HOCKEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23213, 10 June 1937, Page 4

HOCKEY

By Centre-half

FIXTURES July 31—Otago v. Southland, at Dunedin. August 21. —Otago v. Southland, at tnvercargill. A BARREN WEEK Last Saturday all games were postponed on account of the Association football test. Even if this event had not been the fixture of the day it is doubtful whether it would have been possible to play the usual club matches as the grounds were In a deplorable condition. Yesterday the annua- women's seven-a-side tournament was to have been played at Logan Park, but it was decided on Tuesday afternoon that the grounds were not fit for play, and accordingly all the entrants were advised not to attend. Though play has been " oft' this week the associations have not been idle. At the meeting of the Men's Association on Monday night it was decided that, in view of the forthcoming interprovincial matches, the selectors —Messrs E. D. Brown (senior) and A. C. Barnes (junior)—should each select about 20 players to go into training. From these, it is probable, the Otago representative teams will ultimately be chosen. There is no lack of material this season, and if the newly-adopted policy of putting the representatives into organised practice is carried out as it should be, Otago may well field a better team than in recent years. Towards the end of training there was some discussion at the meeting on a suitable building in which to hold team talks and, perhaps, some form of training. It was agreed that it would not be practicable to use sticks on such occasions Efforts are now being made to secure such a building. The selector of the Women's Association (Mr L. J. T. Ireland) is also giving his consideration to the question of a team to represent the province, despite the fact that no matches have yet been finally arranged. It is understood that the question of a match with North Otago is at present under consideration. There have been one or two losses in the ranks of women's hockey this season, but it is regarded as probable that good material will be found and welded into an efficient team. It is Mr Ireland's desire to commence training early this year to be in readiness for the Dominion tournament in good time. MANAGER SELECTED Fifty players have been nominated for positions in the New Zealand hockey team to tour Australia this winter, at least three being available for each position in an eleven. The same applied to managers, three being nominated. They were Mr R. Gracie (Christchurch), Mr H. Hatch (Wellington), and Mr W. Newsham (Auckland). The qualifications and merits of these three were discussed in committee by the Management Committee of the N.Z.H.A at its last meeting, and, after a ballot had been taken. Mr Gracie was elected. Mr Gracie needs no introduction to the hockey players of New Zealand. He has been connected with the sport as an administrator, and perhaps more prominently still as an umpire, for a great many years, and the opportunity of this trip will no doubt be regarded as a mark of appreciation of the time he has devoted to the fostering of the game. The fact that he was born in Australia will make him particularly popular "on the other side." He may be fairly described as a young man's man, as' he spends every Saturday in the winter umpiring hockey, and most of the summer week-ends in the administration of amateur athletics. "ONE FOR THE REFEREE" While the vounger members of the community have played and are playing their part in making the game of hockey a success (says a writer in the Sports Post), it would appear that many ex-players have let the game down to a certain extent. Certainly some have not, as they have left the playing field to join the ranks of the Hockey Umpires' Association and do their share for the game Saturday after Saturday. These enthusiasts are justified in asking why their old team mates do not lend a hand, especially when senior games have to be controlled by by a single umpire. In some ways the job of an umpire is onerous and thankless. The umpire has to turn out week after week, control two teams to the best of his ability, and often listen to muttered comments about his alleged inability. It so happens that the majority of the men who take the whistle on to the hockey fields are enthusiastic and able, and adverse comments are usually due to the thoughtlessness and even ignorance of those who make them. The hockey players of New Zealand have been doing their best to make the game interesting to members of the public who know little or nothing of hockey, but many of them fail to appreciate just how much the umpires are doing in the same direction. How many hockey players realise that the average individual attracted to the sidelines does not understand the rules of the game? Almost every umpire could quote instance's where someone on the sideline has complained loudly and bitterly about a player being offside, and there are cases where players have taken the word of the man on the sideline, although it should have been obvious that the complaint was caused through sheer ignorance of the rules. All of these things, probably have a bearing on the limited number of umpires available for games. Umpiring a game of hockey can -e ;• true pleasure to the man who is deeply interested in the game, and it is pleasing to see that a fair number of stalwarts go on taking their sport week after week by holding the balance between two teams The Wellington Hockey Umpires' Association has a member who has followed the game for over 40 years, and three members who have handled the stick or the whistle for over 30 years. There is also one who has celebrated his seventieth birthday, two are past the halfcentury. and three are not far short of it Hockey umpiring enables the sport to be can-fed into much more advanced vears. hut while elderly umpires can be and are. excellent controllers of the game. Ihey should not be asked to cover the whole field. Hockey is one of the fastest ball games played and even a young man will find the sole control of n came » strenuous undertaking Repeated appeals nave been made tor umpires as the number of lads faking up the game increases. While the younger players are coming forward the older rncn are retiring to the sideline year by year, and it is to these thai the lads must look for control It is probable that a number of those who retire from the game are not in a position to help but there must be many who could come forward. Some of these may be held back by natural diffidence and the lack of confidence in their own ability, but they should put such thoughts aside. Every hockey umpire has had to learn the game anew after changing from the stick lo the whistle, and any good senior player should be able to mould himself into an efficient umpire Every beginner will make mistakes at first, but that is understood by the more experienced umpires, and should be excused by the players A number of young men who are playing in the senior grades at present have given invaluable assistance by controlling junior games and a careful study of their capabilities shows that they will make good umpires if they persisl They understand the rules of the game and are able to check breaches the main fault noticed beinu a tendency to check them 100 quickly. Only practice will enable the junior umpires to learn when to wait so that the advantage rule may be applied When this is learned the type of umpiring that keep the. game progressins smoolhlv and steadily has been acquired.