The Fukuoka University Women's Football Team and the Fukuoka City Football Association hosted the “JFA Nadeshiko Hiroba (Friends Square in Japanese)” on Monday 29 June. It has been three years since they started to hold the event on the artificial turf at Fukuoka University.

Sixteen children aged from preschool to the sixth grade, including beginners, participated in and enjoyed football. They started to get to know each other as a warm-up exercise through jogging in the grid and making groups quickly whenever the coach told them to do so.

After breaking the ice, they did some training to acquire a feeling for the ball. The participants dribbled freely in the grid and stopped the ball with their bodies quickly and snappily, as the coach instructed. Then they moved onto a game, in which they dribbled through four-coloured gates in the same grid.

In the shooting practice, the children had to jump over and then go under bars, followed by forward rolls before taking shots. In the end, they finished with a mini game, which everyone loved. All of them played very seriously and enjoyed themselves chasing the ball, so that they could show what they learned that day.

Host’s Comment

TAKASHIMA Mayu (Fukuoka University Women’s Football Team, Staff)
The Fukuoka University Women's Football Team has hosted the “JFA Nadeshiko Hiroba” once a month since 2013. We also hold football lessons for children throughout the year as an open session of Fukuoka University, and host the JFA Ladies/Girls Soccer Festival every March.

Most of the members of the team, who instruct the events, study sports everyday at the sports science course in Fukuoka University. They are also qualified as “kids' leaders”. As many girls aged from preschool to the sixth grade tend to participate in the events, we’d like to provide an environment, in which they can play safely and happily.

We hope they will be joyful and thrilled through sports, and experience a lot of fun by playing sports by themselves. Recently, it’s become more common for girls to play football. Having said that, there isn’t enough opportunity or space for them yet. We’d like to continue providing “Nadeshiko Hiroba”, in which girls can casually try and play football.

Participant’s Comments

First grade
I was scared a little, as the ball almost hit me. I was really happy that I could take a shot in the mini game.

Fourth grade
I enjoyed myself playing football and getting to know many girls at the “JFA Nadeshiko Friends Square”.

Parent
My daughters really look forward to the “JFA Nadeshiko Friends Square” every time, in which anyone can casually participate. I hope the host will continue providing opportunities for us to learn how wonderful and fun it is to play sports, including football.

JFA Nadeshiko Hiroba

It is an occasion that any females, from the children to the girls, to the mothers and grandmothers, are able to casually enjoy the game of football. It is run by organizations and facilities that are approved by the JFA.

JFA Nadeshiko Hiroba (Japanese version only)