--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Martineau, Lyman R. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 14 number: 11 published: 1911-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Martineau, Lyman R., "Athletics," *Improvement Era* 14, no. 11 (September 1911): 1014–1016.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera14011unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera14011unse start_page: 1014 end_page: 1016 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1911-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera14011unse publication_year: 1911 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1911, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Athletics Athletics.* BY LYMAN R. MARTINEAU. "Life is a measure to be filled — not a cup to be emptied." Field sports, athletics and other outdoor activities have a direct relation to a well measured life, if only their real purpose shall be kept in view. The general board, ever alert and watchful for the young men of Zion, took a step, decidedly forward when this department of our work was given unanimous approval and recognized as an ally in promoting moral and spiritual education. "Manhood, not scholarship, is the first aim of education." And so at the outset let it be understood that at the basis of physical education there shall be the spirit of the militant, loyal, manhood of the Church, whose work and play shall alike lead always to greater spiritual heights. In the eyes of some, sports and play are only a form of idleness. As a matter of fact, the opposite is true. If properly organized and con- trolled, these activities afford wholesome recreation and promote pluck, courage, enthusiasm, spiritual and moral purpose, temperate habits, and tend to keep more youthful the bodies and spirits of men who otherwise give up to habits of old age all too early in life. Again, objection is made that athletics are dangerous. It is true that accidents occasionally occur, but unless very serious they only lend spice and zest to the game. For that matter it is danger- ous to go to bed— more people die in bed than on the battlefield. It is pleasing to note, too, that the trained athletes developed in the great colleges of the world, submit to habits of self-denial that we have been taught from our mother's knee. If the trained athlete of Yale or Harvard would win a dash, a game of ball or a rowing match, he may not drink beer nor liquor, nor yield to the seductive cigarette nor to * An address given at the officers' meeting, annual Y. M. M. I. A. Conference, Barratt Hall, June 2, 1911. ATHLETICS. 1015 tobbaco, tea and coffee in any form. From this standpoint alone, athletics under such discipline, mean a triumph which even our most elo- quent precepts have too often failed to accomplish. If, as Dr. Jordan says, "you can't tack a two thousand dollar education on a fifty cent boy," is it not also true that dissolute habits and physical excellence can not be found in the same person. It may be fair to assume that in a general way we are practically all on common ground thus far, but we now reach problems which widely differ, because of the varying conditions found in our different localities. For instance in the larger cities it may be found advisable for you to unite with established municipal movements or high school activities where gymnasiums, campuses and equipment have already been or are being provided, and where it would be expensive and impossible to main- tain separated and competitive institutions. While in the countryside districts and where no such movement has been possible from public tax- ation, it should not be difficult for the young men to lead in acquiring a few acres of land for a campus, and to organize a loyal support for its improvement; and to secure funds to add from time to time such equip- ment as conditions may justify and afford. It should not for a moment be imagined that large, expensive build- ings are necessary at the outset. These can only come as the needs of the people develop, and the spirit and interest of the people demand. A word of caution to those unfamiliar with the difficulties of "keeping up" and finishing what has been started may here be given. "Do not bite off more than you can chew,'' is a safe, if homely bit of advice. It may be that in some localities this movement finds scant support and sympathy. The street corner, the pool hall, or the country store may have long claimed too much of the spare time of our country boys, from sheer lack of an organization and leadership in better occupa- tions. If this is true, it is the duty of the M. I. A. to call out to such and enlist them in this better way. If it is true that many of our young and middle-aged men are mentally lazy and will not read, is it n;t also true that in many cases they need to be energized and aroused into an enthusiasm for physical activities which in all ages have held high places in the social and moral uplift of our race? Is it not true, then, after all, that whether we like athletics or not, we cannot help ourselves? For we have them ever present in the restless energy of youth and in the spirit that flows like a stream from the modern schoolhouse and college. Let each ward appoint an athletic committee, in whose care should be placed the working out of the details and perfecting the formation of base-ball and basket-ball teams, and other features that especially appeal to the talent and demand of their ward. The active support of every- 1016 ' IMPROVEMENT ERA. body should be sought. And if in the past certain young men, sometimes classed as "irreligious" and' 'rough" or indifferent to the work of the M. I. A., have stood aloof and unconverted to self-culture and the work of our associations, perhaps the call of athletics and sports will reach them. If so, they should be encouraged to associate with the organization and thus become permanently identified with it. In other words, deny mem- bership to none who will come in and conform to the discipline prescribed. It is highly essential that a capable athletic director, if not a coach, should be secured to direct and manage the activities, lest the rougher element dominate and the games be reduced to a rowdy unbridled breach of the peace. The good, red blood of our junior boys cannot and should not be denied opportunity for wholesome outdoor activities, which may not prop- erly come under the head of sports or athletics. Every healthy, evenly- balanced boy in the Church has flights of heroic fancy, and a passion for going out into the mountains for a climb, a camp and for adventure. The wide-awake M. I. A. officers of the stakes and of the wards are the natural guardians, and should be the leaders, in connection with parents and ward authorities, to provide such outdoor scouting events for their junior classes. Here in this great center of population we have a splendid gym- nasium opened and dedicated since our last conference. It has, under able management, leaped at once into public favor, and is the pride and crowning feature of our athletic work and spirit. Finally, while we stand for intellectual, moral and spiritual prog- ress, and are doing great good in energizing and enthusing our mem- bership along ethical and cultural directions, the field of physical well-being and recreation should be promptly and efficiently occupied by our organization as rapidly and persistently as have the other activities that have made the M. I. A. an indispensable auxiliary in the Church for more than thirty years. ".""'■• */ ■"■J:-- . .-. ..■ M. I. A.Tlaygrounds near Vernal, Utah.