AN IDEAL FOR UMPIRES

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 22 (Supplement)

AN IDEAL FOR UMPIRES

Too Much Whistle QuaitTs Rugby Career : Cachet Gains £SOO : Fitzsimmons Pick of Boxers : Referees Made Life Members : Football in Morrinsville : Auckland Hockey Representative Retires ;i That EFFICIENT UMPIRING WILL do MUCH to raise the itantard of hookey by training players to observe the rules Is the valuable contention advanced in the latest issue of the New Zealand Hockey Association’s bulletin. It is pointed out with considerable foroe that subject to the two paramount considerations—that an umpire must retain complete control of the game and that he must never allow an advantage to be gained by a breach of the rules —the whistle should used as sparingly as possible. Although the views are intended to apply specifically to the hookey game the broad principles of the suggestions may be considered applicable to any team sport where the onerous duties of control are borne by the referee. Certainly, he has the power to make or mar a . game and there is no shorter way to reac-h the latter position than to whistle the players to a standstill for a technical breach that has not had the least effect upon the trend of the play. Only when one or other of the teams is placed at an unfair advantage by the abuse of the rules should the game be stopped. Certainly, however, a great deal depends upon the psychological aspect. Often in a hard-fought match neglect on the part of a referee, to pull up an infringement would be regarded as a sign of weakness, and nothing must be done or left undone to give an impression that he is not in complete control. * * . *

The Bulletin suggests that it is necessary in obtaining the ideal to make the fullest possible use of the advantage rule. In certain circumstances the decision must be delayed long enough to give the rule time to operate; but a decision when made should be given decisively and loudly. Once the advantage rule has been put into operation the original breach must b« considered as not having occurred.

It is considered most important for an umpire to be in the correct position to see any breaches of the rules and in particular to determine accurately whether a player is onside or offside. Probably the beet position for him to take up is level with the third defender. An umpire must, therefore, be constantly on the move as an attacking movement develops and train himself not only to be in the correct position, but also to judge instantly the relative positions of the various players at the material time. As an attacker can be offside when exactly in line with the striker or the third defender, it is obviously imposible for an umpire who remains stationary to give correct offside decis10m' * * * * It is. the Bulletin points out, a mistaken idea that it is the duty of an umpire to penalise every breach of the rules as this causes only undue delay and irritation. The “sticks” rule is given as an example. It was framed mainly to prevent danger to players and it was never the intention that an umpire should on every occasion penalise a player who raises the stick above the shoulder. In this caee an umpire should use his discretion where there is no danger to any other player. On the other hand the persistent offender must be checked because he is a potential cause of danger, but in such cases a word of caution is usually sufficient. Transferred from King Country. D. G. Barton, of the King Country Union, has been transferred to Wanganui. He is a sound second five-eights and has linked up with Wanganui and Old Boys. That team will be greatly strengthened by his inclusion. He is a member of the staff of the Bank of New South Wales.

The Referee’s Job. This is how—very pithily—the Hockey World, an English publication, sums up the duties of a referee: “An umpire’s duty is to look out for infringements of the rules, keep the score, the time and his temper—and nothing else.” In these days of vigorous controversy over interpretation, this axiom might be applied with more than a glimmer of truth. Great Boxers. In a symposium of the 10 leading heavy-weight boxers of all time, just completed in an American journal and to which 14 men, well versed in their subject, contributed, Bob Fitzsimmons was selected as the greatest of them all, with Jim Jeffries second, and the phenomenal black fighter, Joe Louis, third. The decision -was reached on a basis of 10 points for first choice, nine points for second, and so on. The vote was as follows:- _

N<\ I—Bob Fitzsbnmonj 87 A No. 2—James J. Jeffries 76 No. 3—Joe Louis 64 £ No. 4—James J. Corbett 61 £ No. 6—Gene Tunney 55 No. 6—Jack Dempsey _ 54 No. 7—John L. Sullivan ..... 50 No. B—Jack Johnson 35 No. 9—Peter Jackson 25 No. 10—Sam Langford ... 17 From Infancy. Indoor basketball, a sport that has risen from infancy to take a prominent place in Hamilton in the course of a few years, commenced another season this week. On the opening night 34 teams comprising nearly 200 players took the floor and most prominent business houses of the town are represented by a team, in many cases of both men and ladies. As the patron of the club, Mr H. D. Caro said on the opening night, much is achieved in bringing such a number of young people together to engage in a wholesome sport. Judging from the enthusiasm of the players, some interesting matches will take place this season.

J. Leeson in Great Form. The honour of scoring the first try of the season in Morrinsville senior football last Saturday when to J. Leeson, the Waikato All Black, of 1934. It was a try characteristic of “Johnny,” who has played for Waikato continuously since 1929, and will be unlucky if he misses the New Zealand team to meet the Springboks next year. The game had only been going a short time when he headed a rush by the Kereone forwards down the sideline, snapped up the ball and went over for a try with three Kiwitahi men hanging on to him. By the way, Johnny has two brothers — George, also a Waikato rep., and the youngest, Ted, still in his ’teens—in the Kereone club pack. Johnny learned his football under that great Morrinsville football coach, Mr D. R. F. Campbell, who has been associated with Morrinsville Rugby for 37 years, and was a great player in the first decade of this century. He has been president of the Morrinsville Sub-Un-ion and chairman of the management committee for the past three years. Mr Campbell also brought out the Cameron brothers, who have done such good service for Morrinsville and Waikato in recent years. Bill Cameron was in good form on Saturday and kicked three penalties and converted a try—ll points for Kereone. A. J. Aitken captain Morrinsville Old Boys again on Saturday, playing at first five-eights in partnership with R. Vivian, a wing three-quarter of Morrinsville reps, last year. His team had an easy win. Aitken looks like playing better this year than last, when he was on the injured list for a long time.—“S.” S. E. Watt Retires. Hockey has lost one of its best known figures through the retirement of the brilliant Auckland forward, S. E. (Eric) Watts, the possessor of a unique representative and national record. He commenced playing when a pupil at the Grafton Primary school and in 1921 participated in his first senior match, gaining Auckland representative honours in the same year. From this time he has been centreforward for Auckland almost without exception and was captain of th» New Zealand team which played Australia in Dunedin in 1934. He ha: been vice-captain for many years. He was an Auckland representative from 1921 to 1935 and played for New Zealand in 1922, 1923, 1925. 1926, 1929, 1934 and 1935.

Referees Honoured. Thirteen years of active service as referees for the Hamilton Rugby Union received recognition last week when Messrs B. S. Marshall and S. E. Senior were elected life members of the Hamilton Referees Association. Both have been members since 1923 and their influence on the game has been truly marked in the gradual improvement in the application of the rules to the game in Hamilton. Mr Senior is also well-known as a South Auckland cricketer, playing wicketkeeper for Old Boys for many seasons and coaching the High School first eleven. Junior and Intermediate Soccer, No finality has been reached with regard to staging junior and inter mediate football competitions in the South Auckland Association’s area. It was intended to hold a meeting at Huntly, to be attended by delegates from various clubs, but as no junior or intermediate teams will be forthcoming from the Huntly district the meeting has been abandoned. Cochet’s New Zealand Profit. According to Jim Willard, one of the members of his playing “troupe’ Henri Cochet, the French lawn tennis professional, made a clear profit of £SOO in New Zealand. It is estimated that his profit from the Austx-alian tour was only £750, but the two sums have helped to make his world tour an unqualified success. Cochet hopes to return to this part of the world, but he says that next time he will endeavour to bring someone who can extend or beat him, such as Ellsworth Vines or Tilden. Australian Surfers for N.Z. For the purpose of carrying out instructional work, it is more than probable that a team of surfers from New South Wales will visit New Zealand early next season. The. suggestion has emanated from Mr W. C. Sidford, secretary of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Association, and the proposal lias received favourable consideration i in Sydney. New Zealand has only i adopted Australian methods of surf J work in recent years and it is consid- : ered that a tour of this nature would j be of major importance in improving I the existing standard. The sum of j £4OO is mentioned as the cost of send- J ing a team of 20 Australians to the I dominion. I

Hallyburton-Johnstone Shield Contest. An invitation to play Auckland at Blandford Park in a curtain raiser to the Ganterbury-Auckland Football Association trophy game has been received by the South Auckland Football Association. The Hallyburton-John-stone trophy at present held by Auckland will be at stake. Two entries, those of Rotowaro and Wanderers, have been received by the secretary of the South Auckland Football Association for the Chatham Cup. Competition is a knockout series open to club teams throughout New Zealand. Empire Games Programme. Commencing at Sydney on February 5, 1938, and extending to February 12 in association with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Australia, the full programme for the Olympic Games has been announced, but it has yet to be sent to Berlin for confirmation at the Empire Games conference in the first week of August during the progress of the Olympiad. It is anticipated that competitors will be present from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Bermuda, British Guiana, Trinidad, Hongkong, Fiji, Jamaica, Rhodesia and Newfoundland. The maximum number of entries from each nation in each event is as follows: Athletics.—lndividual events, four competitors per country; team events, one team, with twice the number in team as reserves. Boxing.—One competitor per country, with one reserve for each entry. Cycling.—For each event, one entry per country, with one reserve for each competitor. Lawn Bowling.—For each event, one entry. Swimming.—lndividual events, three competitors per country (without reserves); team events, one team per country. Wrestling.—For each event, one competitor per country, with one reserve for each competitor. The actual conduct of the events is to be in the hands of officials appointed by the various Australian controlling unions. The council accepts no responsibility for any liability ! or expenses arising in connection with the Games other than the provision j of furnished quarters and food for the j athletes and officials in charge during I their stay in Sydney for a maximum j of four weeks—two weeks prior to ( the Games for training purposes, one week of the Games, and one week after the Games, awaiting return I transport.