"FROM THE GROUND UP" IS STEVENS' ROWING POLICY

That Coach Stevens believes in building from the ground up, with plenty of attention to the depth of the foundation, has been amply demonstrated by his policy with the University crew this fall. No formal races have been in order, and the men have seldom been allowed to get above 32 or 33 to the minute.

It is a new style of rowing that Stevens has inaugurated, and it is a realization of this fact, together with a recognition of the difficulties that inevitably attend an innovation in any sport, particularly crew, that has prompted the apparently monotonous program on the Charles this fall.

Many Distinguishing Features

The most patent features of the new rowing style to the ordinary observer are the hard catch, quick pull-through finishing lower than usual, the lightning shoot of the hands away from the body, the coordination of movement between shoulders and knees throughout. This latter forms the most pronounced break from the system employed by Coach Muller last spring. The latter had his men come all the way forward before moving the slide at at all. The new style calls for proportional movement all around,--first the hands, then almost simultaneously the shoulders follow with the slide starting at once in response to the general forward motion of the whole body.

Quite similar to Yale's "miracle" system is this one now started for the first time on the waters of the Charles. Leader and Stevens both hail from the West, and it is small wonder that their crew methods should coincide in many important particulars.

The real link between the two systems that will meet in decisive fashion next June lies in the recovery. For the past two years it was proficiency in this department that earned victory for Yale on the Thames, and now at last a Crimson crew seems well on the road that leads to case on recovery, good spacing, and speeds. No Harvard eight of recent years has even approached perfection in this vital particular. No Harvard eight has yet accomplished it. But in the crew that has just completed a month and a half of systematic drill on this point in particular, lies-the possibility of such an achievement.

Races Last Fall Proved Failures

Last fall a new system was set down. It was very different in many respects from that taught by Dr. Howe the year before. Consequently it was hard to learn, and the fall season proved insufficient to accustom men, trained by different methods, to the Muller style. That was the principal reason for the poor showing of the University eight in the November races.

That error has been avoided this fall, and any racing intentionally barred. In consequence no special training period at high speeds has been necessary, and the time has been employed in teaching the men the fundamentals of the Stevens system. The fall season may have seemed rather drab in many respects, but a solid foundation is there now and may be depended upon to bear elaboration next spring.

Longer Season an Asset

Another feature of this fall's program has been the added time available for practice. Warm weather has contributed its share, and the four-car scheme will provide an additional period of practice for the University squad till a few days before the Yale game. It is felt that in former years there has been too long an "off-season", with the inevitable letdown in physical condition. This season, with winter tank-work scheduled for after Christmas, there will be only a little over a month of complete rest.

Special instruction will be available for football men after the gridiron season ends. It is intended to take this autumn's crew as a nucleus around which to build in the spring, but every opportunity will be given to new men, or to those engaged in other sports, to win a berth on the first combination.