The JFA Elite Programme U-14 Women's training camp started on 9 October, which was the last programme for this generation. It started as the "Canon Girls Camp" last May and this time was the sixth and last with 20 participants. The team will meet Korea Republic during the camp to play two practice matches.

In the initial meeting, the coach KATO Kenji told the players: “this is the last Elite Programme for your generation. Some of you participated in all six, while others join us for the first time. I’d like to see your achievement as a united team of 20.”

The players did some light exercises to relax their bodies in the first practice session, as they were still tired from the journey in the morning. Then they moved onto ball controlling and heading practice, which was one of their tasks, followed by playing mini games in four groups to finish the session.

In the evening, they listened to a lecture about communication skills. As it was the sixth time, they learned more detail than before and expressed their own opinion more eagerly. Then Kato, the coach, gave a session about nutrition and diet to finish their long day.

After the Korean team arrived during those lectures, the players tried to communicate with them as much as possible. They will play the first practice game against Korea Republic the following day.

*This activity is a part of the JOC Japan Korea Joint Sports Project for Enhancing Playing Skills.

Players' Comments

MASUNAGA Akari (INAC Kobe U-15/JFA Academy Sakai)
I joined this activity for the first time after the Elite Programme U-13, Canon Girls Camp. I’d like to communicate with other participants as much as possible, as there are many, with whom I am playing for the first time. There are many talented players here. So I want to learn from my teammates by watching them play. I’ll strengthen my skills, while improving my weak points during this camp.

I’ll try my best every single day, so that I can be better than now after this camp. I learned the importance of expressing my own opinion in today’s communication skills lecture. It was easy to say what I thought, but more difficult to write it down. I also learned how essential diet could be. I’ll keep my eyes on my diet in order to be physically competitive against international players. I’d like to play hard as a united team to beat Korean Republic.

INO Rion (Okayama Yunogo Belle U‐15, U‐18)
My aims for this camp are to communicate with other players, to enhance my strengths as much as possible while improving on my weaknesses, and to win both games against Korea Republic. During the communication training, although I did well delivering my opinions vocally, I found it difficult to put it on paper. Even though my opinion is a little ambiguous, I can still tell others. However, it’s not the same, when I have to write it down.

The coach Kato taught us about diet. We have to eat more than we think we should, in order to become physically competitive against international players. I’d like to try to get a balanced diet to improve my body strength.

KITAMURA Miu (JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies Rame)
Through this camp I’m aiming to improve my basic skills, as well as cooperate and communicate more with other players. Of course, I’ll try my hardest in each and every practice session to avoid leaving anything behind. Today we practiced passing and controlling, and heading, followed by a mini game. In the passing and controlling session, I focused on the timing of receiving passes and controlling the ball better for the next move. In terms of heading, I tried to prepare enough for jumping to head the ball.

During the mini game, although I enjoyed myself, I could stay competitive to get a good result. We introduced ourselves, had a Q&A session, and analysed pictures in the communication skills training. I learned the difficulty of putting my opinions into words and thought about how to deliver opinions clearly. We also studied about diet in the meeting. I realised that I need to eat a lot more to make my body stronger. I’ll practice hard in this camp, while remember to communicate with others and strengthen my body.

Schedule