Soccer Teaching Friendship - and English!

The British Football Academy

There has been a big upsurge in recent years of getting English teaching out of the classroom and into the outdoors. While people can now study English while cooking, playing golf and even hiking, the latest movement in Tokyo is for kids to practice and learn the language while playing the world's most popular sport - soccer. Not only that, but players and their friends can mix and make friends while simultaneously saving their parents money on juku!

The British Football Academy (BFA) is providing the opportunity. Jon DAY, co-founder and Communications Director of Footy Japan Ltd., which runs BFA, explains the company's philosophy of making football education available to all children regardless of race, culture, language, gender and religion. "Many of the international schools in Kanto run their sports programs over very short seasons meaning the kids will play basketball for a few weeks, then switch to tennis, then football, then swimming, etc.," Jon says. "This works well to expose the children to a variety of different sports at an early age, but it doesn't cater particularly well to those kids who are already budding football players, or those who simply enjoy football more than other sports."

Jon says that children of all ages and abilities can sign up with BFA, and activities are taught to the children by friendly coaches who have all received accreditation from the English Football Association (the FA). In contrast to many other organizations, participation is the easy part - "the only prerequisites for joining the Academy are a positive attitude and a big smile."

With kids from different countries all playing the same game, how are differences in language dealt with? Jon says the Academy is made up of more than 30% Japanese children, some of who speak English fluently but many of who speak little or no English. "After a few weeks with us, their English will have improved demonstrably," Jon explains. "A big reason for this is that the kids are enjoying themselves while in an English-speaking environment. The fact that English is not their first language does not inhibit their ability to be taught football. Japanese parents have been quick to realize that BFA is a far more economical and healthy option to, for example, juku (cram school) - the kids are out in the fresh air, getting exercise, mixing with kids from every corner of the globe and learning some English at the same time."

Veritable international social hub
But while the children are competitive on the field, they have the chance to get friendly off the pitch. "Football is the common language amongst all BFA members and this common denominator unites all of our children - it really is a beautiful thing," Jon says. "The same goes for parents. At many of BFA's schools there is a very festive atmosphere and entire families come to socialize with other families.

BFA doubles up as a veritable international social hub, affording parents the opportunity to mix with other parents, Japanese and foreign. "The fact that the kids are having so much fun during their sessions has a knock-on effect on the parents both Japanese and foreign - all of who become more inclined to socialize with each other and form lasting bonds, which is great to see," Jon says. "The Academy's mission since day one has been to make 'Football Fun For All.' I guess this extends to the parents as well."

While there is always a lot of positive yelling and screaming on the pitch, much of the genuine feedback is received when a child has left the country. "It's really moving to hear that something you've worked hard to create has touched and benefited a young life," Jon says. "A lot of the time we receive e-mails from parents who have left Japan saying how BFA really enhanced their family's experience of Japan."

One memorable story Jon recalls was of an exceptional young player who had been involved with a J-League junior team and had quit because he wasn't enjoying the regimental style of training. He joined the Academy and quickly learnt that before everything, football can be fun. "He was with us for about two years and is currently with a different J-League team truly enjoying his football - mission accomplished!"

The biggest issue BFA faces is securing new locations. Despite Japan co-hosting the Football World Cup in 2002, Jon believes the nation's grassroots football infrastructure is years behind the West. "Open spaces, let alone football fields are very hard to come by," he says. "We work closely with private organizations such as international schools, as securing public venues is almost impossible with lengthy registration processes and lottery systems with no guarantee of success."

Where do the future goals of BFA lie? "Our goal is very simply to continue to make the very best in football education available to all the young lives in Japan who might benefit from it."

©Footy Japan Ltd. 2006 All rights reserved

www.footyjapan.com/bfat

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