Hockey Becoming More Popular In Schools

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 5

Hockey Becoming More Popular In Schools

VVITH a record number of 122 schoolboys’ teams taking part in hockey in Canterbury, the administrators of the sport in the province have every reason to be proud. The work which the junior association has done and is doing to improve even further the standard of hockey among young children was recognised at a meeting of the senior association’s management committee this week. Latest figures show that Canterbury leads New Zealand for the number of schoolboy hockey players. Children are well

catered for in clubs in the city and most schools, both primary and secondary, are represented by one or more teams.

When the association’s management committee placed on record its appreciation of the work done by the junior association, the chairman (Mr G. Graham) explained that a massive amount of work was being taken off the hands of the senior association, and that the work was being adequately and capably handled was reflected in the way hockey was going from strength to strength in the schools.

One side of the sport shows a less happy picture—the lack of umpires available for the schoolboys’ matches. The association is most perturbed at the lack of persons coming forward and offering tjieir services as umpires, and an all-out effort is being made this season to remedy the position.

The association realises that the present trend in hockey should not be hampered by the lack of adults to help in the administration.