ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1461, 8 June 1912, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

[By "Centre-Haw."! HERE AND THE WIDER WORLD, Wednesday Football—Where is it? "What has happened to Wednesday football in Wellington!-" That was u question asked by members of the Management Committee at last Wednesday's meet in;:, and no one seemed to be able to_ give a satisfactory answer. Even the Wednesday delegate could not enlighten those present. It was felt time that something should be dune to find out the why and whereI'or of things, so a sub-committee consisting of tho Wednesday delegate, Messrs. Hastings, K. Bolton, and W. Uiincan was set up to make inquiries and. see if it is not possible to get the game going again. It is understood that there are three teams ready to take the field now. -What is wanted is a fourth, or as many more as can be got together. Now that some definite steps have been taken in the matter there is a chance for players to help themselves. This newly-formed subcommittee has been'given power to act as they think fit regarding Wednesday football, and each member of it will be glad to receive any suggestions or the liko, which will in any way help to push Wednesday football along. There is lime for many mid-week games to be played yet, and the committee will be only too pleased to givo clubs a helping hand. Present, indications point to all games being played on city reserves; that is if there are a sufficient munber of entries. Too Much Talk on the Field. Unnecessary talking on the field was a subject brought up for discussion at this week's meeting nf the Management Committee of the Wellington Football Association. Several members spoke on tho matter, and ono said that ho had visited and looked on. at a match recently at which players on both sides talked throughout tho game. "It put me in mind of a ladies' sewing bee," he remarked. There is no doubt that the "talking" habit is becoming very evident at football matches. Players should remember that their captain is the man who should do all. tho talking required. That is what he is there for. After the game let them talk as much as they like. With the object of trying to nip this evil in the bud it was decided to recommend the Referees' Association to instruct referees to do all in their power to stop talking on tho field during tho progress of a match. Found, a Splendid "Goalie."

Mornington (Dnnedin) have unearthed a goal-keeper, Harkness, who on a recent Saturday played a game the like of which lias not been seen in Otago for some time, says 1 "Left Wing" in the "Otago Daily limes." It is unsafe to predict things upon the showing in one game, but without making any promise tor his future success one may speak of-his play on Saturday as of an exceptional standard. He is tall, strongly built, cool, and as quick as lightning, and he showed knowledgo of the fine points in the art of goal-keep-ing, lie was pelted with shots from every angle, but he had the faculty of being at the right spot, throwing or punting out, picking the ball from the toes of advancing forwards, or throwing himself full length at the ball. Once or twice he dropped the ball after stopping shots, but in these cases the. shots were such that the mere stopping .of them was meritorious. Harkness, who wears some medals, was given a trial for. the Kilmarnock First League team, Some Stray Notes. From June 22 to Juno 29 a Queensland touring team is to ' visit New South Wales. It is reported that tho northerners are in rare fettle, and anticipate a victorious tour this month. The New South Wales Football Association has decided to invito fourteen players and a manager. The combination will bo required to reach Sydney no later than the forenoon of Juno 21, so that they could carry on to Wollongong by the train leaving Sydney at 6.10 p.m. that day. ' The programme of the Queeuslandeis as now scheduled is:—Juno 22, South Coast, Bode's, Wollongong; June 24, New South Wales, Wcntworth Oval, Sydney; June 26.. Combined Royal Navy, Sydney; June 29, New South Wales or Metropolis, at Epping. The progress of Association football in Germany is indicated by the fact that there are over 300 teams playing in the Berlin League alone. Tho Norwegian Football Association's team for the Olympic Games is being coached by Vincoat Hayes, formerly of Manchester United, and now of Bradford. Among the very excellent suggestions made by Mr. Haig when the O.F.A. was discussing ways and means of improving the play in tho schools was the proposal that those who referee in school matches should at tho same time judiciously instruct the boys in better methods, pointing out the positions they should take in tho field, explaining rules, and encouraging them to seek and understand tho fine points of the game. It is hoped that Wellington referees will take the hint! The "Refereo" states that Mr. G. Black, tho State Association's energetic lion, secretary, will bo pleased to hear from those desiring to assist as referees tins season. Evidently N.S.AV. is in the same position as Wellington regarding "whistle-blowers." Mr. A. F. Ncwbold, secretary of the local Referees' Association, will be pleased to receive the names of anyone who is willing to take chaTge of matches. It is said that Otago selectors already have in their minds a probable team to wrest the Brown Shield from Canterbury. Seeing that Otago are last on the list of fixtures, and that AVcllington has second challenge in, it behoves tho local selectors to be up and doing. During the heavy pressure of the Shore men in the second half of the Brother-hood-North Shore match, played at Auckland on May 25, while in the Brotherhood territory, they made no fewer than twelve "corner's," and all proved of no avail, being cither behind or cleared. A Western' District Football Association (Australia) has been successfuly inaugurated in Lithgow. When will some referees flunk of dignifying their position by appearing in some simple uniform, instead of in all varieties of mufti? How many players are like the junior who, having told the O.F.A. Committee that he would not have said anything/if tho referee had not been making "crook" decisions, in reply to a question, staled that ho had never read tho rules, but ho had "'card plenty of argyment about them"?

Who Shall Govern? At the meeting of tlie Management Committee of the Wellington Football Association on Wednesday evening Mr. E. Walls gave notico of motion to the effect that a special meeting of tho Wellington Football Association bo called for the purpose of discussing the question of players (who are not eligible to sit on the Management Counnitteo of the W.F.A.) being allowed to sit on the executive of the New Zealand Football Association. A little reflection will show that it would be a very undesirable thing to allow players to sit on any committee of control. The theory of football government, and this applies generally to all sport controls—is that' n player is amenable, firstly, to tho authority' of his clubj secondly, to the authority of tho committee of management of his district association; and, thirdly, to the New Zealand Football Association. From this it will be seen Hint a player amenable to the discipline of the district and national committees of control could hardly be allowed lu si(. in judgment upon players and (he game generally, and at the same lime maintain an unbiased altitude of mind. No doubt some could, but the principle is not n sound one, and should mil lio contemplated seriously.