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 (Yamaguchi Football Association)

“Fostering creative and strong players”
MIZUKAMI Tetsuhiko, Class 4 Chairman of Yamaguchi Football Association

Class 4 Committee of Yamaguchi Football Association is divided into two parts which are for organizing football matches and for training centre activities. For these two operations, we have Class 4 Committee meetings several times a year with committee members who are selected from 8 regional blocks of Yamaguchi prefecture.

Regarding the organising of football matches, we manage 4 Class 4 prefectural matches (three matches for U-12 and one for U-11) such as “Prefectural selection for Japan U-12 Football Championship in central Yamaguchi”, and “Yamaguchi Prefectural Selection of JA Zen-Noh’s Cup U-12 Chibirinpic”. As for Class 4 Leagues in Yamaguchi, we operate 3 leagues according to categories in 11 regional blocks for U-10, U-11, and U-12 players. It has been 4 years since we started these leagues in this prefecture, and each one has become more stable through the participation of all prefectural teams.

As to our training centre activities, we hold “Regional Training Centre U-12 Training” (See the picture) with U-11 and U-12 players. For this training, 8 or 9 players are selected from the 8 regional blocks and they are expected to develop themselves as good players with skills at this special training occasion.

The first training was held on 28-29 June with the theme of “Fostering creative and strong players”. Under the better weather condition, 131 selected players of U-12 participated in training sessions, matches, and lectures at this training camp. Through this training camp, U-12 players learn not only “3S: Skill, Speed, and Spirit”, but also essential behavior for communal life. Many of the U-12 players have already experienced this training camp before and they are expected to join in this camp 6 times to develop their football skills as well as their mentalities.

This year, we have just done the second training camp in late August and the third camp is now planned in early October.
From the training camps this year, we invite JFA National Training Centre Coaches to meet one night before the camp to enhance mutual understanding of the training aims amongst coaches and trainers. In this preparatory discussion, the trainers also had a simulation session, expecting local trainers to develop their training abilities. Class 4 Committee of Yamaguchi Football Association keep working for developing our training centre activities as well as encouraging trainers’ development to foster “creative and strong young players” as much as possible.