With the support of the Kids' Committees of each prefectural football association (FA), JFA has been organising “Traveling guidance" courses around the country. In the "travelling guidance" course, travelling guidance staffs from each prefectural FA go to kindergartens, nursery schools, and primary schools to offer a variety of programmes for children to enjoy football. This is an initiative to give nursery staff and teachers, who may not have much experience or knowledge of football, the opportunity to join a team of experienced football coaches and give the children time to exercise with the ball. Here we will introduce the traveling guidance activities that were recently conducted.

Tue. 13 December, Shirahato Nursery (Matsusaka, Mie)

We were able to teach football to 25 children from the five-year-old and four-year-old classes. As it was held during the World Cup, the coaches dressed in national team uniforms. The importance of "challenge" was emphasised at the beginning of the session, and the children enjoyed challenging various body movements before engaging in drills using the ball. The children showed a lot of emotions as they played games at the end. We will continue to spread the joy of playing football.

Coach's Comment

KATO Masanori (FA Traveling Guidance Staff)
The children tried their best on all the drills. I hope they will take back what they have learned from this class, come up with their own rules and challenges, and most importantly, enjoy playing football.

Teacher's Comment

Many of the children had been interested in football even before the World Cup and were very much looking forward to this class. Even the children who do not usually like to exercise also seemed to be having a great deal of fun.