On 15 May, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) celebrated its fifth year of the ‘AFC Grassroots Football Day’ which started in 2013. In Japan, this is a memorable date marking the inauguration of the J. League in 1993 and subsequently supporting the AFC’s grassroots effort in fostering football in Asia by announcing the ‘Declaration on Grassroots Football’ in 2014.

The AFC along with other Member Associations including the Japan Football Association (JFA) commemorated this date by ensuring the development of football in the region with different activities and festivals across Asia. In Japan, the prefectural football associations with the support from the JFA held various grassroots events across the nation on Sunday 14.

In Gifu Prefecture, the local football association hosted the ‘JFA Kids Football Festival’ at the Nakaike Sports Park in Seki City. Pre-school kids and first-to-third grade children regardless of their experience in football participated and enjoyed the event. During the festival, guardians entered the pitch as well, and watched and encouraged the children having great fun playing football. It was a wonderful programme with over 100 children and adults joining in the various grassroots activities during the day to deepen their love for the sport.

Festival organiser Gifu Football Association (GFA) also offered ‘Kids Leader Training Course’ for future instructors interested in coaching young children (U-10) in the morning. The course attendees participated and supported the festival as the ‘Kids Leaders’ in the afternoon, and along with the members of the Kids Development Committee of the GFA instructed the children during the event as well. Furthermore, 21 boys and girls of the local Teikyo University Kani Junior High School Football Club volunteered their support by going through different football activities together with the children.

In Japan, the whole football family raise the glass roots football.
Many people join the Grass Roots Football not only players but also from coach, guardians, volunteers, etc. in various positions.

Participants' Comments

HORIBE Souki (Pre-school, 4 years old)
I had great fun scoring many goals.

KUSAKABE Rio (Pre-school, 5 years old)
I had a great time by doing many things together. I had so much fun, but it was a bit hot.

Guardian's Comment

Ms. HORIBE Naho
It was my first time to participate in the festival, but I enjoyed seeing my child having great fun. I want to bring my children again to this wonderful event. My younger boy was too little to participate in this year’s festival, and looked quite anxious to join the activities as well.