THE PLAYER AND THE GAME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 1 May 1926, Page 9

THE PLAYER AND THE GAME

HOW TO GET FIT ADVICE TO THOSE IN THE RANKS if BY PROMINENT RUGBY MEN One always feels that one defect- about Nelson football is that some of the players are not really fit enough to keep the pace hot throughout the game. The appended interviews with prominent Auckland Rugby men! will. Ee read with interest and the advice given should be heeded by many of the younger footballers in Nelson.

Tiie interviews 'were obtained by the Auckland Star in the hope that the advice. embracing in every case the results and experiences of a lengthy connection with the game, may be of vaiue to' the club plavei and particularly the juniors, especially those who have the keenness, but lack of knowledge of systematic training methods. Harry Frost was one of the greatest of the old-time plavers. Not gifted with the physique of men of the Brownlie class, his carce l ' should be an inspiration to the average player, and an illustration of the heights to which one can reach if the heart and determination are there. Most of bin football was played in Canterbury, and it was from that province that he attained the honour of playing for New Zealand. He has also attained llm highest administration honour the game can bestow — the presidency of the New Zealand Rugby Union—and it at present the live wire president o- the Auckland Rugby Union. “Much has been written as to the correct method of training in order to attain a full measure of success in the game of Rugby football,” he says. ‘‘l have always held that outdoor training wherever possible is much more likely to be beneficial than indoor or shed methods. It is not always possible- for players to train outside, owing to various reasons, though there should be nothing to prevent everyone indulging in a certain amount of brisk walking, preferably hill work or similar, as preparatory work, at any rate. Where shed training has to he resorted to, I am strongly of opinion that discipline and method should he strictly enforced by officials'. Much harm is clone by indiscriminate rushing about the shed, passing and throwing the ball in any sort of position . Whatever is done should be done methodically, and unconsciously tlie very name tiling is done in a match. This similarly appl es to dribbling and serum work. “-Another point, too, ig the fact that rushing about, passing, ele., in this more or less haphazard manner, cannot possibly help towards one of the most essential features.of success), viz., combination. Aga'n with a number of players training in this fashion, the dust arising from tan, or other covering on the floor, muuL sooner or later have an injurious effect on their lungs. I believe that the shed ig all right for careful practice in the nature of scrum work and line out formation and a properly conlrvU'd svstem of ball handling. , “Another injurious practice among young players is the incessant cigarette emoking indulged in before, and especially after training. A very small amount of reasoning must decide that while a Voting fellow’s chest and lungs aio in a heated stale smoking, especially cigarettes, must have a. most harmful effect on the system generally. Incessant cigarette smoxing and success ’>u the football field will not go hand in hand. Much harm is also caused by players standing about after training when heated, instead of a*- once getting a v-ih down and dressing. 'I nave always believed that skipping is a- mo;t beneficial method of football ■'mining. Short, sharp running in the open is one of the been, forms of getting mtu nick. ' "I do not think it is necessary to reel licit a players diet to any particular •om of lend. He ghouTu eat and drink what he feels agrees with him. Light meals are preferable before a game.”

DOESN’T LIKE LIMELIGHT 'lt is so very difficult to lay down loud and fast rules for individual training." said a gentleman who has been closely connected with the national game h>r a number of years, when approached on the subject, and-who consented to give his views on the understanding that his name waa left out. “Tor instance,” he went on, 1 with a reminiscent smile. '’some magnificent/ beerdrinkers ha v>} been exceedingly niu I'cotbailers, but. that 'does not mean that a popular form of elbow exercise is an essential to success in football. Rather the contrary. Then, again, Bill Stead used to tell mo that some of the 1905 team were quite fond of the pipe, and that they used to get, a good deal of amusement from the tact that when they came on to the ground puffing away at- the old briar, the English public used to gaze in open-mouthed wonder at llinin'. “1 lie question of training seems to he summed up in u, nut .shell in the phrase, ‘What’s one man's meat is another man’s poison.’ Every man msui find out for himself- what suits him best, if a man is a smoker, there is no reason in the world why he should drop it during the football season. Let him i'.noke within reason if he wants to, but to knock oil suddenly simply means that he is going to he fidgety and irritable because be misses something be fius been need to Bimilarlv. if lie likes a glass of beer occasionally, h-t him have it. The day has gone when the player at the start of each season solemnly stacked his pipes away on the licif, and menially signed the pledge in favour of an underdone steak and drv toast existence. "Everything in moderation is a good, sound rule. Similarly, a man who lias more or less allowed himself lo run to seed during the summer should take things easy at the start. Too many players tear into the first practice match of the season as if they had a whole, reason's training behind them. Jt has been my experience that more accidents occur in practice .matches and so-called friendly games than in the regular season’s play : simply because men are not fit. AU the year round a fellow ought lo be doing plenty of walking. Walk I'Uirvwh»iv you possibly can. ‘‘Don’t lako the ear. Walk upstairs instead of 'axing the lift, When getting into training in earnest, you will find skipping 'pJendid exerciae, hut the tremble is a lot of lellcwß shy clear of it, because llie.y think it, is ‘sissy.’ But ask a boxer what lie thinks of it. Punching Mio ball ia good, and boxing the finest framing of all. If. gives a man confidence,. teaches lmn f<> bo quick with ‘I"’": :!1: 1 bio! .and jn side-stepping, ,)! "- l< 'V? fj-vlging, he is learning ■‘•"ineflung which hn nil) uncoiiseioiislv pu min practice on the field of plav. etor Ward, a New Zealander, who ;ificnvarda captained Australia, and Brian 'Llenrv are classic examnlep of borers who made good ,-ifc'Rugby „r>f so • ouch because they had apv natural ap.UiHte frr the game, hut rather because ' • cttine easy to them after boxing, if " oi give a man s (amina as nothing else

will, and it is stamina, more than anything else, other things being reasonably equal, that, wins matches. “As a hum gets lit, he can’t have too much sprinting. I wish there were night training grounds here. Canterbury and Southland have made a great success of it. When your have got training going properly, and after the men have had tune to warm up, run the backs and fonvardg in their respective divisions half a dozen times at intervals for forty yards bursts, and keep doing it every training night. The rivalry it causes will speed up your slowest man as the season goes on. Cut out long-distance running. It only slows a man up. It wag all right 40 years ago, when a different class of stamina wan wanted, but it is no good in the modern game. The old type of heavy-footed, bulloeking player has gone for ever. Lastly, let me quote ‘Off-side’ McKenzie’s famous maxim for success in football: ‘Combination, condition and common-sence.’

UNIVERSITY COACH'S VIEWS A. A. (‘‘Snowy”) Lucas, who is coaching lhe University XV., is the elder brother of the present All Black footballer of that name. He was himself a fine player, being successively a member of the celebrated Auckland “under 21 team,” which beat a powerful military team from Trentham during the war; a New Zealand Army representative in England ‘and South Africa ; and oil his return from the war an Auckland representative. Ho was a brilliant roving forward, and made a great name for himself ydth the Army team, which included some very fine players. But for an ankle injury, it is considered by many good judges that lie would probably have achieved All Black honours. “In order that a player may take the field lit and in the best of condition at tl>o commencement of the season, it is essential that ha should indulge in training of such a nature as will make him physically fit for the first game,” says Mr Lucas 'i’he majority of players are of opinion that it is sufficient if they turn out a couple of Saturdays before the season to the practices held by their club, but this is not fair to themselves iy the selectors, as it will be cn the form shown at the practices that will decide whether or not a player gets his game, it is in such cases where a player not selected for tlm first fifteen |n tho first instanct*, after a few games improves, ami is then lit fr» 1 the first fifteen ‘Some players Blink that, forward rushes, and passing in sheds and on the field of practice constitute training for the more important match, but it might be here pointed out that in nine cases out of ten such practice is more, detrimental to their side than advantageous, in that on the practising fields and V the sheds they pass one another without thought, whether the player receiving the ball is on-side or not, and the same apples to forward rushes where a forward overruns the ball and does not attempt to get on-side. If done in practice, there is no doubt the same wil] be done in the playing field, and a p'enaliy kick against the player’s side is the natural result. “A player to be fit to commence the Beacon must, have his cwn system of training independent, of club practices. Here are numerous minus by which a player can make himself fit. For instance, skipping is a. means of loosening the muscles and getting into good condition as regards stamina. This should always be indulged in, and in addition, it is advisable for a player to walk as often as possible at a fair pace, and to intersperse short runs at intervals. The walking and running at intervals is one of the essentials to proper training, and as training proceeds, the walking distance should be shortened and the running d.stance should be increased ami cjcn time as the player can run or jog a ecu sale cable distance without feeling fatigued by bis efforts. It is advisabl. to sprint 30 or 50 yards at intervals, as by so doing you approach as near as possible to tlie actual game. The above training is only the means of obtaining the necessary stamina to see a game through without fatigue. “Another important phase in training is that a player should endeavour to have himself physically fit to withstand any haul knocks that ho might receive during the course of a game (and these are numerous’). Therefore, a player should regularly indulge in physical exercises a§ a'i’e taught in physical culture classes :n the Defence iorces and even in the schools. It is of no benefit to the player if he does these exercises carlessiy, as they will not do him any good. He should do all exercises caretully. By so doing a player would then he in a condition to withstand any knocks that might come his way. “in conclusion, the player should see to it lliat-lie is physically fit before the commencement o! the season. The system above-mentioned can be well recommended. I lien the club coach would need only to train the team in tactics, knowing that every player was in the pmk ul condition.'

EX-ALL BLACK S EXPERIENCE Just how good Vic. Bud they was as a footballer will never be known. Showtig rave promise'ln his secondary school ciays, uhs well-known member of a great athletic family achieved the unusual honour of representing his province w'nile 'still at school. But the lerrilic strain of competing against older and bigger men took heavy toll during his playing years, and although he achieved the highest honour that can fall to the New Zealand footballer—selection for file All Blacks—there is no saving how much further he might have gene m the Rugby world if Fate had been kinder. As it is,-lie ranks as one of the finest players the Auckland prov nee has produced ,a keen student of the theory of the game, and an admirable exponent of it on the field of play. His advice cannot be otherwise than of considerable value to the young player. On the subject of training and getting fi| lii j says: “Start at least s.x weeks holme tiie season opens. '1 a lie your pro-g-ammo something like this. Slow jogs of a mile three n glits a week. Physical .jerks for a-quaricr of an hour night and morning. Rubbing down should be done an expert; if not,- hot bath, followed by shower after run. The third week Aart a few sprints. It is a good idea to get someone to kick the ball to yon (bursts and handling). Try skipping on grass*. Asphalt and wood are too hard, and result, in shin soreness. The punching hall will loosen up (he mus-rl'-s wonderfully.

"1 don't believe in diet. Eat what you like within.reason. Go in for plenty of walking. Go your training in an open lield. if' possible. Sheds should be used only for stunting. Put pegs ton yards apart, and practice side-stepping and swerving. 1 have found this particularly effective. Keep tit by plenty of sprinting after a warm-up of a quarter of a mile. Running round the shed in not a good principle.’,' “Before a match liav© a steak at 11 o'clock, and then nothing until after the match. No oranges or stimulants at half-time, if a sin oxer, smoke in moderation, but. not on the day of tiic match until after the game. ’I 1 he bronchial tubes must be. kept moist for free breathing. A couple of drops of glycerine are sufficient to moisten the throat. I never used to consider my kit complete unless I had a little bottle of glycerine packed away in it for that purpose. "After a.month of the season one run a week is necessary to save staleness. Keep on with the physical jerks. A good* walk the day after the match relieves stiffness 1 . Regular hours' are essential.’

FRED LUCAS CORNERED Fred Lucas' elusiyeness on the football field is only equalled by Jus elusive ness when he knows that there is a, \ Pressman on his track. The English ! scribe, who remarked that the All Black’s were as mum as oysters about themselves and their play, in marked cotraJistinotion to the ISUS All Blacks and their playful wa.vs with English tootball writers, must have tried to get an interview out of Lucas at acme time or other . It was only when it was put to him that his experience as an All Black would be valuable to the younger players, that ho laughingly consented to "shoot- oft” a few remarks on the subjeet - "The main thing in all sports is enthusiasm,’ lie averred, “in fact, it is not only the main tiling, but it is absolutely the keynote 10 success. All the training in the world would he useless if one did not have the game at heart. “Personally, 1 do not believe in making a nuisance of any sport/ he went on. “That- is to gay, if you do not enjoy training or practice, don't do it. Of course, by all means keep fit, but then a man's a fool to himself if he doesn’t. 1 “One of the main faults 1 have noticed in shed practice is the -Habit when pass ing of passing anywhere. Sometimes a pass will he given yards forward. Ibis • s no guod, because you will find these JiLtle mistakes get to bo a liabit, nil are often done unconsciously in matches. "It is mainly the fault ot the man receiving the pass, lie should place himself oil-side, or else the player with the ball should bold Ins pass until he gets on-sido. , “Ilie keynote of combined play is' possession. A player wants to forgetthat he can kick, unless as a- defensive measure when pressed. In all eases the man with the ball—providing lie lias a couple of yards to work on—has the advantage. “Try never to pass to a man unless he j's ui a better position than yoursell. Never clear yourself at the expense of another player. If there is no way out-, it is better to go on and get tackled—by doing that you still keep possession for your side, and you have the satisfaction of knowing that you did not try to shift your own responsibility on to anulliui' man's shoulders.”

HERE AND THERE Optimist expect perfection in the first games of the season, and paragons only provide it. A. E. Toby, who was in New Zealand last year with tho New South Wales team, playing as full-back, has gone over to the League code in Sydney. All Black L. E. Ctipples is now farmin gi lithe Cambridge district, and it is likely that he will assist Waikato in its representative games this season. Tom Mahoney, Nelson’s halfback, apparently has retired from active partici pa lion in the game. “Alfie” West, the veteran of the 1924 AH Black team, has decided to have one more season, and will play in the Waikato this year. “Moke’, Be.llis also (who-was with a contemporary of Wests’ in the New Zealand Army team) .is taking it on again. Be.llis has been playing rep. football for something like 14 or 15 years. L. M. Johnson, who has represented New Zealand as five-eighths, has left Wellington for Hawke’s Bay.