Analysis of World Alliance of YMCAS towards Promotion of Physical Education and Sports with Particular Reference to India

Abstract

World Alliance of YMCAs is a worldwide Christian ecumenical voluntary movement for both men and women with special emphasis on and the genuine involvement of young people, The movement has rendered pioneering services in the spheres of Education, Sports and Games In the 1870s and 1880s that the YMCAs health or Physical Education programmed receive its start under the effective leadership of Robert J. Roberts of the Boston YMCA. The need for trained Physical Directors and YMCA secretaries were met in part by the founding of Springfield College under the name School for Christian workers in 1885 – The first formal program of its type in the movement. In India, Bombay YMCA was the first YMCA in India to recognize Physical Education as an important and integral part of its programmed. The Calcutta YMCA was the first association to attempt a programmed of Physical Education under the guidance of a qualified secretary. Dr. J.H. Gray was the first National YMCA Physical Director in India and he organized an introduced schemes of recreation through all the YMCAs of this country. The foundation of scientific Physical Education in this country was laid down in 1908 by Dr. J.H. Gray and later on Dr. Nobren who succeeded Dr. Gray also helped in the advancement of the cause to some extent but the success achieved by these two National Physical Directors of the YMCA in India. In August, 1920, H.C. Buck started a School of Physical Education at Madras with a view to train teachers also might attain a higher objective of Physical Education to uplift the cause of Physical Education, Sports, Games and Recreation in India. The contribution of World Alliance of YMCAs with particular reference to India is pioneering one in whole of Asia. The alliance through its pioneering institutions conducted different courts in Physical Education, Sports, Games and Recreation.  Young as well as old are being benefitted through the new sports invented, new courses started, models of physical education and sports facilities created, coaching camps, adult fitness programmers, project physical education for disabled and so on. Thus, the contribution of World Alliance of YMCAs with particular reference to India is noteworthy and well-founded for generations benefitted and generations to come.