I visited Iwate Prefecture twice in September. The first time from 5 to 7 September, I coached training of Ofunato Sun Altus and Yamada Beruêni, and watched friendlies between Yamada Beruêni, Derufîre Taro and Miyako Phoenix as well as learned the current situation of the reconstruction plan in Otsuchi.

I paid the second visit for Iwate from 19 to 21 of September and conducted a coaching session at Iwaizumi Soccer Sports Shonendan and observed the Miyako Distinct Junior High School Freshman Tournament at Heigawa Roki Ground in Miyako and the Waseda Cup at Kamiosabe Ground in Rikuzentakata.

On 5 September, I visited Ofunato Sun Altus’s practice! Ahead of “The 41st Kamomeno Tamago Sailor Cup” (Iwate Soccer Sports Shonendan Tournament) to be held in Appi, Iwate, players concentrated on their string of practices: pass & control drills, possession drills and four-goal games. The prefecture tournament takes place in the inland region, so qualified teams from each distinct have to travel a long distance and to get up early. As that certainly gives them a disadvantage,Ofunato Sun Altus’s coaches said they hope children become mentally tough. But for the players’ parents coming along, that’s going to be a big burden.

On 6th, in the morning at 9:30 am, 20 players of Yamada Beruêni gathered at Yamada Sogo Undojo and started their practice vigorously. After their practice, I asked the coaches about the current situation, and they said there are some teams that are facing difficulty surviving due to a decline in the number of children in the Iwate’s coast area (Miyako). On 19th, I visited Iwaizumi Soccer Sports Shonandan for the second time and witnessed that they only had the total of eight players, one 5th gradeer and seven 6th gradeers. They couldn’t play in the freshman tournament because of the lack of players, so 5th grade players were registered for Derufîre Toro to participate in the tournament.

In the afternoon, I visited a practice match of Taro Daiichi Junior High School. As hearing from coaches about their situation, they have 90-minute practices during this period prior to the freshman tournament, but when they don’t have any upcoming tournament, the practice is limited to 60 minutes because of school bus’s operating time. They barely gain the amount of running with that limited practice time. Players who want to practice more join Derufîre Toro’s practice, where they used to belong during their elementary school years. The coach of Taro Daiichi Junior High School said “if there is any opportunity, we would like to have supports.” Since their pitch was reconstructed a year later from the earthquake, it has been one of the few valuable practice sites with a full-sized pitch for adults and lightning fixtures.

I made a visit to Otsuchi Soccer Club (Class 4) on 7th. I felt the quality of their plays and the amount of running increased compared to the last year. “After we could start training outside, our playeres’ stamina got better, and their mind-sets toward the goal also increased. Our team performance has become more like how football should be played,” said the coach. I strongly felt the environment is very important.

In the afternoon, I watched friendlies between Yamada Beruêni, Derufîre Taro and Miyako Phoenix at Yamada Sogo Undojo. Despite the mixed feelings and struggles, coaches have believed in their recovery while children enjoy playing football. When I watch them do it, I’m also given energy and courage. On the other hand, I’m disappointed when I see the situation where the reconstruction has made only little progress. I also feel the difference between the northern part and southern part of Iwata coast in terms of the amount of support they receive and the number of ongoing activities. While the northern teams have a lot of practice matches within the neighbouring areas and go out to inland areas or outside the prefecture by themselves for matches, the southern teams have Rikuzentakata Kamiosabe Ground and frequently hold tournaments at Kamaishi Stadium by inviting inland teams. They have also held the Waseda Cup three times until this year. The areas located north of Kamaishi seem to have less supports the playing environment-wise,, which meanspitches and accommodations, and the geographywise such as transportations and travel distance.

Comments

IKEDA Atsushi, Head Coach of Ofunato Sun Altus Training
I heard from Teguramori on 5 September, and he visited Ofunato. It was just a day before the “Sailor Cup,” but I asked him to direct a training session and give my players some stimulation. Children looked enjoying it and their motivation was different from usual one. The training had a lot to learn for coaches as well. I am grateful. Thanks to that, we could reach final four at the “Sailor Cup.” He has made many visits to us, but it would be appreciated if he would continue that when he gets a chance again.

IWAMA Toru, Coach of Otsuchi Soccer Club
Since last year, we have had our practices at our outdoor pitch more often even though its space is limited. Children’s physical strength has come back in form and got good enough to to run more. The gym doesn’t have goal installations, so we couldn’t ask them for making right decisions in terms of when to shoot or something like that. But the outdoor pitch allows us to practice more like real football.

The pitch we currently use at elementary school and junior high school’s joint building in Terano District will eventually become a residential zone, and a hospital building is projected to be constructed nearby. The new school building is planned to be an integrated elementary and junior high school and to be built where Otsuchi High School’s pitch is at this moment. That pitch is the only site where we can play football in Sawayama District Otsuchi. But there has been no clear date to start its construction yet as no construction company has been determined. It takes three or four years to move to the new building, so we asked the town to repair the lightning of the temporary pitch in Terano District where we currently use. Last year, there was just one piece of lightning equipment that only lights the certain spot of the pitch. But this year its brightness grew, and our playing environment has got better. The temporary lights provided by the J.League were helpful. I would like to express my appreciation for the support.

There is a plan to build a multi-purpose field by levelling the ground up at the coast, but it also doesn’t have any forecast regarding when to start working. If the temporary field’s construction for residential houses at Terano District starts before the multi-purpose field is completed, we could lose our practice field. I understand that residential district is supposed to be prioritised in the reconstruction effort. We really hope, however, children will have a field where they have a good fun playing football at the earliest possible date.