ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 817, 14 May 1910, Page 10

ASSOCIATION.

(By .Centoe-Hale.) Brother • Frederic mentioned at tho Boys' sub-Committee meeting this week that some of the referring. in tho boys' matches was. not as satisfactory as it might be. To' penalise a boy for throwing in the ball with his feet wide apart, is bad enough, but to go up to one of the captains'and'ask how "he' would like the match referred is——'well,-.it shows bad judgment, • toj say the least. The boy's answer: "That is for you: to say, sir," calls to mind the Auckland-Welling-ton Brawn Shield match of 189S when F. J. Courtney fisted the ball out from the local goal with tho goal-keeper lying on the ground. Of course the whistle .sounded at-oncu, and the Auckland captain was asked what he would have, a goal or a penalty kick, to which he replied: "I will fake the only thing I am allowed—a penalty kick." .Boys.' Team for Otago. ! . The Be-vs' sub-Committee this week resolved its'elf into a Selection Committee, if required, to pick tho team to play Otago. Later on, if deemed advisable, the committeo will be reduced to three, i Most of last year's boys' representative team are again available and are showing good form. Whether or hot the encouragement of boys' representative matches is desirable may be a, debatable point, but there is no question but that added interest is given'to those boys who have a chance of going to Otago this" season. Mr. H. Mayer,' who - has just: returned from a visit to Dunedin, was in touch wit' the Association officails in the southern city, and found that tho visit of the 'Wellington'- boys' team was being eagerlylooked forward to. It is the wish of the Otago people that ■ the • game should' be played oh a i Saturday in ■ September, as a: curtain-raiser tb either the OtagoSouthland or the OSugo-Canterbiiry representative'match. '..,..-. ; : ■It. might be, worth while:, mentioning that.'it is not 'altogether a. good thing for .a' strong club to defeat - a !weak or a new team by, a large number,'--of goals, gome of the: new; clubs'Jajstltaking on soccer 1 cannot-bo • expected- play too good a gamdtahd/'do hofrhind' experiencing, defeat,-by.3, or 4 goals;.but a. win over them.by oor 10 goals.-is altogether u different matter and .is : not; at. all enconragingtq the losing side.-• -One cannot' altogether blame the winners piling on a big score, but a little thdught. will probably." show them that'it is hardly wise for:the sake.'of.;the;game,:to do so. I -The Olympic Club has entered; a' B team in-the •Wedhesday.i'competitibi&and-- this matos a" total of eight -.teams,'; a. very satisfactory, start.-':'■■'■:'•■'.'■. ,; :'■'..■'•■''■

Representation on' tho F-A, :■; ' , ; '(. Correspondence. has , been: passing, bofcweenrthe New Zealand' Football Association and 'Associations' for jsonie time relative to. Mr.- A. E. Gibbs representing all •the'AustKtla'sian colonies 'qu : ;,.;th6,i(Joimcil,of;.the Football .Associa'ubn/'vib'iidou. to the proposals of the N.Z.F.A.' on the matter and it seems likely that' the Football Association will accept Mr. Gibbs as co-, lonial representative. At the present time Mr. Gibbs has no.seat on ,the council, but should he bo conceded legal status there is no question but that.the change < will bo for the benefit of Australasian soccer. Mr. Gibbs is keenly alive to soccer,, interests on this side of tho world and. of the question of sending an ; English team to the colonies comes before council he may bo depended upon to get tho matter brought to a satisfactory conclusion if such is at all possible. . The Taranaki Football Association has this season split its matches up into two divisions, north and south. Each division has three teams, while there are also: three junior, teams in the south division.

There ore now. four * challenges in for the- Brown Shield, so the local association is in for a busy timoif it can manage to retain tho shields. .The following • is the order of the challenges:—Wangauui, Taranaki, Otago, and Canterbury. !■' lit is to be : hoped that;the.shield will be retained until tho Otago team' ,; arrives, as tho southern-team; was the only, bnoiwe. did not seo.last' season! In fact, it is a number of years now since Otago played in Wellington.--; .'••.> ,"'■'■ .■ • .' , It is stated ;that the Auokland Association intends challenging for the shield, aud hopes to send, ii'team down at tho end of Juno or tho beginning of July.. . " of'June'or the beginning of July. (Sinco the. above was. in type a'.challenge has been : received from Auckland!) -. - -The. proposed alterations' to the shield fu'jjs. are likely to causOßome discussion at the-annual meeting of. the N.Z.F.A., which takes ■ place this: month.:' -Both ■ the 'J'aranaki aud' Wanganui'delegates havo been instructed to vote against the proposals. '..'.. '..,.*.' ■'• . , - A Hint to Players. > ' " j' It is hot generally Known that players are aivnys ; allowed to attend the . fortnightly meetings, of tho Referees' Association,, and may ask questions; although they are not allowed:to take part in the discussions. Some playors, even in senior ranks. Have a very poor', knowledge of. tho game, and could with advantage make a point of attending'one or two meetings. It is understood a match is likely to bo arranged between u ■ Wednesday and . a Saturday team on June 3. This preliminary canter should give tho Solection Committee some idea of tho form of players to be considered for Brown Shield games. Tho Rules Revision Committee of the Football Association have decided not' to make any recommendation for the alteration of the laws for tho ensuing season. Referring to tho progress of the English Cup, tho "Athletic News" says tho semifinal ties were decided in fine weather, and with sport in the heart and spring in the air each match yielded'a revenue of over JC2.000. Thus— Att'dce. R'cpts. Barnsloy v. Everton, Leeds 39,000 ,£2,487 Swindon v. Newcastle, Tottenham 33,000 .£2,200 These are royal sums, and prove what a magnetic power Association football really exercises.