Bingham Overhauls Athletic Award Program

Fifty years of athletic tradition went out the window yesterday when HAA director William J. Bingham '16 announced the adoption of a comprehensive new letter award system, a system which would make it possible for Harvard athletes to win 'H's" without competing in the Yale game.

Almost without exception, the new basis for letter giving is based on participation in a certain percentage of the scheduled games, or on a minimum number of minutes spent in intercollegiate competition during a season.

However, greater than average emphasis on the Yale contest will not be completely abandoned. Henceforth, Yale games will be counted in most sports as equal to participation in two games, and in others as twice the number of minutes or innings played.

Letters may still be awarded, in special cases, on the recommendation of both the captain and coach of the team.

In one instance, the 150 pound jayvee crew, awards will now be made where no recognition had been given before. Members of this crew who are not seniors or two years veterans (who receive minor H's) will now receive major crew numerals.

In every case, it is now easier for freshmen to obtain numerals than for varsity competitors to get H's, for the HAA requires participation in a smaller percentage of games, and a lower total of playing time for freshman sports awards.

A sport by sport resume of the new system follows:

Major Sports

Baseball--A major H will be awarded to each varsity player who play in 25 percent of the innings in regularly scheduled games. Playoff games will be considered as regularly scheduled, and Yale games count double.

Freshman Baseball--Major numerals will be awarded under the same conditions as varsity letters.

Basketball--A major H will be awarded to each man who plays 80 minutes in Eastern Intercollegiate League play.

Freshman Basketball--Major numerals will be awarded under the same conditions as varsity letters.

Crew--Participation in the E.A.R.C. regatta gives the varsity crew a major H, and a jayvee winning crew also gets a major II, otherwise a minor H. Participation in the E.A.R.C. regatta gives the varsity 150 1b. crew a minor H, and a winning jayvee 150 1b. crew also a minor H. Otherwise, the 150 jayvee gets major numerals.

Freshman Crew--E.A.R.C. participation gets freshman heavies major numerals, and freshman 150's minor numerals.

Football--Major H is awarded to each varsity player who has 60 minutes of game time. Men having loss varsity game time will receive minor H's. Jayvee players who have played the equivalent of eight minutes in each scheduled game receive minor H's.

Freshman Football--Men who have played the equivalent of four minutes in each scheduled game receive major numerals.

Hockey--men who play 80 minutes in Pentagonal League play receive major H's. Double credit for Yale games.

Freshman Hockey--men who play 60 minutes receive major numerals. Double credit for Yale.

Swimming--men who get 10 points in Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming receive major H's. Relay points are divided among members of relay teams. Also major H's to men who win Ivy League Championships, place in nationals meets, equal or break Harvard records, and to all men who place on a League Championship team. Double credit for Yale meets.

Freshman Swimming five points in meets will gain major numerals, and the Yale meet counts double.

Track--10 points in indoor and outdoor season combined will get a major track 14. Relay points are divided, and either a win in the Ivy League meet, or a place in the N.C.A.A. or IC4A meets, or participation in the Harvard-Yale Oxford-Cambridge meet will win a major H. All point winners of championship track teams receive major H's. Yale meet counts double.

Freshman Track--major numerals go to winners of five points during the combined indoor and outdoor season. Yale meet counts double.

Minor Sports

Cross-Country--a minor H goes to the first seven men to finish in a majority of regularly scheduled meets. Yale counts double. Undefeated teams gets major H's. also major H's go to men who finish in the first 10 of the IC4A or N.C.A.A. meets, and/or in the first five of the Heptagonals, and to each of the first five men regardless of place on an IC4A Championship team.

Freshman Cross-Country--Placing in the first seven in a majority of meets wins minor numerals, or if the team was undefeated, major numerals.

Fencing--Men who participate in any four meet win a minor H. Major H's go to individual winners in the Intercollegiate Fencing Association, and to winning teams at the I.F.A. tourney in epee, foils, or saber. Double credit for Yale.

Freshman Fencing--Minor numerals to participants in four matches.

Golf--Players who take part in 25% of the matches get minor H's. Men who reach the finals of the N.C.A.A. tournament or win the Eastern College Championship, or are members of the winning Eastern team receive major H's. Double credit for Yale.

Freshman lacrosse--Minor numerals are awarded to men who compete in one-third of the games. In undefeated seasons, major numerals are awarded.

Rific, Sailing, Skling--No change in the awarding of these letters.

Soccer--Men who compete in a majority of games win minor letters unless the team is undefeated and/or wins the League title when major H's are awarded. Double credit for Yale.

Freshman Soccer--Men competing in one-third of the scheduled freshman games win minor numerals, except in the case of an undefeated season, when major numerals in minor colors are given.

Squash Racquets--Men who participate in six intercollegiate varsity matches are eligible for minor H's, and if the team goes undefeated and or wins the intercollegiate title, they may get major H's. Major H's are also awarded to individual winners in National Amateur Squash Racquets tournament.

Freshman Squash Racquets--Freshmen who play in four or more intercollegiate matches win minor numerals, or major numerals if the team is undefeated.

Tennis--To win a minor H in tennis players must compete in a majority of the matches. In the case of an undefeated season, major H's are given. As in lacrosse, the spring trip does not count against the undefeated record of a tennis team.

Freshmen Tennis--Participation in one-third of the freshman tennis matches wins a minor numeral, or in undefeated seasons, a major numeral.

Wrestling--Men who compete in five or more matches are eligible for a minor H. Major H's are given to undefeated teams, men or teams placing first in the Easterns, or men who place first, second or third in the N.C.A.A. tourney.