienic surroundings for participants
in the tests. The presence of illness or disease, or exercise in an
unhealthful environment, encourages the production of fatigue
materials in the worker, and adds complex factors which are not
to be considered in this report. It is assumed that vigorous physical
activity, like the playing of basketball, will be limited to those in
good health. Treatment and care of those unsound in body are
the responsibilities of experts in the medical and allied fields. It
has been pointed out that most of the examples of players damaged
by school athletics involve persons whose health was poor at the
time of participation, and who should have been on the sidelines
or in bed.

The supervisor of hard work and the coach of athletic teams,
however, must assume some responsibilities in the fields of health
and hygiene. Proper administration of the activity requires the
elimination of the ill by thorough medical and physical examina-
tions given by qualified experts. In addition, the coach or super-
visor should see that the surroundings are healthful and that such
environmental influences as temperature, lighting, ventilation, and
sanitation meet high hygienic standards.

Purpose and Construction of a Fatigue Curve

A fatigue curve of performance is simply a graphic representa-
tion showing accurate comparisons of the amounts of work done
in a succession of work periods of prescribed duration. The curve
is a pictorial method of presenting for easier interpretation the
scoring data compiled in a series of tests, and is commonly used in
statistical studies.

Such a curve could be plotted, for instance, by counting the
number of bricks thrown from a wagon in a series of work periods
of uniform length and conditions. The subject, we will say, is
charged with throwing out single bricks as fast as possible for ten
seconds; then rest for ten seconds; and repeat throwing and resting
for ten consecutive periods or innings. With conditions established
which require the same effort on each throw, and assuming the
worker puts forth maximum effort during each period, the develop-

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