FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 321, 7 June 1911, Page 7

FOOTBALL

' SIDELIGHTS OX RUGBY RULES. (By "Agnopak" in Hawera Star.) Question: Can the kicker handle the [ ball after the whistle has been blown for a no-charge? Answer: It all depends. If the I placer, either intentionally or inadvertently, allows the ball to touch the ground after the whistle has blown for a no-charge, then the kicker can no longer touch the ball. He can only indica'te how it is to bo placed. If the Ikill has not touched the ground the kicker may still handle it. The recent conference of referees made it very clear when they ruled as follows: "The kicker, when a place kick is being taken, has power to handle the ball when it is not on the ground. This shows that through the ball touching the ground, handling on the part of the kicker becomes illegal. Question: In the caso of a place kick and the whistle blows for no-charge, can the player who is placing the ball be charged? Answer: Yes. The rule reads: "Any player, except the kicker, may place, and he or another of his side, other than tho kicker, may replace or alter the spot for a place kick if the whistle should be blown for a no-charge." Question: A player is off-side, but is not within the 10 yards limit of an opponent who has the ball. Can he charge that opponent? Answer: No. It is impossible for him to do so, according to the rules, until he has been placed on side. Question: IE a player is outside the 10 yards limit when off-side, and an opposing player mulls the ball, can he charge the ball? Answer: Yes, if his proximity has had nothing to do with the opponent mulling the ball. A player is put offside by one of his own side, so that when the ball has touched an opponent he is placed on-side. At the same time an off-side player is liable to be penalised for waiting off-side, even though an opponent may have mulled the ball. Tins is another case when in the rush and b«stle of the game a good deal must be left to tne discretion of the referee.

Question: Is it within the power of.a referee to disallow a kick at goal? Answer: Yes, when the referee is convinced that a player is endeavoring to waste time by making three or four attempts at goal. It is a power that should be raTely used, but when there is no doubt as to the motive of the player then the referee can order a kickoff at the 35 yards.

Question: When kicking-off after a force-down or unsuccessful goal, must the defenders kick-off from the 25 yards line?

Answer: No, The defenders must kickoff within the 25 yards, and the attacking forwards should line up on the 25 yards line. This rule is better understood now than it was a year or two ago, but I have seen seniors of tho attacking side drop back from the 25 yards line and allow their opponents to kick off from it.

Question: Is it necessary to make a mark with your heel when you claim a mark?

Answer: No. A player who jumps in the air and takes the ball at the first attempt and calls out "mark!" must have the mark given him, even though he may be held, in the air.

It is inevitable that a referee must be criticised. He quite expects it, and is prepared to stand a considerable amount of adverse criticism. At the same time let me appeal once more to the man on the line to be a little more charitable in his remarks. Some referees are more capable than others by reason of experience or natural adaptability, but no referee can bo perfect, in the sense of penalising every offence in the game, nor does the man (in the line wish him to be so. If a referee were able to take notice of every breach, and did, so many games would be whistle solos instead of football matches.

It is the referee's duty to control the game, and all reasonable* men will recognise that that may be done even though some glaring fault's may be missed. It is not a perfect way, but 'it is the best that has been evolved so far.

I would appeal to .spectators that when' they see that <i referee is endeavoring to give fair play to both sides, and I have yet 'to meet the referee who does not endeavor to do this, that they should support him and give him all the encouragement they can. This will inspire him and make him more confident in dealing with the teams under his control. The spectator, more, than anyone else, "rattles" a young referee, and when a referee is '-rattled" then chaos may easily result. '