Our Activities
One of problems children with developmental disorders have is that they are all too often denied participation in sports, because they can have difficulty following the rules of organized sports, or with the physicality of some gym activities. NPO TRACOS sends experienced and professional coaches to offer a soccer class so that children with developmental disorders who give up joining sports activities nearby, can do a lot of sports without feeling stressed, scared, perplexed or dissapointed.
In order to carry out our mission, "Inclusion through sports ", reaching out to individuals and society is crucial. We organize special events that unimpaired individuals participate in as players and volunteers to raise awareness and understanding.
Inclusive Soccer GOCHATANO!
GOCHATANO! is an abbreviation for "gocha-gocha wo tanoshimo! (Let’s enjoy a mix!)". As the name suggests, it’s an inclusive football event where people with and without intellectual disabilities come together on the same team and enjoy playing the game side by side.
GOCHATANO! is sponsored by hummel, a Danish footwear and sportswear brand, who has initiated and supported several projects focusing on changing the world through sport by sponsorships.
GOCHATANO 2025
The event was co-hosted by SSK, 1. FC Köln, and TRACOS, and welcomed around 200 participants from across Japan, ranging from Fukushima in the north to Tokushima in the west.
Coaches from 1. FC Köln and elementary and junior high school students from the German School also took part, creating an energetic and exciting atmosphere throughout the venue.
One of the defining features of GOCHATANO! is that participants spend the day wearing uniforms designed by the TRACOS kids. For this event, participants were divided into teams based on 20 different designs and enjoyed playing together within their teams.
- Date & Time：1/March/2025 : 11:00-14:00
- Place： Edogawa Ward Sports Center
- Number of Participants：170
- Cosponsors：Asadaame Co., Ltd., Cow Brand Soap Kyoshinsha Co., Ltd., Daio K.K., Nakano Shokai Co.,ltd., Sgrum K.K , SSK Corporation.
The GOCHATANO! event held on March 1, 2025, is featured on the website of SSK Corporation. You can read SSK Corporation’s event report via the link below (external link).
Inclusive Soccer: Smiles and Joy Born from Sharing Experiences (in Japanese)
The GOCHATANO! event held on March 1, 2025, is also featured on the website of 1. FC Köln.
Zweiter Inklusionstag in Tokyo ein voller Erfolg (in German)
Nikko Niko Festa
TRACOS organizes an annual nationwide event, Nikko Niko Festa, for adults and children with learning disabilities. Nikko Niko Festa creates to help people with intellectual disabilities enjoy sports in a supportive and joyful environment. It promotes understanding by inviting families, clubs, and teams to play together.
18th Nikko Niko Festa
Field Star League & Challenge Field
Date and Time：October 19th, 2025
Number of Participating Teams：37 teams
Number of Games：58 games
Venue : Edogawa City Track & Field Stadium
Champion League & Challenge Field
Date and Time：December 7th, 2025
Number of Participating Teams：10 teams
Number of Games：20 games
Venue : Edogawa City Track & Field Stadium
25 clubs (389 players), 30 individual players and 330 volunteers were participated in the 18th Nikko Niko Festa.
Sports Volunteering
SC TRACOS students and FC TRACOS players take part in a sports event as volunteer staff. Participation in community events and activities as voluntters and improve their social skills and self-esteem. Also, them doing volunteer work as a member of society along with other volunteers from diverse backgrounds has a great meaning for us all.
SENIOR & TRACOS Rec.
A friendly match between TRACOS and senior soccer players from Nihon Soccer OB Association is held every year.
Note SENIOR & TRCOS Rec. was not held in 2020 & 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On-Site Soccer Class for Kids & Families
On-site classes for kids and their families who can't join our schools. TRACOS sends coaches with fun inflatable soccer equipment and hold a 1-2 hour soccer class.
NPO TRACOS sends experienced and professional coaches (Certified by Japanese Para-Sports Association) to special-needs schools and events to offer a soccer class so that children with developmental disorders/difficulties who give up joining sports activities nearby, or can’t come to our schools because of distance, can move their bodies without feeling stressed, scared, perplexed or dissapointed.
Coaches carry colourful inflatable soccer equipment, which helps children find sports fun and interesting. Class activities help them improve their health and athletic abilities, and according to recent studies, exercise could benefit children with developmental disorders/difficulties. The studies found children in elementary school were better able to control their behaviour in the classroom when they excercised.
Our on-site soccer classes are not only for children but also for their parents. Parents share information each other and develope mutual feelings of fellowship before and after class.
COPA-TRA & copa-tra
A friendly match between TRACOS and unimpaired soccer teams is held every year.
Workshops : Shidosha Juku
NPO TRACOS holds seminars/webinar for those who are involved in developmental disorders education bimonthly. Yukinori Sawae, Associate Professor B.P.E., M.P.E., Ph.D.- University of Tsukuba, gives a lecture on "Supports of Movement Development for Children with Developmental Disorders".
Participants learn what is required for instruction for children with developmental disorders by using examples and case studies through a seminar. Also, problems and challenges sports instructors, teachers and caregivers dealing with children who are afflicted by developmental disorders/difficulties face are shared and discussed in the seminar.
