HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 19

HOCKEY

[•V "STICKS"! FOR DISCUSSION

AT.ANNUAL MEETING

COMIXG EVENTS.

Judd £3—Wellington v. ilanawatu, at Wellingtou (projected). July 30-Wellingtoa v. Auckland, at WeUins- - ton (projected). ' .August, :io—\Vel!ington v. Hawkcs Bay, at V.'elliugtou (arranged).

' A suggestion deserving of better treatment than it received' was placed before the Wellington Hockey Association at a meeting this week by Mr. R. L. Thompson, in which, he proposed to split up the senior grade into two sections, A and B respectively, Hutt A, Wesley, Wellington, Wakatu, Karori, and 'Varsity being graded A, and Petone, Hutt B, and the four leading junior, teams to comprise the B grade. Members generally were in agreement with the suggestion, but it was evident that they were of opinion, that the scheme should not be introduced until the end of the season. As Mr. Thompson said, the standard of hockey was not being raised, and the true reason lay, perhaps, in the fact that the better teams were not receiving sufficient opposition in their matches with the other teams. If his scheme was adopted, it would result in more equal competition, and in addition would bring forward some of the juniors who were playing better games than some of the senior men. There was no doubt that Soccer, for example, had improved remarkably since the introduction of a similar scheme, and also there were no constitutional difficulties in the way, and the grounds were available. If the suggestion was adopted, clubs would start afresh in the B grade competition, and the points gained to date would not be counted. Clubs, no matter what their position on the ladder, would generally recognise that the proposal was for the good, of the game. After a lengthy discussion, it was decided to defer consideration of the matter until the next annual meeting. The writer is strongly against such a course. The last games of the first round were to have taken place to-day, and'the present is an admirable time for the introduction of such a, scheme as that proposed by Mr. Thompson. Further, some of the -displays to date deserve no other term than "farce," for the scores run np against some of tho teams down near the bottom of the ladder have been absurdly high. Certainly, with such games the standard of play can never be raked, and "Sticks" is in earnest i:i hoping tliat the proposal will receive more attention before long, and will not be allowed to drop into obscurity for the want of support from keen supporters of tlie game. The postponement of all hockey games on Saturday" last caused much disappointment among local hockey players. When, after a torrential downpour before midday, the afternoon turned out fine the Postponement Committee came in fur a round of criticism from some playe'.s. It was not the uncongenial weather existing before midday which caused the postponement of the games, but the state of the playing areas. Most of the grounds were unplayable, and portions of Karori Park we're under water. In the circumstances the decision of the Postponement Committee was the right one. 'J lie first round of the competitions is to be brought to a close this afternoon. Given good condiLions one o£ the best competition games of the season should ha the Hutt A-Karori clash at Karori Park No. 1. With Wellington winning from Wesley, the result of the Hutt A-Karori tussle decides the team for tlie second position on the senior ladder. SHIELD GAMES. This season's prospects for the New Zealand Hockey Championship Shield have already formed one of the principal topics of conversation amongst hockeyites in the Canterbury province. According to a Christchurch journal the men of the plains, tho present holders of the shield, are on the move, and mean to leave no stone unturned to ensure having a team on the field which will withstand the challenges of the other associations for the possession of the trophy. To a, void the shield contest from interfering with the ordinary competition matches, the Canterbury executive has on foot a proposal, approved of by the New Zealand Hockey Association, to hold a big tournament in Christchurch during a suitable week in August, at which the shield will be at stake. Judging from accounts from Christchurch the idea seems to be meeting with favourable comment there. The Canterbury Association, says the Christchurch "Sun," has also drafted up a set of rules to govern the tournament, and has forwarded these on to the JN.Z.H.A. The rules, as suggested, provide that the net proceeds of the tournament shall, be distributed as follow :—Twenty-five per cent, to the controlling association (Canterbury) 10 per cent, to the N.Z.H.A., and the balance to be divided pro xata among the competing associations tcP meet travelling expenses. • In all probability Canterbury will have two teams entered for the tournament. The second eleven is being formed mainly for the purpose of giving the young and promising players in the province an opportunity of gaining the experience to be derived by playing in good company. Criticising the chances of the Canterbury representative team, the Christchurch "Sun" says : "The Canterbury team this season will be strong in the forwards, halves, and goalkeeper. But what of the two back positions? There will need to be an improvement if Canterbury is to place in the field a pair of backs up to shield match standard." No challenge for the shield has been filed by the Wellington Hockey Association as yet. The association is awaiting particulars from the New Zealand Hockey Association before any.steps are taken ii the matter. THE ZANOL CUP. Canterbury, the present holders of the Zanol Gup for the junior grade New Zealand Hockey Championship, do not seem to think their chances of retaining possession of the cup look too rosy this season. A Christchurch paper states that Canterbury's junior grade representative team will not be very strong this season, and considers that the juniors are in for a strenuous time if the cup is to remain in Canterbury. Wellington, Otago, and Auckland have forwarded challenges. It is generally expected by Christchurch wielders of the stick that tho cup will travel this si-i----son, and more than likely into the possession of Auckland.

The local Management Committee i 3 desirous of playing the matches towards the end _of August, which will give players time to p>jfc in some solid training to enable (.hem tv bring the Zanol Cup to Wellington.

DUTJIiS OF CLUB OFWCIALS.

llic Untie:.; of club officials arc discussed at length hi Uie following further special article "to these notes from the

pen of R.L.T., a well-known representative hockey player:— So much depends on your club captain, your field captain, 'your Selection Committee, your secretary, and voui treasurer, that it is right that the" association to which your club is affiliated should approach those club officials, and know that they are tho right' stamp of men in the right place, and that they aru doing their fair share of the work involved by the acceptance of the position given them.

To those who are holding any of the above-mentioned club positions, I ask each of you, as I detail a few of your duties, to seriously consider whether you are serving your club to the best of your ability.

The ideal club captain is a relived player. He should be in a position to help organise- his club at the commencement of the season; call the team together, arrange for practices and lectures during tho week, make suggestions lv the captains and selection committees of the various teams in his club, as to the disposition of the various players, and also as to the changing of tactics from one spell to another. Ho should, above all, be free to watch the different grades, hence my mentioning the fact that he should be on the retired list.

Tlie field captain need not be your best player. He should, however, have your confidence. Preferably, he Ehould be a half or full-back, or, best of all. your goal-keeper. He should watch for weaknesses in your opponents' defensive, and change his attack toward that quarter, if it be necessary. He should also know his strongest method of attack, and, if before half-time, he realises a change in attack is necessary, he should advise his. team accordingly, and see tho change, is carried out. He should also consider the' various players- and their capabilities. Are they "best suited to the positions they are filling? Would the. team bo strengthened were they transferred to another position in the team? Many a back would make an excellent forward, and vice versa. They generally drift to their position. Don't allow of too much drift in your team.

The vice-captain should be able to help you, and should be capable of giving advice on the rules of the game. He should see that a proper system of notification is instituted that allows of eleven men turning out each week. . The Selection Committee should be men of broad outlook. Club before team should be their watchword. They should remember that two fairly successful teams are more important to a club's welfare than one. Members of.the Seloction Committee should know the capabilities of the junior players, for they are the seniors of to-morrow. The Selection Committee, with the captain, should also look for the possibilities of changes in positions of the personnel of -the team. The secretary should be easily communicated with, and should be a man who will carry out his duties. to the association to the fullest extent. He is the link between his association and his club members, and all members should know of the association's wishes and demands through him. If you are treasurer, remember your association has need of finance, and try and make it a point of honour with yourself that your obligations to the association are met when due. Have you put yourself out this season to' collect. all your subscriptions? If not, why not? SCHOOL HOCKEY. The suggestion to play a schoolboy representative r^atch between a team of wairarapa schoolboys and an eleven of local talent as a curtain-raiser to the proposed Manawatu-Wellington game at Wellington on 28th June has met with approval from the Primary Schools' °i £ 4ssociation- In conversation with "Sticks" during the week, Mr. Kirk, president of the' Primary Schools' Hockey Association, stated that he thought that, except perhaps from a financial viewpoint, there would bo no difficulty in staging the boys in a preliminary contest to the big game. Whilst in Carterton with the Hataitai School senior team on the King's Jjirthday, on the occasion of a meeting between the Wellington school aid a. team from the Dalefiekl School, Mr. Kirk extended an invitation to the coun.try school eleven to visit Wellington and play a return match with Hataitai Mr. Kirk informs "Sticks" that the match is likely to eventuate on 11th July, .during Winter Show Week Although the Dalefield lads defeated the Hataitai enthusiasts on their visit to Carterton, Hataitai are confident that they should be able to turn the tables on their country cousins when they meet again. Tlie schoolboy competition has suffered a setback as a result of the run of wet Saturday afternoons. This afternoon it is hoped to have the games in full swing again. Lack of combination is most noticeable in the displays given by the Mount Cook team. The. boys have fostered good team spirit, and show plenty of dash, but do not seem to worry about the most necessary adjunct to a team's success. A little coaching in combination should see this team a top-notcher towards the end of this season. In the opinion of "Sticks," Dean, the -Harori School team's goalie and skipper, would do better if he took a position in the forward line. Dean has a good knowledge of the hockey game and with his experience should make an ideal forward. The two Adams brothers are hard I workers for Karori Thework of A. Donald, Stott, and Elliott m the forward line of Hataitai bchool team makes a difficult problem lor opposition backs. HINTS TO REFEREES. There seems to be a good deal of misapprehension over the penalty bully law, writes A. B. Osmond, the famous international referee. A penalty bully is only ! given for a wilful breach of a law or i when a goal would probably have 'been j scored but for a breach of a law. Tho ' offender has to take the bully on one side, and the offended side select their own man, all other players retiring beyond the nearer 25-yard line until the bully is completed. The bully is not i completed_ until a goal has been scored | or the ball has passed over the goal line (not between the goal posts), or out of the circle. Should the offender be the goalkeeper he is not allowed to kick. Should the defender put the ball over ■ the goal lme, other than between tho ! goal posts, the bully is taken again. : bfiould he put it between the goal posts a penalty goal is awarded to the attacking side. A penalty goal is of tho same value as an ordinary goal. Some players imagine the referee has power to award a penalty goal for a flagrant breach of the laws in the circle. He has not. The heaviest punishment he can inflict is a penalty bully, which, as a rule, lie .is xery chary of giving. Be firm, particularly" at first, over the roll-in" law. If the players are careless, have them up at once and' often, and you will find before half-time that you havo cured them, and will not exhaust your breath and wear out your whistle in the second spell. See thai the "roller-iu" has both feet and slick behind the line; if h 0 ], as „0 ( ,( jt j s a foul, and the "roll-in" must be taken again by the other side. Watch the player; waiting for (he ball to be rolled in; you will frequently see them or then- sticks over the line before the bail liii-s left, the hand of the "roller-iii." Blow your whistle before the ball is lot loose, ami tell them to look where they arc standing; this will stop a great, deal lot _ what, if players thought a bit, is [ quite unnecessavjr Calais,

SPLITTING THE SENIOR GRADE.