The world of youth baseball seen by the 68-win master of Koshien
Hitoshi Takashima (currently Honorary Director of Chiben Wakayama) who led Chiben Gakuen and Chiben Wakayama. In 2021, he attended many coaching and baseball classes and made suggestions for the future. The “reality” that the instructor should see, the first is the “substitute” … Who is baseball for? We approached the formation of a youth baseball team, which the director who won the most 68 wins in Koshien thinks.
It was summer 2021. At Koshien Stadium, Chiben Wakayama, who had been in command for a long time, was fighting for the top. It’s been 3 years since I became an honorary director. When I take a step back and watch baseball, my emotions come out. When I asked the famous general who has been leading the high school baseball world, “What kind of baseball do you want to be involved in now?”
A scene from a classroom held in Kinokawa, Wakayama, the hometown of Mr. Takashima. I asked the players of the 10 boys’ baseball teams, “I don’t want to lie. Do you all like baseball?” Only three people raised their hands. Mr. Takashima asked the following question with a face as if he knew it.
“If the coach or coach is a little more kind, raise your hand if you like baseball.”
Everyone was raising their hands. Mr. Takashima’s next words were directed to directors, coaches and parents.
“Adults, this is the reality. Please understand this and teach.”
Declining baseball population is screaming in the baseball world. He asserts that it is not because of the declining birthrate and the diminishing environment for playing baseball.
“I’m trying to expand the bottom, but I’m not. I hate baseball because of adults. Even elementary school students think that every game is important. They still” won. ” It’s a “losing” (judgment criterion). Of course, some children think that if another child throws and wins, it’s not interesting. “
The details aren’t too late even after entering high school. The leader rebukes the details. Purely win, entertain the loser. It’s enough to entertain the struck and thrown. It raises the issue that many adults are unaware.
The end of the question and answer session ended like this.
“If you don’t like baseball, don’t worry. Continue. Come to Chiben Wakayama!”
From such activities, some players actually put their sleeves on traditional uniforms. Junpei Yamano, who played an important role as a pitcher and outfielder at Koshien in the summer of 2000 and contributed to the victory, is said to have been a player Takashima knew from the time he was in elementary school.
