passing a type variable to a function

here's what I'm trying to do.

Type playerdata
Field speed
Field strength
End Type

Dim player.playerdata(4)

player.playedate(1) = New playerdata
player.playedate(2) = New playerdata

player(1)\strength=1
player(2)\strength=7

increment_lives ( player(1)\strength )
increment_lives ( player(2)\strength )

;------------------------

Function increment_lives ( somethinghere )

somethinghere = somethinghere + 1
eg. player(1)\strength = player(1)\strength + 1

End Function

;-------------------------

I want the function to take whatever type variable I pass it and increment it.