A study of the policies and practices governing the conditioning of athletic teams in class AA schools of Texas

The training of athletes teams plays a very important part in the physical education program. Athletes could not adapt themselves to the vigorous activities if they were not good in physical conditioning. All coaches require the members of their teams to meet certain training requirements. Many coaches differ in their conception of conditioning programs although all have the same basic ideas, but different methods are applied in arriving at the same objectives. The information for this thesis was secured from library research and from the coaches of the Class AA high schools of Texas, who filled out and returned the questionnaire that was sent to them. All of the class AA high schools in Texas that will compete in Interscholastic League Competition in 1954 were selected for the purpose of this survey. Of the possible 183 schools that were sent questionnaires, 120, or approximately 66 percent, answered and returned the. In view of the evidence gathered through this study, the following conclusions may be derived: The coaches in general make the greater number of training rules, which are just the sort of principles that everyone should observe who values health and efficiency, and in the majority of cases those do not observe them will be dropped from the team. Running is the best way to conditions athletes for vigorous sports and in order to be sure that the boys are ready for the hard work the warm up sessions should be supervised. Because smoking and drinking lower the physical fitness of the athletes, a coach will have better results if he does not tolerate them at any time under any conditions, and if such a rule is made then the boy who violates it should be dropped from the team. Smoking is a bigger problem than drinking in the majority of schools. The coach should make definite arrangements for a pre-game meal, which should not include milk or fried foods, and which should be served at least three hours before the game. Athletes should not be allowed to eat candy between meals, but it is generally accepted with meals. The athletes should be allowed to drink water in small amounts during practice and games.