ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 2

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

. INTRODUCTION TO SCHOOLS. A" special' general' meeting 'of New Zealand Football Association was held- last evening. Mr. C. P. -Skerrett, K.C., occupied the chair, and there were also: present: Messrs., J. J., Roberts, T. QFLarcn, I'. O'Connell, H. M'Keowen, H. J. Buck, W.'Aukl, and the'secretary (B. L.; Salmon) ■ ;■ The objects of tho-meeting'wero to consider and promote tho game in the secondary schools of the Dominion, and with' this in.viow Mr. M'Laren submitted a lengthy note oil tho position as explained by the constitution of the association, whereby encouragement is given to existing affiliated-'associations to increased effort in the .way of rec-ruiting amongst the schools. Mr. M'Laren further pointed out that while; Association football is' played in the primary schools, efforts to haVo it .recognised and established in the secondary, find high schools', .had met/so far with only a limited success',; The;speaker suggested the development of inter-second-ary school competitions throughout tho Dominion. ■ Eacli centre had been doing its utmost to establish the gome in all schools. The New Zealand Association ehou'M now co-ordinate the present results of these efforts wheroby the successful areas could assist in those parts which are nt present holding o'At. • In response to telpgrnphed inquiries, Olngo advised, that they had a record entry of ' : 38-.'toams.iii; threo grades, comprising entries' from primary, secondary, and technical schools'. This was ten teams more than-ever before, a result pro* duced without, any special offort. This proved that the game was thoroughly established in tho Dimedin schools. The Canterbury association wrote, stating they had eighteen entries, including both primar.y. and secondary schools. This was not quite, as good as had been dono in the year prior to tho war, since when active interost in the grbater game of war had created a'scarcity of enthusiasts to carry on .amongst the.schoojs. However, tho position was again very satisfactory, and a yearly increased number of teams could bo looked for. Tho Wellington'association . reported that'it had eleven primary teams playing on Friday afternoons, and wero it possible for enthusiasts of tho "Soccer" game to bo in attendance on. tho days set down for school matches there would be no difficulty in getting a far larger number of teams to participate in tho competition. Efforts in. tho direction of securing; secondary school teams had" so far been without success. Auckland advised that a, sohools . competition of eight teams was being--com-menced, and that prospects were-pleasing. ■, Tho chairman said that after reading the correspondence, and listening to tho Jarious speakers?; lio ivas convinced that each association 6ho'uld leave no stono unturned in its. effort: to.push "Soccer" in tho primary sohools, and, if possible, a start should be rn'.ido with a secondary schOkols*' competition, whereby increased ..impetus-.'could be given to tho game in ■'these schools, lie-well rccogniscd thc difficulty of introducing a new code into certain schools, but many a wall had been broached by continually hammering at 'it, and'so it was in the presont case. Tho'.'following resolutions were carried: "rrtt)'That' a'trophy bo' provided for competition between secondary schools in 'New., Zealand on' the lines of the Brown Shield; (2) that affiliated associations bo instructed to bring and maintain pressure on the 'masters of secondary schools, and, if need be, on tho governing bodies of secondary'■ schools, to allow schools at such schools, ..if they so desire, to play "Soccer 1 ' ns a school team, with a viow, ultimately, to the complete recognition of Association football as a school gamo alongside other schpol games.. The trophy was forthcoming at the meeting,"and details of the competition will. lr>. ararngoil in "duo. course by the Council of the NZ.F.A.. •