HOCKEY

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3182, 26 May 1932, Page 8

HOCKEY

UNDER-CUTTING THE BALL. The following, culled from a contemporary, might well be noted by all teams in the Waipa competitions:— There are some teams even in the senior grades who fail to understand the serious danger that exists in un-der-cutting the ball, and it was surprising that members of a certain senior team who offended in this respect doubted the ruling of the referee. It was even considered by,* them that the referee was too severe in checking this serious breach, but such was not the case. In fact if the referee allowed such breaches of the rules to go unchecked and failed to enlighten the players of the seriousness of the offence the habit might easily grow with the players, with probable serious consequences. The practice of intentionally—it was riot in this case—or continually raising or under-cutting the ball is a breach that is very dangerous and regarded as serious among referees in women's hockey. A very important point in the interpretation of dangerous play is that some players, intentionally or otherwise, make this faulty shot very frequently, the reason being that the stick is so held that when striking the ball the face is slanting backwards. A reiteree is empowered, when warnings have been k disregarded, to order a player off the field for this offence. Therefore, particular care should be taken in order not to cultivate the stroke. The ruling of the referee in the particular case under notice should never have - been debated, but appreciated, and it is hoped the players concerned will take to heart the lesson learnt last week and check their weakness immediately. ________. *