FOOTBALL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 227, 24 April 1933, Page 3

FOOTBALL

REVISION OF RULES REFEREES' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE The first knotty problem encountered by the N.Z. Referees' Association at the annual eonfoi'ence at Blenheim in the revision of the rules was in the definition of "dead ball," Lhe p:»int being whether lhe . ball was deutl if a player running down lhe feline swung the ball in his arm over the touchline while lie remained in touch. It. was agreed that the ball was not dead unlcsis lhe ball touched the ground over the tou'chline

r the player touched the line or tht round beyond.

The virtual impossibility was pointed out of making a fair catch or mark under the new rule requiring that tile ha!! must lie caught and (lie mark ma.de with the heel simultaneously. However, it was the opinion of everyone, that while the rule stood ; mark could not ho awarded unless file player was standing stationary at: (lie moment of making the mark. In a kick at goal it was agreed that the ball must go over the crossbar between the goalposts to secure a goal. Calling of No-side The question was raised by Mr. IT. J. McKonzie of when no-side should he declared was fruitful of discussion, the stumbling-block being whether' the referee should or should not call time if he whistles for a breach rn.'i finds that time is up. Amongst opinions expressed were these: That. as the laws provided for two equal spell-, the spells should be ended the instant the specified time expired, and that clocks on grounds and timekeepers other than the referee should he dispensed with. The upshot of the debate was that time cannot be called when the referee blows his whistle for a try—the kick at goal must b" taken; when the referee blows for a penalty kick—the kick- must bo taken: when a mark has been taken —111'' free kick must be taken: the safest thing being to let the hall go out. of plav before calling time. Arising out of the discussion, it was decided, on the motion' of Mr. Hollander, that it be a recommendation to the N.Z. Unions that timekeepers with bells' be dispensed with as being outside the laws of the game, the referee being the sole judge of time. The chairman stressed to the conference the importanc and value of the advantage rule, and urged dele-£-;ites to emphasise its importance to their associations.

Replacement of Players Regarding the question of replacement'of players, the chairman informed the meeting that thorn was no final reply from the English Union (o the New Zealand Union's request for a dispensation in the direction of allowing replacements. The matter was still under discussion by the Home Union. The conference adjourned rm dinner at 6 p m. and resumed at 7.150.

The Scrummage Law What was expected to be (he piece de resistance of the evening, the scrummage rule that was radically amended as a result of the English Union's intervention last season, was disposed of with comparative celerity after what was nevertheless most? useful explanations and demonstrations Concise expositions by the chairman and Mr. W. J. Wallace, exAll Black, expedited this question. The chairman emphasised that the hall was fairly in the scrummage after passing both feet of a player of each team, that is, the first two feet on each side counting from the side on which the ball was put in. The ba 1 could then be played by the fourth foot on cither side, but the first three feet must remain stationary. Quoting from the experience of last year's All Black team m Australia he demonstrated a valuable and simpler method of hooking under this rule He showed that if the middle hooker stood astride he had to hook with his far foot around the other leg —an awkward and slow method. besides which the opening into the second row was restricted. If, howover the middle hooker placed his near' side foot, the third foot in the scrummage, immediately behind his hooking or fourth foot, he had a clear hook and a bigger gap to put the ball through. This was admitted by the conference as a, legitimate practice. Replying to a query, Mr. Wallace commented that there was no counter to the method, but its success simply depended on the braunness and speed of the hooker. It was agreed that the ball was out of the scrum when it cleared the middle row and if the hack row man kicked the ball back into the scrummage h" was .guilty of an offence.

Penalty Kick In the case of the penalty kick rule, a lengthy debate ensued on various points, but, the conference approved of an addition the meaning of which is that in the event of a penalty kick not reaching the line of the mark and the hall being played by the kicker's side a scrummage must be oro-red, but if the ball is played by an opponent the game goes on. A note added is that if the infringement i ; in-goal a goal may he scored whether the ball reached the line through the mark parallel to the goal-line or not. \ point, cleared up was that the penalty kick is taken when the kicker's boot makes contact with tlic hall, and that while players on the opposing side at or near the mark must 'remain passive. opponents on the line of the mark, that is a line through the mark parallel to the goat line need not remain passive, and can charge the moment the kicker's boot makes contact with the hall. Kick at Goal Mr. Hollander said the question of whether a team who did not wish to take the kick at goal after a try could he compelled to do so. The chairman ruled that; it was mandatory to take. the kick, but Mr. Hollander pointed out that there was no penalty for refu'snl, yet the ruling was that the kick "must" be taken. The chairman stressed that the kick at goal was an original fundamental of the game, for the try was the opportunity for a try at goal. Tt was decided to ask the New Zealand Union to seek a on the onestion from the English Union In the case of Law 32—Inking hat over own goal-line—a player _is penalised only if he wilfully kick, pass knock, etc. the ball back over his ' own goal-line, or intentionally heels back or fumbles.