Sentence:  "‘I would always try and <WSD>play the ball and not the man</WSD> when it comes to these things... I think to get personal about it is not helpful at all.'" 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To object to someone's argument by attacking the argument itself instead of them or a facet of their personality; to avoid or make the opposite of an ad hominem attack. Usually considered a positive action, and an avoidance of a fallacious argumentative technique. Often used in comparison to play the man and not the ball.