The AFC Pro Diploma Course organised by the Football Association of Thailand was held in Kanto for eight days from Thursday, 17 August to Thursday, 24 August 2023.

The AFC Pro Diploma Course is a course to obtain the highest level of coaching licence issued by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the course consists of four modules. The primary focus of the module held in Japan was club attachment. With the support of FC Tokyo and Yokohama F. Marinos, the participants were given the opportunity to observe and analyse the training sessions and matches of the top team and youth teams of each club. Through the discussion sessions held with the club staff, including the head coach and general manager, the participants learned how each team prepares for every match, how coaches should behave, and what it means to be a professional club.

The participants also deepened their knowledge in a variety of subjects, including the vision of Japanese football, youth development, physical fitness, goalkeepers, and sports psychology, through lectures held at the Prince Takamado Memorial JFA YUME Field.

Instructors' Comment

Stephen RUTTER, Instructor
The FA of Thailand would like to thank the JFA, its staff, and the Japanese professional club sides, who have combined to facilitate an outstanding study visit for the FA of Thailand Professional Coaching Licence Group.

The group who arrived on 15th August were based in the Shinko District in Yokohama, and in their free time were able to explore the many attractions of this beautiful city, and the surrounding area, which provided the perfect opportunity to refresh between their intensive study activities.

Their time was split between formal presentations at the JFA Training Centre in Chiba, attendance at training sessions with both FC Tokyo and Yokohama F. Marinos, and observing two J.League fixtures, Yokohama F. Marinos v FC Tokyo and Yokohama FC v Cerezo Osaka.

Mr. Masanaga KAGEYAMA, the Youth Development Director at JFA delivered an introductory presentation on Japan's Way, which identified the rationale and processes by which the JFA and its stakeholders are striving to improve the standards across Japanese football. This presentation afforded context for the subsequent activities undertaken, allowing the coaches to better understand the information presented.

Essential to the trip was the group's ability to interact with, and ask questions of, staff at both the JFA and the various clubs they visited, as they looked to enhance their knowledge base around areas as diverse as, exercise physiology, psychology, training methodology and goalkeeping.

Special thanks must go to Head Coaches Peter CKLAMOVSKI at FC Tokyo, and Kevin MUSCAT at Yokohama F. Marinos, who took time out from their intense schedules to address the group, and conduct question and answer sessions which served to inspire and educate in equal measure.

The study group returned to Thailand on 25th August, having enhanced their professional knowledge whilst enjoying the unique cultural aspects that a visit to Japan provides.

Ekalak THONG-AM, Assistant Instructor
This program was an attachment part of the Coaching Course Professional level organized by FA Thailand, on 17th - 24th August 2023. Firstly, we are appreciated and thank you very much for JFA's support in organizing this attachment.

The first session is about how Japan plays and training, Japan ways, by coach Kageyama. In the session, all coaches will learn and know about how Japan plans and develops the players in the long-term plan for 2050 to host and win the World Cup. The next impressive session is about coach MORIYASU sharing ideas on how to develop a national team and management at the national team level. Coaches interested in questioning and listening to all distributed from coach Moriyasu.

Goal players, from coach KAWAMATA, shared the new perception of the goalkeeper view. In the fitness session, we also learned how to manage sessions in a better way, not only tactical. The very informative experience as a coach at the professional level was how we observed J1 training and had a special meeting with top coaches such as Kevin Muscat (Yokohama F. Marinos) and Peter Cklamovski (FC Tokyo).

The attachment part in Japan was impressive and well organized. All coaches had very very good experience and of course, learned something to develop football in Asia. We are most welcome and support from JFA.

Participant's Comments

Mr. FUKUDA Jun
Under the operation of JFA, I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this licensing course. The training observations of FC Tokyo and Marinos, alongside Thai coaches, were intriguing, and attending matches provided an opportunity to enhance team analysis. Furthermore, listening to lectures from many JFA coaching staff, including Coach Moriyasu, was a valuable experience.

Accepting teams from AFC Member Associations to hold training camps/courses in Japan

Upon receiving requests to hold training camps/courses in Japan, JFA will make necessary arrangements in efforts to support the AFC Member Associations.
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