FOOTBALL FOR GIRLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17839, 21 July 1921, Page 6

FOOTBALL FOR GIRLS.

OPPOSITION BY LEAGUE. MODIFIED RULES SUGGESTED RECOGNITION DECLINED. The question of girls being allowed to play football under the jurisdiction of the Auckland Rugby Football League was again considered by the Management Committee of the League last evening, when a deputation from the Parnell Club interviewed the committee and requested the League to allow the girls to play at Carlaw Park. The deputation consisted of a matron and two girls, who were accompanied by male members of the Parnell Club.

The deputation had a preliminary interview with members of the League Referees' Association, and discussed with them suggested modifications to the rules of the game to render it suitable for girl players. The president of the Referees' Association, Mr. A. Ferguson, then accompanied the deputation to the committee, and explained the suggested modifications. These, he said, referred to tackling, scrum work, charging, and playing the ball, and were designed to prevent the rough and tumble of the game as played by the men. A member of the deputation said the girls were determined to play the game. They had already held a practice match in which 64 scrums were held, and were convinced that the game under the suggested modified rules was suitable for girls. The club had a membership of 65. The girls were in charge of three matrons, two of whom were trained nurses.

Mr. E. Phelan remarked that the playing of Rugby in Wellington by girls had been condemned by medical men. In reply to a question the matron said it had been decided that the girls should adopt as a uniform socks, shorts, and long jerseys. Another member of the deputation said that if the game under the proposed modified rules were condemned all games, such as basketball and hockey, should be barred to girls. Women had demontrated during the war that they could readily perform heavy work. He expressed tie opinion that if the modified rules were adopted and published there would be a rush to form girl football clubs, and a competition for girls would soon be established. It was stated by other speakers that girls who were now playing " soccer " were to take up the League game and that girls at Onehunga were practising in anticipation of entering a competition. After the deputation had withdrawn, the matter wa3 discussed by the committee. The chairman, Mr. J. Carlaw, said he had obtained medical opinion on the subject of football for girls. The doctors he had interviewed were emphatically opposed zo it. In the circumstances it was a question as to whether the League would take the responsibility of allowing the girls to play under the League's jurisdiction. Mr. G. Hunt said that while he admired the zeal of the girls desiring to plav the game he was opposed to permission being granted to play football under the jurisdiction of the League. He moved that the request of the deputation be declined. He added that he was sure tha League would lose a great deal of public support if it opened the door to girls to play the game. " " Mr. E. Stallworthy said he had obtained a doctor's opinion to the effect that as girls would be playing against others of their own sex no great harm could result. Mr. T. Fielding said the opinion of a doctor to whom he had referred the matter was that football under the proposed modifications to the rules would not be harmful to jjirls. He moved an amendment that a trial game be arranged under the modified rules at Carlaw Park, and that doctors be, invited to witness the game with a view to getting medical opinion as to the suitability of the came for girls. The amendment was lost and the motion that the request of the deputation be declined was carried.