HEALTH SERVICE PROBLEMS IN BASKETBALL * Charles H. Keene, A.B., M.D. Director of Health and Physical Education, University of Buffalo Basketball - started as play - has become a highly organized team game, and an excellent one. Developed into a useful and desirable interscholastic and inter- collegiate sport, it seems to some of us to have become highly commercialized in many places, and in some it looks like a racket. The major purpose of any properly conducted game or sport - the physical, mental, and social welfare of the participants - seems to have been largely lost sight of. In place of this desirable and elemental goal, those who have control of rule mak- ing seem to ask only, "Will this rule increase the gate?", Three years ago the basketball rules were changed to take out the regulation compelling the ball to be put in play, after a field goal was made, by means of the center jump. In its stead, it is now permitted that, following a field goal, play is continuous without the interposition of the center jump. What has been the effect of this change? All of us, I think, sense the resultant "speeding up" of the game, It seems a case of "Hurry and hurry as fast as you can". Whether any chronic spectator, sitting at the mid court area has developed wry neck as an occupation neurosis is not known, Four years ago, John W Bunn (1) in the Athletic Journal of December, 1935, argued for the elimination of the center jump. His arguments favoring the changes were these: . a, the center jump is difficult to control, bd, there is variation in the toss-up by the referee, ce, following the jump players collide with the official, d. elimination of the jump puts the officials in the background and relieves them of some difficulties. These four arguments are in behalf of the officials. Other advantzges suggested are? : a. the modification would add "from six to eight minutes to actual playing time", therefore, there will be a higher score, db, “if seven mimutes are added to each game, the tempo of the entire contest is speeded up considerably", c. following demonstrations of the game without the center jump, "a poll of several thousand spectators confirmed this statement", (This is spectatoritis. ) ad. "some of the coaches at the Association ** meeting thought that a game without tip-offs would be more fatiguing for the players". Any evidence on this point, says the article, must be subjective. To this speaker, that statement evidences dense ignorance. Fatigue is measurable scientifically, * Read before the School Physicians Section, Bastern District Ass'n, Convention of the American Ass'n, for Health, Phys. Bd. and Recreation, March 29, 1940, (1)"Should the Center Jump be Banned?", John ¥, Bunn, Athletic Journal, Vol,XVI, No. 4, December, 1935, pp, 6-7. : ** National Association of Basketball Coaches meeting at Chicago, April, 1935, Page 2. So we hav; then four arguments relating to officials and officiating, and three re- Lating to speed and higher scores, No thought is expressed that the players, who bring in the money, have any rights in this game, except for the pushed aside objections of some coaches that the change might be more fatiguing, The foregoing was a prediction, What actually has happened? The modifications of the rules affecting the speed, effort, and fatigue of ths players have been threes “he inclusion of the ten second rule. The elimination cf the center jump after scoring a field goal, The remcval of the end line two more feet to the rear of the beck stcp, so there is now four feet of in-bounds territory behind the back stop. Soon after the changes regarding the ten second rule and the center jump rule, it decane apparent that perhaps the "speeders-up" had been tco successful, and had brought into the game a set of circumstances that were definitely detrimental to players, especially those of secondary school age. A study (2) of these effects is reported by Fay and Messersmith in the Research Quarterly of May, 1938, The study has to do mostly with distances traveled by players, The report summarizes the conclusions of its authors as follows: 1. Distances traveled by players in college basketball games are consistently greater than they were in 1931, before the inclusion of the ten-second rule and the ruie eliminating the center jump after scoring cf field goals. It is not possible to draw definite conclusions, from this study. regarding the relative effects of the two rales upon the increase in distance. as no stucy was made following. the inclusion of the ten-second rule, 3. Distances were found to range from 3,87 miles to 3.97 miles per game in the present study, as against a range of 2.25 to 2,50 miles per game in 1931, This is an increase in distance traveled of 60 or 72% depending on the set of figures used. Even taking 60% as the increase, it is apparent that this fatigue element is enormously increased, | More than two years ago complaints from physicians regarding this rule change be- gan to appear in various medical Journals,. One of the earliest of these follows: "To the Editor: * Basketball, as it is being played today, due to the present High School rules (College as well) is a game which is played by thousands of our boys, end under the present rules has been speeded up to such an extent that, in my Opinion, it is actually dangerous. Recently a boy in a nearby town collapsed at the close of a game and died an hour later, I witnessed a yame between Rock Island and Kewanee lest Friday night, which was extremely fast, and at least six of the men played the entire game. (2) "The Effect of Rule Changes upon the Distance Traversed by Baskettall Players", Paul J. Fay and Lloyd L. Messersmith. The Research Quarterly of the American Ass'n, for Health and Phys. Ed., Vol. IX, No. 2, May, 1938, p.137. Illinois Medical Journal, January, 1938, p. 10, Page Be There is no rhyme nor reason to the committee on rules which are attempting to speed up the game for the pleasure of the spectators, not taking into consideration the players, and in my opinion, it is time the medical men of the state used their influence to have this matter corrected, Very truly yours, C. Paul White, Pres, Kewanee Bd, Health: Dr. White also wrote a letter to the President of the Kewanee, Illinois, Board of Education in which, as a physician and as President of the Kewanee Board of Health he protested against the basketball game as played today, He says: "I feel it is my duty to register a protest on the basketball game as it is played today. Eliminating the center jump has apparently speeded up the game twenty to thirty per cent, which already was fast enough for the physical health of the players. No matter how well checked these boys are, there are bound to be some players whose hearts will not, and cannot, stand the strain, and in my opinion the untowed effects will far surpass any benefit which might otherwise be gained from this game. I trust that you will use your influence that the rules may be so changed that a boy must either be substituted at regular intervals or that more rest periods may be forced upon the players to eliminate this great danger," Bowyer and Anderson show that with the new ten second rule, the game of basket- ball is extremely stremous on junior high school boys from twelve to sixteen years of age, To determine whether there is any harmful effect on the hearts of boys of this age playing basketball, they have checked the blood pressure and heart rates of boys before and after each basketball game, They also made a pre-season and post~season test. The mean or average of the pre-season systolic pressure was 108 plus or minus 2.78, and the mean of the post-season pressure was 111.6 plus or minus 2.95, The true difference between the means was 3,6, which was a gain in systolic pressure. The critical ratio was 0.89, which indicates that the mean of the pre-season and post-season test is not statistically significant. The authors draw the conclusion from their studies that basketball under the old rules did not have any harmful effects on junior high school boys. With their conclusions of 1936-1937 showing no harmful effects, they continued the study under the new rules. One of the most interesting comparisons is made be- tween a hard game and an easy one. In the easy game, sixteen boys played at some time or other, There was not a boy on the squad who played the whole game, The heart rate taken twenty minutes after the easy game shows that in all the boys but one it had returned to normal, and in this one it was only a fraction higher, The results of a hard game show that the blood pressure of some of the boys goes down, while the pressure of others is increased by exercise. When the blood pressure goes below normal, it indicates a period of staleness or acute fatigue. The boys who did not play the full game would return to normal very quickly after the game, From this the authors decided that a full game of basketball under the new rules was too strenuous on junior high school boys. The mean pulse rate of the four hardest games of the authors! squad was found to be 146 five minutes after the game, After twenty minutes the heart rate was still 115, * "Effects of Basketball on Junior High School Boys", A. B. Bowyer and N. S. Anderson, Buckhannon, West Virginia Medical Journal, Charleston, February, 1939, p. 89, Page 4, The pre-season and post-season tests were taken under ideal conditions without the emotional strain of a game. The post-season test shows that the boys' heart rates are higher while their blood pressures are lower. The high heart rates and low blood pressure indicate periods of fatigue that naturally pluce a strain on the = \ circulatory system. The authors are unebie tc say with any final degvee of authority, but the probabilities are that if this type of strenuous cxeicis practiced year after year during the adolescent-perici, it will produce a kes “Circulatory sytem, which may develop into a handicap in later life, Thy co:.- “clude that basketball as played under the present rvles is too strenuous for aaior | lL boys unless several bo east one quarter of the four_to rest in, participate in one game,. (3) Gheir conclusion is sub- “stantiated by S., J. Morris, M.D. of the Health Unit of West Virginia University, Sarthe cig Lon Jourdet, basketball coach at the University of Pennsylvania, believes basket- ball takes too great physical toll. Basketball rule-makers must return the center jump to the game befors secondary school authorities legislate against the sport, he declared recently, Jourdet, whose Quaker teams have won eight Eastern Intercollegiate League titles in fifteen years, saic the present rules not only are harmful to the players! health, but that the high scoring now possible hurts spectator interest, "The game as it is played today, " the Penn mentor added, "is a running contest that takes too much of a toll physically from the youngsters who play it in high and prep schools. The college boys, too, are finding the going a lot rougher than it was a few years back when the center tap off was the vogue. The speeding up of the game adds about six or seven minutes more of actual scrimmage as compared with the game when we had the center tap off, Those few minutes are inconsequential (in value) when the physical wear and tear on the we te players is taken into consideration," As for spectators, they can't even keep pace with the heavy scoring, Jourdet finds, "Men who have followed basketball for many years as spectators say that the game is too fast and not as enjoyable as in the old days," Jourdet explainea, "They tell me that keeping up with the score is almost impossible, because of the rapidity with which field goals are made." “ "There has been too much meddling with the rules," he commented, "Return the center jump and basketball will regain its sanity." (4) What do basketball coaches think of the "speed-up"? Lew Andreas, Basketball Coach at Syracuse University, who has kicked around this basketball game nearly two decades, figures the time is coming when separate sets of rules will be drawn for colleges and high schovuls to get away from some "horse-race" effects. "This modern game, with the center jump eliminated," the veteran coach of Syracuse basketball said, "is like watching a table tennis match, The ball is always going back and forth with no stop, It's great to watch, but it puts a severe strain on the youngsters. Physicians have told us that," (3) "Effects of Basketball on Junior High School Boys", A. B. Bowyer, M.D. and N. S. Anderson, as abstracted in fhe Journal of the American Medicel Ass'n, Vol. 112, No. 15, April 15, 1939, p. 1534. (4) Buffalo Courier-Express, February 11, 1940, Page 5, "So it's altogether likely," Andreas went on, "that the center jump will be legis-— lated back into high school ball to slow up the game somewhat and relieve this pressure on the youngsters. It isn't so bad for college players, largely because they're more fully developed. In addition, there is rigid physical examination in most colleges." (5) City schools that are under sane and careful direction have already modified some rules. Recognizing the physical demands of jumpless basketball, Buffalo, N,Y. high school athletic officials took steps two years ago to reduce the hazards of the modern style of play, discussed recently by Syracuse Coach Lew Andreas, By a poll of 11 to 13, the high school coaches voted on December 30, 1937, to make the following changes in intercollegiate rules to govern basketball competition between Buffalo secondary schools; 1. Allow two instead of one minute rest periods between the first and second, and third and fourth quarters. The regulation 10-minute intervals between halves remain, : 2. Allow 90 instead of 60 seconds for all "requested" time-out, Hach team is permitted five such time-outs per game, (6) Concerning this factor of "speed up" in its relation to basketball players' wel- fare, Bob Stedler, Sports Editor of The Buffalo Evening News, recently had this to say? "We would be inclined to other more sane changes in the rules, We prefer the re- turn to the center jump and other revisions which would slow up rather than in- crease the speed of the play. We may be old fashioned in this respect, but no one can convince us that under the present speeding up of the game it does not take too much out of the players, There is practically no let up, no time for the players to get their breath, unless there's a time-out, and they are kept on the go entirely too much, Athletics are a wonderful body builder and keen play develops the lad mentally, but any sport in which the play is overly aggressive and the action too continuous may prove more harmful to the individual than beneficial." (7) A recent study made in New York State, reported last December before the New York State School Physicians Association (8) indicates that there is serious physical harm to adolescent boys in the present rules, Considering that it is estimated that there are millions of high school basketball players, this becomes a serious situation, C. A. Greenleaf, M.D., who makes this report, quotes from a leading newspaper of last December as follows: "A 40-minute basketball game averages 36 minutes of action, Compared with this, football and baseball seem almost as slow as chess." In his report, Dr. Greenleaf makes the following statements: (5) Buffalo Evening News, January 3, 1940, p, 20. (6) ibid, : (7) Buffalo Bvening News, March 7, 1940, (8) "Blood Pressure Studies on Basketball Players in Olean, N.Y," C. A, Green- leaf, M,D., The Journal of School Health, Vol. X, No. 2, February, 1940, pp. 50-52, a Page 6, "after several seasons of observing a conservative type of basketball I was astonished, last year, at the change in the attitude of the gallery. Our medical service is extended not only to our own team, but also to the visiting team, Very rarely do visiting teams bring medical supervision, Because of this fact, I have had opportunity to observe the condition of our ow players as well as that of opponents. It was easy to note the attitude of the gallery beginning with last season's basketball, A marked change in the tempo is apparent, One might almost say - frenzy, hysteria, a concession to the gambling spirit, or a Roman Holidey | attitude, was apparent, It was easy to see the cause thereof, namely, a chungs ‘of playing rules, indicating that the change in rules was-moreto-stimulate— ‘attendance and interest than any consideration for the adolescent boy, Then be- gan the blood pressure study which follows: "The New York State High School Athletic Association requires, in its insurance protection, a thorough physical examination with special emphasis on the heart findings, Insurance companies as the Metropolitan, the New York Life, and others, in their instructions to medical examiners, estimate the blood pressure, based on a report of 187 individuals, as follows: In the age group of 15 to 19 there was an average systolic of 119, Average diastolic of 85. "In the examination of 239 high school boys, with the same age distribution, I have found the average blood pressure, before participating in any program of sports, to be — average systolic, 118; diastolic, 80. Note the similarity in these two groups, 119 over 85, and 118 over 80, "With a desire to learn if there was any effect on the blood pressure of basket— ball players, readings were made on 32 participants through last year's season and the following findings were recorded, through and at the end of the season, Seven of these boys showed a gradual increase in pressure from 120 to 138 systolic and 81 to 94 diastolic. "Twenty-five showed a lowering of from 112 to as low as 90 systclic and 76 to 61 diastolic. These figures are the summary taken from several pages of records, "During the season we have observed many boys 'panting! undoubtedly from over- exertion. Occasionally one lying on his back 'gasping! for breath, True, a good coach will replace players and will give reasonatle care, but with a close game there will be little change in the lineup. Especially is this latter situation W true in smaller schools where close competition allows little chance to use poorer players. In six games played during the past month, I find that in no game were there over 10 players used, and six, seven, eight, and nine was the rule, Also the schedule is tough. "Seven football games is the maximum allowed, under State Department regulations, during a season. Sixteen basketball games are allowed, and our physical director says it is necessary to "double up". In our schedule, Friday and Saturday games, in succession, occur on two occasions, I believe those of you who have city schools under your care, with grammar leagues, do not allow the use of the new rules in their games, I have stated facts and findings, I am not going to state any conclusions, I will leave this for you to consider, "Il wonder if blood pressure readings mean anything in these boys? "I personally believe the rules should be changed again, either as formerly, or at least more protection given to these boys. Page 7, "TI would not object to my son playing football, "IT would object to his playing basketball under the present rules," Other recent studies on blood pressure indicate the strong desirability of low pressures, The report on the recent studies on blood pressure by Robinson and Brucer (9) based on a statistical study of 10,883 persons, and on a study of five to ten year continuous records of 500 persons, and an appraisal of mortality at various age levels makes this statement: "They all (mortality records from a variety of insurance companies) agree further that a higher mortality is to be expected among persons with pressures of 130 systolic and 80 diastolic. Many go further and show that a pressure of 110 systolic and 70 diastolic is associated with a lower mortality rate than one of 120 systolic and 80 diastolic. Some of the companies indicate that pressures below 110 systolic and 70 diastolic may have the best mortality rate, In general, the mortality of any random group of. 1,000 persons with pressures over 120 systolic and 80 diastolic is higher than that of a similar group with pressures under these levels," This year another change has been adopted, lengthening the fair area back of the basket two feet on each end of the court without moving back the baskets, This makes much less frequent the going out of the ball over the end line and, there- fore, reduces greatly the opportunity for bref "breathing spells" which the shorter court made possible, Those in control of secondary schooi education owe a distinct duty to pupils and parents to make this game less strenuous. They should remember that the game should be made a boys! sport, not a town spectacle, These complaints concerning the present basketball rules bring forcibly to mind the urgent need for more adequate control of physical education activities, particularly athletic competition, by those whose major interest is in the health and education of pupils and students. Too long have physicians and educators sat supinely by, while rules for competition (as well as the permission of outrageous violation of proper sanitary precautions) are made and controlled by persons suffering with acute exacerbation of chronic "spectatoritis", To these persons, the interest of the spectators, and therefore the size of the "take" at the ad- Mission gate, seemingly is of greater moment than the welfare of the boys whom trusting parents, ~ seemingly, oftentimes, foolishly trusting parents - have placed in the care of coaches, trainers, and rule makers. The elimination of the center jump - except at the beginning of each half ~ from basketball was brought about largely for the purpose of saving the playing time used in this method of putting the ball in play after a basket has been made, It was done to make a "faster" game so as to keep at a higher pitch the excitement and hysteria of the lookers-on., There is nothing evil in such a motive, if no harm results to the players. These physicians quoted have emphasized their professional belief that harm does result, The time spent in getting the ball in play by means of the center jump gave to the players an opportunity for a "breather" during which the proper physiological balance between fatigue products piled up in the body cells-and.the oxygenation of the cells might be partially restored, (9) "Range of Normal Blood Pressure, A Statistical and Glinical Study of 11,383 Persons!', Samuel C. Robinson, M.D. and Marshall Brucer, Chicago, Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol, 64, No. 3, September 1939, p, 438. Page 8. Already basketball was probably the least beneficial of our team games, Frequent— ly, particularly in high school gymnasiums, the conditions are nov good, Intoa roon, the ventilation of which has been planned for a gymnasium class of fifty, are packed hundreds of spectators, usually crowded close to the side lines, The air soon becomes foul and overheated, so that a game that at best is a severe tax on the circulatory system, becomes more of a tax. Too, the proximity of spectators -— often of the "town sport" variety -— and their remarks, incite the players toward unsportsmanlike acts, which bring discredit upon players and school, and upon educational procedures, at least upon this one, As Dr. White and others suggest, this "speeding up" is peculiarly dangerous in smaller communities where the size of the school makes impossible a sufficient number of skilled substitutes. Hence, a few are compelled to play throughout the whole game, Moreover, this change has added materially to the total energy expenditure of the game. It has been estimated that the actual numbers of minutes the ball is in play has been increased 25%, To adolescent school boys, many of whom are still in the period of rapid growth, this is a serious added burden, |; An article appearing in the Buffalo Courier-Express of January 21, 1938, indicates that the insatiable Molock of too intensive interscholastic athletic competition has reached down into the seventh and eighth grades, In Indiana, according to this report, basketball tournaments conducted for teams from these grades are being investigated by state authorities. Forty teams completed a tournament in three days, each team of these immature boys being compelled to play two games each day. It is time that parents take this and similar situations in hand, and insist that nothing shall be countenanced in the schools that is not for the physical, social, and educational advancement of their children. Parents and school administrators have the right to demand that boys and girls be permitted to participate only in those school physical activities that are both safe and beneficial. If interscholastic athletic competitions are educational, they are definitely subject to the same criteria — mental, physical, and social — as are other activities in the schools, and rules and regulations controlling these contests should be established and enforced by elementary and secondary school authority, not by any Rules Committee whose only interest seemingly rests in intercollegiate competition. There is a National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations, made a up of delegates from State Interscholastic Athletic Associations, This Federation fcovned has been a great influence for good, but naturally -— because of the great need of such supervisory control — has given much of its attention to improving rules of 14 Sh eligibility. It has, too, been largely instrumental in bringing about } modifications of playing rules, especially those of footballg@ The changes in basketball rules advocated have helped in making this game safer in the communities adopting them, This group could be a wonderful power for good if = Y A— ef —_ would interest itself more intensely in matters relating to the physical welfare of the you sters - a large percentage of them physically immature ~ who compete ‘in interscholastic athletics. ‘ This effort toward better control should take two directions: first, the establishment of modified playing rules that would make these college games safer for boys and girls of school age, To a considerable extent the Federation has emphasized this need, but in all too many localities its influence has not been potent enough to bring the needed added protection, Page 9. Second, through complete, repeated, and intensive physical examinations of candi- dates for such competition and the barring or removal from competition of those whose physical condition makes it unsafe for them to compete, This matter of safety appears in at least two particulars. Not only should the school health service have in mind the fatigue and exhaustion inherent in the present basketball rules, but also the fact that studies of athletic injuries at the secondary school age level indicate strongly that the younger the competitors, the greater the incidence of injuries. The school physician, therefore, must make his decision as to whether it is advisable, or even permissible, for the pupil under physical examination to compete in intramural and interscholastic athletics, having in mind these things: Is the candidate organically sound? Has the growth of the pupil during the previous year been greatly accelerated? Vital organs that have recently grown rapidly tend to lack endurance and resistance to injury by fatigue, Into what sport or type of physical competition does the pupil plan to enter, and is it physically safe for him to enter that competition? The decision is a responsibility inherent in any adequate school health service, Rarely has that service striven for, or even accepted, its full responsibility. Basically, it gets back to the responsibility of the superintendent of schools and of the board of education, (Meeting, as we now are, in New England, presumably we should say School Committee. ) It would seem unnecessary to emphasize the belief that these examinations and decisions should be made by the regular school physicians, were it not for the fact that in at least one city of considerable size a special medical examiner has been appointed to examine candidates for interscholastic athlétics, this examiner being responsible, not to the director of the health service activities, but to the Director of Physical Education. It is apparent that such a set up lacks some of the elements of protection of pupils that should be a basic objective in any educational program, We find then these objections, based on physical stress, poured out by various types of persons who are closely in contact with interscholastic and inter- collegiate basketball as played under the present rules, We observe coaches, athletic directors, sports writers, health officers, and physicians uniting in opposition to this "speed up', Such an unanimity of opinion from these different groups is in itself almost unique, Only the rule makers seem insistent on the re- tention of the present rules, At least I have seen no strenuous activity on their part favoring modification toward what Jourdet calls a "return to sanity". This is unfortunate, One gets the feeling that the rule makers are more interested in increasing the "take’ in the basketball gate than they are in improving the sport itself or in protecting the welfare of the players, Ferhaps a new Rules Committee is what we need, In what way should the school health service enter into this athletic competition situation? Page 10, First; it should be thoroughly understood that the decision as to whether a pupil is to participate - so far as his physical condition is concerned — should rest wholly in the hands of the school physician or of the physician who is Director of the health service, Second; the physical examination given should be thorough enough so that it will really give definite scientific information about the physical condition of the candidate, An examination including-only a hurried listening to heart sounds, plus a quick examination for hernia is a farce as an agency tor protecting the youngster, What organs bear the chief load in strenuous athletic competition? At the head of the list most physicians would place the circulatory organs. The tests should include then a careful examination of the valve sounds and of the size of the heart, Closely correlated to these is the blood pressure, Apparently the rise in blood pressure is the earliest sign of circulatory strain, The opinions of life insurance medical examiners, of Dr. Greenleaf, and of Drs. Robinson and Bruccr, to name only a few, indicate that not more than 120 over 80 indicates a circulatory system that may safely be subjected to athletic stress, This does not | necessarily mean that all those having a blood pressure higher than this should be barred from competition, It does mean, however, that they should be watched with great care - i.e., frequently re-examined - and those showing bad effects from the activity should be removed from competition. Closely related to these heart and blood pressure tests are the cardiac functional tests, one of the most interesting being that devised by George Meylan, M.D. This simple test notes the difference in pulse rate in the recumbent position and that in the standing position, Of this change, Dr. J. H. McCurdy says: "This test compares the lying and standing pulse, a variability of more than 20 beats in changing from the lying to the standing position representing at least doubtful condition.! Such cases should not be permitted to participate until and unless careful correction of fatigue and other basic conditions brings about a more nearly normal reaction to the test. The presence of hernia should - in the vast majority of cases - bar a pupil from competition in such a vigorous sport as basketball. Not only is the activity great, but the postures in throwing tend to put great strain on the abdominal muscles, The kidneys also have to carry an extra heavy load when physical activity is great. This is shown by the fact that a considerable portion of competitors show a marked increase in urinary albumin after severe exercise, The pupil whose urine habitually, when on normal diet, shows pathological amounts of albumin should probably be kept out of violent physical activity. Doubtful cases should be kept under observation, by means of repeated urinalyses. A noticeable percentage of adolescents have an undiagnosed diabetes. The urinary examination should include, therefore, a test for sugar. Not all those showing increased sugar excretion are pathological, but such cases should be examined re-— peatedly. Of course, those found to be true diabetics should be kept out of the -— for them — too vigorous physical activities of such a game as basketball, Closely tied up with these other indices of physical condition is the factor of weight. Seemingly underweight is aot in itself a reason of rejection. The seriously underweight pupil will be eliminated anyhow in most cases by the process of competition, : Page ll. If, however, — after a period of stability in weight - a boy steadily loses, does not gain overnight what he lost the day before, chronic fatigue is evidenced, and rest should be insisted upon. Next, we must consider the possibility of tuberculosis. While active tuberculosis is not common at the high school age or even in the college age, the increase in infection from tuberculosis at this time pushes up the death rate from this disease to such an extent that in early adult life it is the leading cause of death, Healed lesions - or incipient ones - often unknown, are activated by too great physical and mental stress, As a precaution, therefore, all candidates should be given a tuberculin test, and those reacting positively should have an x-ray film taken, Many of us know of cases of prominent athletes suddenly break- ing from the effects of active tuberculosis. To indicate that such a procedure is not impossible, the following is quoted from the 1939 Annual Report, Department of Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: "For several years this department has been giving special attention to the examination of high school athletes and football players engaged in competitive sports. A urine examination, heart function test, blood pressure and an examination for hernia or rupture is included." To give all these tests may seem like over-fussiness. Whether we think so de- pends on our sense of responsibility. How much is the value of the life long \\ health, or of the life itself of a boy? The Chinese philosopher T!'ao puts it \\ aptly, "Treat him well, for he is also someone's son", Direstor of Physical Education and Recreation, ee as coe a a a! q i i, ait ie i | nt ii id Hh 5 7 H gee dane HH Hil a al l ; : Hi if i Ht th H i : 1 Me Nah in te Y fl i iit i i a ada Ga dip nt li . ery _ THE SOUTHERN COACH AND ATHLETE A Magazine for Coaches, Players, Officials and Fans DWIGHT KEITH EDITOR & BUSINESS MANAGER FRED SINGTON ASSO, EDITOR & ADVERTISING MGR. ADVISORY BOARD WwW. A. ALEXANDER GEORGIA TECH FORREST C. ALLEN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS WALLACE BUTTS UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA WILSON COLLINS KNOXVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RED DAWSON TULANE UNIVERSITY REX ENRIGHT UNIVERSITY OF S, C. A. L. HUTCHENS COMMISSIONER, S. F. O. As Ss. D. JACKSON SECY. TENN. OFFICIALS ASSN. T. L. JOHNSON GEORGIA FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSN. WALTER JOHNSON PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE L. L. MCLUCAS SECY. FLORIDA COACHES ASSN. H. E. MCNABB PRESIDENT GA, COACHES ASSN. JACK MEAGHER AUBURN HARRY MEHRE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI BERNIE MOORE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY RAY MORRISON VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY ROY MUNDORFF GEORGIA TECH JESS NEELY CLEMSON COLLEGE JOHN PATRICK OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY GEORGE (PUP) PHILLIPS PRESIDENT S, F. O. A. J. HAROLD SAXON GA. HIGH SCHOOL INSPECTOR MARK SMITH PRES, GEORGIA EDUCATION ASSN. SPEEDY SPEER GREENVILLE (8S. C.) HIGH SCHOOL JOHN VARNEDOE PRINCIPAL SAVANNAH HIGH WALLACE WADE DUKE UNIVERSITY LES WALLER SECY. ALABAMA COACHES ASSN. 751 PARK DRIVE, N. E. ATLANTA, GEORGIA July 22, 1940 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION GEORGIA ATHLETIC COACHES ASSN. GEORGIA FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSN. ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSN. FLORIDA ATHLETIC COACHES ASSN. Dr. Forrest C. Allen, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Dear Dr. Allen: I hope you have been having a pleasant vacation. I wish you were to be with us again this summer, and, if I have my way, it will not be long until you are back down this way. Have you made any experiments on the effects of drinks containing carbonated water? Your statement will not be used commercially. I just want to know for my own satisfaction. Some of the coaches down here prohibit their players drinking Coca-cola, while others have it in their training rooms and allow players to drink it between halves of games. Our coaches always enjoy your articles in our magazine, and anytime you can spare the a to write for us we will greatly appreciate it. Very cordially yours, DWIGHT KEITH z Editor. DKir _ August 24, 2940 Mee and Mrse Milton Kelly a Athletic ty : | University of Texans Austin, Toms Deas Kell and Mirse Kellys Gee, you are swell people to entertain the dtimerant Allen group as you dide The pleasant momories of that backyard, of eating fresn figs, the arom of the Texas plains and mountains, the hospitality of our friends, the quart of honey and the Deer*s tongues ell of these memories linger very fondly with use with it had he died. I had not played for six 1 but those six long years were no longer in those two handball gamese However, I want you to imow that 4 ha sufficiently to dictate this letter of appreciation and to express to you cur sincere friendship and admiration for tivo wonderful peoples | Reo: Give my Kindest regards to your son,Bob, and the other young men whom lirse Allen thought and Sonny t was just topse Semy wants to say hello te Bobs : With all good wishes, I en, 2 Sincerely yours, FeAslg | fai g iss, | 1 uly pa alle i fly ail Ga gal i fib tale uy sel bag aay Here tiny alli iE BR With all good wishes and appreciation, I an, Sincerely yours, Director of Piysical. ducation and Recreation Varsity Basketball Coach April 4, 1940. With best wishes and kind regards, I an : Very sincerely yours, \ Direetor of Physical Edueation and Recreation, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR HUTCHINSON, KANSAS Hutchinson, Kansas April 2nd, 1940 Mre Forrest C. Allen University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Mre Allen: I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your courtesy in getting and mailing the tickets for the basketball game at Kansas City last weekend. These were choice seats and were enjoyed by our family party very, very muche We cer- tainly contributed our share of the rooting for your team and felt they put up a good Agein, may I express my appreciation to your kindness and thoughtfulness. Sincerely yours, : Willis N. Kell WNKs: BR Mayor April 4, 1940. Mere Lester Be Kappelman, District Supervisor, Camumity Service Projects, WPA, Salina, Kansase Dear Kaps Thank you for your fine letter of the 3rd instant. oo oe Ramey could not cane with you to ‘the geome, but I an sure that Sciuitty enjoyed the oppor= tunity. you It was nies of you to write as did about our — teams We, of course, are very proud of the boys and the splendid way in which they cane throughs hee With best wishes, I am Very sincerely yours, 5 Direetor of Physical Bdusation and Recreation FCAsAH Varsity Basketball Coache FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION KANSAS Salina April 3, 1940 Dr. F. C. Alien Department of Phys. Education University of Kansas Lawrence Dear "Doc": Due to my inability to find an aveilable opportunity to thank you for the ticket arrangements you-made for me last week, I want to express my appreciation to you in this letter. Due to an unexpected turn of events when we arrived in Toveka Friday evening, Mr. Romney felt obliged to return to the East immediately. He was keenly disappointed, and wanted me to tell you personally, Saturday, of his thanks for your courtesy. Mr. Romney had expressed a desire earlier in the week to spend & day with you in Lawrence, but subsequent events failed to permit this plan to materialize. Before he left, he released his ticket to the game to Edgar Schmidt; so we feel that the time and effort were not wasted. I want to congratulate you and your team on the splendid season. Even though the boys did not have quite sufficient steam to get over the final hump, I bet you are extremely proud of them. They are a great bunch and fully deserve all that is coming to them. I know the Jayhawkers scattered over the state have not been hesitant about let- ting people know they are from Kansas U. since the basketball team began having such phenomenal success. It is too bad, though, that we had to bump up against Indiana that particular night. Normally they just can't be that good. I say this without reflection to them, but in my opinion they had a tremend- ous psychological advantage before the game ever started. They were able to rexch their climax in the final game. On the contrary, Kansas has had to maintain such a terrific pressure week after week, it is no wonder the pace could not be held. Anything after that Southern Calif- ornia game could be nothing but an anti-climax. Anyway, It was a darn swell season! With best season I remain as ever Your fri Lest 3. Kappelman District Supervisor Community Service Projects, WPA LBK: wr April 5, 1940. Ite Dwight Keith, Editor, The Southern Coach & Athlete, 751 Park Drive, NeEe, Atilenta, Georgia. see lire Keiths I deeply regret my feilure to aclnowledge your maid Iatten of Maweh SOU: An, raged to an evtiale wn on new game, “Goel ee We expect to be up through Lawrence some time in June and will probably see you if you are there. Sincerely,