In the morning session, Japan Women’s U-15 Selection members spent their time working on “battle in front of goal,” which Japan has a need to improve.
The “battle in front of goal” started with four kinds of shooting drills. The players got into the training smoothly as they enjoyed shooting and scoring. In subsequent game-style training such as the 2v2 with three-server drill, they got some assignments to improve as they had difficulty breaking through the opposing defence. They took unnecessary touches in offence, hesitate to shoot in situations where they can do so and challenge too slow in defence. Goalkeepers gave good directions to field players but did not get well-prepared when their offensive end was struggling. To fight at the world stage, they need to learn how to play simple, intense, persistently, solidly and unpredictably.

Under the theme of “battle for cross balls,” the afternoon session proceeded with working on heading and dealing with cross balls, and moved on to 2v2 with a neutral player on the side and conditional scrimmages. As the session went on, players’ understanding seemed to be raised and the game quality improved. But there were still various abilities to be required in front of goal such as the mindset of defensive risk management and goalkeepers’ ability to reading spaces and predicting where the ball falls.

In the night, the U-15 selection was given a lecture by Takakura Asako, Japan Women’s National U-18 Team head coach, who joined the U-15 training camp in the afternoon after her squad’s training camp finished. As the players in the U-15 camp are the generation of the next U-17 Japan, Takakura talked about how her team played in the last tournament and what she required her players. Finally, she gave a message that everyone has a chance and everyone in this team is part of the history being built for the future “Nadeshiko Japan.”

Tomorrow will be the final day. “Each day passes so fast. It’s going to finish up tomorrow!? Please extend the camp one more day!” As some of the players told us so, their camp spell seems enjoyable and fruitful. Absorbing things in the limited time and stepping up, they look back “what has been told until now?” they will be split into four groups and play round-robin games in the final training session.

Comments

WAKISAKA Reina (Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies, Osaka)
(About today’s training)
It was difficult to read the distance to the opposition in defence. At the offensive side, I could keep the mindset to take a shot from distance for a goal.
I’ve got a lot of assignments both in offence and defence. I will work in practices to solve them little by little.

KOBAYASHI Miho (JEF United Ichihara・Chiba Ladies U-16, Chiba)
(About the goalkeeper training)
It’s fun to play in a high-level environment, and I could look back my plays. At the same time, I’ve got a feeling that I want to go up to the higher level.
I will analyse what I could do and couldn’t do so that I can improve my plays.

ARIMA Riko (PRINCESS CAMELLIA FC, Miyazaki)
(Listening to Takakura’s talk)
Today we listened to a talk of head coach Takakura, who led Japan to the championship at the U-17 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica. I definitely want to play on the national team and feel like clinching the world championship at the U-17 World Cup.
When I heard the story that we need technique, physical intensity, mental strength and football understanding, I thought I should improve technique and physical intensity. To polish techniques and strengthen the core muscle, I need to take up more practices. I will keep core muscle training, work on fundamental and improve what I’m lacking so that hopefully I can get selected for the national team. And I want to win the U-17 World Cup.

INOUE Hina（Osaka：Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies）
(Watching the Nadeshiko Japan’s game)
What I was impressed at was transitions between offence and defence. Once giving up the ball, they all switched their movement to get prepared for defence collectively.
And the quality of their cross balls were very good, as we practiced the same in the afternoon training session. I’m impressed that they looked at the inside players to make decisions depending on the situations they were in.
I will keep what I learned in mind and work on practices.

YANO Kyoko, Coach
After the three-day practice, I feel each one of players has grown in such a limited time. They simply take in what I teach, and I’m surprised at their absorbing ability to display it at the following play. To players aiming for Nadeshiko Japan, I would like to convey something that will remain in their heart at tomorrow’s final training session.

Schedule