Introduction
The accompanying manual of gymnastic games was worked out by Mr. Chesley while a student of mine at the Y. M. C. A. Training School. His aim was to make a compilation of games that should be of practical use under the conditions of the ordinary gymnasium. To this end he made a careful examination of the literature of the topic. Between four and five hundred games were carefully examined with reference to the following elements:
First—Adaptability in point of interest, muscular exercise, and the like to the different ages of boys and young men ordinarily frequenting gymnasiums.
Second—A sufficient degree of simplicity so that the games could be played from the rules without the necessity of personal instruction.
Third—Emphasis upon those games which admit of being played by a large number of persons at one time.
Fourth—The games have been selected also with reference to their value in effecting respiration, circulation and nutrition of the body.
The specific questions which have been asked of these games are: Are they interesting? Do they involve frequent contractions of the great muscular groups of the body? Do they demand moderate or excessive efforts? Is the effect upon the heart and circulation good or bad? Is the effect upon the position of the chest such as to interfere with respiration? Is the exercise intermittent, so as to allow the muscles to recover their tone, and not be overcome by the toxins of fatigue? Is there danger of competition such that excessive expenditure of energy will be involved, or that emotions will be unduly excited? Is the muscular action so localized as to render development uneven?
