Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1913 — SULLIVAN RAPS SOCCER POLO [ARTICLE]

SULLIVAN RAPS SOCCER POLO

Princeton Water Coach Terms Sport a Mollycoddle Game—Urges Uniform Collegiate Rules, . Soccer polo Is a mollycoddle game, according to Frank J. Sullivan, swimming coach at Princeton university. “Uniform rules should be drafted and approved by the collegiate body of the west conforming with the code now in vogue in the eastern Intercollegiate association,’’ said Sullivan. “Only a few months ago the Chicago Athletic association and the Illinois Athletic club boasted two of the strongest water polo teams in the country. It’s true, and unfortunate, that a particularly rough game between the C. A. A. and the N. Y. A. C. players at Pittsburgh last March resulted in the abolishing of the sport among organizations enrolled in the A. A. U. “Now that the A. A. U. has frowned upon the game of water or Rugby polo, the western collegiate authorities have fallen in line, and the result is Princeton, the eastern champion team at water polo, is unable to make a western trip that was planned several months ago. « Certain changes have been made in the playing of water polo and the addition of an umpire to the staff of officials tends to lessen the roughhouse work. Where, in the old days, a ref. eree bad absolute charge of the game it was almost impossible to call fouls and impose penalties. Now you hear of fouls, but they occur with less frequency than before. “It's too bad that two local clubs can’t get together and hit upon a happy medium in water sports. At the C. A. A. water basket-ball has been attempted, but I understand the game Isn't classed with water polo In the matter of excitement At the I. A. C. steps have been taken to popularize socoer polo; while the “Big 9’’ Officials seem to look with favor upon water basket-ball. “Water polo was a bit rough In spots when goals were counted, only when the goal was touched by the ball handled by some player. A lot of tbe danger and battle royal spirit has been taken from the game, however, by the adoption of a two-point score, which counts whenever the ball —is thrown into the basket which is at the goal end.’’