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To celebrate the Japan-Australia 2006 Year of Exchange, three YOE recognized
junior football clinics were held in Osaka city by the Japan Australian
Football League in Osaka city.
At each clinic the children enjoyed playing a new sport as well as meeting
Australians. The long term effect of these clinics is that local children
know more about Australia and are interested in joining the Osaka Russells
Australian football junior team which is based in the Asahi ward area.
Already the junior team has had a number of new members join and these
children play Australian football every weekend at regular training.
Below is a report of each clinic as was
posted on the www.osakadingoes.com BBS.
CLINIC 1- Goannas
On March 25th in Asahi ward Osaka city at Ikue Seishonen Kaikan gym the
first JAFL junior football clinic of the year was held. This clinic was
one of many events that the JAFL will hold to celebrate the Japan-Australia
2006 Year of Exchange.
In attendance there were 18 children, of
which 14 were regular Osaka Russells junior team members. Thanks to the 4 new
children who also joined the clinic. The children practice handballing and
marking activites that emphasized that an oval-shaped ball can be tricky to
control at times.
A good time was had by all and it was a
pleasure to see the smiles on the faces of all, especially the 4 new children.
Thank you to Yasui-san and the Osaka Russells mothers for their support on the
day. Also a big thanks to the guest coach Shane Flanagan from the Tokyo
Goannas.
CLINIC 2- Samurais
On Saturday May 13th a junior footy clinic was held at the Ikue Seishonenkaikan
gym in Asahi-ward, Osaka. In attendance there were 23 children as 11 players
from the Tokyo Samurais and Osaka Dingoes
football clubs.
The clinic started off with kicking and
handball drills which were then followed by a 3-team indoor football tournament
which saw each team win one game but also lose one. All the kids had a great
time and loved the show the Samurais put on. []
This clinic was the second of the year
jointly held by the JAFL and the Osaka Japan-Australia Society, and was again
an event which celebrated the 2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange.
Many thanks to Mr. Arata and his Samurais’ players and managers for coming
down to take part, as well to the Dingoes’ players who came. Also thank
you to the Osaka Russells junior players and parents who were again fantastic
at welcoming first-time kids to the clinic. Finally thanks to Osaka city
staff for lending us the gym again.
CLINIC 3- Box Hill North
On June 10th 14 members from Box Hill North
FC(Football Club) with the help of the Osaka Russells Junior FC(Football Club),
the Osaka Dingoes FC(Football Club) and the Osaka Japan-Australia Society, ran
a JAFL football clinic for grades 5 and 6 at Ikue Elementary School in Asahi
ward, Osaka city today. Seventy children enjoyed an hour of footy which was
then followed by students and visitors all having a communal lunch.
The students loved the clinic and some
great footy skills were put on display. Two members of the Box Hill North team
were seven-year-old Callum and five-year-old Liam. Both of those boys later
raved on and on about the Japanese students’ skills as well as how friendly
they were. []
This clinic was an official 2006 Japan-Australia
Year of Exchange event. It is events like this that are at the fore-front of
helping to promote cross-cultural understanding. I know both Callum and
Liam were ecstatic, but perhaps what was
even more remarkable was the child-like enthusiasm shown and the rave-reviews
heard from the visiting adult members as well. []
Thank you everyone for what was a memorable
day for all.
[] – edited from BBS original NAE
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