Association

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 300, 19 September 1928, Page 8

Association

By

“Goalie"

MANY PROBLEMS AHEAD

Football jerseys and boots tire now being tueked away to lie in disuse for the next six months or so. Association footballers and supporters have rightly a feeling of satisfaction in the play and achievements of the 1928 season in Wellington. The absence of an overseas team touring New Zealand Ims in many ways been a blessing. It Ims enabled the various associations to fully concentrate on their club competitions, and given them more time to prepare for the Chatham Cup and E.F.A. trophy series. The Soccer code, despite many dilliculties, lias in the last two years made really satisfactory progress. The problems of finance and the difficulty in securing suitable playing areas close to the cities, are very real, and not too easy to overcome. Still, thanks to the very able and painstaking efforts of the officials throughout New Zealand, these problems have been tackled, and although the success lias not been as great as deserved, file future assumes a brighter prospect.

Referee Problems. Perhaps one of the greatest dilliculties confronting Associations throughout New Zealand is that of referees, not only from a numerical point of view, but also from an efficiency angle. The number of players and clubs has undoubtedly increased at a greater rate than the referees, and in recent seasons the difficulty in securing a referee for every mateh in the competition has been an acute one. Everyone understands how important it is to the life of the code for a referee to be available for every mateh, no matter how unimportant it may be. The boys and junior teams must be started off correctly. and must lie taught that absolute loyalty must be given the man in control. Players, of course, are entitled to something in return, and that is efficiency and a fair and impartial interpretation of tlie rules by the particular referee. If the referee is deficient in those qualities then it cannot be expected that the players will not be critical. The young player playing under the control of an inefficient referee Saturday after Saturday grows up without that confidence in the referee which may spell disaster to aim by the time he reaches senior grade. If the game is to be kept clean and free from the far too common conflicts between players and referees it is amongst the youngsters that missionary efforts should begin. The referee by his conduct of the game and impartiality, plays an important part. It is a mistake for a referee to be slipshod in his work, especially amongst the boys. Just because it is a seventh or eighth grade match many referees seem to think that being 10 or 15 minutes late in starting a game does not matter. It does mean a lot to the boys who get to the ground quite early. It is always a good plan for a referee to explain in simple language why he lias given a certain decision. Tin’s helps tlie boys to become familiar with Unlaws of tlie game. There are many other points which could lie touched on in the matter of referees and lower grade games, but space forbids further inroads in that, direction. The scarcity of referees is a serious one, and it is apparent that some organised effort will have

to be made to increase the number next season. The Auckland Association, at tlie beginning of this season, formed a junior referees’ association in an endeavour to solve this problem. The idea behind the new body was that its function be the training of aspirants as referees. 11 might be worth while for the Wellington Association to secure n report on the first year’s work of the Auckland Junior Referees’ As social ion, to see if it would help the sitae lion here. The Wellington Referees’ Association Ims during the last few years had blackboard instruction at its meet Ings, and many of the junior members benefited considerably. Tlie referee ques tion is a big one. and requires most careful handling, but I think there are big enough men in the various associations to overcome all dilliculties and so raise the standard of refereeing in the future. Association Bark.

The years come ami go, and Association Park is still in an almost virgin state. Something, however, may eventually be done out there in the way of a stand which would undoubtedly make it a better paying ground than it is at present. A new sports body has recently had an eye on the ground, and most likely will approach the controlling body of Association Park with a proposal which if agreed to will mean a stand there next season. It is intended by the new sports body to use the ground in the summer months only.

Tlie Challenge Cup. A further delay in the finalising of the Challenge Cup competition has occurred owing to the game last Saturday between Diamonds and I’etone ending in a draw As Institute are also still in tin- competition, there seems little hope of it being completed. Probably the best way to avoid a replay would he for Diamonds and I’etone to draw lots for the final against Institute.

Seatoun Club’s Foresight. The Seatoun Club is a particularly live one, anil is looking to the future needs of the club. A section of land at. Rongotai was recently purchased by the club upon which it is intended to erect a clubroom and gymnasium This is a wise move, and shows that there is a real band of enthu siasts connected with the Seatoun Club. At the moment a big effort in the form of a bazaar to be held next month is being organised in an endeavour to raise sufficient money to pay off the balance of the purchase price of the section of land. Auckland-Wellington Match.

Commenting on (lie Auckland-Wellington E.F.A. trophy mateh at Blandford Park, Auckland, on September S, a writer in the Auckland ‘“Sun” pays tribute to both teams: “‘The best game ever seen in Auckland.’ is the general verdict on tlie splendid match between Auckland and Wellington at Blandford Park on Saturday, and it would certainly be’difficult to recall one where the play was so fast and skilful, the teams so evenly matched, and the excitement so intense throughout as in the strenuous tussle for the F.A. trophy. Had the surface been firm and the ball dry, it would have been a perfect contest, but tlie pace could certainly not have been hotter than for lialf-an-hour in tinsecond spell, when it reached boiling point, and the most blase and hard-boiled patron of the game was joining in the general chorus of continuous cheering. Never, In the writer’s recollection of 30 years of Soccer in Auckland, have two teams played themselves right out to the point of exhaustion as did the two teams on Saturday in a desperate struggle for tlie winning goal—which never came."