HOCKEY RULES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 183, 1 May 1936, Page 18

HOCKEY RULES

Reverse Stroke To Be Allowed WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION Abolition of file reverse stroke was not a"reed to by delegates to the conference of the New Zealand Women's Hockey Association yesterday. It was resolved licit tiie stroke be allowed and that its use be referred to the International Federation it the association affiliated with the federation. The secretary. Airs. J. 11. Poulter, said the visit, to Australia had brought the subject to notice. The team found the stroke was penalised on all occasions. In Hie lir.'t match one player bad been penalised 22 times in half-an-hour. The Australians said it was the general practice to eliminate the reverse stroke ns leading to dangerous play; She found the elimination of the stroke led to cleaner play. It led to more open play, mid made players more deliberate in their strokes and tended toward a keener game. Aitor tiie team's return the association had written to England for information and the reply was that there the use of the reverse stroke was deprecated, and the authorities favoured its use only by very advanced players, it being too often the resort of the lazy player. They did not ban it in England but discouraged it The New Zealand team had been found to play better hockey in Australia without the stroke, but it had to be admitted it had no opportunity of trying it there. Mr. L. S. P. Butcher (Ashburton) was definitely opposed to the stroke s abolition, he said, and did not know that it was particularly dangerous. It was a subject, for the International Federation. Until it was prohibited entirely he was in favour of its use in New Zealand. Even if it could not. be used in international games he would not like it prohibited from club games. Mrs. G. Nelson (Otago) said the stroke’s prohibition would hamper play on the left wing. If it were not prohibited by the rules of hockey it should not lx: prohibited by the rules of the association. The chairman. Mr. 11. Throp (Canterbury) : If we do not keep it we are showing ourselves ns not capable of couching properly.” Dhyiin Chand without the reverse stroke would not lie an outstanding player. Rup Singh scored more goals with it than without it. Marjorie Pollard, the English lending player, was an expert with it. New Zealand did not need to follow Australia. Without the stroke New Zealand teams would look common hacks. Mr. F. Twiss (Southland) : You are catering for the wizard of the game. The chairman replied he could coach girls to use the stroke. Prohibition of the stroke was opposed b Mr. J. C. Cusack (Eastern) and Mr. E. Harris (Auckland),, the latter saying the game would be less scientific without it and good refereeing would prevent danger. Mrs. Poulter: If we keep the stroke we should ask referees to be more strict in the interpretation of fouls. Delegates: Hear! Hear! She contended the game in Australia was brighter, and the stroke, as used in New Zealand, was a foul. Mrs. K. Donald (Hawke’s Bay) said the elimination of the stroke did not slow (ltd game. “There is only one way to make people expert with it, ami that is to let, them use it all the time,” said Mrs. Nelson, referring to the English viewpoint. Mr. Butcher then moved the motion, which was finally carried, saying that internationally they did not know where they were. The motion was carried on the voices.