THE SOCCER FORUM

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 30 April 1931, Page 7

THE SOCCER FORUM

Encouraging the Game in the Schools

GOOD EFFECT OF LAST YEAR’S TOURNEY

(By

“GOALIE”)

If the round ball code has not made as much progress as one would like, there is much encouragement to be derived from the fact that from the New Zealand Council, through the local associations down to the clubs, there is a greater recognition of the important principle that if the game is going to thrive in the future a very definite watch must be kept on the nursery—that is, the junior grades and schools. It may be that in trying to raise the standard in the senior ranks the juniors have been more or less neglected, at any rate until last season. What Was Learned.

will be overcome. In years' gone by the Waterside Club has done quite a lot to encourage and support the junior divisions, and itjwould be a matter for regret if anything were done to dampen the ardour of those who are looking after the rising generation, This is just as important as building up a strong senior team, The Wellington Association has in its secretary a man who is devoted to the interests of the boys, one to whom nothing is too much trouble where they are concerned. One would like to see more of the senior division chibs running teams in the junior divisions. The Diamond Club sets a good example in this direction. Trip to Canada.

The primary and secondary schools tournaments, concluding with the splendid North v. South .Island primary schools’ representative game played in Wellington, roused all the powers that be—national and local—to realisation that our boys who were playing Soccer were no mean exponents of the game. The coaches in the four main centres have evidently been working away unhonoured and unsung, until the boys on the field last year gave evidence of careful teaching. So excellent was the quality of the play in the North v. South game that there were no two opinions about making the fixture an annual one, and even if the gates do not suffice to pay expenses any loss is money well expended in encouraging the primary and secondary schoolboys to stick to the game. It was an excellent move, although funds were short, to give the boys representative caps’ for each Island. Some splendid football was played by the boys from the Waikato and Hamilton districts, and one or two centreforwards were delightful to watch. Secondary Progress.

It was generally understood that when the Canadian team paid a visit to New Zealand, a return visit by a New Zealand team would follow on similar terms. There is no chance of the trip taking place this year, first, for financial reasons, and then for the reason that a British team will be touring Canada this season. Had the financial outlook been normal, one would have thought that the visit of a British and a New Zealand team would have been a great attraction in Canada, and that a series of threecornered contests would have been very popular. The Canadian Association has written saying that if a New Zealand team is taking part in the Olympic Games next year it could be assured of hearty co-operation from the Canadian body. One would like to know exactly what is meant by that. This is a question which should be looked into carefully by the New Zealand Council, as the visit to the Olympic Games, while it may bring kudos, will probably not bring any cash toward the expenses of the team, and I doubt if the New Zealand Council 'is prepared to finance such a trip without the prospect of something on the other side of the ledger. Saturday's Games.

Progress is reported everywhere—except Wellington—in regard to Soccer football in the secondary schools, and the senior Auckland team which took part in the tournament in Wellington would have fully extended any of our senior second division teams. There is a desire to make the secondary schools tournament an annual fixture, and if the major associations will give the New Zealand Council some backing there is little reason to doubt that it can be brought about. Furthermore, if the public can be made to realise how good the primary and secondary boys are, they would flock to see the games in sufficient numbers to meet a large portion of the expenses, if not all. The Auckland Association is going into the question carefully, and it is worthy of note that the Queen City has just secured its first Grammar School Old'Boys’ Soccer Club. Well Done, Canterbury.

Marist, having effected a meritorious win against Hospital in the opening game, will have strong support when the team comes to meet Diamond on Saturday at the Basin Reserve. Diamond won against Waterside, but from other reports to hand of the Diarist form at Hospital, the “blacks” will have to extend themselves fully to win. It is likely to be a very even break, and for the opening game on the Basin Reserve it should be one of the best of the first round. There is keen rivalry between Waterside and Petone, and this fixture at Petone on Saturday should attract quite a good gate. Petone, by the way, has secured the services of May. late of Institute, which’ club thereby suffers one more of many losses. Thistle and Seatoun will be playing nt the Stadium, which Ims a great sward of grass on it, and is in better playing order than it has been for years. It is time that some shelter was provided for spectators against inclement weather, and it is understood some temporary provision is contemplated by the management committee. W.Y.M.I. will make the journey to Hospitql, where the encounter should be an even one.

The Canterbury Association has made a forward move in securing recognition from the Primary Schools’ Sports Association in that province, and that organisation has undertaken control of the game in the public schools. The Canterbury F.A. must support this work for all it is worth, as a body and as individual members, and the New Zealand Council should keep a watchful eye here and in Westland, where a few enthusiasts are doing great work in the nursery. Now that Mr. George Cox, late of Hamilton, has “broken the ice” at Christchurch, we hope to hear that he is as active down there as he was up north. The honour accorded him of making him a vice-president of the N.Z. F.A. was well merited, for he did wonders for the Soccer game in the mining country. Waterside and the Boys.

The Waterside Club has experienced some difficulty in getting a sixth grade team together, but after'clearing the air at the last meeting of the management committee, it looks as if the difficulties