Page 81 - Mastheads Aug-Dec 1944

PASSING PARADE OF SPORTS

With Navy Day fully upon us and this year's athletic achievements
the topic of discussion, it is time again to dust off the sports carpet and
give it a cleaning for the coming year.
Falling upon the sturdy shoulders of the Physical Fitness Directors
and their diligent staff is the hardy task of conditioning our fighting
boys to combat standards. Their j_ob is that of molding an unconditioned
civilian who may be fresh from a desk job or out of shape into a quick-
thinking, able-bodied fighting bluejacket. It takes more than just an eye-
ful to ready him for action. He must be taught the usefulness of the body
and how to use it properly. Your Treasure Island gymnasium is the place
where he is taught how. Here extensive classes in various sports are at
your disposal in such a manner that you will get enjoyment as well as in-
structive knowledge.
"Sports take a back seat to none when it comes down to the physical
training of a bluejacket," says Lt. A. N. Higgins, Director of Physical Fit-
ness Program on Treasure Island, who is responsible for the sport activi-
ties shown on this page

Boxing, football, judo and which the Physical Fitness Dc-
wrestling all serve as a spring- partmen t is concered is that
board to toughness. The body-to- of giving vital swimming instruc-
body contact being the main ob- tions to many a bluejacket who
jective while the teamwork and may find it necessary to swim in
split-second thinking needed to order that he may survive the
'-._.., make a pigskin play a success or sinking of his ship. Classes in life-
just an average blow a knockout saving, abandon ship drills, learn-
punch, play leading roles in de- ing how to swim in oil-infested
veloping leadership. Football waters and battling marine haz-
games or boxing matches as well a rds a re just a few of the needed
as battles are not won on the black- funda mentals which you are taught
board, but by actual hand-to-hand at the gymnasium.
fighting that must be executed by Gymnastics aid the development
'-....,
all persons concerned. of the body as a whole. With the
Now what good does tennis or emphasis on weight lifting, tum-
handball "a fancy dan's game"- bling, rings and trampoline, they
do you? Perhaps, fixed in your give you the "body beautiful." This
mind is the idea that the above gives your neck muscles,
mentioned sports should be dele- shoulders, arms, chest and legs
gated to the weaker sex, as they the full benefit of the workout, at
are ·strictly games for women, but the same time building them up.
'-._..,
you are -wrong!!! To play either The results will begin to show
game, a well-coordinated body themselves in two or three months.
must be developed as well as a Stout wrists and well-built legs
quick-thinking mind. You must be will develop from tumbling and
able to move in any direction the trampoline, while the rings will
without a moment's hesitation. A give you a bigger chest expansion
bouncing agility develops with plus well-developed arm muscles.
'----' your legs, arms and · wind- all These activities enable th e
getting the benefit which would bluejacket to develop teamwork,
help you in almost any phase of spirit, and leadership which are
life. the prime requisites of all naval
Swimming is essential. One of training in_ order to achieve the
the most important jobs with final goal-VICTORY!!!