Photo by U.S. Army Signal Corps

 

MILITARY TRACK

Such activities as running, jump-
ing, vaulting, climbing, and crawling
should be practiced in school and after
school as a means of developing
strength, stamina, and self-confidence.

The military track program offers an
enjoyable medium for incorporating all
these activities. The program should
include events of practical military use-
fulness. For example, soldiers are sel-
dom called upon to throw a 12-pound
object. But they do throw 20-ounce
grenades. So for military track, a throw
with a 20-ounce object will be more
practical than the 12-pound shotput.

A good six-event program may con-
sist of these events:

1. 100-Yard Dash.

2. 440-Yard Run.

3. Broad Jump.

4. High Jump.

5. 20-Ounce Hand Grenade
Throw.

6. Obstacle Race.

The technique of the regular track
events (Nos. 1-4) are described on
pages 8 through 11. The grenade throw
is analyzed here.

The obstacle race is a wonderful con-
ditioner and provides plenty of fun at
the same time. If your school has a
440-yard track, the course may be laid
out around the entire lap. In the dia-
gram, the turns have not been utilized
for obstacles. But there is no reason
why several of the obstacles may not
be set up on them.

Schools with limited space may set
up an obstacle course on any 100-yard
flat surface. Suggested obstacles and
relative distancing, as shown in the dia-
gram following on page 17.

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