GAMES FOR TROPHIES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5305, 27 July 1928, Page 3

GAMES FOR TROPHIES.

SCHOOL FOOTBALL COMPETITIONS TEACHERS DEPLORE PRINCIPLE. Very decided views on the question of schoolchildren playing games for tdophics are held by the schoolteachers who comprise the officers of the newly formed Hauraki Plains Primary Schools’ Rugby Football Union, and should-any well-mean,ing supporter of school football offer to replace- the inter-school- competition cup, which has now been won outright, his offer will probably be politely declined and l he,- informed that he would be doing a greater service by not making a donation, in that form. Experience In the- last three seasons has proved to the school teachers that the inter-school cup competition has not been productive of the best sportsmanship, but has created unfriendly rivalry, and at times quite an amount of unpleasantness and bitterness. ' - The- newly formed union ’ intends holding as many inter-school games as hitherto, but they will be friendly games, in which sportsmanship, team work, and friendliness, rathen than ■match winning, will be the predominant factors. For the reason that the presentation of medals to individual players tends to give the recipient an exaggerated idea of his own qualifications, with the result that, he becomes a selfish player who is of little use to his team, the new union will also decline to accept medals.