We will introduce the principles and activities of each prefectural football association under the 12 different themes — "seniors," "the first class," "the second class," "the fourth class," "kids," "women," "futsal," "beach football," "referees committee," "infrastructural committee" and "technical committee." We would like you to take a look at it so you will know what sort of activities are held around the nation.

Today, we will introduce the activities of the Yamagata prefectural football association on its senior football.

*The article below is run in the April issue of the JFA news "REGIONAL NEWS" as well.

Approaches on senior football - Yamagata prefectural football association

TAKAHASHI Yutaka(Chairperson of the senior committee, Yamagata prefectural football association)

"Approaching the pre-senior generation."
Yamagata prefecture is divided into six regions — Sakata, Tsuruoka, Shinjo, Yamagata, Nagai and Yonezawa — and each regional football association is in charge of the respective areas. The number of the registered senior teams are: five with players in their 40s, six with players in their 50s, three with players in their 60s. And the number of the registered players are 350, which is fewer compared with other regions in Tohoku. However, our prefecture has worked to help the smooth transitions of the players that just graduated from the first class into the senior generation by hosting "Over-30 Yamagata prefecture football tournament" since 10-plus years ago. Because of the approach, the figure has increased every year.

As the activities for the seniors, we have held the prefectural qualifiers for "the national senior football tournament," "Yamagata prefectural senior football championships" and "Yamagata prefectural sports recreational football," which is more like a festivity, every year. In addition to these, we held "Yamagata prefectural senior league" for the first time ever in the last fiscal year. Now we believe that we have increased the number of games and play opportunities for the generation by holding the league games, in which we had been a little behind other places in the nation.

Meanwhile, as the minimum age to participate in the Japan sports masters tournament has been lowered to 35 years old, it gives the pre-senior generation players that graduated from the first class a new goal. And considering that it is an urgent need to get that generation involved, we have made some moves, such as making the participating age for the senior league 38 years old or above, and allowing the female players who have registered in the ladies football to play in the league for the players in their 60s. Yet since our prefecture cannot have enough opportunities for our activities during the winter time, we would like to start some other things like exchanging with other Tohoku prefectures that have less snow or hosting a futsal tournament.

In the year of 2014, we will have four teams, adding one team, for the category of the 60s. But we still have much space for growth in our senior football. The game of football is a sport that you can play when you are over 70 years old. Thus, we hope to present as many opportunities for those senior generation players to maintain their healths and live actively as possible by enhancing the senior league of each category.