Various events were held, including clinics and mini-game tournaments for special classes, with over 200 players participating!
See below for event details and photos from the day.
[November 3rd (Thursday, holiday) One-on-One Skills Enhancement Clinic]
A "One-on-One Skills Enhancement Clinic" specializing in 1v1 techniques was held at the Kashima Antlers Clubhouse Futsal Court.
50 players participated on the day.
During the initial warm-up, we conducted game-style training focusing on body usage and bumping into opponents.
By focusing on maintaining a stable center of gravity and posture to prevent losing the ball even when bumped, fewer players lost the ball or were pushed off balance when contacted by an opponent.
In the next training session, we conducted 1v1 drills using two cone goals, focusing on dribbling past opponents.
In defense, players challenged themselves with techniques such as approaching speed, distance from the opponent, and one-sided cuts to protect the two goals. In offense, players were coached on ball placement to evade quick opponent approaches and how to skillfully use various feints while observing the opponent.
The subsequent training session involved 1v1 drills conducted with actual soccer goals.
Initially, two field players and two goalkeepers engaged in a 2v2 exercise. With the presence of actual goals, there was a noticeable increase in players consciously speeding up their approach and maintaining distance, as not doing so would easily lead to shots and goals conceded. Many were seen actively trying to win the ball.
Finally, in a 4v4 game-style training session including goalkeepers, a large number of players were observed challenging themselves to master various techniques covered in the training, such as body usage, defensive ball-winning, and deceiving opponents.
Thanks to the high level of engagement from participating players in both offensive and defensive training, we were able to conduct a very intense training session!
[November 13th (Sunday) Special/Intensive Training Game Tournament]
A game tournament was held for players in the Kashima area's special and intensive training classes at Club House D Ground, which had just had its artificial turf replaced.
This time, nearly 50 players from 2nd to 4th grade gathered, and each grade showed many of its unique strengths.
Perhaps influenced by the Kashima Area Special/Intensive Training Class's motto of "becoming a sore loser," the games often ended with a one-goal difference or a draw, making for many intensely competitive matches.
Winning close games. Scoring crucial goals. Defending the goal with their bodies. Many players gained extensive experience, and there were many who cried tears of frustration. We hope they will use these experiences to grow little by little.
We will definitely hold it again!
We hope that through each activity, they will further hone their skills and show their growth.
[November 19th (Saturday) Mini-Game Tournament Event]
A mini-game tournament event was held for children from kindergarten (ages 4-5) to 6th grade at the Maekawa Sports Park Soccer Field in Itako City, which was completed in April this year.
Over 130 players participated on the day, making it a very dynamic event!
The players seemed to enjoy kicking the ball on the beautiful artificial turf!
In the event, players who participated on the day formed teams and played mini-games.
Many players were meeting for the first time, and many initially seemed nervous. However, once the games started, it was as if they had known each other forever, with many players calling out to teammates and asking for passes by name.
By the end of the event, the initial nervousness had completely vanished, replaced by camaraderie.
It was an event that reaffirmed the wonderful power of football to bring people together, even if they attend different schools or academies, with just one ball!
[November 20th (Sunday) 1v1 Strongest Champion Deciding Battle]
The November tournament of the "1v1 Strongest Champion Deciding Battle" was held at the Kashima Antlers Clubhouse Futsal Court.
As the name of the event suggests, it was a tournament where individuals competed in 1v1 skills.
Since it was an individual competition for 1v1 skills, which are very important in soccer, it was a very interesting tournament where the results of daily training were put to the test.
With each tournament, the intensity of play has increased, and we saw fierce battles to win, including feints to outwit opponents and desperate shot blocks in front of the goal.
After a round-robin preliminary round and a knockout final tournament, the weight of each match in the final tournament was different from the preliminaries, with every game filled with tension. Some players who lost even broke down in tears.
The winning player received an "Antlers Uniform" and the right to challenge for the "Championship," where champions from each month gather at the beginning of the new year to determine the true 1v1 strongest champion!!
This tournament also featured many intense matches, with "smiles" seen from the winners and "tears" from the losers. We hope they use this frustration as fuel for their future training.
We will hold it again next year, so we look forward to your participation.
[November Tournament Winner: Yuto Aoyagi (4th grade)]