FOOTBALL IN CANTERBURY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7678, 11 April 1903, Page 4

FOOTBALL IN CANTERBURY.

— ♦ ■ A?E3_W DEFECTS. SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS. (Specially 1 written for the "Star.") As the/ football season is formally opebed 'to-day _y the playing of the usual Eastei anatobcs between inter-Union- clubs, the 'time seems opportune for drawing attention to a few features in connection with the j game in Canterbury, with suggestions foi improvement, as supplied by a well-known ; local enthusiast. The governing body has been doing good work for a number of years, and seems to be thoroughly alive to the duties pertaining to the management of the game. The way in which the competitions are arranged and carried out reflects great credit on the com/nittee of the Canterbury Rugby Union. THE REFEREES. First of all, there is tlie Referees' Association, the excellent work done by whose members has assisted in a great measure to keep the pastime in good repute. Week after week, in all sorts of weather, and without any remuneration, but simply for love of the game, these hard-worked enthusiasts control the matches. In the old days, before the formation of the Association, captains had to run round looking for officials to control their games, and frequently half the afternoon was wasted in finding anyone to act. Even then, the trouble was not all over. The referees obtained were often quite incompetent. They had little control, and bad to put up with a large amount of abuse and insult, from both "players and spectators. Instances, indeed, are not unknown, of personal violence being resorted to, and one referee narrowly escaped being thrown into the river by the infuriated supporters of the side which he had failed to please. Now, with the Rugby Union behind them, they arc absolutely secure. Rough, unfair and foul play, and abuse -of -the referee, are promptly dealt with, and the actions of the Union in case, of this sort have been vindicated in a court of law. He would ba a bold man who would now in any Avay defy the • referee or tbe governing body. CLASSIFICATION OF PLAYERS. Another good feature in connection with the management is the system of permits. Every player must have a permit before he can- take part in a game, being classified by a Special "Committee., The object of this is to prevent clubs from adopting unfair means to win matches, by playing men in lower grades than those for which they ar. qualified. A complete record of every match played, together with all those who took part, is kept by the Union, which enables the committee to keep a history of all the competitions and the players taking part therein. A MORE VIGOROUS POLICY. While giving the Rugby Union every credit for the successful management of local affairs, a feeling is growing that a more vigorous policy would, place Canterbury football right at tlie top of the tree in the colony. Auckland is, admittedly, the strongest football province in NewZealand, its representative team quite outclassing those of other parts. This {successful record is largely due to its district .scheme, and its affiliated country Unions and clubs, the latter providing a considerable proportion of its representative players. Christchurch, from a geographical point of view, is particularly adapted for a district scheme. . The great objection urged against this method is that it destroys old associations, in- compelling players to leave a club with wJiicii tiiey have been long identified. This, however, could be easily overcome. Districts could bs at once defined; and for the future clubs should only £e allowed to recruit from players living in'' their own districts. As the active lire of a footballer is comparatively short, a few years would suffice tc- bring the district scheme into operation, without hardship to anyone. Sydney has gone in tor this scheme in connection .with ioo-fcball and cricket, with the result that both games have improved, as well a& become more popular. •COUNTRY FOOTBALL. It is, however, in- the encouragement of country football that au opportunity is provided ior> the Rugby Union to do specially good woi'k. A ieiv years back an -effort was made to inaugurate country competitions, North Canterbury, Elk„mere and the Peninsula districts heih_ specially singled out. For a season or two everything- went well, but, like the players in the city, most of the -best 'mem gradually drifted towaids the strong clubs, with tbe i-esult that interest in matches died out and the weaker clubs became defunct. The Union might now make an attempt to resuscitate the games in the places mentioned. With the lessons of the past as a guide, a 'modified district -scheme might be brought into operation, with satisfactory results, not only for the football in the districts affected, but with advantage to Canterbury's prospects in representative games. Anyone witnessing a .match in the country districts named would be convinced that there arc plenty of country players who only require encouragement and coaching to gain representative lioneurs. ■Reference has been made to the chief factor which militated! against, the success of countrv football in ihe past— the flocking of players to the strong clubs-. The same thing has been noticeable during recent years in connection with town teams, and from present indications 'it promises to become accentuated to such an extent as to curtail the interest in the Senior competition this year. It was this trouble which necessitated the adoption of the district scheme in other centres, and the evil will have to be faced here, and some drastic remedy applied if it becomes much more acute. ENCOURAGE SCHOOL FQOTBALL. Another matter that is worthy of favourable mention is the encouragement that has been given of late years to public school football. The imparlance of the school games cannot be too strongly impressed on rmr football legislators. It is from these boys that the future representatives of the province will come. nnd. remembering this, the Union should do all in its power to foster th'e game among the boys before they leave school. AN EN'GIiISH TEAM. As to tbe general, standard of play im tbe colony, the time seems now opportune for the -New Zealand Rugby Union to bring out an 7_otr._*h team, in order that we __.i_ht see how the gam© has progressed since the last visit of an .'English combination in 1888. Tbe matches played in New Zealand by that famous team gave a great impetus to tbe game. It marked a new &ra in connection with the play, and also resulted in more interest 'being taken -bv the public. So far as Canterbury football is concerned, it has been sounden during the last five years, though perhaps not so brilliant, and our representatives have ichieved a great measure of success against the other provinces than they did prior io that date. , At the same time, there is x, great (danger that, unless we are 'avourved with- visits from sound exponents of the fame in 'England, our standard of play may deteriorate. Ifc s tirue that we have periodical risits from New South Wales teams, rat up to, the present it .-< is a natter for regret that these matches have lot improved our play, /though the -visits >f New Zealand? teams to Australia have* lone much good In this lireclian In New South Wales. Tbe : reason of this» is -tihatl Itfew Zealand i- a long 1 way ahead of Australia in the quality of ife football, and n(hile this is the tsai'te we must look to England for visits fr^_)_fia__* which will

, improve tlie standard of ib© game in New Zealand. THE STYLE; OF PLAY. Willi refercnoe to tha 6tyle of play adopted up to the advent of tbe English teaani in 1688, there was practically no recognised system, and piayei. w«nt on in a; happy-go-lucky style. The English team i immediately showed that far more fckiil could be brought into tine game than wasi generally thought, especially in the back department. From that date until 1896 efforts were made to improve the back play, and with very saris-factory results. During % this period the forward play was altogether neglected, and forward. ware on|'y recognis--5 ed for their ability to obtain possession of u the ball in the pack and ihael oub to tiheir > backs. -T'he fallaciousness of this style of . play was clearly demo.i_tav.ted when a fenv _ strong forward teams easily defeated . the fancy back combinations. Ear about two yeans after this the style of play was unsettled. Contention was rife between the » advocates of tihe two styles-back and for- ; ward games— with the result -Hunt the play > generally suffered. About 1899 the farL weirds carried the day, and we settled down) ( to play a strictly forward game, supported' by sound, but- not brilliant, backs. Sinoe that period, while keeping up the highr chbss of the forwards, the- development of the back play has also received attention. Consequently we now see what is called tbe mixed game played, both backs and forwards doing their full share of the work. Two of the lose arts during these periods of evolution were the dribbling of 'the forwards and the tackling- of the backs, and' these are points to which urgent attention must be paid by captains of clubs. TEAM MANAGEMENT. This brings up another matter, the management- of teams on ute field. Good captains are unfortunately very rare, footballets as a rule 'only obtaining a thorough knowledge of the game aiiteic they have become too old to make practical us© of ib. Many a match has been thrown awa.y for want of a* capable leader. It isnot only in New Zealand that this trouble exists, a.s English writeis this season have/ been humeaiting the fact that there are veryfew generals on the football field ab th. present time. One 'English paper recently went so far as to say that t_e>veirage captain contented himself with; merely tossingup and who should take kicks at goal. The qualifications necessary in the ideal captain— which are appairenily so difficult to secure in one man — are a .thorough] ! knowledge of the rules, alertness in observing the poi.n to in his opponents' play, with, the ability to counteract them and the strength to control his team, and make the members subservient to liis Irishes. The game is making steady progress, but, briefly summarised, the points which) demand attention 1o bring it to a. highex 4 standard:- are improved- footwork by the~forwards-. better defensive backs, and a few heaven-born captains.