HOCKEY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 June 1924, Page 10

HOCKEY.

THE USE OF THE STICK. (Waikato Times.) Real scientific hockey should see the ball kept on the ground; then there is less danger of injury to head and libib. The scoop stroke, however, cannot be penalised (excepting in a free'- hit). This stroke is a lofted raising of the ball, usually high over the head of an opponent standing between the “scooper” and a colleague who thus prevents an ordinary ground stroke. The scoop stroke is often seen when there are a bevy of players in the circle and the ball is scooped by a half-back into the circle over the heads of opponents, may be, to a colleague. There are many who would like to see this stroke penalised as bringing about too much of the playing of the ball in the air. The scoop is quite distinct from undercutting, which is prohibited in rule 14. The scoop stroke is done by putting the stick right underneath the ball. The stroke cultivated in English play which has made Manseagh (England’s champion centre forward) and others famous in hockey for goal-scoring is the ‘‘flick shot,” known better in New Zealand as the thrust or push shot. This is the goal scoring shot for forwards, and also is very common amongst first-class half-backs. It keeps the game moving rapidly, and prevents a forward from slowing up if receiving such a pass from any of his forwards in certain circumstances. In the thrust stroke the hall often leaves the ground, hut not above a few feet. This thrust stroke is a piston-like action of right arm and right shoulder, and is entirely a thrust delivered with the full weight of the body behind it. It is easily mastered, and the method of control over the direction in which the ball is to be placed is obtained by the rise of the left hand in turning the stick during the thrust. The point of the stick is therefore raised or lowered, and this determines the direction of travel of the ball to the left or to the right of the direction of the thrust. Herein lies the deadliness of the stroke, as the ■ goalkeeper tends to follow the direc- ; tion of the thrust, while the direction i of travel is not disclosed until the ball , finally leaves the stick. It is particu’'■larly useful in close dribbling’ and

passing; to the right. By comparing; the thrust stroke with the normal hit or drive brings out the following points: (1) The thrust can be delivered instantaneously, and is therefore the ideal first-time shot. No time is wasted in the drawing back of the stick as for the drive. (2) Qontinuous control over the ball and concealment of its direction of travel is maintained xintii the stroke is completed. In drawing control is temporarily lost, and it is very difficult indeed to avoid giving some indication of the general direction of travel. (3) Elimination of the possibility of hooking. (4) Little or no warning is given of the exact, point of time of delivery of the stroke, and, in consequence, tfie goalkeeper is denied the opportunity of getting balanced to meet the final move. (5) Reduction in the use of the reverse stroke drive, which is a very difficult and vrealc stroke except to" naturally gifted players. These advantages are so overwhelming that they should eliminate almost entirely the use.of the drive within, say, ten yards of goal. Players are urged to use this well-nigh unknown and yet incredibly simple type of stroke. In first-class matches in Great Britain fully 50 per cent of the- goals scored are obtained by the use of the thrust stroke. There is too much undercutting, though few seem to appreciate what is really meant by the term. Although referees have difficulty in detecting wilful from unintentional undercutting, the danger is there just the same. Forwards are often guilty of it. Undercutting is caused by lying the face of the striking surface of the stick well back on impact with the ball, and as a result the ball flies into the air. It is a most dangerous and careless stroke. Players, try and hit the ball squarely in the middle of the stick head,. Reverse stick, or left-handed play. —One often witnesses a fair amount of play directly against the spirit of the rules of hockey, which is therefore wrong. A reader has not to search far back into hockey to realise that the makers of hockey laws were always combating and ruling against lefthand play, caused by inclining the stick from right to left in front of the player, so as to keep the front of the • stick to the ball, but yet using both hands to the stick. Naturally the habitual dribbling on the left hand is alluded to here, for left-hand dribbling is mostly finished by ‘‘turning” on the ball, which is done by the player dribbling the ball in front of his left shoulder with stick reversed, so that in the act of running the player is to all intents and purposes covering the ball and guarding it from the approach of any other player coming in from the right. To go in from the left is barred by the rules, but how can you hit at the ball or hook the stick of a man dribbling on the left to right system once, he is past you ? His body is between you and the ball, and so is an obstruction, just as much as if he were playing with a left-handed stick, which is also debarred. This playing left to right reversed stick dribbling fashion may be clever and pretty, if certainly takes some doing, , but it is not the game or in accordance with the rules, put it how you will. Much harm and danger to {he game of hockey will result if this is not stopped by players or their referees. If the rules need alteration let us take the proper course. This left to right play is often just as much body obstruction, preventing an opponent from gaining the ball, as for a back to allow the ball, to be hit past him and deliberately place himself with his face to his own goal, “erabwise” between the opponent and the ball. Those using these methods know they are gaining an advantage, else why is it done? The old rule used t 0,,, read “no left-hand play will be allowed.”