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JFA Uniqlo Soccer Kids in Okinawa - event report

24 June 2015

JFA Uniqlo Soccer Kids in Okinawa - event report

The JFA Uniqlo Soccer Kids is a series of fun football events where any children of ages 6 and under can enjoy football together.  This year, the event is held at 14 venues such as major domes and football stadiums all across Japan. 451 kids, including individual players and kids under 7 years old, joined in the event held in Okinawa City Park on 20 June. 

Alongside presence of DAINI Kuniya, President of Japan Football Association (JFA), HARA Hiromi, JFA General Secretary, and MATSUZAKI Yasuhiro, JFA Executive Managing Director, there were a quartet of mascots making appearances; “Challenge Ichi Nensei (1st graders)” mascot “Korasho” from Benesse Corporation. The popular characters posed for photos with participating kids and cheered the players from on the sideline. 

Comments from participants

OSHIRO Susumu, Father of Yohan (6yrs) and Asen (4yrs)
It was very good to join the event. We don’t have a good environment including local parks to play football much, even though we have some opportunities to touch the ball with small number of people. 

My kids seemed to enjoy some games joining in with a team. Now they go to a nursery but they haven’t joined in any of local football teams. I want to let them join once they reach school age. High-school students helped them; my 2nd son is still too small to join in the game and had to stay alone but one of them spoke to him and played with him using the ball during the game. He might have enjoyed this even more than his elder brother who joined in the game. I appreciate the staff to support us with such a nice positive attitude. 

MATSUMORA Ai, Mother of Saki (7yrs), Kana (5yrs) and Mei (2yrs)
We had a good time. I was bit worried about if our youngest one who is only 2 years old can play with the ball at first, but he actually enjoyed the time, chasing his elder brother and sister. Looking at my kids’ having fun made me enjoy the time.

I got to know about this even through the local team. My kids scored several times in the games. As a team, players considered well switching between defense and offense and improved themselves gradually during the 3 games. It was good for me to see the change in the kids. I will definitely sign up if there will be another chance.

Soccer families

Number of participants Morning Afternoon Total
U-7   Teams 7 3 10
Boys 107 49 156
Girls 36 14 50
Total 143 63 206
U-6   Teams 8 7 15
Boys 105 80 185
Girls 31 29 60
Total 136 109 245
Total   Teams 15 10 25
Boys 212 129 341
Girls 67 43 110
Total 279 172 451
Staff    150
Audience   1,200
Soccer families 1,801

 

Event Outline

Event NameJFA Uniqlo Soccer Kids in Okinawa
Event Date Saturday 20 June, 2015
Schedule  Morning:
Door open 9:00/Players marching in for opening ceremony 9:45/
Opening ceremony 10:00/Matches 10:30-11:55/Closing ceremony 12:05
Afternoon:
Door open 13:00/Players marching in for opening ceremony 13:45/
Opening ceremony 14:00/Matches 14:30-15:55/Closing ceremony 16:05
Venue Okinawa City Park (2-1-1, Moromizato, Okinawa-shi)
Game format 8-a-side mini soccer festival
Size of pitch: 30m×18m (Total of 8 pitches)
Number of games per team: about 3 games  Playing time: 10 minutes
Player requirments U-6: Team of eight or more of 6 years old and younger,
both boys and girls, no condition about experience
U-7: Team of eight or more of 7 years old and younger,
both boys and girls, no condition about experience
Organiser Japan Football Association / Okinawa Football Association
Managing Organisation Okinawa Football Association
Special Sponsor Uniqlo Company Limited
Sponsor Benesse Corporation Company Limited
Supporting Organisation Okinawa Prefecture/Okinawa City
Event presenter NAKAHARA Wakano
Operating Staff Okinawa Football Association Kids Committee (11),
Yomei Highs School Women’s Soccer Club (14),
Kutanakagusuku High School Women’s Soccer Club (18),
Naha Shogyo High School Women’s Soccer Club (24),
Naha High School Women’s Soccer Club (27),
Naha Nishi High School Women’s Soccer Club (30)     
Mascot Supports Challenge Ichi Nensei “Korasho”
PR Websites of JFA and Okinawa Football Association from 24 April
PR leaflets at all kindergarten and nurseries in Okinawa
PR leaflets at all Uniqlo stores in Okinwa
Media PR through Ryukyu Broadcasting Corporation between 15-19 June
Radio Okinawa, FM Okinawa between 17-19 June
Application period 1 May to 12pm of 19 June
How to Apply From Uniqlo Soccer Kids application form on the JFA Official Website

Event Schedule

Sun. 31 May Ibaraki Kashima Soccer Stadium 9th, 9 consecutive years
Sat. 20 June Okinawa Okinawa City Park 4th, after 2 years
Sat. 27 June Hyogo Kobe Sports Park 2nd, after 11 years since the event at Kobe Wing Stadium
(currently Noevir Stadium) in 2004
Mon. 20 July Aichi Nagoya Dome 4th, 4 consecutive years
Tue. 22 September Fukuoka Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome 13th, 13 consecutive years
Mon. 12 October Toyama Toyama Athletic Recreation Park 5th, 4 consecutive years
Sat. 17 October Fukui Sabae East Park Athletic Field 3rd, after 2 years
Sun. 25 October Tokyo Tokyo Dome 4th, 4 consecutive years
Sat. 28 November Kumamoto Umakana・Yokana Stadium 9th, 9 consecutive years
Sat. 5 December Hokkaido Sapporo Dome 10th, 9 consecutive years
Sun. 20 December Yamaguchi Yamaguchi Kirara Memorial Park 2nd, 2 consecutive years

*The schedule for Saitama, Kanagawa and Osaka to be decided by March 2016.
*Please refer to JFA official Web site for the latest information of the venue, overview and application for the events to be decided.
JFA.jp (Japanese version only)

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