On the fourth day of the Chiba training camp, U-15 Japan National Team, “00JAPAN”, held a practice session, focusing on stretching and running in order to recover from yesterday’s game. Just like the second day, the players checked their physical condition after the match by using heart rate monitors to take their pulse.

Then they were divided into two groups to practice four tasks – taking volleys, scoring goals through 1-on-1, initiating attacks with crosses against defenders, and firing free kicks. Although they stayed competitive, there were cheers whenever someone struck a goal. The players finished the morning practice session in a very positive atmosphere.

In the afternoon, the players experienced Blind Football as a part of an exchange programme. The Japan Blind Football Association will host “IBSA 2015 Asian Blind Football Championships”, which will be held at the futsal court of Yoyogi National Gymnasium from Wednesday 2 September to Monday 7 September in 2015, aiming to book a place in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

KENMOCHI Masatoshi from the Japan Blind Football Association and blind footballer TERANISHI Hajime joined the session, and all the players and the staff experienced playing blind football for the first time. Communicating well with each other was vital, which was also a key point for “00JAPAN”. The players learned essential things through this experience.

After a detailed explanation of the blind football rules, the players wore eye masks to play. During a game in which they had to form teams, every player tried to reach out for appropriate teammates in every conceivable way. Then they were divided into four groups to play a mini game, in which one player in the middle with an eye mask tried to touch the ball while four players passed it around.

The players did all kinds of things to gradually improve the quality of communication. In the game with the ball, each team stayed competitive, which led the players to learn the difficulty of blind football, building a feeling of unity at the same time. At the end of the programme, the players and the guests encouraged each other, as both teams will play an important match in September.

The team will play a practice match against JEF United Ichihara U-15 tomorrow.

* ”00 JAPAN” is the nickname of the U-15 Japan National Team that consists of members who were born in 2000.

Players' Comments

DF   SAKUTA Ryutaro (Vissel Kobe U-15)
I tried playing blind football. Wearing an eye mask taught me that I couldn’t do anything on my own, because I wasn’t able to see around. I was very anxious. I learned that it was more vital to communicate with my teammates all the time in that circumstance.

I met TERANISHI Hajime, who enjoyed football without complaining about his blindness, and thought I had to make a lot more effort to work out the problem at hand. I’ll try my best in tomorrow’s game to show everything that we’ve learned during the tour.

DF   KEMMOTSU Takumu (Shimizu S-Pulse Junior Youth)
During today’s training, I realised once again the low quality of kicks. As I tended not to be able to beat the opponent on 1-on-1 in yesterday’s game, I’d like to defend tenaciously in tomorrow’s match not to let the opponent take shots. I’d like to display everything I have. I’d also like to try to communicate better with my teammates, which we learned through the exchange programme.

MF   FUKUOKA Shimpei (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15)
It was the first time I had tried blind football. Although the staff has always advised us of this, through this experience I finally understood the importance of staying vocal and communicating well with my teammates. I’d like to use the communication skill I learned today in tomorrow’s game.

Although I could play strongly and aggressively near the ball yesterday, I didn’t contribute enough to attacks. I’d like to think more about attack while playing in order to win our last game, so that we can finish this tour well.

FW   TANAHASHI Akito (Yokohama F Marinos Junior Youth)
I did create some goal-scoring opportunities in yesterday’s game, by getting through to the space behind the opponent’s defenders. Having said that, I need to improve the playing quality after receiving the ball.

I also want to continue to make some space for taking shots. Through today’s blind football, I learned the importance of delivering opinions in a clear way. I’d like to try that in tomorrow’s game as well.

Schedule

Note: The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.