LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 59, 6 September 1913, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS

(By "Huka.") Preparation for the coming season is in every tennis player's mind just now. Some players have put on weight, and will require plenty of hard rqad'-work to get themselves _ downi to fighting trim. Others are thinking hard regarding motions to bring forward to create interest and enthusiasm in tho players generally; but the main block to tho latter idea is that clubs hold their annual meetings too late in tho year. It would be much better if all such meetings took place at the end of the season, instead of at the beginning. Delegates could then be _ instructed to ' push matters with the associations,, and the outcome would be, provided tho associations held their annual meetings some two months earlier than at present, that everything»would be in apple-pie order with respect to inter-club contests, etc., well before the season opened. As matters j generally are, there appears to be a great ! rush to arrange fixtures and details after J tho season has opened, and honorary officers are consequently overworked, and their enthusiasm for the sport" is damped by drudgery./ ' A COACH? The foot that the New Zealand Association has resolved to consider the question of obtaining a coach, or, has at any rate, referred the matter to its mangement committee, opens up a big question. Seemingly delegates view such an appointment in many different ways, and unless tke management committee is careful, a coach will be rather a mixed blessing. The first question to settle is, "What is a coaoh required for?" The answer ig, "to instruct players in the game generally." If the New Zealand Association appoints and pays the coaoh, And tho affiliated players — some 11,000 of them — throughout Now Zealand aro asked to pay something towards hk salary, then each and every one can claim some return. That,, of course, would be impossible. Even if the coach were sent to the centre of each association, very little could be done to improve the players of tho6o centres in tho time available. Thus another question is foroed upon us— "Who ehould be ooached?" _If it is to be the New Zealand Association that leads tho way, then the coach appointed by it should be used to (train and instruct the_ beet of the young material- in the Dominion for international purposes. Many of our best players aro past the ago of coaching, and it would not bo worth thoir while attempting to alter thoir styles or stroke*. If tho «port in New "Zealand is to be advanced, then it is from tho young generation of players that the New Zealand Association has to select its students. Place them undor a coach, and somo good may bo obtained for tho money spont. If tho idea is to improve all playore, then tho matter is too big "a ono for the New i Zealand Association to tackle. Associations and clubs will have to leek into that on thoir own behalf. Lectures may do' much, but it is not always tho happy lob of a good prstctioa\ coaoh to bo bo gifted that ho can hold playcvs with a lecture upon the game. Such a mam, any how, would bo wanting a big \ alary. Coming down to bedrock, it would appear that tho first thing that wants settling is — "Who will the coach take in hand?" Settle that portion, and then see if the main body of players will agree to it. The writer's opinion ie that tho New Zealand Association should obtain a coaoh to instruct * body of young, promising players, selected from all parts of the Dominion ; such players to be examined for general \ fitness in health before selection. They 6hould be coaohed on first-claes grass courts. It is 'only by adopting eomo such arrangements that a coaoh provided by the governing body can hope to better the eport from a Dominion point of view, and give anything like satisfaction. In time the young player so coached will bo able to impart to his club mates tho instruction ho has received, and it must be allowed that a complete course of instruction, both on and off the court, given to some ten or twenty young capable players is preferable to a glimpse of the secrets of the game, given to every one who thinks that ho will make a champion. It is mostly I from those under 20 years of ago that the coach would make anything of,, and ' the | older ones must, if they will insist on boing coached, persuade their clubs to get a professional coach ac thoir groundsman. SOUTH WELLINGTON CLUB. Slowly, but surely, the South Wellington Club has been building up its strength, and there is a hope that it will this year affiliate with the Wellington Association. An enthusiast in Alex. Bell is at the head of affairs, and appears to be working the club on the right lines. WELLINGTON CLUB. The Wellington Club has lost its hon. secretary (C. H. Clinkard), who has been transferred to Wanganui. This olub has been unfortunate of late in losing many of _ its old members, but an extra effort is being made this^ear to fill all vaoanoies. ' AUSTRALASIAN SUCCESSES. Wilding has again beaten all-comerd on the Continent in an international championship contest. In the semi-final, he put Rahe, the German player, out, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 ; and also disposed of Decugis, the Frenoh player, in the final, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0. Rice and Jones, of Sydney, went out in the early rounils, but Stan Doust reached the semifinal by a good win from the Frenoh player Germot, only to suffer defeat by Deougis in tho next, round, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. In the doubles, the German pair, Rahe ,and Kleinscroth, .downed^ Rice and Jones, 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5; and Wilding and Doust won from Decugie and Germot, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. In tho final, the New Zealander (Wilding) and his partner (Doust) proved too good for the German pair, getting home, 6-3, ' WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION. The annual'meeting of the local association is to be held on the 24th inst., and it is_ to bo hoped that the committee will be in the position to report — if not in the report to the meeting — that grounds have been secured in the city upon which a large number of courts can be laid down. What a fine future the sport would have in Wellington if some six grass and ten or twelve hard courts wero held by the association ! 4 lt is to be hoped that the clubs and their members will rally round this season -upon that one subject. The school children alone, who want to play tennis, could do with some 50 courts, and- surely / it is time that tho older heads of tho city thought of the benefit to both sexes of the younger generation in health that tennis would be. Sports grounds and playing areas on the Town Belt mußt come, but give those first chance who are prepared to not only encourage tho children to attend there, but control the sport when the ohildren are there. The man who voteß against open spaces being used by those of tho public who aro anxious to have a well managed ( sport for the benefit of all is_ voting against the true interests, of the citizens and the advancement and beautifying of tho surrounding spaces of the city. Tennis is a cosmopolitan game, and as a sport has not been given the ohances in this city that it deserves.