Part 1
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SPALDING ATHLETIC LIBRARY
SPALDING OFFICIAL ANNUALS
No. 1. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE Price 10c. No. 1S. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE (Spanish Edition) Price 10c. No. 2. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL FOOT BALL GUIDE Price 10c. No. 6. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL ICE HOCKEY GUIDE Price 10c. No. 7. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL BASKET BALL GUIDE Price 10c. No. 7A. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL WOMEN’S BASKET BALL GUIDE Price 10c. No. 9. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL INDOOR BASE BALL GUIDE Price 10c. No. 12A. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL ATHLETIC RULES Price 10c. No. 1R. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL ATHLETIC ALMANAC Price 25c. No. 3R. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL GOLF GUIDE Price 25c. No. 55R. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL SOCCER FOOT BALL GUIDE Price 25c. No. 57R. SPALDING’S LAWN TENNIS ANNUAL Price 25c. No. 59R. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL BASE BALL RECORD Price 25c.
Specially Bound Series of Athletic Handbooks
Flexible binding. Mailed postpaid on receipt of 50 cents each number.
No. 501L. STROKES AND SCIENCE OF LAWN TENNIS
No. 502L. HOW TO PLAY GOLF
No. 503L. HOW TO PLAY FOOT BALL
No. 504L. ART OF SKATING
No. 505L. GET WELL—KEEP WELL
No. 506L. HOW TO LIVE 100 YEARS
No. 507L. HOW TO WRESTLE
No. 508L. HOW TO PLAY LAWN TENNIS; HOW TO PLAY TENNIS FOR BEGINNERS
No. 509L. BOXING
No. 510L. DUMB BELL EXERCISES
No. 511L. JIU JITSU
No. 512L. SPEED SWIMMING
No. 513L. WINTER SPORTS
No. 514L. HOW TO BOWL
No. 515L. HOW TO SWIM AND COMPETITIVE DIVING
No. 516L. SCHOOL TACTICS AND MAZE RUNNING; CHILDREN’S GAMES
No. 517L. TEN AND TWENTY MINUTE EXERCISES
No. 518L. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GYMNASTIC GAMES
No. 519L. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE
No. 520L. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL FOOT BALL GUIDE
No. 521L. SPALDING’S OFFICIAL BASKET BALL GUIDE
No. 522L. GOLF FOR GIRLS
No. 523L. HOW TO PLAY BASE BALL; HOW TO UMPIRE; HOW TO MANAGE A TEAM, ETC.
No. 524L. SPALDING’S LAWN TENNIS ANNUAL
No. 525L. HOW TO PITCH; READY RECKONER OF BASE BALL PERCENTAGES
No. 526L. HOW TO CATCH; HOW TO BAT
In addition to above, any 25 cent “Red Cover” book listed in Spalding’s Athletic Library will be bound in flexible binding for 50 cents each; or any two 10 cent “Green Cover” or “Blue Cover” books in one volume for 50 cents.
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ANY OF THE ABOVE BOOKS MAILED POSTPAID UPON RECEIPT OF PRICE
11-30-16
Group I. Base Ball
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 1 Spalding’s Official Base Ball Guide No. 1S Spalding’s Official Base Ball Guide. Spanish Edition. No. 202 How to Play Base Ball No. 219 Ready Reckoner of Base Ball Percentages No. 223 How to Bat No. 224 How to Play the Outfield No. 225 How to Play First Base No. 226 How to Play Second Base No. 227 How to Play Third Base No. 228 How to Play Shortstop No. 229 How to Catch No. 230 How to Pitch {How to Organize a Base Ball League {How to Organize a Base Ball Club {How to Manage a Base Ball Club No. 231 {How to Train a Base Ball Team {How to Captain a Base Ball Team {How to Umpire {Technical Base Ball Terms No. 232 How to Run Bases No. 350 How to Score No. 355 Minor League Base Ball Guide No. 356 Official Book National League of Prof. Base Ball Clubs No. 9 Spalding’s Official Indoor Base Ball Guide
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 59R. Official Base Ball Record (including College records)
Group II. Foot Ball
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 2 Spalding’s Official Foot Ball Guide No. 358 Official College Soccer Guide
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 39R. How to Play Soccer No. 47R. How to Play Foot Ball No. 55R. Spalding’s Official Soccer Foot Ball Guide
Group III. Tennis
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 157 How to Play Lawn Tennis No. 363 Tennis Errors and Remedies
_“Green Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 1P. How to Play Tennis—For Beginners. By P. A. Vaile
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 2R. Strokes and Science of Lawn Tennis No. 42R. Davis Cup Contests in Australasia No. 57R. Spalding’s Lawn Tennis Annual
Group IV. Golf
_“Green Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 2P. How to Learn Golf
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 3R. Spalding’s Official Golf Guide No. 4R. How to Play Golf No. 63R. Golf for Girls
Group V. Basket Ball
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 7 Spalding’s Official Basket Ball Guide No. 7A Spalding’s Official Women’s Basket Ball Guide No. 193 How to Play Basket Ball
Group VI. Skating and Winter Sports
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 6 Spalding’s Official Ice Hockey Guide No. 14 Curling
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 8R. The Art of Skating No. 20R. How to Play Ice Hockey No. 28R. Winter Sports No. 72R. Figure Skating for Women
Group VII. Field and Track Athletics
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 12A Spalding’s Official Athletic Rules No. 27 College Athletics No. 55 Official Sporting Rules No. 87 Athletic Primer No. 156 Athletes’ Guide No. 178 How to Train for Bicycling No. 182 All Around Athletics No. 255 How to Run 100 Yards No. 302 Y. M. C. A. Official Handbook No. 317 Marathon Running No. 342 Walking for Health and Competition No. 362 Track, Relay and Cross Country Rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Ass’n.
_“Green Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 3P. How to Become an Athlete By James E. Sullivan No. 4P. How to Sprint
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 1R. Spalding’s Official Athletic Almanac No. 17R. Olympic Games, Stockholm. 1912 No. 45R. Intercollegiate Official Handbook No. 48R. Distance and Cross Country Running No. 70R. How to Become a Weight Thrower
Group VIII. School Athletics
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 246 Athletic Training for Schoolboys No. 331 Schoolyard Athletics
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 61R. School Tactics and Maze Running; Children’s Games No. 66R. Calisthenic Drills and Fancy Marching and Physical Training for the School and Class Room No. 71R. Public Schools Athletic League Official Handbook
Group IX. Water Sports
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 128 How to Row No. 129 Water Polo No. 361 Intercollegiate Swimming Guide
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 36R. Speed Swimming No. 37R. How to Swim and Competitive Diving No. 60R. Canoeing and Camping
Group X. Athletic Games for Women and Girls
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 7A Spalding’s Official Women’s Basket Ball Guide No. 314 Girls’ Athletics
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 38R. Field Hockey No. 41R. Newcomb No. 63R. Golf for Girls No. 69R. Girls and Athletics
Group XI. Lawn and Field Games
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 167 Quoits No. 170 Push Ball No. 180 Ring Hockey No. 199 Equestrian Polo No. 201 How to Play Lacrosse No. 207 Lawn Bowls
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 6R. Cricket, and How to Play It
Group XII. Miscellaneous Games
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 13 American Game of Hand Ball No. 364 Volley Ball
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 43R. Archery, Roque, Croquet, English Croquet, Lawn Hockey, Tether Ball, Clock Golf, Golf-Croquet, Hand Tennis, Hand Polo, Wicket Polo, Badminton, Drawing Room Hockey, Garden Hockey, Basket Goal, Volley Ball Rules and Pin Ball No. 49R. How to Bowl No. 50R. Court Games
Group XIII. Manly Sports
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 191 How to Punch the Bag No. 282 Roller Skating Guide
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 11R. Fencing Foil Work Illustrated No. 19R. Professional Wrestling No. 21R. Jiu Jitsu No. 25R. Boxing No. 30R. The Art of Fencing No. 65R. How to Wrestle
Group XIV. Calisthenics
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 10R. Single Stick Drill No. 16R. Team Wand Drill No. 22R. Indian Clubs and Dumb Bells and Pulley Weights No. 24R. Dumb Bell Exercises No. 73R. Graded Calisthenics and Dumb Bell Drills
Group XV. Gymnastics
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 124 How to Become a Gymnast No. 254 Barnjum Bar Bell Drill No. 287 Fancy Dumb Bell and Marching Drills
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 14R. Trapeze, Long Horse and Rope Exercises No. 34R. Grading of Gym. Exercises No. 40R. Indoor and Outdoor Gymnastic Games No. 52R. Pyramid Building No. 56R. Tumbling for Amateurs and Ground Tumbling No. 67R. Exercises on the Side Horse; Exercises on the Flying Rings. No. 68R. Horizontal Bar Exercises; Exercises on Parallel Bars
Group XVI. Home Exercising
_“Blue Cover” Series, each number 10c._
No. 161 Ten Minutes’ Exercise for Busy Men No. 185 Hints on Health No. 325 Twenty-Minute Exercises
_“Red Cover” Series, each number 25c._
No. 7R. Physical Training Simplified No. 9R. How to Live 100 Years No. 23R. Get Well; Keep Well No. 33R. Tensing Exercises No. 51R. 285 Health Answers No. 54R. Medicine Ball Exercises, Indigestion Treated by Gymnastics, Physical Education and Hygiene No. 62R. The Care of the Body No. 64R. Muscle Building; Health by Muscular Gymnastics
ANY OF THE ABOVE BOOKS MAILED POSTPAID UPON RECEIPT OF PRICE
11-30-16
Swimming a Necessary Part of One’s Education
Some years ago it was not so easy to get people interested in the art of swimming and to have them realize the necessity of a knowledge of how to keep the body afloat and to propel it through the water by means of the arms and legs, in order to be able not only to save one’s own life but be the means of rendering assistance to others in time of danger and accident. Conditions have greatly changed in this direction now, and swimming is on a strong wave of popularity; in fact, the great mass of people of the United States, both young and old, have taken up this pastime with so much vigor and enthusiasm that it will not be long ere this country, as in many other things, will lead all the nations of the world in its educational interest in spreading this useful accomplishment, as our competitive swimmers are now leading the world in speed swimming and skill in the water.
That swimming is healthful, splendid for development, easily acquired and should be a part of one’s education and taught in schools as being as necessary as reading, writing, and arithmetic, is now generally admitted, and means have been provided in nearly all the large cities whereby the school children are given the proper facilities, under careful and up-to-date instruction, to bring about the desired end.
The Simple Method
It is not our purpose in this book to go into any extended details or give dry statistics, but to show by simple and plain talks on the art and science of swimming and by language that is clear and readily understood, with the assistance of various pictures, the different positions in the water in swimming the breast stroke, the over-arm side stroke, the double-over-arm stroke (sometimes called the Trudgeon), and the now generally accepted and famous “crawl” stroke, as these four movements in the water practically complete one’s swimming education and make their possessor worthy of the title of an expert.
There has been considerable controversy among expert swimmers and teachers as to whether it is best to learn the crawl stroke first, or the breast stroke, and various competitive tests have been made in order to let the exponents of each principle prove, if possible, the superiority of one method over the other, but no permanent deductions have been arrived at; however, the author, aside from having decided opinions himself in this matter, considers that where one method has an advantage over the other, both have their good points.
Crawl Teaching Is Quickest
It is claimed that one can be taught quicker by a sort of dog-paddle, sometimes spoken of as the crawl stroke, and we will admit this to be so, but those who learn by this route are seldom good swimmers until they master the other strokes, while the breast stroke as an elementary one, although being a little harder to grasp, on account of the co-ordination of arms and legs, gives more confidence to the beginner, and he or she will rapidly advance from this point on, and even in the early stages will be able to swim farther and with less effort than by the so-called crawl method; however, if the beginner can grasp the Trudge-crawl at the very start, the result will be much easier and the advancement more rapid.
But, as we will show and explain both methods, the reader who does not know how, can choose either one, and if he is taught by a professional instructor, or some expert amateur coach, it matters not which way he learns, so that he accomplishes the first object—to keep the body afloat and propel it by means of the arms and legs.
The very first thing you want to get in your mind, and fasten it there firmly, is the fact that there are only three things necessary to become a good swimmer—the proper timing of the stroke, or what experts call the alternate action or harmony (timing); breathing; and the ability to relax; and when you have acquired these things—and every one can master them—you will not only be able to swim well and without effort, but go indefinite distances in the water just as easily as walking on the land, and swim as long as your vitality will permit and the lowered temperature of the body will allow.
The Breast Stroke
And now for the simple lessons, beginning with the breast stroke.
To swim the breast stroke the beginner lies flat on the water, being supported by water wings, rubber life preserver, or held up in shallow water by the hand of a friend or instructor. The body, except the head and shoulders, is submerged a few inches under the water, the arms and legs outstretched in a line with the body, the hands, with palms downward, touching. The toes, knees and feet should be pointing outward.
When beginning the stroke it is best to make the movements with three counts. At “one” the hands are parted, describing a semi-circle, and at “two” are brought up under the chin, the knees being simultaneously brought up under the body, pointing outward, the legs being separated. At “three” the hands are shot out in front of the body and the legs whipped together, completing the full stroke, the body being allowed to float for an instant before again beginning the stroke, to get the benefit of the run as well as a little rest between strokes.
At first the pupil may naturally keep the limbs tense in going through these movements, and it is this, and holding the breath, that tires, and not the muscular movements. But you will soon loosen up after gaining a little confidence and you will find how easy it is to float on and move through the water. And now comes that all-important part of all swimming—breathing.
Breathing
Breathing plays the most important part in the art of swimming; in fact, no one ever becomes a good swimmer unless attention is paid to the matter of breathing, which must be done with regularity and precision. This is especially necessary when using the advanced or scientific strokes and much of the speed and endurance in swimming depend on a correct performance of this part of the work. In breast swimming, the head and face being more above the surface of the water than in the side strokes, breathing is usually performed through the nose alone, keeping the mouth closed in order not to take in any water. But it is not long before those who breathe in this fashion find out that the respiration is restricted, irregular and jerky, and the swimmer soon gets “out of wind” and tires, wondering why it is that he can only go such a short distance before he is “played out.” To nothing else, so much as breathing, is due the inability of those who can swim to keep up the speed and regularity of movement for an indefinite period.