THE SPORTS GIRL

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 300, 3 December 1936, Page 8

THE SPORTS GIRL

CERTAIN GAMES HARMFUL AI ENT AL POINT OF VIEW. Professor W. G. Anderson, Director of Physical Education at Yale University, America, is responsible for the physical well-being of 5000 men and women. He has made a life-long study of the physical effects of games, and is the writer of the following article which appeared iti the Cape Times. “Every woman to-day takes up some form of sport. Some people with an old-fashioned outlook express horror at what has come to be called ‘the sports girl,’ but I think the time has passed when women, intent on gaining the obvious benefits of fresh air and exercise, 'will listen to their protests. ‘‘At the same time there is a real danger that in their enthusiasm women may be tempted to try too much. It is not sufficiently recognised that just as the right games for a man of 20 are not the right ones for a man of 35, so the game which is of tremendous value to a young man may have a harmful effect on the health of a girl of the same age. “Certain games are definitely harmful tor women and others are suitable only for certain ages. I have studied the Question very carefully and come to the conclusion that any games involving sudden strains and violence may be harmful to the average woman. There are, of course, exceptional girls who are able to stand far more strain than their ‘average’ sisters, but even these girls, if they do not hurt themselves, gain very little benefit from violent sports. VALUE OF COUNTRY DANCES.

“For a girl between the ages of three and seven. I have found that ‘action’ songs and country dances are best for building and strengthening the muscles. The movements open the lungs and develop the chest, and in the hands of an intelligent teacher these ‘games’ can be as interesting as others which are more suited to older children. It must not be forgotten that where there is no interest in a game there is no benefit. Physical well-being is dependent on the mind as well as on the muscles. “For the growing girl between the ages of 7 and 21, the finest allround sport is gymnastics. In the United States at the present time there is almost a craze for gymnastics, which strengthens many muscles in different parts of the body. The competitive element can be introduced into ‘gym.’ if it is thought advisable, and the beauty of this sport is that an experienced instructor can take his pupils individually from exercise to exercise, giving eacn exactly the required amount and no more.

A NATIONAL POINT OF VIEW. “From a national point of view, gymnastics is an economical snort. The original equipment is, perhaps, expensive, but the maintenance charges are very small, compared with tennis, hockey, and similar games. There are thousands of women who cannot afford the constant renewal of equipment required in these sports, and I look forward to the time when every town will have |‘s indoor and open-air gymnasiums. “Growing girls can also gain considerable benefit from fencing, golf, and hockey, but football should definitely be ruled out and cricket is of doubtful value. Our girls go in for tap dancing, which is the best rxercise for building fine legs. Exercises which "develop a good pair of legs have more than “face’’ value, since the heart also benefits. “The girl who has left school can play golf and tennis with benefit, but athletic sports, although good in moderation mav be harmful in excess. A w unan who indulges in cross-country ma.alh'jns and falls exhausted and al-m-st unconscious at the end of a gruelling run is doing herself no good-, whatever tronhies she may capture. If cross country running appeals to you, better take it easily at a comforlable pace and forget the prizes. Yon will gain in the long run. NOT IDEAL FOR MOTHERS, “I am of the opin on that tennis is not. an ideal game for mothers. Before a woman has had children, a s rem.ous game of tennis is fine and Airs Wills-Moody is an excellent example of a girl who built up a fine constitution on the tennis courts. But after she has borne children, a woman should be content with walking, simple exercises, and golf. Tennis, it it could be played mildly, and in m;;deiat,ion. would not be harmful, but I have yet to meet the tennis enthu iast who could resist the temptation to £0 “all out.’’ and in the case of a mother this strain may have to be paid for later in life. “As a woman grows older, she wil l da.l cycling the most beneficial exercise of ail. By sterngthening the thigh muscles, cycling benefits the heart, ano manv a woman who feels as fit at sixty as she did at sixteen has evcling to thank for her health. The dav when the motor car drives the cycle off the road ivill be a bad one from the point of view of national health. ,

‘/Swimming is an exercise fo- all ages, and every woman, like every man. should be able to swim. But women remember that tho efforts they made when girls should not be repeated when they are mothers of a family. It. is perhaps hard to see others going ‘all out’ and have to restrain yourself, but your moderation will be repaid in the long run. Merely entering -sea water is beneficial apart from actual exercise “From the mental point of view, team games are of tremendous value tn girls. Men have br>en brought up in the team tradition, but to women it is a comparatively new idea. At the same time no woman should hesitate to cry off, if she is feeling the least bit off colour, as over exercise may d iireparable damage.