FuJET Nagano Soccer Tournament

There is an ALT soccer tournament held in Nagano-ken every year. Teams from across the country gather to show who has the best footie skills, and who has the best supporters. This is a trip to soccer players and non-soccer players alike. '''This is not a trip about soccer-- it's a trip about Fukushima pride! '''

The Game
The women's team plays on half-sided pitches and goals with 6 players a side.. The men's tem plays on a regular size field with 11 players a side. The games are usually 15 or 20 minute halves (this depends on the number of teams in the tournament).

Beyond our games, we will also be assigned games to help ref. (One ref and two linesmen)

Day 1- Friday
We travel to Nagano as a group via highway bus on the Friday before the tournament. Pick-ups occur at the following cities, in the following order: Fukushima-shi, Koriyama, and Aizuwakamatsu. We will arrive to the hotel late that night and head to bed.

Day 2- Saturday
Everyone wakes up bright and early and makes their way to breakfast/showers. On the bottom-most level of the hotel, you will find the public baths and the dining hall. Breakfast is buffet style. After filling our tummies, we'll load on the bus and head to the pitch. Lunch is not provided on Saturday and you will need to bring your own. The bus will most likely stop at a conbini on the way to the field. Around 4 league-styled games will be played on Saturday. After the games, we will head back to the hotel, shower and have dinner in the cafeteria. For the past two years there has been a pub quiz held by the tournament organisers, followed by a dance party. Hijinks ensue and everyone trudges off to bed to get their beauty sleep for another day soccer.

Day 3- Sunday
Breakfast and showering then heading to the fields. The matches and time will be made known. Soccer will be played and a winner shall be crowned! A curry lunch is provided on Sunday. After we have finished all of our games, on the bus we go. If there is time, we may head back to the hotel for a shower. However, if we're the awesome winners and playing in the final matches, we may not have enough time to shower ahead of time. Exhausted, we head back to Fukushima-ken. Drop-offs occur in reverse order on Sunday-- Aizuwakamatsu, Koriyama, and then Fukushima-shi.

Things to Bring

 * INSURANCE CARD. I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH.
 * Sun cream. Giant open soccer pitch? Yup, sun cream is a definite.
 * Layers! Last year the tournament was hot and sunny. The year before it was blindingly cold and windy. We are on the top of a hill and the weather changes very quickly. It's better to be safe than sorry and have more jumpers with you than not enough.
 * Plastic poncho. It's small and better safe than sorry if it does start to rain.
 * Extra socks.
 * Also... INSURANCE CARD!

Equipment
Don't worry so much if you have cleats or not. If you're not out playing soccer on a regular basis, cleats aren't going to be too necessary; you can get away with trainers. Shin guards are highly encouraged. If you have a soccer ball, please feel free to bring it. It'll make warming up and practice easier.

Participation
Soccer Star? Never been on a soccer field in your life? Don't worry. The games aren't terribly long and we will have subs. At the end of the day, the game is about having fun. Don't be embarassed to give it a go and try it out. And, if you're feeling tired, don't push yourself. Play as little or as much as you like. Just remember, we'll have work on Monday so don't send yourself to the hospital! Don't feel like playing? Be a supporter! Cheer your heart out! Do Fukushima proud! (If you are coming to just cheer, you should not have a voice come Monday if you're doing your job properly.)

Fine Print
The trip prices include hotel stay for two nights, breakfast for two days, Saturday night's dinner, and Sunday's curry lunch. The price of the trip varies from year to year; this variance comes from the number of people attending the tournament. The big cost factor of the trip is the bus cost. The more people who come on the trip and show their Fuku-pride, the cheaper the trip will be. If there are fewer attendees, the bus cost will be split fewer ways and thus more expensive.

Official Tournament Website
Nagano ALT Soccer Tournament