A training session for strength coaches, ‘ the AFC Fitness Coaching Certificate Course Level 1 (Part1)’, was held for the first time in Japan.
‘The AFC Fitness Coaching Certificate‘ is one of the courses AFC specialises in. The trend in football changes every few years and the physical aspect has attracted attention recently, raising its importance.
This course is designed to increase the number of AFC strength coaches and encourage teams to use their knowledge in physical training.
Part 1 of level 1 in this course was held this time. By completing part 2 next year, one will obtain a level 1 license.

Instructor's Comment

Jens Bangsbo FIFA/AFC Instructor
This course is primarily intended to teach how to improve the physical aspects of the top teams and understand when or what to do in order to control their physical strength. The AFC places particular importance on fitness training with ball on the pitch. When you hear the phrase ‘fitness training’, you might think of body strength. However, we intend to introduce the idea of fitness training with ball on the pitch. The participants were excellent and they thought about how to raise the level of Japan’s physical level, not to mention their own. Very interestingly, although the participants were all Japanese, they have worked across the world, including in Italy, China and Korea, and they still want to learn from this course. I thought it was brilliant that they thought about what they could do to contribute to the team and the team was very united with their teamwork. I expect a lot in the future in Japan.

Partcipants' Comments

KINOSHI Katsuhito, Nagoya Grampus Eight
What I felt most when I joined the Certificate Course this time was that we had to learn seriously in order to catch up to the international level of football. I could see where I was and also learned what I was or wasn’t able to do through a tough three-hour tough practical lesson everyday. I learned it is vital for all the coaches to understand whether the training matches the aim. During the practical coaching, we were required to build a training course, which was effective and realistic in technical, tactical and mental aspects. It was tough, but I enjoyed it. Having said that, in light of the situation in Japan, only a few courses are planned logically and regulated in terms of difficulty, the number of courses, and the length. I think we need to re-examine all the training courses from the top down to the grass-root level, if we compare ourselves to the international standard. This course, which was held in Japan for the first time, was very productive. The training was vital for us, the football coaches, in order to raise the level of coaching, bearing in mind the global level. The course was well organised, and the instructor and the applicants spent a very productive six days together. I’m grateful to the association and the people from the clubs for giving me the opportunity to join this course. I’d like to prepare myself for the next level of the course.

TAKAHASHI Kazutaka, Yokohama F・Marinos
I’m grateful to have Jens Bangsbo, who is a sports scientist in football, as an instructor for the AFC Fitness Coaching Course Level 1 for the first time in Japan. I’m very pleased to join the course as an applicant. As Bangsbo said: ‘Football isn’t a science. However, science can raise the level of football’, the power of science is vital in order to improve football. I learned that understanding the scientific basis is essential to planning a training course. I believe we need to understand the characteristic features of football or positioning and add technical or tactical factors, when we plan and deliver a training course as a fitness coach.

OTSUKA Keisuke, FC Machida Zerbia
I had a very productive six days, as it was the first Certificate Course in Japan for strength coaches and the course was also hosted by Bangsbo, who is considered a world authority. We had training and lectures in turn and moved onto some group work to process what we learned in. This training style was a very good experience to connect logic with the pitches. It was also very meaningful to live under one roof with other physical coaches and to exchange opinions on the pitch or in the conference room. I’d like to have a productive 2015 season, so that I can discuss a lot more in the next training course at the end of next year.