Drs Keene Page Two | Decs 7, 1940

-_ Our Chancellor of the University as well as a great number of business
men and some professors told me that they cannot stand the emotional presenteday
strain of a tasketball geome. They love the game but they find themselves in such

us state after a of this sort that they resolve to stay away from the
next one to guard their healthe Certainly if this is true to spectators it is bound
heve many fatiguing qualities on the players and I am in very hearty accord with
your criticism, especially when we consider the intermediate, the junior high school

re However, I am not so sure that the restoration of the center jump would
Gliminate 411 the troubles, when we endeavor to put our fingers on the cause of the
physical breakdown in youths : era :

oe I am sending you a sopy of some work done by one of our Physical Bdueation
students the past year, Ernst A. Uhrlaub, who wes captain of the bas :
- 3921, He bas had many years of experience in teaching and coaching in the Kansas
_ High Schools and last year returned to the University to take his
Physical Education. ‘This study of his, which is being sent under separate cover,
largely refutes the charge that physicians complain of, but on the other hand, we have
eminent medical authorities who are emphasizing the possible injury to the youngsters
Of our nations | 3

| I agree with that it is high time that we intelligently cooperate with
each other, and that all of us willingly present our data for serious study, I am
| very glad to cooperate fully in endeavoring to find anything in our game thet is

detrimental to the health of our yomgsters, and so far es I em concerned, I for one
would be glad to hasten to recognize such an emergency and change the rules to the
' point that there could be no criticisms Our games should be health builders not

| While T am not @ menber of the High School Basketball Rules Committee, 1 do
See a much greater danger to the growing youth in the high sehool game than occurs
to & more mature individual ina collegiate gamts ae a

) __ There has been a great desire toward mification of rules in our Joint
Basketball Rules Committee. This Joint Committee comprises the National Collegiate
Athletic Association, National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations,
Young Men's Christian Association, Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union and the
could not be followed with certain modifications for the high school youngsters who

x

need @1] their vitality to mature their bodies, =

_. £ em of the opinion that junior high school youngsters should not have inter
scholastic competition. The intramural games, it seems to me, are sufficient to
stimulate the best in them in the way of body building and im the wy. of self-denial :
without the strain of outeof-tom trips and interscholastie competition. The emotional
strain is too severe on the growing boye Personally, I am in favor of @ limitation
in the number of games that the youth of our high schools should play in any one year.

| Assuring you of my interest and of my full cooperation and thanking you for
oe ‘Very cordially yoursy

‘Director ef Physical Edueetion and Recreation

FOAslg Varsity Basketball Coach
OC, 7 Lend Cowe- : ee