The JFA UNIQLO SOCCER KIDS is an open fun football event for pre-school children under six years old. With co-sponsorship of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), as well as of main football stadiums across the country, the event was held in Singapore on Saturday 7 November.

Approximately 250 children gathered at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Posters and brochures to attract participants for this event were placed in UNIQLO shops across the host country in the same way as the events in Japan, as well as at Albirex Niigata’s, who belong to the S.League, and at six Japanese kindergartens, which were given guidance by Singapore. Participating teams applied through "JFA.jp", the official website of the JFA.

HARA Hiromi, the General Secretary of JFA, LIM KIA TONG, the Vice President of FAS, and corporate officers of UNIQLO CO., LTD, including MORIKAWA Taku, attended the event. Children played with the official mascot of the FAS Cubs programme, "Sparky" and "Twinkle".

KATO Naomi, the instructor of Albirex Niigata Singapore Cheerleading School, performed warm up exercises.

44 teams were divided into 11 groups to play a four-on-four without a goalkeeper, and each group held a round-robin tournament among four teams. Grass-root coaches of the FAS refereed and managed the matches on eight pitches. 60 volunteers, who worked for UNIQLO in Singapore, helped as ushers and prepared AirGoals.

As enjoying football is more important than result itself in this event, there was no announcement of scores or results. The staff displayed green cards, which were also used in Japan, to encourage children’s good manners. There was also an area, in which children could play between matches with AirGoals with target marks. All the children high-fived with all the staff after the games, and received certificates of commendation. Many smiles could be seen around in the event.

The JFA signed a partnership agreement with the FAS in April 2011. They extended their contract three more years in February this year. FAS Board members came to Japan to learn Japanese grass-root activities, such as JFA UNIQLO SOCCER KIDS in Kashima Stadium in May.

The FAS have been eager to improve the football environment for children by establishing a grass-root activity, such as the Cubs programme. This event is a part of activities related to the partnership agreement with the FAS, and is supported by UNIQLO CO., LTD just like previous one, which have been sponsored domestic events for many years.

Participants’ Comments

Shameema (Singaporean)
My husband found this event on the Internet, and we applied for it. Our four children participated in it. In a nutshell, they "got a buzz out of it". Although they usually haven’t got an opportunity to move this much, in this event UNIQLO staff supported children in each team just like a big club team. We’d love to come back next year. My child was pleased, mentioning she played "three matches."

HARADA Yukari with other three families (Singapore-residing Japanese)
We found this event on Facebook and applied for it. As the qualifying age was different, we couldn’t join last year. This year, we came here with other three families, including four girls and two boys. They usually do physical exercises only at nursery and enrichment lessons.

The children did enjoy themselves so much, that they even carried the ball with their hands. As my child was a little too young to understand football, it was good the event was not strict at all about football. It was our first time to take part in the event this year, but we’d definitely like to come back next year.

Event Outline

Soccer families

Event Schedule

*The same event will be organised in Kanagawa as well as Osaka by March 2016.
*The information about event sites, summaries and participants recruitment will be announced on the official website of JFA "JFA.jp".

Special Sponsor