LADIES’ HOCKEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1939, Page 8

LADIES’ HOCKEY

ADVICE TO PLAYERS WHAT RECRUITS SHOULD KNOW. THE ROLL-IN RULE. (BY LES. M. MURPHY) (Wellington Ladies’ Hockey Critic.) When the ball goes out a roll-in is ordered by the umpire to the side whose opponents sent it out. The rollin consists in, the player, who should preferably be the wing-half, rolling the ball into play standing squarely on the side-line and rolling the ball along the' ground over the line into the field of play. She must keep her stick and body behind the line and must roll, not bounce or pitch, the ball in. It should have the thrower's hand on the ground cn the side of the line, not over it. By no stretching the rule can the ball legally be rolled parallel with and a few inches from the line. This rule was frequently infringed in competition matches in Wellington last season and what was more, some umpires allowed the breach to go unnoticed. Players who are not checked of this habit during their early association with the game are apt to make a practice of it in later years. A breach of the roll-in rule gives the advantage to the opposition. While the roll-in is being taken the other players must, in the meantime, keep a distance of five yards, a. line being marked for this purpose. An alert team can gain exceptional advantage from the roll-in. For instance, a member of the roller-in’s team might be unmarked and the roller-in. being quick to grasp the situation, will smartly roll the ball to that player, who in turn will quickly transfer it to a partner close at hand and immediately set up an attacking movement which might bear fruit. Smartly enacted, a goal can accrue, for the opposition is badly trapped out of position.

The Free Hit Not only when taking a free hit, but any hit throughout the game, have some motive —some objective. When a player has the ball it is the duty of all her team, those in front of her in particular, to see that there is a Clear passage between them. This may mean shifting a yard or so one way or the other, but it encourages players to know that very few strokes are wasted on their opponents. Of course, it is the duty of the opposition to frustrate this and that is where the battle of wits brings out the best in players. Lack of Understanding. The one big thing lacking in ladies’ hockey in many districts throughout the Dominion is, to my mind, well-thought-out combination. When I say this I do not desire readers to digest the idea that I mean just mere combination of the usual give-and-take order. That is far from my meaning. It is more of the type that is perfected through a close study on the part of the players of the individual tactics of their team mates. To illustrate more clearly: It- is useless for a wing to centre to the "bully” centre-forward when it is known that that "bully” has the habit of perhaps not always being

dead on the spot where she should be when the ball is centred. Then again, players are apt to forget that a passing shot must have time to travel to its appointed recipient, and when a forward rush is in action such a passing shot should be so placed as to be in a handy position for the intended player who is, of course, also moving forward in line with the other members of the forward line. Allow For Forward Movements. To fail to allow for the forward movements of the vanguard when passing, as often as not results in the ball being behind the player when it reaches her, and consequently the latter has to pause or even go back to gain it, thus holding up the entire forward movement and very often making void the whole effort. Passing Ball Too Sfrongly. Another matter, too, that has just come to mind is the mistake of passing the ball too strongly. I have noticed time and again players driving with all their power during a forward movement. To watch such folly during a match has often made me feel disgusted. What is really required to help make the passing movements successful is what is termed a half-vol- - ley. The forwards who indulge in hard passing during attacking movements really require some sort of tuition in the art of dropping a pass to a team mate during a game, RELIEF FROM FOOT TROUBLES. ■\TO matter how slight or how chronic your foot trouble, there is a Dr. Scholl appliance to bring you relief and foot happiness. Dr. Scholl’s new improved arch supports correctly redistribute the body’s weight, correct abnormal posture and restore the natural functioning of the feet. Advice entirely free.—Campbell's Pharmacy. 2