FRESHMEN ON THE FIELD

In an interesting and timely article appearing in the latest Harvard A, A. News, Freshman Coach Adolph Samborski discusses the problem of Freshman athletics from a novel angle. At the present, with many Freshmen still undecided as to which branch of sports they wish to devote their time to, this article might well serve as required reading, for the question of team versus individual athletics is ably discussed and frankly met. Mr. Samborski reaches the conclusion that too many Freshmen feel urged to participate in organized sports and try to "make the team", often hurriedly, and perhaps in some cases inadvisedly. As is usually the case when many are called, but few are chosen, the subsequent cutting of squads unloads a large mass of men totally undecided what to do from then on.

Careful consideration of the athletic question during the beginning of the Freshman year will save a great deal of time and later inconvenience. The college offers excellent facilities in all branches of non-organized sports. Swimming sculling, handball; tennis, squash--all are extremely well coached and arranged with a view to the individuals. Under these conditions it is a small wonder that so many finally turn to these branches of athletics through the year, finding them, for one reason or another, more suited to the individual taste or ability.

Since team sports are almost wholly restricted to college years and largely abandoned in later life in favor of golf, tennis and squash, early preparation along these lines will repay the individual many times over. When one remembers that the University can be represented every bit at ably by means of non-organized athletics the incentive should prove strong to turn to the courts or the swimming pool rather than blindly follow the herd onto the grid-iron or the hockey-rink. Organized athletics are normally and naturally the corner-stone of Harvard's outdoor life, but it cannot be too strongly urged that individual tastes and ability be considered before signing up for any team or squad.