1/15 Training
On the 15th, the fourth day of the Okinawa Kunigami camp, the team practiced in the morning at Kaigin Field Kunigami and strengthened their bond through team building in the afternoon.
One of the characteristics of Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI's training sessions is that each one incorporates tactical essence. In the 2-on-2 practice held that day, the goals were placed diagonally to enhance the awareness of defensive sliding.
Up to this point, all players are on equal footing, and there is no division between the main and substitute members during practice. Each individual is given equal opportunities to maintain high motivation, work towards the same goals, and share the same direction. Additionally, from the perspective of conditioning, it is stated that this policy is intentionally implemented.
All players and staff are in sync, creating a new Tokyo in the tropical land.
FOCUS ON
The official photographer captured this shot of "FOCUS ON" featuring Go HATANO, also known as "DJ GO," on the fourth day of the Okinawa Kunigami camp. With his song selections, he has boosted morale before practices and provided relaxation after them. It seems a rival has emerged for DJ GO. That rival is Ewerton Gaudino, known as "DJ Ewert." Scenes of intense competition over song choices have become a daily occurrence at this camp.
CAMP VOICE vol.4 Director Rikizo MATSUHASHI
The Okinawa Kunigami camp has completed its fourth day, and the new outline of Tokyo that coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI is seeking is gradually starting to take shape. After the morning practice on this day, we spoke with the new coach about the training so far, as he seeks to focus on the technical aspects.
Q: In this camp, we are asking the players to take initiative. During practice, I was encouraging them to "surpass my ideas."
A, it’s not about surpassing me or not, nor is it about using me as a standard. It’s about bringing out the power you inherently have, and if I have any suggestions, communicating with the players (ideas and advice), then figuring out how to leverage yourself and surpass that. You must not stop your growth. However, growth is not always a steady upward trend, so it’s important to fully understand that there will be ups and downs in the growth curve, and I want you to take even a small positive step forward. I hope to be of help in that process.
Q: It seems that all players are given equal opportunities in every session.
A, I believe practice should be equal. There are limits to this, but depending on the content, it is not always the case. To work together in camp facing the same direction with the same goal, opportunities should be given equally. Doing so also has a physical approach aspect that considers conditioning. Technically and tactically, we are currently working with that intention as well. Players are fully aware and engaged to maintain their motivation, so we must respond to that.
Q: From the beginning of the camp, we have been talking about responding to good plays with good voices.
A, we might be noisy right now, but I think it will become something really good once that turns into the players' voices. Of course, this world is not that easy. There may be times during practice when there are more harsh voices. I'm not criticizing or denying that kind of coaching. I believe it is something that makes the team better. Of course, atmosphere is important, and ideally, it would be nice to have a clean, stable, and good atmosphere, but I think our world requires us to face the opposite atmosphere just as much. This is not only true in the world of soccer but also in the business world, and we are not just smoothing things over with nice words. When such strict feedback comes out and we can properly accept it, I believe that kind of atmosphere will lead to something even better.
Q: It seems that there are many training sessions designed for each individual to incorporate tactics, starting with 2-on-2 drills that instill an awareness of sliding.
A, I rarely stop practice. I do stop and give instructions when necessary, but I believe it is important to try to do what we want to do while moving, and at the same time approach the errors that prevent us from doing what we want. I am experimenting with how to organize this by breaking it down. We still need to share this with everyone, and even though a practice match is coming up, we are not in a hurry. The players are working on it diligently. Rather than focusing on how far I want to go in my mind, I think their level of fulfillment and such things are more important right now. I am gradually incorporating the essence of tactics and agreements into the training, so if that permeates and becomes ingrained in everyone, I believe it will naturally flow in that direction without having to do formal lectures or meetings saying "this is how it is."
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
