Japan Beach Soccer National Team coach Marcelo MENDES held a beach soccer clinic on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September at Akashi City Okura Beach Park in Hyogo, where an International Friendly "Japan vs. Tahiti" takes place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September.

The seventh clinic of the year of 2016 was held as part of the programme of the Beach Sports Festa in Akashi, with a total of 150 local students at ages between elementary school and high school participating in the two-day event. Japan's National Team captain MOREIRA Ozu also took part in the event as a coach and demonstrated high-level skills to the participants. Local beach soccer team BSC AKASHI AREIA players also supported the clinic.

The programme was held in an enjoyable atmosphere, including beach soccer fundamentals such as how to run on the beach as well as scooping, passing and shooting skills for 100 elementary school students on the first day and 50 junior high and high school students on the second day. It was for the first time for most participants to experience beach soccer, but they seemed to be enjoying football on the sand. In a tournament taking place after the clinic on both days, the participating kids showed a challenging attitude to try out what they had learned.

For the promotion of beach sports, a number of people and organisations including the Akashi Football Association got involved in the event. Sports enthusiasm in Akashi city was well exhibited in this event. In the great environment of Okura Beach Park, plenty of players enjoyed beach football.

Coach's Comment

Marcelo MENDES, Coach
I'm happy to hold a clinic in Akashi again. Under the great management, about 200 elementary, junior high school students and girls took part in the clinic. The exhibition match between DORSAL M.FC/ASHIYA and AKASHI AREIA also turned out to be a great opportunity for the kids to see high-level beach soccer live. As well as appreciating everyone’s hard work who managed the event, I'm determined to further develop Japanese beach soccer.

Participants' Comments

ONISHI Otoha (Akashi Minami High School)
Playing beach soccer for the first time, I found beach soccer was very difficult unlike what it looked like. The ground was unstable and difficult unlike football, so I was so happy when my play was successful. I want to take part in it if there is a chance again.

MATSUI Rintaro (Asagiri Junior High School)
My first experience of beach soccer taught me how difficult and fun it is. Learning directly from the national team coach and player was a very good experience. I will work hard to take advantage of this experience for my daily club activities.

ONISHI (Okubokita Junior High School)
I've played football and futsal only and played beach soccer for the first time. It was hard to pass after scooping the ball and overhead the ball because I had never done before in football. But it was a great experience knowing how fun beach soccer is.