On December 13th (Sat), the ""Samurai Japan Baseball Coaching Skills-Up Seminar"" was held at Hotto Motto Field in Kobe, in order that rubber baseball coaches, who are in charge of a majority of the baseball population, can have the correct knowledge. 138 people, who mainly coach elementary and junior high rubber baseball, learned important knowledge from lecturers affiliated with the Samurai Japan top team, with a seminar on ""injury prevention"" and ""food and nutrition"" in the morning in the indoor training field, and a practical skills course in the afternoon on the grounds.
In the seminar held in the indoor training field, Dr. Kazunari Tomita, the doctor for Samurai Japan's top team in the ""2014 SUZUKI All-Star Series"", spoke of the importance of early detection, and explained the attitude to take towards youth baseball coaching to these coaches, by saying, ""The most common injuries are to the elbow. Half of elementary and junior high students have issues with their elbows, but half of the children will not express pain. If it is discovered quickly, it can be basically healed without surgery.""
Also, Ms.Megumi Omae, a managerial dietitian from Meiji Co., Ltd., Samurai Japan's nutritional support partner, who accompanied the top team during the All-Star Series and gave nutritional guidance, shared her know-how of adequate nutritional support for elementary and junior high aged baseball players with the coaches, with the theme of ""Baseball Players' Meals and Nutrition"", saying ""During their growth spurt, baseball players need lots of nutrition. They should be given nutritious full-course meals which include a staple, side dish, vegetables, fruit, and dairy.""
In the afternoon, the participants went out to the grounds for a skills course. First, Mr. Sumio Hirota, the outfield and baserunning coach for the 2006 WBC Japanese national team gave a technical lecture on baserunning. He explained things such as ""the position for touching first base and the lead on each base"". There were voices of admiration from the participants who heard the concrete baserunning theory of a former professional baseball player.
They were next taught the basics of catch, and Mr. Shigeki Wakabayashi, former third baseman of the Barcelona Olympics national team and former Nippon Oil coach demonstrated the basics of catch, saying ""It's important to step straight in the direction you throw"".
After this, participants were divided by position and given coaching. For pitching, participants were given coaching on how Mr. Yoshitaka Katori (Samurai Japan Technical Director/Samurai Japan Top Team Pitching Coach/15U National Team Coach) makes a high-cocked position (position of the hand) in his pitching form, and the causes and remedies for in stepping. For catching, Mr. Akihiro Yano (Samurai Japan Top Team Battery Coach) taught the technical aspects of catching and throwing, and attitudes such as ""It's important for catchers to keep their chin up"".
For the infielders, Mr. Wakabayashi coached participants on the steps from the catching position to throwing, and as for advice to outfielders, Mr. Sumio Hirota coached them on points to remember, such as how to start the first step, and training methods. The participating coaches made an effort to put the specialists' coaching from each position into practice on the spot through repetition.
Finally, in the batting coaching, which was held in the indoor training field, Mr. Yano said that ""There are a lot of different ways of thinking about batting"", and gave advice particularly on taking early advantage of the time in elementary and junior high, when there are many untrained players, and on keeping the head steady after the swing, while Mr. Hirota said that ""The sweet spot of the bat is the ideal position for bunting"", and explained the usefulness of practice swings that are suited to the course. In the participants' tee-batting coaching, they were able to pinpoint their habits in just a few swings, and improve their swings immediately with precise indications that captured the point well. The sight of the participating coaches turning a serious ear and taking photos or notes stood out.
Up until this point, Samurai Japan has gained attention for its top team, but now that national teams for other age groups have been established, providing support to players of all age groups and coaches is indispensable for Samurai Japan to expand their base. Approaches such as this will continue to lead to the levelling-up of Japanese baseball. This year, the ""Samurai Japan Coaching Skills-Up Seminar"" will be held in the Sapporo venue in January and the Niigata venue in February.
