All grades played 30-minute games (15 minutes - 5 minutes - 15 minutes), with 3rd graders playing 9-a-side and 5th and 6th graders playing 8-a-side.
The weather was clear and so hot that we took water breaks between games, but the children were energetically chasing the ball.
Many of the children were meeting for the first time, and many were also playing 8-a-side for the first time, but they communicated well during the games. We heard positive voices from the children, such as "Let's speak up" and "Don't give up on defense."
Our goal for these three days was to "learn to act independently without relying on parents." This was a great opportunity for the children to grow not only in soccer but also as individuals, by carrying their own water bottles when going to warm up for games and sharing the task of preparing team equipment such as balls, markers, and bibs.
Comment from Coach Horinouchi:
"It was a battle with different members for all three days, and especially the 3rd graders had some unfamiliar aspects, such as the wide 9-a-side field, which made tactics quite difficult. In such situations, I encouraged them to not lose one-on-one battles and to pass the ball properly after looking at the opponent. The opposing teams were also very good, and I think they learned a lot that they wouldn't normally experience in school. I hope they can use this experience in their future training at school."
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Comment from Coach Kitamura:
"Although the members were different for all three days, everyone quickly came together in the morning, and it was good that we could approach the games in a positive atmosphere. We didn't win any of the first three games, but after that, with the leadership of the children who participated continuously, we made a great comeback and eventually finished in 3rd place. I could clearly see the teamwork strengthening with each game, and I was once again surprised by how fast children of this age grow. I hope they can use this experience in the future."
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"For the 6th graders, the participants changed on the first, second, and third days, and although there were new faces, many of them were cheerful, quickly learned names, played soccer together, and acted as a cohesive group. In the games, there were difficult moments where opponents connected passes, but we scored goals in various ways such as long shots, chip shots, and headers, and everyone celebrated together. The results were 2 wins and 1 loss on the first day, 3 losses on the second day, and 2 wins on the third day, placing us 4th overall."
Although these children usually train in different classes at the Antlers School, their cooperation toward winning this tournament was a valuable experience and an opportunity to make new friends.
