The JFA has been conducting “Traveling Guidance” throughout the nation with the support of the Prefectural Kids Committees. The “Traveling Guidance” is carried out by the Traveling Guidance Staffs of each Prefectural Football Association, where the staffs provide various programmes to kindergartens, nurseries, and primary schools. During each course, staffs specialised to instruct football will join the teachers of each site and instruct the kids to enjoy the sport of football. We would like to introduce the Traveling Guidance activities that were recently conducted.

Tuesday 5 February, Akita Central Nursery School (Akita City, Akita)

A total of 22 kids participated in the eighth traveling guidance at Akita Central Nursery School, which was their last event of this school year. Three instructors, including two TOYOTA instructors conducted the event.

Comment

TAKAHASHI Jun (FA Traveling Guidance Staff)
Kids from Akita Central Nursery School were so energetic. It was my first time meeting the two TOYOTA instructors and it made the event that much more exciting for both the coaches and the kids. As time went by, the TOYOTA instructors gradually got used to instructing the kids and showed great enthusiasm. With this being their final traveling guidance of the year, we extended the playing time for the kids. We concluded the event by shaking hands with the kids and telling them “Let’s meet again at the Soccer Festival once you enter primary school!”

MATSUMOTO Atomi (TOYOTA Instructor)
It’s been a while since I participated in this event, but every time I’m here, the kids bring lots of smile and energy to me. During the warmup drills, you can tell that the kids were gradually picking up their interests and started to focus on the drills. After watching them for nearly an hour, it really makes you feel their growth in such short period of time. This event gives me a fresh feeling every time I participate. I hope to take part in the future events as well.

Tuesday 5 February, Udo Higashi Nursery (Shizuoka City, Shizuoka)

Under great weather, a total of 28 kids participated in the event where two coaches joined by two teachers instructed the kids. Following a brief lecture, drills using the ball, circuit training, tag-game, and a scrimmage was conducted. The kids shared laughter and enjoyed themselves throughout the course.

Comment

MORITA Yuji (FA Traveling Guidance Staff)
The kids listened to the coaches from the beginning to the end. During the drills using the ball, although many of the kids kept saying “It’s too hard,” and “I can’t do it,” they asked the coaches how to get better and challenged many times. The kids also challenged themselves actively in the circuit training. When playing the tag-game, the boys played against the girls, and each team came up with strategies to win the game. It was great to see the kids working together and helping each other out.

Tuesday 5 February, Okayama Kindergarten (Wakayama City, Wakayama)

Due to the number of participants and the field size, the event was divided into three 45-minute sessions. The session started with a light warmup routine, followed by drills using the ball. The kids started by controlling the ball with their hands before going into actual football drills. The drills were designed with various levels of difficulties depending on the kids’ age.

Comment

MORI Ichiro (Kids Project Member)
It was a bit chilly out today, so we focused on making the kids move their entire body for the warmup drills. We allowed the kids to use their hands at first and gradually shifted to have them use only their feet. The kids showed great enthusiasm to work up a sweat. For some of the kids, this was their last traveling guidance, and they seemed to had lots of fun playing in the scrimmage at the end.

Kindergarten Staff
Although it’s an event we conduct just few times a year, it gives the kids a wonderful opportunity to enjoy playing football and improve themselves over the course. The programmes are designed so that every age group can enjoy and have fun. With this being the final event of this year, the instructors listened to our kids sing a song and gave them a warm round of applause.

Thursday 7 February, Sakura Kindergarten (Shizuoka City, Shizuoka)

The event was held for 32 kids under wonderful weather and three coaches were there to instruct the kids along with three teachers. The session started with a drill using the ball, followed by circuit training, tag-game, and a scrimmage. The session concluded with a little game where the boys competed against the girls, and the girls ended up being the winners. Despite losing the game, the boys showed great enthusiasm challenging the game.

Comment

FUKAZAWA Saki (FA Traveling Guidance Staff)
The kids were very energetic and polite. They challenged the games with great enthusiasm and some of the kids managed to overcome their weakness during this traveling guidance. The kids actively participated in the circuit training and worked hard until the final whistle blew. Some of the kids were so disappointed for losing the game, but after the coaches told them that “A loss will make you stronger,” they showed their eagerness to get better next time. We saw some kids crying after following down, but they quickly stopped crying and got up to chase the ball.

Monday 18 February, Megumi Kindergarten (Shizuoka City, Shizuoka)

The event was held for a total of 49 kids and despite the event being scheduled in February, the weather was nice and warm. Four coaches were in charge of the event along with two teachers, where the session started with a lecture, followed by drills using the ball, stretches, circuit training, tag-game, and a scrimmage to conclude the session.

Comment

LEE Kwang (FA Traveling Guidance Staff)
The kids showed great enthusiasm from the start. They showed their competitiveness during the tag-game and they were so eager to complete the circuit training as many times as they can. The scrimmage played at the end featured many great plays and it was a very entertaining match. I hope they will continue to have fun exercising with their friends.