ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 June 1924, Page 9

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

(Gleanings by “Particle Thistle.”) A VITAL PLAYING PRINCIPLE. Those who see so much of the Soccer game seldom think of the matter of body balance because it appears natural to the fairly decent footnaller, who does most of his best work with one foot off the ground. To maintain perfect equilibrium and stability on. one leg, in spite of foes and hasty movement, is not easy. The habit once acquired becomes a habit. Let us look a little further into this question of balance. Little is accomplished in manly games without balance. The batsman, and the golfer cannot make a successful drive without this gitt. Sometimes the novice on the tee or in a shot through the green tumbles down as his club-head comes in contact with the ball. The batsman, too, gets himself entangled, fails to get pace on the ball as it leaves the bat, and the boxer stumbles. This principle, of balance, of perfect equality of weight of the body in all its movements, is • vital to all games, because .it means moving the height so that it is properly distributed. uhould the feet be placed wrongly there cannot he proper balance of the body, with the result that the power is taken away from the shot. The main secrets of success for the soccer player, are accurate kicking, balance, and perfect timing. The balance depends almost entirely on the arms at the moment of impact being extended on a level with the shoulders, the forearms being turned inwards. He nnist jump fo meet the ball, and in s 0 doing stiffen his body from head to toe when making the attempt to head th Q ball. Body balance is a fundamental if elementary principle of all athletics

for tlie accomplishment of a hit by the arms or a kick of a ball. How often do we hear the remark passed that so-and-so at centre forward is badly shod because lie is always falling down. He may have fine boots, and well studded, but his balance being at fault is the real cause of his sitting down to it so. often.

No wing forward can expect to become a top-notcher without possessing as much balancing power as many of the. performers seen on rope and wire, and doing all kinds of ' most ingenious tricks

Many players in various forms of sport and pastime lose sight of the prime necessity of balance. It may be easier for one man than another to get this equality of weight, because Nature is far from uniform in measurements of limbs and in weight. But I wish to strongly impress on all players that balance must be got, for without it there is no driving power, no precise timing which gives speed in the flight of the ball. A PLEA FOR SKILL.

Skill on the football field commands more admiration than any other attribute. An association wine; raider may he endowed with the gift of speed. The spectator declares that he is far too fast for the back. “He’s a flyer. He can leave the backs standing still.”

Strength, endurance, fitness, and charging power all evoke a certain amount of admiration, but the feeling is so congealed that pace, power, and other physical qualities never cause a huge crowd to burst into applause with that spontaneity which proves a synchronised appeal to the men who look at the game. The one quality of a football player which captures the throng and arouses an appreciative demonstration is skill on the ball, the intuition for position, the aptitude to receive a pass, the gift of controlling and manoeuvring, and the final bestowal of the ball.

All the physical qualities are necessary for the playing of a hard game, but football should never be reduced to a mere matter of inches, _to weight, to racing over the ground, and to heaving an opponent out of the way. Real cleverness with the ball is the first equipment of the true player and means more to the crowd than even a goal. To this opinion the reader may demur. hut a goal too often causes the. boiling over of mere partisanship, whereas ball-work captures friend and foe without reservation.

Would that it were possible to convince all players of football that to be master of the hall is the first requisite. Cynics, scoffers, and all kinds of superior persons declare that people go to football matches to see their own side, win, and in the hope of being excited by a turbulent game. These critics, many of whom have never seen an Association match, are very imaginative and even untruthful. They do not know any better. The tremendous majority have deep down in their minds profound praise, for the artist, for lie - can do .something with a hall that the majority cannot do, and who brings quick thinking to the aid of versatile feet. The distance from the centre of the field to the goal is only about fifty yards, but with some players the distance is converted into about 250 yards as they swing about and generally get back to the starting spot, and then are generally robbed of the “pill.”

AN EASY FIRST. “Who’s the best footballer in the kingdom?” asked the student, of form. His brother club members suggested various names, and there was an obvious difference of opinion, till the new member walked in and took a. hand. “I think my 'son licks the lot!” he announced coolly. “Really?” came the polite comment. “I have very little doubt about it. As a footballer no one can beat him!” “Forward?” queried someone. “Very,” replied the new member, “for his age!” “And how old is he?”

“A few hours. He’s a champion bawler, and he’s just a foot. AH the time we hear the foot bawl!”