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 is second time to introduce ‘Class 4’ activities.

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

Activities for Class 4 (Kyoto Football Association)

“Enhancement of Class 4 league and improving its environment” by Mori Class 4 Chairman of Akita Football Association

Kyoto Football Association sets up eight-a-side league in three categories - U-10, U-11 and U-12. Each category accepts registration of more than two teams and participated by total registered teams exceeding 130. We divide the group based on the performance in previous year. We organize U-11 league of the next year from U-10 league standings and U-12 league of the next year from U-11 league standings.

U-10 league in Kyoto was divided into six areas or six blocks. We divide U-11 league according to the level of the team. It consists of Kyoto Division 1 league (7 teams), Division 2 (21 teams, 7 teams for each three blocks) and Division 3 including six regional blocks. Holding relegation-deciding games after finishing U-11 league, the promoted team to U-12 league will be decided. This structure of the league helps to create more competing games and allows players to develop by competing each other.

Up to now, we have not reached the objective of holding 20 games a year for every team. The key to solve this issue is to check existing championship and securing the venue. There are many long standing and traditional championship such as Kyoto championship and the championship organized in Kyoto by block which leads to take part in regional (Kansai) championship.
We set up project team and are working on to making adjustment of the championship and scheduling the event by coordinating not only with Kyoto Association but also with regional associations and prefecture associations nearby, city and town associations in Kyoto and people in region. Securing the venue has been our association’s outstanding problem for long time. There is a good sign of building ball game exclusive stadium in Kyoto and the association is under consideration for opening multi-field football center.

And we hold educational lecture for coach and players of class 4 team and parents. This lecture put an emphasis on not pushing too much on players and not teaching players too much and held 10 times last year. This event is getting popular among coaches for them to meet each other and exchanging information and planned to hold it regularly.

The best thing of players is to let them play the game for realizing fun of playing football. I want to make the league as competitive as we can for I believe it leads to developing the players’ skill.