We have noted the tiredness of a novice in our game and often
the anxiety and tension that come from misunderstanding and
lack of ability. We need to train him. We can recall the cold sweats
and the tiredness which overwhelmed us when we were first trying
to learn to drive an automobile.

We have noted the boy who quickly tired, seemed unable to
get his breath, and was awkward because he was not conditioned
to carry on in the demands of early season or after a prolonged
layoff. ‘

We have noticed the boy who tired quickly because he was not
interested nor enthusiastic, who may have disliked the game and
had no desire to play. He may have been tired from lack of motiva-
tion or incentive, from physical hunger or some mental or social
difficulties.

The player who is master of the skills, is perfectly conditioned,
has lots of emotional drive and does his best becomes tired from
true fatigue. He needs rest.

The player who has little ability, less endurance of healthy
structures, and no emotional drive gets tired from false fatigue.
He needs work. He should be trained, conditioned, and helped to
apply himself and that requires a coach with training, condition,
and patience.

We have seen people accused of lacking courage and fight. Maybe
they didn’t have the skills. Maybe they weren’t conditioned. Maybe
they weren’t inspired. Of course they were tired from false fatigue.
They needed intelligent work.

The person who studies or works one hour and does well, will
not accomplish twice or four times as much if he studies two or four
hours. This will help the coach who may think he can teach four
times as much in four hours as he can in one hour. After the first
hour his emphasis must of necessity swing from the factor of
training into the factor of conditioning. If the skills are carelessly
practiced with poorer application, the gain in endurance may be
neutralized by sloppy skills, inefficiently executed. There is a
happy balance of practice and perfection not always achieved.
We can learn to partially distinguish true from false fatigue and
to decide when work or rest is indicated.

In athletics we lean to the overwork idea with the value of rest
being assured. In many activities the tendency is toward overrest
and the loss of ability, endurance, and application.

43