GENERAL NOTES.

NZ Truth, Issue 871, 5 August 1922, Page 8

GENERAL NOTES.

"Enquirer" asks: (1) From a throw down, a player plays the ball before it reaches the ground, can a goal be scored direct from the free kick?

Reply: No. ■ > .•• . • • - . • (2) I have been led to understand that the Referees', controlling body refused the services of an ex-profession-al footballer, the excuse being that that body wished to keep the g%me clean. What is your opinion? Reply: I should say there is more behind this question than "Enquirer" has divulged, as "Tynecastle' has known of ex-pros acting m that capacity m this country. In Wellington one of the leading officials on the Referees' Association, and one of the most reliable authorities on Soccer football m N.Z. is an ex-first division referee from Home, so that he must be considered m the same cat-a--gory as a player, therefore I am certain that the Referees' Association must have had some other cause for. such refusal. Was it not re payment? I *have been rather struck by the weakness of the majority of captains of the teams I have seen this season. Most of them, m my opinion, have been very lacking.in personal initiative; m; fact, they have been simply figurebeads. A captain's job does not finish once he has tossed the coin. That is only the commencement of his activities. He should be scheming and, most important, working his men around as circumstances will permit., It is not necessary that the ideal captain should be a player of strong personality, bwt 'one who is always ready to show souml. ■leadership, whether it be 'gently per-. suasive or aggressively masterful, and always 'showing a cheerful sporting spirit. ' ' ■■'■"■ It has been said that "no match is won off the field of play." With this Ido not. altogether agree. Wherever a happy family feeling exists m a team, such a feeling is created, off the field, and is reflected m the play of the eleven on the field. I may therefore say that, indirectly, a large amount of success is won off the field of play. With reference to the player who was allowed a transfer from the Hospital to the' Thistle Club mentioned m this column last week, Mr.. Hicks, Hospital Club, wishes it to ,be clearly understood that his club did not intend dropping McArthur for a local'■■player. McArthur pleased himself. To fill the vacancy it was necessary for the services oi a city player to" be obtained. ; j