SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

NZ Truth, Issue 1017, 23 May 1925, Page 14

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Too Much Roughness , Points for Referees. (By "Kick Off.") Our senior football is far from being attractive, and something will need to be done, or the public will not attend the matches. The game is far too rough to allow good football to be shown. .Some of our senior clubs are suffering because jtheir juniors or third-class players have no ambition to play m the senior grade — it is too rough. When one sees players leave the ball and butt into each other like a couple of "goats" it is time they were told to play the ball a bit more. The. tackling is far too' vigorous, and, though one feels sorry to say it, there are some seniors playing to-day who should be on the .bank, because they are a positive danger to other players. • Again, the player who is just a hard kicker, and rushes all over the field .bowling over players who happen to be m- his way, never was, or never will be a footballer m the true sense of the word. No one objects to a hefty charge, but m many cases it is unnecessary, because the ball can be often got without it, and, what is more, it is a waste of -energy' needed towards the end of a .''liatd-fpught game. Steve Bloomer* always i^ 'says: v "Get the ball and yomwill naturally get the man; and, fuf,£herni6re,-l'gnce you rob a player ; of the^ball tie immediately becomes harmless." ■"■•"''

Dixie .Dean, the : Tranmer^e Rovers' centre-forward, to Everton, is only 18 • years of age, but a big opinion is held of his powers. His rise m the game has been electric, for as recently as 1920-21 he played for Birkenhead schoolboys. TTanmere's original figure for him was £2500 and the gift of other players, but it is unlikely Everton paid that sum. Yet some of our boys, 19 arid 20, refuse to play senior football when offered the chance. .:

Cardiff City have forwards from England, Scotland, and Wales m their front rank. : D. Lawson, their outside right, is a Scottish International of 1923, when he played against England. He was with St. Mirren before moving to Wales. Cardiff City lost to Sheffield United by I—o, and it was the first -time a Welsh Club had figured m the final of the English Cup. Stockport County agreed to let their fine International goalkeeper Igo to Australia, but their supporters were a :wee bit perturbed, because the County were not absolutely safe from relegation, and it was feared he might • be needed. Stockport have a capable reserve 'keeper, but he is not a Hardy. This player is with the team now m Australia, and must not be confused with the famous Sam Hardy of Aston Villa and Liverpool fame.

The outstanding incident, at Derby, Vhere Chelsea were visitors, was Storer's dramatic goal soon after the interval. Reappearing after a ~ long absence through injury, he had broken ddwn and was practically new to it. From a long pass by Mclntyre he made a supreme effort, and from 25 yards' range drove the ball home -.with his left foot. • In evident pain, Storer then collapsed completely and had to be carried off. Perhaps this is the reason Storer did riot come out, with the English team. Storer is also a .first-class cricketer. ..

.. 'Quite a lot of people consider that a referee's task is easy. These people have, never ref ereed themselves. They have been, and are, lookers on, and are usually loud voiced. Now, it is dead easy to referee a game while standing on the line. And these good, but thoughtless folk imagine that what apears to be as easy, as eating to them, should be equally as easy to the referee. '. ' "

That is far from being the case, and if these people were transferred from their place on the line, and placed m the field and told to take charge of a game, Id- bet a new hat they would quickly change their opinions "about the easiness >of refereeing.

To be a thoroughly efficient referee a fellow must have more than a sound knowledge of the rules of football, and more than a glib tongue, when asked questions on points of play by examiners. He must have the ability to establish absolute command of the game, to keep it, to follow the play, coolly holding himself as well as' the struggle m perfect control. Don't under any consideration get excited, or you will surely lose command. It lies with your handling of

Ed, go for the man. or he may trick you and give you the "dummy." Don't stand still if you miss your man. Go after him as i hard as you can. Don't keep on struggling when tackled .yourself. It may , show your strength, but seldom gains .anything for your side. It also leads to danger —you get put down by a crowd. Part with the ball at once and keep the game going, of you may be penalised. PASSING. To get rid of the ball is not passing it. .■■■. '' It is no use getting rid of it if you gain no advantage by doing so. • Don't hang on to. the ball too long as you may spoil a good chance for your side, but try and draw your opponents before passing. . Don't pass to another unless he is m a better position to scoi-e than yourself; better stick to the- ball than chuck it anywhere to friend or foe indiscriminately. Don't pass at the man, but just m front of him. so that he may take the ball, m his stride. . . . • Don't lob the ball; pass straight and quickly and never higher than the waist. ■'■-,■.. ■.-■"■' ■ Don't pass m your own "25." It is too perilous. ■ ■ -. ■ . Don't" shout for a pass unless you are m a better, position to score thap the carrier. It is a common practice for players following up .to shout "pass, pass," and m most cases it is an absurd call. It bewilders the carrier and often prevents a score. Never mind who spores if it's your side. Don't pass straight back. It loses too much ground and is seldom of much use. : . SCRUMMAGING. , Pack quickly, 2-3-2.. Get the head well down; the pushing power is increased, and you can see better what is happening to the ball. Get possession — -posession, if nine points of the. law, is ten at football. Don't shove anyhow; it is waste of energy. Shove your full weight, but concentrate the shove on the centre man. .Get the first shove and possession is , yours. Break up quickly and follow the ball. Chances to score often come to a. quick follower up. . DRIBBLING. Don't kick too hard or you \yill lose. theV-ball; ; "■ ""•-.- .'■'■ ' ■-' Don't go too fast- or you will overrun the ball. Keep control/ '.Don't try to pick up unless you. are clear and can pick up cleanly. It is better to keep on dribbling.. V . FINALLY. Play all out— a game is . never,-' lost tin it's won. ;.'• -■■■ ■> : - : ;;.{ ; / : Don't play m spasnis— play all, the time.-'. "■; : ; : '' - ■■•■■■ ■ , -^ ■ . ; . Don't stop for an irregularity— -take advantage of it and go on. ; '. Stop only when -the whistle blows. At all times "play the game." '"For when the One ;Great Scorer comes ' to write against your name, He writes not that you won or lost, but how you played: the game."

the games whether players be or be not troublesome. Once give the players the idea you are weak, then they will take advantage of you.

No. referee is perfect, everyone will admit, and he is bound to. make mistakes at times; but he should be conscious of his defects and try to remedy them.

Always arrive early, so that you can take the field without being bustled. Keep to yourself whilst you are m charge.

Do not "chew the fat" with the players. If they ask you a question concerning a decision, answer them civilly and firmly, making them understand that that is the end of the matter. .

Should there be an indication of rough play, nip it m the bud. If you do not then you -will, m all probabilty, lose control of the game, and trouble will ensue.

Often a referee is more to blame than the player who is ordered off,-, because trouble seldom happens without some signs of it showing before the actual offence occurs.

At the first sign of dirty work, blow your whistle. Do not say to yourself, "I'll watch you, my lad; you had better not try that trick again." That's simply asking for trouble. Penalise the law-breaker first time; let him understand that you will " not stand any nonsense, and that next time extreme measures will be taken. ..

Be prompt with your decisions, but not hasty. If you feel doubtful on a point, give the . defending team the benefit of. the doubt.

Avoid fussiness, dramatic displays, and embroidery, and above all . avoid being intimidated by players or spectators.

Do not be afraid to alter your decision if you think you are wrong. A referee can, and should, alter his decision if he finds he has made a mistake, but not after the game has been re-started.