ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1746, 10 May 1913, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

(By Centre-Half.) ' ITS SPREAD IN THE SCHOOLS. A ."Soccer" Epidemic, According to one of the city assistant masters, who holds no brief for tho Association game—rather is he a Rugby enthusiast—something in the nature of a "soccer" epidemic appears to have spread umongst tho schoolboys and "halflins" — my-Scotch friends know what a "hnlfliu" is—and tho ravages of tho "disease" seems to be causing somo concern in war-councils of rival sports. "These 'soccer' fellows." said this assistant waster, "don't wait for tho boys to come and ask for a game. They coino round the schools, have a talk with tho boys, and drop a new ball over tho fence. Perhaps tho boys aro not very keen about 'soccor,' but they are keen enough about kicking « ball about the playground. After a while they get to like the game—and there you are. 'Soccer' has made more progress in tho schools this year than it has ever done before. I could put three Rugby teams in tho field this year from our school, but the trouble is to get games for them." Lop-sided Matches. A curious feature of tho Association First Division fixtures for tho first two Saturdays of the present season has been tho lop-sided nature of most of the contests. Last Saturday, for instance, the tablo of results showed that quite a number of matches had been won by big margins— oto nil, 7to 1, and so on. This obvious disparity in tile relative strengths of the First Division teams is not going to bo good for the game. The Wakefield Park match last Saturday provided the only,decent afternoon's sport from the spectators' point of view, for tho other fixtures wero more or less of tho walk-over kind. This is a poor look-out for tho spectators, and distinctly enervating for the form of the players.

In n one-sided match between a strong team and a weak one, tho stronger team is never called upon to extond itself, while the weaker team does not get a chance to do so—the first sign of spirit evinced by its forwards is promptly squashed by their, powerful opponents. It is to be sincerely hoped that as the season progresses matters will equalise themselves a littlo. inoro, and somo of the weaker teams come forward into the limelight. .

Referees and a Library,

A scheme which deserves encouragement is being instituted by the executive of tho Wellington I'eferees' Association. It is the formation of n library which will be stocked with football literature for. the bandit of referees and players alike. The intention of the executivo is to procure books by well-known authors, such as Pickford, etc., and Home papers and periodicals relating to Association football generally. There is no doubt that the present management is going to leave no stone unturned t-D rnako the fortnightly general meeting of referees an interesting one. Classes of instruction have been formed, and on Tuesday evenings the meetings are addressed by local authorities. l'layers tiro requested to attend these meetings at the Amateur Sports Club's rooms. Many knotty points and differences of opinion aro explained away, and no doubt these . meetings will in time make many misunderstandings on the field of play disappear. A capital arrangement in connection with these lectures is the blackboard on which diagrams arc used. Then, again, there is a plan of a playing field on which is placcd 22 men. The men are moved about to suit the convenience of questioners and doubtful knowledge of tho olfside rule and other rules, is furbished up. The next general meeting is on Tuesday, May 20. , Too Much Talking. That old, old complaint—talking on the field—is becoming as great a trouble as ever. It is time that players understood that a referee- is appointed to control tho game and not answer questions during the match. During the last two Saturdays there has been a lot of unnecessary talkin", and one would naturally think that men playing in the I'irsl Division would leave such conduct to buys' teams. Referees have the remedy in their own hands, and it would do good il they made one or two striking examples of the talkative player, Registration: A Capital Schomc. The question of registration of plavm is becoming a big thing in Association football in Wellington. With a view of bringing tho matter right up to date, tho management committee has appointed Jlr. B. L. Salmon to look into tho question, and to liavo control of tho new scheme. The new idea will mean a lot of wOrk to cOrtlmenco with, but when completed will be of much advantage to the Association. It lias been suggested that the ages of all lower-grado players bo obtained, and put in a register in index form. When tho teams' lists have been received tho names on these lists will be compared with tho names in the register, and it will then lie seen whether a club is playing unregistered players or players over the age-limit. Senior and junior clubs will also huvc their players registered, and a sharp look-out will be kept to ensure that no breaches of the rules in regard to unregistered players occur. It is the intention of the management committee to deal severely with any club breaking the rules in this respect. At this week's meeting of the committee the secretary reported that lie had received 11 teams' lists out of a total of 7-1, which should have been returned to him. Strong comment was made on this lax state ot affairs, anil it was decided to write to the Referees' Association informing them of the position. Tho Championship Ladder. Tho positions to date of the various teams in the senior competition :ire as under:— ' ' j? ,31 £ 5 3 Thistle 2 1! — — !) 1 *4 VM!\A 2 2 12 II I Diamonds 2 2 — — 0 I 4 Swifts 2 11—12 2 Corinthian-: ... I 1 - li I 2 Menial lin-pil.-rl I I —■ .1 II 2 UlooUyii I'iiiltd 2 I (1 - - ti 2 KnrPl- :! -J ■■ ■ 0 (J I) .Brvnkl;/]! -- :! - I If o W(inrli?rm 2 2 •- 1 12 0 St. John's 2 ~ 2 — — « 0