I’ve been coaching volleyball at various levels in Japan—from elementary to high school—and have always felt a sense of unease about Japanese development environment. This feeling only grew stronger the more I learned about volleyball abroad. My perspective shifted entirely after attending an FIVB-certified Level 1 coaching seminar in Manila, the Philippines. The five-day seminar and my conversations with international coaches provided a valuable opportunity to re-examine Japan’s development system.
Overwhelmed, But Not for Long
The seminar had 47 participants, with only myself and one other coach from the U.S. being non-Filipino. I started the course feeling anxious and isolated, but the cheerful and kind local coaches quickly helped me relax and enjoy the experience. My conversations with them significantly broadened my coaching perspective.
Three Key Takeaways from Top International Coaches
My most profound insights came from my discussions with top coaches, including อนุสร บัณฑิตย์ (“Happy Thai”), the head coach of a championship team; Ed Ortega, his young and innovative assistant; and Godfrey Owese Okumu, a Kenyan native with extensive coaching experience. Our conversations revealed three core issues with Japan’s youth development system.
The “Free Position” System: A Misnomer
I asked the foreign coaches about Japan’s “free position system,” a special rule for elementary school players. Their reactions were all the same: bewilderment.
They were baffled by a system that, despite its name, limits players to fixed positions and specific roles. In their view, it’s a given that young players should experience a variety of positions and skills to broaden their potential. Japan’s focus on short-term wins seems to have led to a “Galapagos syndrome,” creating a unique system that hinders a player’s all-around growth.
The Limits of a School-Dependent System
I had a lively discussion with Ed Ortega about the reliance on the school-based “club activity” (bukatsu) system. We found that the Philippines faces similar issues: a lack of qualified coaches, burnout among teachers, and a decline in sports clubs.
While many passionate coaches work in schools, the bukatsu system has reached its limits. The solution lies in empowering community sports clubs to provide a consistent, high-quality environment with professional coaches. The value of sports coaching must be recognized socially to make this shift a reality.
Breaking Free from a “Japan-Only” System
I asked the American coach, “How does the U.S. win on the world stage without a top domestic league?” Her answer was simple and insightful: “Our top players go abroad to get better.”
In America, it’s common for young players to challenge themselves in international leagues right after high school or college. They gain invaluable experience on the world stage from a young age. In Japan, however, this practice is still rare. While a few players have recently started playing abroad, the system remains largely “Japan-only.”
For Japan to consistently win on the world stage, this must change. We need to create a culture that encourages young players to challenge themselves overseas. This also means addressing the biggest barrier: language skills, particularly English.
Environment Shapes Our Mindset
This experience showed me that our environment shapes our thoughts and actions. The “free position system” may be conditioning coaches to see players as machine parts. The school-dependent model may be creating an environment where the value of expert coaching is overlooked. And the “Japan-only” system may be preventing our athletes from reaching their full potential.
Creating a new system requires pain and energy, but if we don’t change now, we risk being left behind in a rapidly evolving world. The time for Japanese volleyball to evolve is now.
