The Class S Coach Training Course 2023 started on Saturday 8 April in Shin-Yokohama with 20 participants selected from those who participated in the trial held in December 2022. The guidance started with a motivational speech delivered by JFA Technical Director SORIMACHI Yasuharu.

Each of the 20 participants will complete a nine-month training course during which they will both earn a professional licence and advance as coaches through friendly competition and the display of their distinctive personalities.

Module1 Short Course (1)

Dates: Sat. 8 - Thu. 13 April

Cooperation in dispatching support players: Ryutsu Keizai University

Participant's Comment

Mr. UCHIDA Atsuto (U-20 Japan National Team Role Model Coach)
We were assigned with two tasks prior to the assembly. One was to create our own play model, and the other was to analyse either Yokohama FM or Yokohama FC, whichever we were assigned, and to come up with a game plan before 8 April, when the two teams actually play each other in the seventh matchweek of the J1 season. When preparing for the first task of creating a play model, I had to think about what kind of football I wanted to play and what I subjects I needed to organise in order to achieve this. Which made me realise that although I had played football since first grade of primary school, I was still uncertain and did not have an established philosophy of the game.

The second task was to analyse Yokohama FM, which meant that I had to analyse them for the first time, even though I had played against them many times during my playing days. You might ask, "Didn't you analyse and prepare for matches when you were a player?" but I didn't really study my opponents that much at the time. I'm really sorry to the staff members who repeatedly tried to share information about the opponents at those meetings. This may be one of the reasons why we must regard players and coaches as two completely different things. By holding group work discussions after we were assembled, we were able to gain new perspectives and learn techniques to improve our efficiency. Above all, I felt very grateful to Yokohama FM for their full cooperation in welcoming us to Nissan Stadium to watch the match. It provided us with a wonderful opportunity to observe the J. League champions in action. I sincerely appreciate it.

When the participants actually gathered and met for the first time, there was an indescribable sense of tension in the air. I think it was a sign of the determination, confidence, and anxiety that each of us had. We first headed to University of Tsukuba, where we took part in the ASE workshop, with the aim of experiencing and learning about team building in an intense but open way. In a workshop that started with self-introductions, we were able to foster a sense of trust and teamwork by the end of the experience. I learned a lot here, including how to accept my colleagues and how to let myself loose.

“Practical coaching session.” Why does these words make me so uncomfortable? Even those who have been coaching in the field for years seemed nervous. I went into the workshop with a "go for broke" mentality, which I certainly did go broke, but with the help of my tutor's guidance and support, and the warm words of my fellow participants, I am now ready to take on the next challenge.

What is coaching? What is football? I want to gain as much as I can through the struggles. I would like to cherish this opportunity as I work to complete the course.

This project is funded by the Sports Promotion Lottery.