Central Collegiate Institute - Analecta Yearbook (Calgary, Alberta Canada)

Page 31 text:

The Analecta school? If we could do that then we would be able to have real practices at night or after four at Victoria Park. With the help of the teachers to give us a few hints, etc., we would be able to bring one shield back to the school at least. The new boys that are at the school we do not know anything about, and if some one doesn’t recommend them they do not get a chance to show what their ability is. So, many a time good athletes, who might bring honors to the school, are excluded. It has been said that the school work would be neglected if we had a holiday, but I don’t think so, because then we wouldn’t need periods off to choose the contestants. Another thing the pupils going into the sports lose these periods in doing their best for the school while the others are able to get the work and do nothing at all. To train for an athletic meet and to be in a fairly good condition an athlete must start training about two months before the meet to be able to accomplish results. He must not train in a haphazard way either, as this would spoil all the good in him. It is impossible to choose our con¬ testants two months before the meet but we could choose them a month before any way, instead of two or three days as has been done in this and former years. C.C.I. wouldn’t have made the points she did last year if it had not been for a few boys who continually kept themselves in good condition. But even then they couldn’t stand the pace set by the athletes from the North Hill. An example of this is—although Crescent Heights only won one individual Championship they were the proud holders of the five shields at the end of the day. There is no doubt about it that C.C.I. still has a collection of good athletes because they shine at Rugby and Basketball, but why not get the same spirit into the Field Day? Last year we didn’t have a person around the school who would lead the yells. Let us show some life next year. If the sports are worth going in for at all, why not go into them with the right spirit and say you are going to win. But we will not be able to go into them with this attitude if there is not a change made in the elimina¬ tions. This is not written by a person who doesn’t know anything about athletic meets but one who has been in them and realizes exactly what condition is necessary and what training a boy needs. Here’s hoping we see a change next year and a great deal more in¬ terest taken by everybody from the principal and teachers right down to the smallest pupil in the school. And if you aren’t able to enter into the sports there is no elimination trials for the cheering squad. I want to emphasize once more to get results give the pupils a half holiday and have a preliminary Field Day to choose the contestants for the October meet a month before time and give them a fair chance. The teachers would be of great help if they went out with the boys and helped them in some way or another. If this advice is taken I see no reason why we shouldn’t have better results next fall. —ONE WHO KNOWS.