ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1854, 13 September 1913, Page 14

ASSOCIATION.

(Bt Centre-Half.) j OUR PLAY & HOME PLAY. A Home Man Talks. Recently the writer had an opportunity of obtaining some first-hand comparisons of Association as played in England and Now Zealand from a onetimo representative who, although but a nowcomer to the Dominion, has taken a sufficiently keen interest while liero to ho abloto point out, with an unerring fingerj the weak spots in New Zealand Association. Loose Combination. Ho thinks that the feature of almost all our inter-club games is the neglect of scientific combination,, To shine as a star in the black "uncombined" firmament, shown up the greater bj its solitariness, rather than to form one of a cluster of brilliance, seems to bo tho desire of the average New Zealand club man. It was' not by such individualism that Vsoccer" at Homo can attract 10,000 and 20,000 spectators to an' ordinary inter-club encounter. It is not (ho holds) by such means that tho gamo will take hold of that fickle jade—popular fancy, hero in New Zealand. To dash down tho field, ball at toe, outwit tho defence, and score unaided is no doubt an alluring vista to the individualist but the individualist is not everybody. However brilliant he may be ho is not the wliolo game of "soccer." Even when he does got through he is.not much of a spectacle. The better spectacle is given when the come down the field en bloo. "Oh, yes," says tho sceptio, "it looks well on paper, but it is impracticable on the field. Beshrow the sceptic I What can be done in one part of the world can be done in another. It cannot, however, be done by the slap-dash methods in vogue in most New Zealand clubs'. Much physical training is needed for ono thing, and, much planning of the game as a whole is also called for. This is the sort of effort which many New Zealanders do not like. In some vague way they imagine that everything will work out right on tho day of the match. How of ten! does it do so? Trapping tho Ball. Trapping the ball is an unknown art in tho Dominion (continued my informant).. Many players will wonder what trapping is. One can only roply that tho average English clubman would hold his place but a short time unless he displayed a certain amount of proficiency in this branch of tho game. This particular. art is to : catch the ball with the foot,, and, to a certain extent, carry it with tho same. "An impossibility I" the sceptic again remarks. It is not an impossibility at all—it is a fact. It is done in every match of any note at Home. Headwork, In inter-club matches headwork is brought much into action, although, in many cases, it defeats the purpose for which it was introduced, mainly through inexperience and ill-judgment. Nothing could bo moro spectacular than a passing rush with the ball going down the line from head to head. Yet how often is such seen in New Zealand? Seldom, if ever. The Charity Cup. This afternoon will see the semi-finals for the Charity Cup between Swifts ind Hospital, on the Basin, and St. John's and Y.M.C.A. on Kolburne Park. It is difficult to anticipate who will get into the final next Saturday. Swifts have come on wonderfuly ot late, °nd, to-day, they aro putting a rattling good team in tho field. Tho Rods have signed on Reifl, Otago's representative half, who-lias come to reside in Wellington. The match between St. John's and Y.M.C.A. promises to be a great "go." Both toams aro out to win, and St. John's are slightly the favourites. New Zealand Premiership. The chief topio of conversation in Association football circles (as far as representative'games are concerned) is who will be the' champion team in Now 'Zealand for 1913. This will bo decided at Christchurch on September 27, when Auckland play Canterbury for the shield. At the beginning of the season Wellington held the shield. They sue-, cessfully defeated -Canterbury, Otago, and Taranaki. Then came that splendid match in which Canterbury were victorious. Sinco then the winners have successfully defeated Manawatu. Ono wonders, however, whether they will bo able to retain tho top position on September 27. A Far-reaching Proposal. Two important notices of motion were tabled at this week's meeting of the Wellington Management Committee. Both deal with the question of representation on the Management Committee of the four controlling bodies, whosa headquarters are in this city. To say that the effect of these motions, if carried, will be far-reaching is putting it mildly. The writer will take Mr. Williams's motion first, as it concerns tne four bodies montioned directly. It reads as follows"That owing to the fact that there are four bodies (namely, the New Zealand Football Association, the New Zealand Referees' Association, tho Wellington Football Association, and tho Wellington Referees' Association) dealing witli Association football; in Wellington, and as it has been the custom in tho past to appoint persons to act on moro than one of the management committees of the bo.aes mentioned, no person shall be qualified to act on more than one body." , ■ After, considerable discussion, it was decided to hold further consideration of this motion over till next Wednesday's meoting. In the writer's opinion, this was a' wise decision. Such a motion should not be put through without serious deliberation. "Centre-Half," however, agrees with it entirely, but let this situation bo explained before we go any further. Thero aro four bodies governing Association football in AVellington. Tho management committeos of these bodies_ consist of men .who hold similar positions on each. For instance, on the New Zealand Football Council there aro at least five men who sit on the management committeo of tho W.F.A. Then again tho management committee of the Wellington Referees' Association consists of men who aro on the management committeo of tho W.F.A. Tho samo thing applies to the Now Zealand Referees' Association. To put the whole case in a nutshell it appears .that a little circle of men aro controlling Association football in Wellington. Is this right? Personally the writer does not think that it is. But what are wo to do P If tho above motion is carricd it means that 42 men will havo to bo found to fill tho various positions on tho four bodies as they are at present constituted. To find such a number will be difficult. If this ideal state of affairs is brought about, New Zealand will bo tho first country in tho world to adopt it. At Homo dual and triplo representation is usual, and everywhere elso we find tho samo thing. It simply cannot bo helped." Tho argument for tho other. side is as follows: —Supposing, for instance, that somo pieco of business is discussed by the Wellington Referees' Association and is passed on to tho Wellington Football Association. Tho latter body in turn passes it on to tho New Zealand Football Association, whero it is finally dealt with. During its transition that piece of business is discussed, and voted upon by practically the same men in each of the three bodies nauied. Is that fair? Q