The JFA began its Elite Program for the women’s U-13 training camp for the second time of the year at Sapporo Soccer Amusement Park on 26 August. The camp is scheduled to end on 29th after a training match against a boys team in the 28th evening. This was the first time for most of the 23 players selected across the country to visit Hokkaido. They were happy with its comfortable climate with the 22 degrees temperature and 50 percent humidity.

Day 1

At this camp where players gathered from around the country, the airplane trip made some of the players nervous. At the guidance session after gathering, they started with a review of three key points required to work in this camp – “hard work”, “challenge & aspiration” and “teamwork.” After the training, they all worked on core strength training and squats. Such kind of training continues to the final day. The first day with various programs also included lectures on communication skill, injury, and RICE.

Comments

KIKUCHI Maria (Kamimura Gakuen Junior High School Women’s Soccer Club, Kagoshima)
About today’s training
It was my first time to join a training camp where top players gather from all over the country. I was nervous and excited and I came to this camp. I ran with little care at the warm-up like we just need to run, but the coach told me “you will slow down in the end.” I really felt I need to be aware of such kind of thing.
Then, we worked on passing, heading, throw-ins and long-passing in pairs. Sometimes we had fun and sometimes we did it seriously. . We were told to always look ahead where we send a pass whenever we are trying to pass. I got confidence when the coach advised me, “Don’t be afraid of a challenge. A failure is not something bad.”

TANAKA Sumie (Communication Skill Expert, Tsukuba Language Art Institute)
I offered a lecture on communication skill, which was included in the Elite Program at the first night of every camp. This was the second time of the year and the program contained self-introduction, the Q&A game and story retelling.
“A book I recommend” in the self-introduction and the Q&A game seemed to provide some knowledge of how telling what you think of in order is difficult. In the 20-minute-long story retelling, they concentrated on putting it together into their essay with paying attention to being logical. That brought me a notice of their growing just in the three month period. Still I feel they are a bit tame. The lecture was finished with my word that hopefully they make this camp fruitful by communicating a lot among the players and staff.
Even though this is a program in the limited time period, I will continue to provide ideas that awareness through this program experience leads to becoming independent as a player.

TANAKA Tomoko（Osaka：Cerezo Osaka Sakai Girls）
About communication skill
I have three things I thought in the communication skill class.
First, I learned there are a lot of kinds of books after listening to other people’s presentation in the self-introduction session. Second, I found it’s important to speak out, so I will speak a lot from now on. Third, the story retelling was most difficult for me. I had difficulty summarising the story as I was listening to the story. There are some things that I can keep on doing so I will make use of them.

Day 2

On the sunny and comfortable Day 2, their training consisted of defence practice in the morning and possession practice in the afternoon for two hours each. They played three 15-minute intra-squad matches in the last 45 minutes in order to review the training that had taken place.

At night, Japan women’s U-17 head coach Takakura gave a talk about how players need to work on the camp to head for their individual goal and to grab the spot on the “Nadeshiko Japan.” After that, players took a lecture on “hydration” and the pitch size and football rule quiz. It has been only half a year since their playing field shifted from the kids-sized to the standard pitch. The best score was answering six questions right out of 12 questions. But after all, they could enjoy their time learning the importance of such knowledge to understand football and to take the initiative in a match.

Commnets

MORISHIGE Aiko (Aosaki Soccer Club Hanako Clover’s, Hiroshima)
On today’s training
Today, I had training on pass and control, 4-on-4, 2-on-2-on-2 and played the game. I consciously practiced accuracy of pass and timing of receiving pass in pass and control program, move with thinking and taking look at other players in 4-on-4, 2-on-2-on-2 program. In the game, I made corporation with 11 players for exchanging pass as we were communicating each other.
With two more days to go, I am going to concentrate and call in big voice from warming up and communicate exactly what I have in mind.

UEDA Kana (Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies Junior Youth)
On head coach Takakura’s lecture
I had an opportunity to listen to lecture by Takakura, head coach of U-17 Japan Women’s International Team. I felt it is important to make an effort every day to build up my skill as I listened to head coach Takakura’s talk.
My dream is to become Nadeshiko Japan member and play in the world stage for winning the championship. A senior player in the same club I belong to is in U-17 Japan Women’s International team. I watched her cheering in TV when she won the U-17 World Cup. I am going to work on training from tomorrow aiming to become member of U-17 World Cup qualifier matches.

KITAMURA Miu (JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies U-15)
On pitch size and rules of football
I learned about pitch size and rules of football today. The things I learned today were something I knew vaguely about and few things I understand for sure. I make it note to remember everything including basics I learned today.

Schedule