Twenty-fourth: After twenty-three the knife is left in the ground. Then with the palm of the hand strike the knife handle a smart blow that will send it revolving over the ground {320} for a yard, more or less, and cause it to stick in the ground where it stops. This is called "ploughing the field."
When a miss is made the next player takes his turn, and when the first player's turn comes again he must try the feat over that he failed to perform last. A good player will sometimes go through almost all the twenty-four motions without failing to make a "two finger," that is, a fair stick, each time; but it is very unusual for anyone to run the game out in one inning. This is the game in twenty-four motions; many boys play it double that number.
Outdoor Athletic Standards
The athletic standards given below are those which most boys ought to be able to attain. They are the result of the experience of several physical directors who have made a special study of athletics and physical work among boys.
The rules governing the events are found in the official handbook of the Athletic League of North America. These rules must be strictly adhered to.
| EVENTS | UNDER 90 LBS. | UNDER 110 LBS. | UNDER 125 LBS. | UNDER 140 LBS. | OVER 140 LBS. |
| (1) Running Broad Jump | 12' | 13' | 14' | 15' | 16' |
| (2) Running High Jump | 3' 11" | 4' 1" | 4' 4" | 4' 7" | 4' 10" |
| (3) Standing Broad Jump | 6' 6" | 7' | 7' 6" | 8' | 8' 6" |
| (4) Standing High Jump | 3' 2" | 3' 4" | 3' 6 | 3' 8" | 3' 10" |
| (5) Pull-Up (times) | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 |
| (6) 20-Yard Swim | 20 sec. | 18 sec. | 16 sec. | 14 sec. | 12 sec. |
| (7) 40-Yard Swim | 40 sec. | 39 sec. | 38 sec. | 37 sec. | 36 sec. |
| (8) 50-Yard Dash | 7.8 sec. | 7.4 sec. | 7 sec. | 6.6 sec. | 6.2 sec. |
| (9) Eight-Potato Race | 45 sec. | 43 sec. | 41 sec. | 39 sec. | 37 sec. |
| (10) 8 lb.-Shot Put | * | 25' | 30' | 35' | 40' |
| (11) Push-Up from Floor | * | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 |
| (12) Rope Climb | * | 14 sec. | 12 sec. | 10 sec. | 8 sec. |
| (13) 100-Yard Dash | * | * | 13 sec. | 12.6 sec. | 12.2 sec. |
* Should not attempt this event
For merit badge a boy under ninety pounds must qualify in seven of the first nine events; a boy under one hundred and ten pounds must qualify in ten of the first twelve events; all others must qualify in their proper class in eleven of the thirteen events.
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Notes