The third camp for girls’ goalkeepers “GK Selection Camp” was held. When the Japan Football Association were recruiting new participants, who were eager to become goalkeepers for Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) on their official website “JFA.jp”, 63 players applied for it from across the country as well as abroad. 27 selected participants, including 12 elementary school students and 15 junior-high school students, took part in the camp. Although two players were late to join due to a typhoon, others started their camp energetically in Osaka under a clear sky.

All the players did the warm-up exercise together. They started to handle the ball individually and moved onto warming up their bodies. Then they dribbled the ball using their hands and shook hands with others to introduce themselves.

The players gradually used their feet as well.
Just like a normal “GK Camp”, they had some physical tests to measure their scores. On the first day, these included short sprints, bounding, and vertical jumps, followed by checking the distances of their kicks with both feet and their throwing.

In the end, the players were divided into two groups - U-12 and U-15, and had a mini game to finish the practice session. All the players introduced themselves in the evening meeting, describing their aims in this camp or making a presentation about local topics. Then they had an early night to get themselves ready for the coming training sessions.

*”Super Girls Project” has changed its name to “Girls GK Camp” since 2015.

Goalkeeper Coach’s Comment

TODOROKI Natsuko, Goalkeeper Coach (JFA National Training Centre Coach)
I know most of the players, who came to join this camp, are participating in this kind of activity for the first time, but I expect them to compete on many things in a positive manner. I’d like them to learn from their successes and failures. I want to tell them how fun it is to become goalkeepers as well as coaching them basic skills, as many of them are playing as goalkeepers for the first time or haven’t trained expertly.

Some players stayed vocal and tried to take the leadership on the first day, which was really good. As there will be more opportunities on and off the pitch after tomorrow, I’d like them to challenge a lot. I also want them to communicate with each other to make this camp even better and more productive.

Players’ Comments

KASAI Yuki (Aosaki S.C. Hanako Clover's)
I’d like to act in a proactive way and learn about the basic goalkeeping techniques as much as possible in this “GK Camp”, as it’s been only three months since I became a goalkeeper.

OSHIRO Hana (Ryuho Club)
I came here, because I haven’t been trained as a goalkeeper expertly in my team and wanted to learn some training methods in this camp to be better.

HANGAI Fuka (Catiolla Football Club Ladies)
I haven’t played as a goalkeeper that often. In this camp I’d like to train myself as a goalkeeper, so that my club teammates can rely on me to save goals.

IKOMA Ena (Higashi-Toyonaka Elementary School)*
My goal in this camp is to be challenged in many new things. As I have never joined this kind of camp before, I’d like to experience as much as possible through new challenges.
(*no player registration)

Schedule