IMPROVING SOCCER

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 284, 28 August 1935, Page 15

IMPROVING SOCCER

New Zealand Council Talk

. A variety of subjects were debated at the second special meeting of the council of the New Zealand Football Association last night. Mr. B. L. Salmon presided, and there were present: Messrs. 11. L. Godber. J. Bryce, -J. M. Ollier, W. J. I. Vaney, A. E. Caisley, H. H. Rcnai, J. A. Milburn, F. Sanders, and the secretary, Mr. A. Williams. The chairman of the Auckland association, Mr. L. Munro, also attended. Mr. Salmon remarked that an invitation had been sent to the Football Association at Home to see if it was prepared to send out a schoolboys’ team. It took months io arrange, such visits, and the council would know where it stood when it received a ready. Coaching, said Mr. Godber, was very necessary, for Soccer was a scientific game, and correct methods of playing should be taught. Local associations should make every endeavour to have men coaching the schoolboys, aud he was in favour of professional coaches from Home because it was known that English coaches had assisted the game wonderfully on the Continent. It was aecided that suggestions relative to coaching should be drafted out by Mr. Godber for submission to associations. , Mr. Salmon said that an overseas visit was long overdue, and the burning problem ail the time was the securing of an English team. He asked Mr. Muaro if his association would be prepared to put up a guarantee if an offer to come here were made by an English, team. Mr. Munro replied that hig association was very enthusiastic about getting a boys team.' and he thought that should be concentrated on, seeing it would be cheaper than getting a men's team out. A recommendation to the council that it should take steps to see if a conference of major associations could be held next season was made. The question ot the cost of assembling delegates was discussed, and members asked if associations would be prepared to pay the expenses of their own delegates. It was mentioned that perhaps the council could pay half the expenses. _ Mr. Sanders said local associations should make an appeal for couches and let persons know they were welcome. There were a number of persons who would not come forward themselves because they thought they might be intruding. , „ Concerning ' the banning of Soccer from some colleges, Mr. Godber said that it was a peculiar position in a democratic country when a school teacher —a civil servant—paid by the taxpayers could prevent the boys playing Soccei. The parents of the boys should have a say. It was very hard to do anything where there was Jjliud prejudice, commented the chairman. “I don’t think we advertise the game sufficiently,” said Mr. Godber. An axiom with business people was that, advertising paid, and he suggested that a publicity committee should be set up to work iu with the Press. "M e have a great deal to thank the Press for, he said. “They have given us a fair run and a fair amount of space." It was decided to hold a further meeting to discuss ways and means cf improving the game next week.