Coach Takaoka (pseudonym), who participated in the B.DREAM PROJECT held at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi on January 10 as one of the aspiring coaches, is a teacher in his thirties who works at a public school. An English teacher who graduated from a university specializing in foreign languages, he started playing basketball in high school. By chance to take on the role of deputy adviser to the basketball club at my first school, my love for basketball, which gave me a page of youth, gradually grew and became bigger than before.
Having reached the qualification of a B-class coach certified by the Japan Basketball Association, my dream is to coach in the B-League. We asked him to talk about his passion for the challenge of embodying the value of B.DREAM PROJECT.
In B.DREAM PROJECT, youthful challengers entered not only as players but also as coaches (Photo / © B.LEAGUE).
Acquired JBA official B-class qualification from aspiration
――There is a description in your motivation that “a person with a career like me …”, but specifically, what kind of relationship did you have with basketball?
I think that most of the people involved in the B League are from leading universities in the basketball world and top players, but I started playing basketball in high school. The world of the elite was far away because I didn’t have enough career in a normal public high school and I started as a coach when I became a teacher. From there, I started going to a well-known coach clinic, and I feel like I’ve been here.
――You have a B-class official qualification. I think it was hard to take.
I agree. When I was young, I had thought about various ways. But lately, as I get older, I have a strong desire to be a better coach. As a result, I naturally got this qualification. I am very grateful to the local associations and the coaches who have seen the practice and taught at the clinic.
――What made you become a coach as a teacher?
I was appointed as a deputy adviser to the basketball club at the school where I worked for the first time. From there, through coaching, we are rediscovering the fun of basketball.
――What are the good points and wonderful points of coaching?
Once upon a time, I asked my senior coach a similar question. After all, it is interesting to feel that the players are changing and that something of their own is being conveyed to the team by communicating their thoughts to the players.
――You can feel the growth …?
Well, that’s right.
Dispel the closeness of your career and strive for the stage of B
――You are from a university studying a foreign language, but of course you specialize in languages, right?
Well, my second language is English, and I’m an English teacher at school. Life is something you really don’t understand.
――I think your coach has a challenge that is different from that of basketball players. How is it?
After all, when I first participated in such an opportunity, I was very nervous at first. Because I wasn’t confident in my career, I felt sorry that the players I met for the first time might have become overwhelmed.
However, it is true that there are many strong school people, and as with the people who are participating today, it has become clear that they have various careers and are not necessarily all basketball players. As I got to know and get along with everyone, I was able to take part in these opportunities with a sense of comfort.
–Are there anything you do to become a professional?
The world of professional basketball is closer to me than it used to be, but it’s still far away. So now I’m a professional from the youth level, taking part in lots of webinars and other opportunities that prominent coaches are doing to be better coaches, and actually visiting if it’s held nearby. I try to connect with my coach so that I can connect with various people in the basketball world.
――I’m looking forward to being able to cover the B League someday.
I will do my best!
I want to rejuvenate my hometown as a professional coach. I want to be a coach with a wealth of experience across different categories and environments. I want to connect the Japanese basketball world to one. These three points were written in the material that summarizes Takaoka’s motivation for aspiring to B. DREAM PROJECT.
At the class for B-class qualification, I felt that all the people I met expressed their love for basketball regardless of their category or affiliation. On the other hand, I have a feeling that if the coordination of different categories such as the sports federation, club team, and B-youth is further improved through coaching in the field of education, the development of attractive talents will be further promoted.
Adding the experience of becoming a professional and actually leading a team to your career may help the Japanese basketball world become stronger as a family. As a result, the local community must be able to rejuvenate. I want to do that.
A teacher coach who talks about dreams and pursues them powerfully. That figure will tell a bigger dream to the young people who are involved in the leadership position.
Interview / text / Ken Shibata (Monthly Bus.com)
(Monthly basketball)
