While the Military Academy was the first educational institution in this country to recognize (in 1817) the value of a uniform system of physical training it was not till 1890 that the Academic Board allowed cadet teams to play against teams of other institutions. The first contest being a baseball game with an Annapolis midshipmen team, then came other contests with teams from other colleges. Now contests are held annually—and since 1908 under official control—with outside teams in baseball, football, fencing, basketball and hockey. The present system of indoor gymnastics dates from 1882 and track work, tennis, golf, polo and wrestling are indulged in. Most of the contests are held at West Point—many of them being played on the beautiful green infantry parade ground—and seats arranged in tiers like the bleechers at professional ball games are put up in sections on the plain to accommodate the thousands of spectators that now witness these contests. There being no admission fee the seats are assigned by tickets to the cadets and their friends, and to officers and friends of the Academy who voluntarily contribute to the financial support of cadet athletics. Certain cadets who excel in athletics, i. e., those who have actually played on an Academy (first) team for a year are entitled to wear a large A, (the initial of Army) on the sweater, jersey, jacket, cap or other article of athletic uniform, subject to the following: 1st. In football they must play in two-thirds of all games played with outside teams or in a Navy game. 2d. In baseball they must play in two-thirds of all games played with outside teams or in a Navy game. 3d. In fencing they must participate in three-fifths of all contests fenced with outside teams, or in the Intercollegiate contest. 4th. Any cadet who at an Outdoor Meet breaks an Academy record. To keep pace with other colleges cadets now have “colors” and “yells.” For the Class of 1909 the color is gold, and the yell is— SISS! BOOM! AH! U. S. M. A.! RAH! RAH! U. S. M. A.! RAH! RAH! HOO RAH! HOO RAH! NAUGHTY-NINE! RAH! For the Class of 1910 the color is royal purple, and the yell is— R-A-Y! RAH! RAH! R-A-Y! RAH! RAH! U. S. M. A. NINETEEN TEN! For the Class of 1911 the color is Maroon, and the yell is— HOO-RAH-RAH! HOO-RAH-RAH! HOO-RAH! HOO-RAY! U. S. M. A. 1911! 1911! 1911! For the Class of 1912 the color is royal-blue, and the yell is— U. S. M. A.! U. S. M. A.! U. S. M. A.! 1912! RAY! While the Corps colors are gray, black and gold, and the Corps yell is—