Various events were held, including skill-up schools taught directly by the Kashima Antlers Junior Youth coach and soccer classes, with a total of 300 players participating!
Please see below for event details and photos from the day.
[February 18 (Sunday) Kashima Antlers Junior Youth Coach Skill-Up School]
A "Skill-Up School" taught directly by Kashima Antlers Junior Youth Manager Shinohara, Coach Kotani, and GK Coach Sato, who led the team to their first national championship since 2002 at the Prince Takamado Trophy U-15 Championship at the end of last year, was held at the Kashima Antlers Clubhouse.
Manager Shinohara focused on "winning the ball," Coach Kotani on "dribbling," and GK Coach Sato on "goalkeeping."
Manager Shinohara conducted a warm-up focusing on approaching a stationary ball, quick footwork to get to the ball, and staying with the opponent's movement after getting close.
After that, 1-on-1 drills were performed, with training focused on winning the ball in various situations, such as defending from the front and from an angle.
Coach Kotani conducted training on basic dribbling touches, feints, and turns. After repetitive training using cones as opponents, players engaged in 1-on-1 training with actual opponents.
Players were seen grasping the timing of feints and the distance from opponents, and were able to get past them!
GK Coach Sato focused on enjoying the goalkeeper position and conducted training to stop shots.
Players learned basic goalkeeping stance, how to extend their hands for catches, and how to fall. In the next training session, they played 1-on-1 shooting games between goalkeepers with their backs to the goal.
In addition to the catches learned in the initial training, players were encouraged to be conscious of their positioning to defend the goal and stop shots, and by being mindful of their positioning, the number of shots they stopped increased!
The event saw many players eager to learn various things from Manager Shinohara and the experienced coaching staff.
We will continue to hold events with Kashima Antlers Junior and Kashima Antlers Junior Youth coaches. Please join us!
[February 25 (Sunday) Kashima Area School Graduation Ceremony]
The "Kashima Area School Graduation Ceremony" was held at Maekawa Ground in Itako City for 6th-grade elementary school students and 3rd-grade junior high school students graduating from the school.
On the day, teams were formed with fellow students and coaches from the same school, and matches were played!
While striving for victory, everyone ultimately enjoyed playing soccer with friends they had been with at the school for a long time!
Some players had attended Antlers School since kindergarten, and seeing them express gratitude to their coaches and parents showed significant growth.
We hope that the graduates will continue to thrive, using their experience of completing Antlers School as a stepping stone.
[February 28 (Wednesday) Soccer Class for Kids (preschool to pre-first grade) in Itako]
A "Soccer Class" for kids was held at Maekawa Ground in Itako City.
It started with coordination training, such as running and standing on one leg, and gradually progressed to ball-feeling activities using balls, such as throwing and kicking!
After that, practical training such as cone kicks and dribbling was performed. In the games, players showed courage and many goals were scored.
The Kashima Antlers School Itako branch holds practice every Friday at Maekawa Ground in Itako City. Please come for a free trial!
[February 28 (Wednesday) Soccer Class for Kids (preschool to pre-first grade) and 1st & 2nd Graders in Namegata]
A soccer class for kids (preschool to pre-first grade) and 1st and 2nd graders was held at the Aso Sports Ground Multi-Purpose Field in Namegata City.
On the day, in addition to movements like running and jumping, players practiced tag where they had to pass through cone gates while escaping a "demon," and dribbling while looking around.
In the final game, players significantly improved their dribbling skills by utilizing the dribbling techniques they learned in practice and playing while aware of their surroundings!
The Kashima Antlers School Namegata branch holds practice every Wednesday at the Aso Sports Ground Multi-Purpose Field. Please come for a trial!
