SOCCER NEW UNDER 20 GRADE MAY BE INSTITUTED

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 5

SOCCER NEW UNDER 20 GRADE MAY BE INSTITUTED

A new under 20 grade will be incorporated in the inter-club soccer competitions next season if a recommendation put forward at a meeting of delegates of the Canterbury Football Association is adopted. Among the promising players In some grades were older men who had come down through the grades and who by their limited ability at the code tended to incline the young players towards an inferior type of football, said Mr C. Ellingham. It was not that these men taught rough tactics, but that they did not play good football, and influenced the younger persons by their example, said Mr Ellingham. The under 18 players were not appearing in provincial or national sides, said Mr G. Smith None of the boys under the age of 20 were showing the promise they showed when they were under 15. President’s Grade A president’s grade should be created for the older players as in cricket, and this would leave the promising younger players in a grade where competition would be keener, he said. “We have got far too many grades for the number of players we have. The president’s grade could be created from third and fourth grades,’’ said Mr Smith. Mr T. Johnson: I would like to see the junior grade become under 20. On the motion of Mr W. Weir it was decided that a new under 20 grade be created, using the junior grade to supply the players.

A night competition to be held in the summer on one ground in Christchurch was suggested by Mr T. Gottermeyer. He advocated four teams* playing on a ground such as Burwood. The competition would be held between seasons, and two teams could play each week about 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. with 30-minute spells, he said. Coaching of the players could be included in the competition, and an age limit should be imposed on the players. Boys all had to play some summer sport, and they had school studies, said Mr Weir. The champion club in Wellington, Seatoun, had a summer coaching scheme, said Mr R. Storer. "Surely a club like Seatoun trying coaching from November gets results.” The chairman (Mr J. Smith) urged that clubs try to get their coaching schools going and smaller clubs get together. A motion by Mr G. Smith that wherever grounds' were available, the Canterbury Football Association take them subject to finance was carried. International Tournament Mr Gottermeyer suggested that Dunedin and Christchurch continued to hold an international tournament with overseas-born players representing different countries. The proceeds could be put towards promoting more football. "Let’s put our own house in order first and try our tournament again before asking Dunedin,” said Mr G. Smith. It was decided to recommend that the local tournament be

continued for two seasons rather than the holding of a more elaborate one. Canterbury representative blazer monograms were too easily gained when a player needed to play only four games in one season to qualify, said Mr J. Smith. It was decided that a recommendation be forwarded to the incoming committee that a player be required to take part in 10 representative matches before he could qualify for a representative monogram. A recommendation that the association institute a long-service badge for 15 or more years service by referees was carried.