Support for Domestic and International Academy Activities

J.LEAGUE has established three objectives for academy operations: “player and coach development,” “building and advancing reproducible academy systems,” and “raising standards across all J.LEAGUE academies.” To achieve these goals, J.LEAGUE provided financial support through Academy Activity Grants for “initiatives that create international experience opportunities for players and coaches to build world-class standards within clubs” and “activities to establish domestic match environments for gaining regular competitive play experience.” In 2024, these grants supported 82 activities across 44 clubs. While these activities ranged from overseas tours and observation visits to hosting international and domestic tournaments, we’ll highlight two specific examples: Tokyo Verdy (U-14 Scotland Tour) and Roasso Kumamoto (U-17 England Short-term Programme).

Tokyo Verdy U-14 Scotland Tour (Overseas Tour)

Tokyo Verdy’s Junior Youth programme, comprising 18 U-14 players and four staff members, embarked on a 10-day tour to Edinburgh, Scotland, from Tuesday 30 July to Thursday 8 August 2024. Based in Edinburgh, they engaged in joint training sessions with Scottish Premiership club Hibernian FC, observed first team training, and played practice matches against various Scottish clubs.
The tour had two primary objectives: to foster both football and personal development through overseas experience, and to build relationships with Hibernian FC. Participating players reported that “their approach and mindset towards football changed significantly” and that “it provided an opportunity to reconsider what football means to them.” The tour proved valuable for future development in various aspects, including promoting staff exchange and experiencing language barriers, which underscored the importance of language learning.

©TOKYO VERDY

Roasso Kumamoto England Short-term Programme (Small Group Overseas Activity)

Two U-17 players and two staff members from Roasso Kumamoto participated in a 19-day programme at Premier League club Chelsea FC from Sunday 31 December 2023 to Thursday 18 January 2024. During their stay, they joined the U-18 and U-21 categories for gym workouts, physical training, ball skills, and practice matches in top-class facilities. They also gained knowledge about the academy’s history, vision, scouting, and coach development from the Youth Category Director. Meanwhile, the U-21 manager shared insights on topics such as training plans, team regulations, match analysis, and coaching methodologies. This experience provided numerous valuable learning opportunities and insights for club development.

New Tournament Format for J.YOUTH CUP

2024 J.YOUTH CUP 30th J.LEAGUE Youth Championship, primarily aimed at U-15 to U-17 players, introduced a new tournament format. The first round involved 64 teams—all 60 teams from J1, J2, and J3, alongside four teams recommended by the Japan Club Youth Football Federation—split into 16 groups of four teams each for round-robin league matches. The second-round organised teams into upper and lower leagues based on the first-round results, with league matches held across 16 groups. The knockout round then showcased eight teams that advanced from the upper league of the second round in a tournament format.

This format change aligned with the tournament’s principle of “providing optimal match opportunities according to each player’s development rate.” By incorporating league matches alongside knockout tournaments, it secured more games, increased players’ development opportunities, and allowed teams more flexibility in player selection.
During the tournament, U-15 players, who usually compete as the senior age group in their regular activities, gained fresh stimulation competing against older players. U-18 players, participating as over-age competitors, encountered new challenges while mentoring younger teammates, and U-16/U-17 players enhanced their leadership roles as essential team members. Players at each level were observed overcoming their individual challenges and advancing in their development.

J.LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2024 ACADEMY MATCH

J.LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2024 ACADEMY MATCH featured two fixtures: “J.LEAGUE Selection U-15 vs Tottenham Hotspur U15” on Friday 26 July, and “J.LEAGUE Selection U-15 vs Newcastle United U15” on Friday 2 August. In collaboration with Japan Football Association (JFA), 40 players selected from various club academies gained valuable development opportunities through interactions with teammates, their English Premier League academy counterparts, and coaching staff, including coaches Shinji ONO and Kengo NAKAMURA. Participating players noted that they “experienced the physical capabilities and intensity of top overseas players firsthand and learned to adapt our play accordingly.” Coach Shinji ONO emphasised “the importance of what the players took away from this experience.” Meanwhile, Coach Kengo NAKAMURA remarked that “everything—from playing in front of large crowds to competing against opponents they don’t normally face—provided valuable experience for the players. I hope this initiative becomes a springboard for their development.”

Continuing to Produce Players Who Can Succeed on the World Stage

J.LEAGUE concentrates on three key areas in player development: (1) improving match environments, including overseas opportunities; (2) developing competent coaches who are capable of fostering player development; and (3) constructing reproducible academy environments (systems). In addition to the aforementioned examples, we continually advance initiatives that support these three areas, including training sessions and events for coaches, technical directors, and academy directors. J.Club academies, which are fundamental to the top tier of Japanese football, must produce players capable of succeeding on the world stage. We will persist with various initiatives to consistently develop players who can compete at the highest international level.