Dec. 8, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt soccer team is excited to announce that they are planning to take an 11-day trip to Japan at the end of May.
Head coach Darren Ambrose is thrilled for the opportunity the trip presents for the team.
“We don’t want to do ordinary, we want to do extraordinary,” said Ambrose. “Every chance we get to go overseas, I want to provide our student athletes with experiences that are unlike anything else they will get to do in their lives. I am excited for this opportunity because it will be an eye-opening experience for everyone that travels.”
During the trip, the Dores will play three matches against quality opposition on a national level. The matches will provide a unique opportunity for the team to play against some of the best players in the world. Japanese women’s soccer is among the national powers and Ambrose hopes the team can learn from their technical style in these matches.
“Japanese soccer for women is amongst the best in the world,” stated Ambrose. “It is a different brand of soccer, it is a very technically-based soccer culture. We will be able to play a few games against teams that are technically superior to us and tactically very advanced. I want our kids to see the benefit of having a sound, technical team.”
Japan is also rich in history that spans over thousands of years and the Dores will be able to visit a number of cultural and historical venues.
They will spend the first part of the trip in Tokyo and visit the Sumidagawa Boat & Hamarikyu Gardens, Tsukiji Fish Market and take in the Sumo Wrestling National Championships.
The Dores will then depart and spend the latter half of the trip in Kyoto. While there, they will visit the ancient temples and castles in Kyoto and make a trip to Hiroshima. They will explore the Hiroshima Castle while also visiting the A-bomb museum.
“I have taken a few club teams abroad and found that when we got back, the kids that experienced it are different just by virtue of seeing things outside the United States,” said Ambrose. “We take so much for granted here and the kids have a better appreciation for their lives in the US when they come back.”
Make sure to follow @VandySocr on Twitter and Vanderbilt Women’s Soccer on Facebook to stay up to date with all the news and info with the Dores upcoming trip.
