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settle things sometimes beyond control of the parents, a voluntary duty far more
essential than the fielding of a winning team, though the winning team is the di-
rect result of that voluntary, not demanded, labor.

Some coaches are far more talented than others, and in only rare cases do
they take advantage of it to purposely embarrass, via crushing defeat, a less cap-
able opponent, They have a code of ethics, too.

». 2 4 UR OUR

THE BOY AND THE GAME

The Southern Coach and Athlete, Feb. 1941.--On a certain Southern basket-
ball team there is a big boy playing the center position, Many thought that,
due to his height, he would be of great value to his team this season, His pro-
gress in basketball has been somewhat disappointing and at a recent game a svnec-
tator was heard to remark, "I don't see why that coach fools with that boy. I'd
kick him off my team and spend my time on somebody that could do me some good,"
The opinion he expressed was one in which a majority of the fans would have con-
curred, That was one viewpoint and, to them, the only logical one,

That same evening the coach of that team, without knowing of the critical
remarks of the fan, said, "Basketball has certainly helped that boy. If we do
not win another game this season, the game has been worthwhile for the good it
has done him, Last year he couldn't play three minutes without losing his tem-
per and committines unnecessary fouls." Here was expressed a different, and a
broader viewpoint, The contrast was striking, Both were sincere and positive,
It was all a matter of point of view, One was looking at it from the outside,
the other from the inside, One opinion was formed from a view from the gallery-
the other from a back-stare acquaintance with the characters, One wanted to know
"What can the boy do for the game?" The other's concern was "What can the game
do for the boy?"

 

We would not condemn either viewpoint, There is merit in both of these
philosophies, Every boy who participates in a sport should feel obligated to up-
hold its best traditions, The moment he is issued a varsity uniform, he becomes
a trustee of the game honor, A varticipant who does not carry a courageous heart
and a sportsmanlike attitude into the same is suilty of stealing something from
the game, The conduct of every pleyer becomes a part of the tradition of that
sport, It is his duty to build into the same the noblest and best tradition of
which he is capable, so that the game will offer a greater challenge and a srea-
ter inspiration to those who follow,

On the other hand, if the game can help theindividual, it should be per-
mitted to do so. When wisely administered, a game can render a great service in
building character into the individual participant, It can make a boy strong,
fast, honest, fair, cooperative, loyal, and courageous! However, any time a
sport has to help a boy who is below average in any of these qualities it has to
give something of itself to do it, The standard of that game has been lowered
to that extent. But all are not "drawing" on the same -- some are contributing,
To offset the weak, there are strong characters who exert a noble influence on
the game, The game takes on something of their character -- their courage, loy-
alty and sportsmanship, They build into the game a higher and richer tradition.
It is the same old story: some contribute, others receive -- "the strong bear
the infirmities of the weak," It is simply a game of give and take -- it's life!

THE CONVENTION -- HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA -—- MARCH 24, 25, 1941, -- NEW YORK CITY