Some Problems in Athletics

MUTUAL WORK 1137 remain, will remain, to accomplish its great, desirable mission in the Church. Some Problems in Athletics' BY LYMAN R. MARTINEAU, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON ATHLETICS AND FIELD SPORTS In behalf of the General Board, I am expected to occupy about ten minutes on "Some Problems in Atheltics." There are so many problems, and such a wide field to cover that ten minutes is a very brief period, to say much. I have a slogan at the head of my paper, which reads: "It is more important to play than to win." That is the first problem in athletics with us. It would not be the first problem in the colleges or universities, but it is the first problem with us, at this stage of the work in our associations, because we have hundreds, perhaps thousands, of our people who are not yet converted to athletics from the correct view-point that "it is better to play than to win," or, that it is more important that we play than that we win. We have not established athletics in the associations for the purpose of making records, as has been often done in colleges and high schools, but we have introduced it into our associations for the purpose of recreation, and for the purpose of playing something, and of promoting moral, physical, and mental vigor in the ranks of the young men who do not go to high school, or to college, or who have left both. In our correspondence, which has been quite vigorous and extensive, we find that many are not willing to engage in athletics, or at least to commence it in an organized way, in the associations, because, they say, they think they do not need it. They say: "We have no athletic club; nobody here who can win anything." Here, today, the Athletic Committee declare to the representatives of the associations throughout the Church, that this is not the view-point from which we want to talk. We want to play for the playing, and for the organization and the organized plan it gives us in which to discipline the boys and young men in athletics and to direct their enthusiasm. "Some Problems in Athletics" means in reality a part of the bigger problem, "The Boy." Athletics in the M. I. A. has a higher purpose than mere recreation. Our track-meets are not primarily to make records, but are a part in the program to make men. The mission of the Mutual Improvement Associations is to save and develop our boys and young men, and an important element in their development is giving them such physical, mental and moral vigor as shall place them in the highest standard of efficiency. It is highly important *Given at a Y. M. M. I. A. officers' meeting, June annual conference, 1912.

1138 IMPROVEMENT ERA that our officers obtain the correct view-point of this branch of our work, and a strict adherence to it will then solve many of the problems that arise. One problem arose the other day, in a nearby stake. A committee had been appointed in that stake to take care of meets. Jealousy arose between certain wards in the stake, and certain men were barred for certain reasons. Disputes arose, and letters were writtn to us, asking us to adjudicate between them. Our answer was that they would better be satisfied to play under inferior rules than to destroy their work under superior rules, or by undertaking to follow superior rules which were not settled or understood. So that, if we bear that view-point in mind, it will solve many of the problems that arise. We say that in every ward where there are young men, there is also a field for the cultivation of these fundamental elements of excellence. I refer to a little extract from a book on boys, showing the natural tendency of the boy: Convincing proofs that this1 early social instinct craves development as much as that of adult man, and suggestive indications of the ways in which it turns and may best be turned, are seen in a study of those interesting organizations which boys themselves spontaneously create. Dr. Henry D. Sheldon furnishes figures as to the spontaneous activities of American children as bearing on adolescent boyhood. How general the expression of this social instinct is, is seen in the fact that of 1,034 responses of boys from ten to sixteen, 851 were members of such societies. This did not include societies formed for boys by elders, and it did include many boys who from isolation never had the slightest chance for such society making. The study of the societies which children spontaneously form ought to be more suggestive than that of those which elders in their adult wisdom or ignorance form for them. From 1,022 papers collected, there were reported 862 societies. The ages were from ten to seventeen. Of 623 societies fully described: Social clubs (for "good times") numbered 28, or Al/i per cent. Industrial orgainzations numbered %l/2 per cent. Philanthropic organizations numbered 1XA per cent. Literary, art and musical clubs numbered 4)4 per cent. Predatory societies (migratory, hunting, building, fighting, preying, etc.) numbered 17 per cent. Athletic and game clubs numbered 61 per cent. The period of greatest activity of these societies is between ten and fifteen — over 87 per cent being formed during those ages. Physical activity is the keynote of these societies at all ages, and must be made the basis of social work for boys if it is to reach and hold their natural instincts. Other things may be accepted or endured 'by them, but this is what they care for. A contract which begins with athletics, walks, physical development and manual training, may ripen into the literary, the scientific, the ethical and the religious influences. But it would seem wise to utilize the ruder instincts which are on the surface before reaching down to the deeper ones. I want to say that in a test which this recent authority made in a number of cities, sixty-one per cent of the boys who came together in voluntary associations were in favor of athletics, that in every

MUTUAL WORK 1139 community there is an element in favor of athletics that must be taken care of. Some say they do not need athletics. It seems to me that all young men need them. Where is there a ward without the idler, the "kicker," the tempter, who especially need them? There is a crisis in the adolescent period of every boy. The change from boy to man is a physical change. New ideas come to him; and he obtains a broader view of things, and a thrill of conscious power and self-reliance stirs the blood that hitherto has readily yielded to parental rule. The anxious parent needs help under these conditions. There is need to give direction to the hot blood and enthusiasm of youth, rather than to allow it to be wasted in the mania for speed, or lost in the stagnant stupidity that comes from idleness and bad company. The boy needs constructive discipline, and he needs some one to associate with, who has a purpose in life and who, understanding the boy-spirit, may teach him that organized play is better than destructive deviltry or stupid idleness. Enough, perhaps, on this first problem in athletics — the need of a correct view-point. The second is the problem of leadership. Qualified brethren are needed in every ward to organize and direct athletics, and to organize and hold those whose tastes and inclinations are receptive to this work. We have partially met this problem by giving a normal course in the gymnasium to about eighty men from various wards, during the winter. While this is a small beginning, it is the right thing to do, and will be continued until every association in the Church shall be provided with competent leadership. Another problem is the place and equipment for athletics. Many have felt that without a well furnished gymnasium, they could not make any progress in athletics, etc. Under the suggestion of Secretary Hinckley and Director Day, of the Deseret Gymnasium, (which, by the way, I may say, on very good authority, is one of the best gymnasiums between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans), the normal course I have spoken of was organized to solve this important second problem. There were one hundred lessons in that course, one hundred subjects taken up in that program for the normal classes. And during the winter time, when men were thought to be less busy. they were invited to come here, representatives from each ward, to take that course. We held two classes, one. I think, in December, and the other in February. It was the testimony of all those men that their time was well spent, profitably spent, and they returned to their homes in a measure equipped to take the leadership and control of athletics in their respective wards. Another problem is what games to play. Games, of course, are varied, and should be chosen to suit the facilities of each locality. Of course, we will meet difficulties, but must overcome them. For instance, the sports of the college and the high school do not attract all who can and ought to play. We have made, comparatively speaking, only a small beginning. There are at least fifty per cent of the boys

1140 IMPROVEMENT ERA who do not belong to the Young Men's Improvement associations, or the Sunday schools. We want these boys to join in these athletic sports. It is better to get them in and get them to play for the benefit they can get than to create in them only a desire to win, as is sometimes the case in the schools. Now as to the problem, the place to play and the equipment. A great many are eager, of course, to have the best equipment and the latest appliances — desire, in fact, to be supplied with a well-furnished gymnasium. The Deseret Gymnasium is a good example, but we cannot have such a one in every stake. We cannot have even ordinary halls, in many of the wards. The idea of the best athletes that we have is, that we do not need expensive appliances in order to have a profitable organization. You can play on the ground. You can take the conditions that surround you, whether they are favorable or unfavorable, sum up what your limitations are, and make the best of what you have, until you can get something better. Don't go into the big end of the-horn, and come out of the little end. Don't make a big showing by collecting several thousand dollars and investing that money, and then falling flat with it. Better go a little slowly, build on a sure foundation, and commence something that you can finish. I would much rather see a stake resort to its natural facilities than overstep their possibilities. I am told they have in Box Elder nine base-ball clubs, and play ward against ward, until, in a final meet, they have a final try-out and a splendid game. You can do that on a campus, without a single bench, building, or gymnasium. These base ball games may be engaged in where you can't have anything better. Base ball makes a very good game. Get the boys organized and under your control, and encourage them not to break the Sabbath day playing ball, and you will thus have them organized in such a way that they will play to entertain and instruct your citizens, and employ their own energies, which would otherwise be expended on influences that are not worthy. So, until you can get the proper equipment, and have the dignity to maintain it, try and adjust yourselves to circumstances, both indoors and out. Facilities are varied, but in all places there are natural advantages and conditions that may be made use of. I will have to pass over a great many other complex conditions which every student of athletics who is interested in the development of character and good citizenship is aware that the problem involves. I wish we had time for some discussion, because I feel sure that if we could have only the opportunity of hearing from the superintendents, we could get much light that might help to establish organizations in the various wards of the Church. I hope we will keep green in our memory the splendid exercises we had in Scout work, at the Gymnasium last evening, and as soon as possible organize the boys throughout our wards and stakes in the M. I. A. Scout movement, as well as in athletics.