Dr. Szabó Lajos: A magyar ifjúság testi nevelésének története (A Sportmúzeum Kincsei 5. Budapest, 2004)

A KISOSZ (KISOK): a középiskolások versenysportjának megszervezője

THE FORERUNNER OF FOUNDING SPORTS CLUBS in secondary schools was the foregymnast-movement characteristic for the second half of the 19th century. Ther were compulsory afternoon classes introduced for the best gymnasts. The later school study circles were formed on the basis of them. From 1907 it was used as a military preparation (shooting practice, terrain exercises, etc.). After World War I. these type of exercises were replaced by "apolitical" sports activities, where the perfect acquision of certain branches of sports was the aim. From 1920 championships between schools were launched. In 1921 the activity of the Budapest Secondary School Athletics Club (BKAC) was authorized. The National Association of Secondary School Sports Clubs (KISOSZ) grew out of it by September 1924. The duty of this social association was to organize and coordinate sports within the secondary schools. The aim of KISOSZ was to recruit the future top-level sportsmen. The idea was to organize an English-American type college-system. Count Kuno Klebeisberg sent specialists to England with scholarship with the same aim. "If gymnastics becomes modern outdoor physical education with the help of these new teachers,....we can select our Olympic champions from a greater number of sportsmen" he writes in his book Fights. The activity of KISOSZ between 1924-28 was characterized by the pursuit for autarchy, their members paid high membership fees. Its name was changed for KISOK (Centre) in 1929, as a result of centralized policy, and soon the effect of the imminent world economic depression could be felt by the slowing down of development.