COACH THE BOYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 10

COACH THE BOYS.

AUCKLAND'S REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RJTURE.

ACTION BY THE ASSOCIATION NISEDED.

Cricket is not the national game of New Zealand, and probably it never will be at popular as Rugby football, but if the various associations only took a little more interest in the schoolboys a Nov/ Zealand eleven might yet be a power in the cricket world. Perhaps it would be too much to anticipate victories over English and Australian elevens, but there is no reason why South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria should not be met on even terms in the future. Many will not entertain such a possibility for an instant, and the suggestion that New Zealand may yet havo to be reckoned with on the cricket field will no doubt be scoffed at. However, a case in point is furnished in our very midst. Before A. E. Rolf came from England cricket., in thia .city, was -at- a low ebt>—in,' fact, Auckland was an easy mark for all tho other big provinces. •-. But what a change came ovor the scone after a year or two of Relf. Auckland rose from the bottom rung to the top of the ladder, and Relf's coaching was responsible for the success. Coach the boys,, and the standard of play is bound to improve. Australia recognised tho wisdom of this policy many years ago, and results now speak for themselves. What has been done in Australia can be done in Auckland, and if the association will only rise to the occasion Auckland will long remain in the fore front of Dominion cricket.

At tho present time coaching is carried on on a very small scale in the city, but excellent results aro being obtained. Anyone inclined to doubt this statement has only to read the reports of the school matches in Monday's papers. The boys who hare the benefit of a coach's services during the week are always at the top of the averages. The Devonport boys, for instance, have been coached for two years by tie old Notts player, Frank Shaddock, and this year they have eclipsed all past performances by carrying off the championship without losing a single match. Shacklock also coaches the Ponsonby schoolboys, and anyone inclined to discount the value of coaching has only to pay a visit to Victoria Park on any fine Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoon to have his convictions rudely shocked. Although his bat will never assist Auckland to retain tho Plunket shield, Shacklock will do more for the province in a year with his boys than any star importation did during two seasons in the past. He ha* the right temperament for coaching, and there can be no doubt that he is working wonders with tho boys. The boys are all keen to learn, and nothing is too great a trouble, for tho coach. Shacklock was taught cricket by that great master, Alfred Shaw, and nothing more need bo said aa to his qualifications. He is firm with his pupils, and never allows a boy to bat with boots off or coat on. Every stroke is carefully explained, and repeatedly during his timo at the wickets the lad with the bat is asked to show how each stroke is to be made. Slackness in the field is discouraged, and there can be no doubt that the boys are all the better for the discipline. Shacklock informed the writer that he # was delighted with the boys and their quickness, 'and ho predicted great success for quite a number of them. Four of his most promising boys, he says, will represent Auckland in the next three or four years. Daore, of Devonport is one of his best pupils, p and Dacre's name is already well known in cricket circles. Yes, Shacklock is doing much for cricket in Auckland, and the action of tho Ponsonby Club in providing good wickets for his classes is to be highly commended. It now remains for the association to take action.

It mitrht be mentioned that F. R. Foster, whose bowling was quite the feature of the test matches in Australia in 1911,, was coached by the Notts man.