The C.C.P.R. Book of Stick Work. Exercises and Activities With The Use Of Sticks by editor - 1947

UK: Central Council Of Physical Recreation, 1947. Soft cover. Very Good. EXERCISES AND ACTIVITIES WITH THE USE OF STICKS This is a revised edition of the booklet on Stick Work published by the C.C.P.R. in 1938. Advantage has been taken of the need for a new edition to make certain changes in arrangement of material and to include more exercises derived from parallel bar and horizontal bar work. INTRODUCTION The Place of Stick Work in Physical Recreation : This book is not "intended for those without experience in the leadership of other forms of physical recreation. Stick work should be regarded as a supplement to, rather than a substitute for, free standing exercises and as a means of providing a simple piece of apparatus which can be used in certain cases in place of the usual gymnastic apparatus, e.g., beams, boxes and wall bars. As a rule, exercises and activities in which sticks are used may be placed in one or other of the following categories :- I.Exercises which may look more spectacular when done with sticks, but which otherwise derive little or no value from the use of the stick. This applies to many free standing exercises. II.Exercises where the use of the stick increases the effect. This applies in particular to certain balance, dexterity and strengthening exercises. III.Vaulting, jumping, parallel and horizontal bar exercises where sticks serve as improvised apparatus. The leader is advised not to attempt these exercises unless he is conversant with the same exercises performed with normal apparatus or has had instruction in the use of sticks for this purpose. The Stick: The stick may be a pole with the bark still on it, or it may be turned from full grown timber. The pole has greater strength and resilience. Ash or hickory has been found satisfactory in use. Ash sticks require special care; they should not be kept in too dry a place and are improved by periodical light rubbing with bat oil. Bamboo, when obtainable, is excellent because it combines great strength with lightness. The ends of bamboo sticks should be plugged and bound to prevent them from cracking. As an alternative, tubular steel of the type used for scaffolding may be used and is particularly suitable for heaving, balancing and vaulting exercises. For some boys, however, steel 'sticks' are rather heavy. The normal length of the stick is from 5 ft.-6 ft. and the diameter from 1 in.-2 in. Where the work is generally done indoors, it is advisable to place rings of rubber or other suitable material on each end of the stick in order to lessen the noise when the stick is dropped. To ensure that sticks have their maximum life and that they are easily accessible, they should be stored horizontally on brackets or vertically in racks. Arrangement of the Book : Throughout, exercises have been grouped in chapters according to the type of exercise and not according to the number of sticks required. Where necessary, the ratio of sticks to performers is indicated. It should be clearly understood that this book does not claim to contain a list of all possible stick exercises. Many others will occur to leaders in actual practice. G. A. McPARTLIN Headquarters Technical Adviser