SOCCER FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 81, 2 October 1929, Page 8

SOCCER FOOTBALL

GAME IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

The game'of Association football, in relation to its position in the secondary schools, was considered by the council of the New Zealand I'ootball Association last evening. .

Mr. A. A. M'Lennan (Dunedin) wrote stating that at the annual meeting of the Sonth Island Primary Schools I'ootball Association, in Dunedin,' it was decided to hold the 1930 tournament in Christchurch, and Mr. D. G. Anderson, secretary of the Canterbury Football Association, had been appointed lion secretary. The question of primary school boys entering secondary schools had been considered, and it had been decided to draw the council's attention to the danger that existed in most of the centres of losing primary schoolboys who were entering secondary schools, and to urge that some special effort be made to combat it. The matter should be brought to the notice of the Minister of Education, with a view to introducing the game into the secondary schools and training colleges as they were supposed to cater for all sports. -

The Canterbury Association wrote stating that an effort was being made to establish the code in the secondary schools there. . It was being done through the recently-formed Boys' Association, which body would in future control school aud fifth and sixth grade football as a separate unit, but under the jurisdiction of the C.F.A. Teams from the Technical School and St. Bede's College were assured, but their endeavours in the Boys' High School were banned by the headmaster. The Boys' Association had passed' a metion that the Minister of Education should be approached by the New Zealand Council on the subject. Stout opposition was being encountered from masters of the primary schools in many cases, and the Canterbury Association would like tv know if it was in the power of a master to ban (lie code'in the schools. The, Boys" Asaodatiou committee was confident that great progress would be made with school and lower grado teams. At a meeting on 23rd September, there had been 38 boys present, representing schools and lower grade tennis, and the promise for the future was indeed bright. The chairman (Mr. V. Campbell) said that if specific instances were stated where soccer was barred in the schools, the council would go on in tlie matter and sec the Minister.

It was decided to reply to both letters drawing attention to the announcement made in the. "Education Gazette" by the Director of Education, and asking.for particulars of definite cases upon which action could be taken to be forwarded' to ' the council.

It was further agreed to send a questionnaire to all associations as to the position of the code in primary, and secondary schools, and asking for any suggestions as to how the game could be fostered in the schools. • .