FOOTBALL IN SCHOOLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19623, 5 May 1938, Page 16

FOOTBALL IN SCHOOLS

ENCOURAGEMENT URGED RETENTION OF GRANTS CLOSER PERSONAL TOUCH (Per Pi'css Association.) WELLINGTON, this clay. The sub-committee set up by the Council of the New Zealand Rugby Union on May 3 to consider the best means of fostering the game in primary schools, Messrs. G. A. Maddison, S. S. Dean, J. Prendeville, and Dr. G. .1. Adams, submitted the following recommendations to the annual meeting of delegates yesterday:—

(1) The retention of the present grant of £750.

(2) That unions receiving grants provide annually in their accounts, or attached to the balance-sheet, a detailed and certified statement of the expenditure of the grant from the New Zealand union.

(3) That it be recommended to unions and sub-unions that primary school boys playing in school football competitions during the school week should not play in grade football on Saturdays, unless they cannot get football in the primary schools competitions. (4) That the union revise, republish and distribute the school Rugby Football book.

(5) That the union assist by special subsidy and grants, annual schools Rugby tournaments, a detailed statement'to accompany an application to the council before such grant is considered.

(G) That the union distribute to schools copies of the pamphlet entitled " Some Notes on Rugby Football."

(7) That balls for the use of primary schools should not exceed size 42- ~ Mr. G. Pownall, of Wanganui, said that the greatest need in school football 'was instruction in captaincy. Captaincy in New Zealand was very weak from club football right up to the All Blacks. The captaincy of the New Zealand team in the third test match against South Africa last year at Auckland was shockingly bad, declared Mr. Pownall.

Mr. T. A. Fletcher said that the unions should endeavour to Ret into closer personal touch with school football. If this were done it would result in increased interest in the game and a raising of the standard of play.