KARL IFWERSLN'S VIEWS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 67, 11 December 1937, Page 17

KARL IFWERSLN'S VIEWS

IMPORTANCE OF KlCKING A letter from the New Zealand Rugby Union invi.ting, the submission of views for the improvement of the game in the Dominion provoked an interesting discussion at a meeting pf the North Auckland Rugby Union, says a writer in the Auckland Star. Ex-AU Blacks in the North are to be invited to express their views, which will be forwarded to the New Zealand Uniou. Delegates were unanimously 6f the opinion that efforts to re-establish the game_ on a higher plane should commence in the schools. It was stated by one spealser that many New Zealahd teachers had never played Rugby, nor were some of them acquainted vyith the rules of the gahie. One suggestion was that representation should be made either to the Education Dep&rtment or to the Government for coaching classes for teachers, in order that they might be qualified to pass on the fundamentals of the game. Mr. K. Ifwersen expressed the opinion that every boy should master the art pf kicking with both feet. In the days of New Zealand's greatness, he said, every player had been able to kick_at least wjth safety with the left foot. He attributed half the present-day accidents on football fields to lack of knowledge as to the qorrect method of passing and running into position before bringing off a tackle., Frequently it transpired that through technical mistakes of this kind a promising young player received unnecessary knocks. lost confidence in himself, and eventuaily drifted to the sideline, so that the inspiration for keeping physically fit was lost. Elimination of risks would be a big thing in improving the game and bringing about a higher physical standard. The meeting supported.the reversion to international rules, the opinion being freely expressed that the- old kick-ihto-touch rule gave plenty of 'sebpe fer bright and brilliant football.