HOCKEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16736, 18 May 1922, Page 2

HOCKEY.

The primary schools hockey competition will l»e commenced immediately after the vacation and should again’prove successful. Last season this competition had x record entry and the standard of play was considerably higher than usual. After a closely fought season the winners turn© 1 up in Sydenham, who thus won the competition for three years in succession. The Hockey Association at the commencement (if last season attempted to arrange for senior players and others to coach th«» primary teams, but nothing came of thi~> movement. If only something can be done in this direction there can be no doubt, that the future of hockey in the schools will be assured. As very few of the teachers are followers of the game, it is practically impossible for hockey to go ahead unless our senior players are willing to make some little sacrifice in order to boom their game in Christchurch. Hockey lias undoubtedly been going back for years in Canterbury. The effects of too much concentration upon senior competitions and representative matches have begun to show themselves, and last year's executive realised that a change of policy was absolutely necessary ami 60 gave the much-needed support to the primary Fchools competition. If this policy is still adhered to in this and subsequent seasons there can be no doubt that the efforts, already so enthusiastically put into thi-« work, will come to fruition. However, if last year's policy is abandoned the results are bound to b© disastrous.