This article is part of an introduction to the policies and activities of each Prefectural Football Association which is divided into 12 categories: ‘Seniors’, ‘Class 1’, ‘Class 2’, ‘Class 3’, ‘Class 4’, ‘Kids’, ‘Women’, ‘Futsal’, ‘Beach Soccer’, ‘Referees Committee’, ‘Facilities Committee (Environmental Maintenance)’ and ‘Technical Committee’. We hope you read through this article and become familiar with the various activities held across the country.

This time, we introduce “Class 4” activities.

*This article has been published in ‘REGIONAL NEWS‘ in the August issue of JFA news.

Activities for Class 4 (Akita Football Association)

“Current football environment in Akita and the prefectural selection for Japan U-12 Football Championship” by SUZUKI Hirohiko, Class 4 Chairman of Akita Football Association

On 29 June, “Hinai Soccer Sports boys club” won the Akita prefectural selection matches for the 38th prefectural selection for Japan U-12 Football Championship. What was impressive about the final match of this selection was that both finalists had a very heated match with good skills on display even though they had never played in any national-level competition before.

In Akita, players cannot have training in winter season because of the thick snow. The area where these two final teams are from especially has thick snow and players cannot start outside training even at the beginning of spring. I think their indoor training such as skills training in a gymnasium and having many futsal games as a part of U-12 League on weekends led them to eventually winning their matches. I know that both teams have young passionate trainers and I was expecting them to be one of top teams in Akita in the future. However, it is surprising that they became the top teams so quickly.

Akita is one of the prefectures that has the least numbers of class 4 players; Akita is often selected as one of the top population declining prefectures of Japan. For many years, there were more teams in Akita City, but we have to say that we are suffering from less and less numbers of players probably because of the falling birth rate. However, I have heard that some other sports are also suffering more from this decline in number of players. I feel that it is a positive light for me to know that there is some growth in the number of registered class 4 players, even though the speed of player’s population growth is slow in Akita.

Class 4 Committee aims to develop and find good teams or players who can be good enough to play in the national level by working hard in the U-12 League, improving player’s skills, and encouraging young trainers.