DO YOUNG PLAYERS OVERDO THEIR RUGBY AND RISK HEALTH?

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 24

DO YOUNG PLAYERS OVERDO THEIR RUGBY AND RISK HEALTH?

Do young Rugby players start the game too young, play spelle too long for them and, in some cases, become burned-out veterans at 24 years of age? These questione were discussed at length at a meeting of the Rugby Union management committee, when it met representatives of the junior management atid junior boys' boards to consider matters affecting the administration of the frame. The discussion arose from a question by the chairman of the management committee, Mr. A. A. Baker, who eaid that he had meant to inquire about the length of spoils in junior boys' games for some time. "Many people think boys are being started too young and are burned out as footballers .it -4 years." be paid. "I understand flint in Kngdanri they start later and take it easier, and some men go on playing until they are 40." He mentioned the. ease of the Knglish International. C. Webb, who played for Auckland Inst season when well over 30 years of age. Much of the so-called "burning-out" started in the secondary school, declared Mr. McDonald, of the junior management - board. "Boys play for their schools on Saturday morning and turn cut again for clubs in the afternoon," he said. "They are nil risht for the first liO minutes, then they iire blown out." Mr. 1... t'olpran. representative of the Primary Schools' I>ion. s:ii'l lif certainly considered too much strain was bein's placed on the boys. He would not take as :i criterion the fact that boys complained if referees were late and ■-pells were cut short. That whs only imturul ; the boys were always wlllinj? to ;_-o on (ill they dropped. length of spells -was nil important matter and needed serious consideration. This opinion was endorsed by Mr W Dickson, of the junior boys' board, who said that' in primary school ir.uiies spells were only long enough to show which team, was the better and to glv« the boys a good run. Spells in the union's junior boy*' game were definitely too hmg.

Times played at present are 30 minutes tor club gaiues. In the primary school competition. however. the position is entirely different. Twenty-minute spells are played for senior hoys, and the juniors play tor 15 minutes only. Kpcfirmiieiulation was made to the full boards that the whole question of playing Nine be reviewed, with a view to cutting Weights Also Considered. Consideration was also friven to the quesi',',"| 1S '•''.,"''"'-"V , a,,,1 "? p s of junior boys an,I sixth irrade players. :he chairman mentioning that in Wellington weight did not poiiiit: Jißfi was the factor governing inlmiXMlmi to 1110 various grades. A cornmil tee comprising members .>f the three 111:1 misreineiit eonimittees, and also ronreseiiiativcs of the Primary Schools' Uniqn will invesliu-ate the possibility of ji rearraiipui.u! of weights to allow primary senooi i'"ys over Sst, at present uneatered (Mher unifiers discussed were shortage iUHI condlllon of grounds, and the possibility ol nil annual prize-giving eeretuony tor junior grades.

CLEVEDON JtTBII,EE. PROFIT OF £23 OM CELEBRATIONS . .TJ 1 * riovodon Huaby Football ritib's jubilee celebrations resulted in a profit of L\i:\ L'/<;. whicli will he divided among deserving bodies.