COACHING SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 109, 11 May 1938, Page 6

COACHING SCHEME

AID FROM ENGLAND? • •• . *

The engagement of a coach to train coaches was suggested by the Wellington Football Association in a letter received, by. the council of the New Zealand Football Association last night.

"We feel that there is every possibility of the game being introduced into the Training College this year," said the Wellington Association. "Wfe feel that if future school teachers are interested in the game as players, a great deal of progress should be made in the primary schools. We have offered to provide- a midweek coaCh, referees' charts, and a football.

"The possibility of teaching younger players through present-day training students has raised an aspect with regard to a coach' which might hear further, investigation," continues the Wellington 'Association. "It has been hoped ever since the English team was here that one result of the visit might -be to obtain the services of a .qualified coach or coaches to improve the game in New Zealand. It is apparent that anything in this direction would have to be on a fairly large scale to cover all centres. We therefore suggest that a coach might be engaged to train coaches. We have been told frankly that mdny school teachers who look after schodl teams have not the slightest ideas of coaching Soccer football, do not know the rules, and as a result cannot hope to produce good footballers. As an experiment, we are this week sending out one of our members, who wjll control a game at which school teachers will be present to observe the game and aak

and be informed on any points of the rules or the science of the game.

"The realisation that it is necessary to provide a coach to instruct school coaches may well be extended further,, and we feel that if the N.Z.F.A. are considering making a move in the direction of obtaining a coach, we desire to submit the foregoing as a sound and extensive basis of operations. Any such scheme would receive every support from this association."

In reply, the secretary (Mr. Alf. Williams) had written that during the last month a meeting of all representatives of the Dominion associations was called by the Football Association, London, to decide ways and means of helping all associations. Coaching was one of the matters to be decided upon, and the New Zealand Association was now awaiting advice from its representative on the Football Association.