SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 342, 1 May 1928, Page 11

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Passing Notes

By

“PERSEUS"

Bdr°X isA? the BlM: The Principal item ft tifA- S ‘°J at the annual meeting OI the Aew Zealand Football Associathe wiping out of last seasons deficit of over £2,000. Naturally 5® ? a s ent bod y can only look to the district associations for succour, but some of these have launched out in a^ lous ,„. schemes and are under neav> obligations themselves. The suggestion now is that each senior Player be levied Is, intermediate players 9d, and juniors 6d. In addition to the poll tax, the various centres are each asked to donate one “good” day s takings to the national exchequer. One cheerful delegate thought the lessons learnt from the Canadian tour were worth the expense. A more general opinion is that it was a costly lesson in how not to run an overseas team s visit.

The English Trophy: With the absolute necessity for drastic retrenchment starin S u in the face, the A.Z.t.A. has reconsidered the conditions governing the competition for the English F.A. trophy. In the ordinary run of the contest Otago and Canterbury would have visited Auckland this year, and Auckland would travel to Wellington. But the governing body is no longer able to guarantee the expenses, and it now proposes to institute a challenge system which will put Auckland, as holders, “in the box seat.” Canterbury, as last year’s runners-up, is to have the first right to challenge, but the financial conditions governing the trophy games have yet to be agreed upon. The Chatham Cup arrangements came up for review, but no alterations were made. Last year the Auckland F.A. made a substantial donation to the Auckland finalists; but this season a club which is prepared to see the contest out, if lucky enough to reach the final, must be prepared to find about £5 a player for the final flutter in Wellington. Failing some such guarantee the A.F.A. may exclude tho competition from the season’s programme.

Playing to the Whistle: The newlyconstituted Judicial or Discipline Com - mittee will open its season this evening, when Saturday’s alleged “sinners’* will be called up for a “please explain.” There is, naturally, a great deal of interest in the functioning of tho new body, and its operations will be followed with critical attention. The rules of procedure have not been announced, but as one of the reasons for its appointment was the avoidance of the publicity formerly attached to the post-mortems, it is assumed the proceedings will be in camera, and the recommendations confirmed, or otherwise, at the subsequent sitting of the

Management Committee. Players who are not curious of seeing for themselves how the new authority will work should “play to the whistle” ami keep clear of the “court.” A very foolish law now gives a player the right to ask a referee his reasons for a decision. Some players, who should know better, construe this rule into an excuse for starting an argument on the point, which is “ungentlemanly conduct. A wise man with the whistle can usually answer the questioner in one word, and go on with the game without any further waste of breath.

Livelier Play: The new off-side rule has now come to stay, and the effect has been to liven up play a lot, in addition to cutting out a lot of irritating halts in the game for off-side play. The chances this gives an enterprising centre-forward, of the opportunist type, to lay up between the backs and wait to fasten on to an accurate centre, were well illustrated by the Canadian goal-getter, Archibald, last season. This year a feature of the clubs is the number of speedy wing-forwards there are about, and the lack of good centre and inside men who can seize an opportunity to trap, cut in, and net, or exploit a thrilling “first-timer.” Head work for goaling purposes is also a neglected art. In defence, lack of understanding between the halves and full-backs has often been obvious. The best paying tactics appear to the writer to be “wing-halves for the wing-forwards,” and leave the inside men to the centre-half and full-backs. "Wing-halves should also remember that it is usually easier and safer to stop a flying outside man from in front of him than from behind.

Blandford Park: The splendid condition of the playing area at hea#tquarters has been the subject of nf&ch favourable comment from both players and spectators alike, arid the surprising recovery the surface made from the churning up it received last winter promises well for future seasons as the texture of the turf improves with age and attention. It is hoped that every possible care will be taken to conserve the ground, especially during prolonged wet spells, even if it means sending the “curtain-raisers” to do some useful propaganda work in the outer suburbs. The wisdom of staging an attractive free game on the Domain close by may also be considered with the idea of concentrating spectators where they are most needed. The problem is not easy of solution, but with the co-operation of the clubs and assistance from the A.F.A., the game in the outer suburbs and the “gates” at headquarters might both benefit.