Starting off WCA 2018

The WCA 2018 started from ice-break activity as every year we do. After the activity, participants, lecturers, and staff who were going to share time introduced themselves. Dr. Etsuko Ogasawara, Executive Director of the Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport (JCRWS) greeted everyone and announced that "Women's Sports Promotion Project; Fostering Women Boards in Sports Organizations (enforced by Japan Sports Agency)" was entrusted by the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and the JCRWS was re-entrusted as a model project. Also, Dr. Rieko Yamaguchi (Josai University) who is a member of the JOC Women's Sports Special Committee and a lecturer of this academy for four straight years explained a story behind the academy 2018.

The academy of this year also included elements of "fostering women's boards and leaders". Thus, the academy changed its name to the "WCA 2018".

What Makes Your Life “Worth Living” as a Coach?

Prior to the lecture, Ms. Marlene Bjornsrud handed a hat to Dr. Etsuko Ogasawara, Executive Director of JCRWS. The hat was actually handed from Ms. Julie Foudy (American retired soccer player, twotime FIFA World Cup Champion) to Ms. Bjornsrud in 2003 when they worked together to avoid eliminating “Title IX”, a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity enforced in the United States in 1972. A message "A woman who follows all can not change history" is written on the hat.

At the beginning of the lecture, Ms. Bjornsrud said that "Challenging as a female coach is as harsh as climbing a mountain". Participants are moved from this words because they knew that how Ms. Bjornsrud climbed “mountains” in her life. She explained about the four factors surrounding coaches and described that the overlapped part actually leads to “worth living" as a coach. In this lecture, discussions between participants were also set up and all of them were encouraged to find out the personality of others from activities.

Aiming at Realization of Women’s Sports Movement

Dr. Ogasawara explained what is going on in the field of women in sport now in the world. As she said, "Women's sports movement" in the world is that "All female (and male) leaders in the world change their sports culture and strive to work and work toward a gender equality in sport". She also explained about the history of women in sport in Japan in the movement of the world. "It is not going to right just applying women to the rules created by men. I want you to learn and change thoroughly”, Dr. Ogasawara concluded her lecture with this message.

To Change Women in Sport in Japan?

Regarding the present situation in Japan and the future direction to go forward, Professor Kaori Yamaguchi gave a lecture with several examples. In the case of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games, female athletes were recognized in the number of participation rates and medals won as well as male athletes. However, there was still small number of female coaches and board members in each sport. She explained that it is the same situation as the time when she was an athlete. Based on this situation, Professor. Yamaguchi explained that it is important that the word "sport" itself is clearly stated in the basic policy of the government to promote the female success. She also concluded lecture with her original message to the future: "Always remember that there are women who follows you by opening the door."

Preventing and Supporting Female Athletes
from the “Female Athlete Triad”

Ms. Natsue Koikawa explained the "Female Athlete Triad (FAT)", three liable triads seen in female athletes, which is still low in awareness of female athletes in Japan with the latest research data.

It is said that the risk of FAT is high in many sports in Japan. From the standpoint of supporting athletes and her own experience as an athlete, Ms. Koikawa highlighted the importance of understanding athletes and their condition, prevention and early detection of FAT, and correct education and information provision. In addition, she explained that gynecologic examination is effective for athletes for the purpose of menstrual adjustment and early detection of female-specific diseases.

“Performance, Nutrition, Management”

Dr. Shihoko Suzuki launched the "Sport Nutrition and Dietitian Japan (SNDJ)" in June 2018, with the mission of "Performance, Nutrition, Management". She explained in a concrete and practical way about the role of certificated sports dietitian with knowledge of sports, how to utilize it, and the collaboration of training plans and nutritional support to lead to the performance improvement of athletes. In addition, Dr. Suzuki warned that a lot of misunderstandings are still going on in the field of sports. Therefore, she noted that more accurate images of athletes and conditioning management are needed to support them.

Burnout can Happen to Anyone
How to Respond in the Sports Field

Burnout that can occur due to excessive stress in sports field. In the lecture, environment and system surrounding, the barrier to face, and the fact of the double standard that it exists also in the United States were introduced while listening to experiences from the participants. Dr. Nicole LaVoi explained the definition of burnout and mentioned that in order to prevent burnout, it is necessary to ask yourself "Why am I doing my job now?” She also said that "the answer of “why” for me is to improve lives of women through sports" with a smiling face.

Furthermore, from the results of research and her own experience, Dr. LaVoi explained the usefulness of becoming role models of the same sex. "You are meaningful and valuable", she concluded her lecture with this message.

Adaptive and Natural Styles that Everybody Have

Participants carried out the program "CoachDISC" to analyze behavioral characteristics of coaches prier to a lecture, and brought their analyzed profile report to participate. In the “CoachDISC” program, you can deepen your understanding of the "natural style" and "adaptive style" in yourself. In the work by each style group, we analyzed differences in behavior and deepened their understanding. Ms. Liz Hanson told that everybody have their own style of behavior and they are different from yours. Thus, it is important to understand each other's values on that.

Understand Various Behavior Styles
and Apply It to Coaching

Following the previous lecture about “CoachDISC”, some case study activities had done assuming various situations. Participants divided into four groups and discussed how they understood behavior styles of athletes and examined how to deal with it as coaches. In demonstration, participants played coaches’ role and Ms. Maki Moriya played an athlete role. Several different personalities and gifts were found and all participants learned how to coach athletes throughout the practical activities.

What is Diversity in Society?
Problems and Initiatives in Modern Society

In this lecture, we focused on a definition of a diverse society that is "a society in which each individual's abilities are valued properly", and explained issues from examples of sexual harassment and punishment recently took up in a sports world in Japan. In addition, participants learned how to deal with those problems when they faced in those situations. Also, gender harassment and sexual minorities that are included in the new regulations of the IOC are introduced. Participants recognized themselves through activities to enhance diverse society in sport.

Attract People, Work Together, and Accomplish

In the lecture on "Leadership in Coaching; Theory and Practice", Dr. Ogasawara, Executive Director of the JCRWS, explained the transition of the leadership theory studied so far and the theories applicable to coaching.

Another speaker Mr. Sarah Murray introduced stories and mission from an international NGO "Women Win". As she told, Women Win aims to create a society that allows girls to live safely and supports girls acquiring knowledge and skills through sports participation. In this lecture, Ms. Murray generously told her knowledge, ideas and methods cultivated in her life. For example, a unique arm wrestling competition made all participants, lecturers, and staff from various backgrounds connected and heated up. Also, several skills she explained could also be applied to coaching and leadership. Another activity using LEGO taught us that we could find commonalities and work together to achieve even greater vision. Participants were keenly aware of the importance of collaborating through lectures based on case examples too.

“Things in Common” from Q&A
Shared Emotion among Participants

In this session, questions to lecturers and discussion had done to determine participants’ future. Various questions such as self-conscious about themselves and environmental and organizational problems they are facing were discussed. Participants shared emotion about their issues, positions, and the environment. Panelists gave advice from various angles that resonated with the mind.

Lastly, Dr. Ogasawara, coordinator of this session and Executive Director of JCRWS, concluded the session with this message; "I want each one of you to challenge with something special that you have."

Take Action

First, Ms. Kobayashi, facilitator of this session, explained story and mission of how the “Karuizawa Declaration for 2020” was created during the first WCA in 2015. Then, she gave a message to all participants; “Please praise yourself who completed this academy and obtained a wonderful network. Please act with confidence from now on. You Can Do It !” Participants talked about what kind of action will be taken with peers by using new knowledge and networks from the academy.

By the end of this session, we could see something different from participants’ face.

To the Women Who Leads the Future
Message from Senpai who is Leading Women in Sport

In the closing ceremony, Ms. Aki Taguchi elected for “the best leader and coach award” from peer coaches and was given a plaque from Dr. Rieko Yamaguchi (JOC Women's Sports Special Committee/ Josai University).

Next, heartfelt and touching messages were given from all of lecturers, and participants learned them by heart. Finally, Dr. Ogasawara (JCRWS) gave the certificate for completion to participants. The “WCA 2018” was completed with this strong message from Dr. Ogasawara; “I sincerely hope that each one of you is “a person who is challenging” all the time.”