Grooming of players

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32836, 9 February 1972, Page 8

Grooming of players

Emphasis on bringing talented soccer players to the top, through coaching, tours and representative play, was made at the annuel meeting of the New Zealand Junior Football Association In Wellington last week-end.

Two national coaching schools for under 14 players, at Lincoln and Massey Colleges, will be held during next May school holidays. Both will be under the charge of the national coach, Mr B. Truman.

It Is hoped that the schools will be the basis of future junior touring teams and plans are in hand to make this possible. Fortyfive boys will attend the Lincoln College course, of whom nine will come from Canterbury. The meeting also agreed to institute inter-island matches for under 12, 14 and 16 boys in 1973. Tournaments in these age groups are held each year and from them island teams. are selected, but only rarely have these sides

met. Now it is planned to have regular inter-island programmes. Canterbury was successful in having it agreed that all participating players should be eligible for island teams. Last year, when the Canterbury under 12 side won the North Island tournament, Its players were not considered for the North Island representative team. The move by the schools’ soccer authorities to fo rm their own national association :is unlikely to materialise. Further discussions are to be held, but the prob ability now is that the schools will re-affiliate with the N.Z.J.F.A.