Female Coaches:
Strong Influence on Girls as Role Models

Ms. Bjornsrud explained the responsibility for coaches. Coaches should coach the athletes not only the skills, but also they should play an important role to maximally draw out the athletes’ potential in life. Therefore, Ms. Bjornsrud mentioned the necessity of management skills, leaderships, and qualifications required by coaches. In addition, all the participants had a great time to think about the pros of becoming female coaches, and the reasons why the number of professional female coaches are less in real.

Ms. Bjornsrud closed the session by introducing an activity called “Coaching Tree”. It was an opportunity for each participant to show their appreciation to people who influenced them to be a coach. In addition, Ms. Bjornsrud encouraged the participants to become a good role model for the next generation who wish to become female coaches.

Prevent and Support Female Athletes from the “Female Athlete Triad”
What should Coaches know in advance?

The “Female Athlete Triad (FAT)”, known as the three liable triads seen in female athletes, and the most recent information on treatments and prevention concerning FAT were lectured based on research facts by Ms. Koikawa.

She also highlighted the importance of coaches to acquire correct knowledge of conditions and physical characteristics of female athletes.

Understand Sport Nutrition and Support Female Athletes
to Lead an Optimal Athletic Life

Dr. Suzuki explained that female athletes’ body sometime become “energy efficient” or even “beyond energy efficient” metabolically that called for attention in sport nutrition based on data and case study.

Also, she talked about the importance of supporting female athletes by providing good nutrition to maintain their optimal athletes’ life. Her lecture was easy to follow, appealing, and engaging for the audience. Finally, Dr. Suzuki emphasized the need of sport nutrition management for female athletes to protect their health and maximize their performance.

Develop a Strategic Plan for Career Success in Female Coaches

In pursuing career as coaches, an ecological model was presented and the challenges faced by women were explained at each of the four levels in the model. It was explained that it is important to understand the structure by interpreting that female coaches face problems regardless of individual abilities, experiences, and responsibilities.

Also, compared with male coaches, the "double standard" faced by female coaches were mentioned, and contents which female coaches are not equal to male coaches were introduced in coaching, employment, and treatment. Finally, the double standard in Japanese female coaches was discussed, and participants were conveyed the strategy to lead female coaches to success.

Understand both the Own Natural Style and Adapted Style
Also Understand the Style of Athletes

Participants who carried out the Japanese version of "CoachDISC Profile" deepened their understanding of their own original style and adapted style based on the results of action diagnosis obtained from them. Just like there are action styles in coaches, athletes have similar behavior styles as well.

Therefore, the importance of recognizing their characteristics and to understand them were explained. Participants were taught that it is important to understand and determine the situation, assess, select the appropriate action, adapt your behavioral style in order to achieve a desirable result, and to evaluate the result for future reference. The lecture involved group activities and ended up being a serious lecture with laughter heard from the participants now and then.

Case Study and Self Discovery!

Using the lessons learned in the previous section "CoachDISC Profile program", exercises were held assuming various situations of teams with diverse members.

Participants became coaches and demonstrated how they should contact each of the action type players by actually performing their role. It was carried out while receiving accurate advice from Ms. Liz Hanson, and it became a meaningful exercise for the participants.

I Can Do It！

Facilitator Ms. Kobayashi explained the background of how the “Karuizawa Declaration” was created during the “WCA 2015”. The rest of the time was used for the participants to consider what they should do for improvement.

Then, all participants expressed their determination with the passion of “I Can Do It!” and promised to keep exchanging information and working together. They obtained strong bond and bravery through the academy, and the “WCA 2017” was completed.

Precious Time with the Class of 2017
Encouraging Finale for the Future

In the beginning of closing ceremony, peer coaches elected the best coach of the academy. The best coach award was given to Ms. Mikiko Hagiwara.

Next, a heartfelt and touching message was given from four foreign lecturers. Then, the certificate for completion was given to each participant.

Finally, Dr. Ogasawara (JCRWS) who hosted the academy sent the strong messages to the female coaches who expected to play major roles in the field of sports in Japan. The participants, lecturers, and staff members promised to keep exchanging information and working together. The “WCA 2017” was completed on a high note.