HOCKEY NOTES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 252, 5 August 1937, Page 3

HOCKEY NOTES

THE UMPIRE’S TASK. A MUST THANKLESS ONE. (By “Sticks.”) Umpiring not only in women’s hockey but in all games, is perhaps the most thankless task in the world of sport. The trouble, especially in women - hockey, is that players expect these men and women to be infallible. The umpire has a much more responsible task than the player, and scarcely less arduous. He or she is bound to make mistakes, as was evident at some of tlie matches recently. When an error - s made it is quickly noticed by the' players and spectators and talk of favouritism is heard oil all sides. On the other hand if a player gives “sticks” at a critical stage her team mates merely think hex' careless; the other team is naturally pleased. The only tiling umpires can do to protect themselves is to turn a deaf ear to all comment. If a wrong decision is given they should refuse to discuss the matter. Provided tlie error is given in good faith teams should show their sportsmanship by aeceptiiig a mistaken ruling gracefully. To Determine Offside Play. If decisions are to be respected, umpires must be in correct positions to sec breaches if a player is offside. Probably the best position is on a level with the third defender. But the umpire must be continually on the move as attacking and counterattacking movements develop—must not only be in the correct position but be able to judge instantly the relative positions of the players. As an attacker can be offside when exactly in line with the striker or third defender, it is obviously impossible fo-r an umpire who remains stationary to give a correct offside decision. So it can readily be seen that umpires’ tasks are by no means simple. Instead of harassing them, such as was noticeable in one match recently, play ers can be of assistance to umpires if they make an honest atempt to abide strictly by tlie rules of the game.

Touring Team. Fifty players have been nominated for positions in the New Zealand hockey team to tour Australia this winter, at least three being available for each position in an eleven. The same applied to managers, three being nominated. They were Mr It. Gracie (Christchurch), Mr H. Hatch (Wellington) and Mr W. Newsham (Auckland). The qualifications and merits of these three were discussed in committee by the management committee of the New Zealand Hockey Association at its last meeting, and, after a ballot had been taken, Mr Gracie was elected. Mr Gracie needs no introduction to the hockey players of New Zealand. He has been connected with the sport as an administrator, and perhaps more prominently still as an umpire, for a great many years, and the opportunity of this trip will no doubt be regarded as a mark of appreciation of the time he has devoted to tho fostering of the game. The fact that he was born in Australia will make him particularly popular .“on the other side.” He-may be fairly described as a young man’s man, as lie spends every Saturday in the winter umpiring hockey, and most of tho summer week-ends in the administration of amateur athletics. University Tournament. The annual inter-university hockey tournament, which was held in Auckland for the first time, was highly successful. Although the grounds were in a sodden state and rain fell during most of the games, a high standard of play was maintained throughout the tourney. The fact that most of the teams were evenly matched made tlie competition particularly interesting. The Auckland University College thoroughly deserved to win, as it displayed superior team-work. Canterbury was the next best competitor and gave some good displays. Otago and Victoria were not so strong as in previous years, while Massey Agricultural College failed to strike form until its last match, in which it gained victory over Auckland B. By defeating Otago in the final Auckland regained possession of the Seddon Stick, which it last held in 1930. The ladies’ section of the tournament also revealed some good talent, a feature of the games being an absence of selfishness. Tho Ostago team, in particular, combined well, and, although Auckland .made it work hard to gain its victory in the final, deserved to retain tho Reeves’ Stick. The match in which the New Zealand Universities’ ladies’ team lost to the Auckland provincial representatives, however, was below tho standard of the other games. The teamwork of both sides was poor. The best player of the match was N. Johnston, captain of Otago and New Zealand University. Sho was the hardest worker on the field and displayed unusual brilliance.