Academy Scout Roundtable Discussion Vol. 3
Masashi Motoyama, Katsuya Narumi, Moto-yoshi Suzuki

 

The work of an academy scout does not end with just "watching" players from the pitchside.

A scout's role also involves engaging in dialogue with coaches and parents to envision the future of the players and the club together.

In this final installment, we discuss the process leading up to an offer, the difficulties of communication, and the kind of scouts the three of them aim to be. (Vol. 3 of 3)

How to approach coaches and parents

──When you go to tournaments or matches, how do you go about things first?

Motoyama: For a large tournament, I first go to greet the organizers. I let them know, "I am here to observe as a representative of Antlers," and then I start watching the match.

If there is a player who catches my eye, I talk to the team's coach and ask, "I was interested in the player wearing number [X], what kind of kid is he?" If the parents are there, I might observe the situation as much as possible.

Suzuki: However, I am careful not to talk too much, as it might lead them to mistakenly believe that an "offer is coming." Especially with the junior age group, just because I was interested and went to watch, rumors can sometimes take on a life of their own, leading people to say, "He was offered a spot," so I value keeping a "not too close, not too far" distance.

Narumi: I sometimes find myself saying, "What a promising player," (laughs). And then somewhere along the line, that gets converted into "He was offered a spot."

Motoyama: That's right. Sometimes I'm told, "You spoke to this kid, too, right?" and I have to say, "No, no, I didn't say anything like that," (laughs).

Suzuki: I’m still at the stage of passing out my business cards. When I went to a tournament in Shikoku, I first greeted the coaches and asked, "It would be helpful if you could let me know if you see a good player." Some coaches are very open to talking, while others don't say much. In those moments, I communicate while thinking about "how I can get them to open up" and "how I can get them to tell me what they really think."

Motoyama: Haru-san (Suzuki) is a "mom-killer," after all (laughs). He's great at capturing the hearts of the mothers' and grandmothers' generations.

Suzuki: No, no, that’s not true at all (laughs). But I suppose I am able to utilize my perspective as a parent.

Narumi: What I am most conscious of is "not reflecting poorly on Antlers." Even if I’m not wearing the club emblem, for someone I’m meeting for the first time, "the person in front of them is Antlers." So, I am careful about my appearance, how I speak, and my conduct. The distance is also important; if I get too close, I give them expectations, and if I stay too far away, nothing gets across. I am always considering that balance when I interact with people.

Motoyama: It's also difficult when you get "too friendly." Sometimes I get messages every day (laughs). But I am grateful that they trust me enough to reach out.

Narumi/Suzuki: That’s just because of your personality, Moto-san! (laughs)

 

The process leading up to an offer. What is Antlers' "weapon"?

──When you decide, "I want to offer this player a spot," what steps do you take?

Motoyama: For both junior and junior youth levels, we basically have them come to participate in a practice session once. We scouts see them many times on the outside, but the youth and junior youth managers and coaches often don't know the player. So, the first step is to have them actually play in a training session so the coaching staff can see them too.

Narumi: In the case of junior youth, we also consider whether the player is a good fit for the "Norte," "Tsukuba," or "Kashima" team. Players moving from far away generally assume they will join the Kashima Junior Youth and live in the Academy House, while for players in the Kanto region, there are cases where Norte or Tsukuba might be a better environmental fit. We discuss that in quite a lot of detail, including the squad composition and the family's situation.

Suzuki: When making a formal offer, we also prepare documentation. If they are moving into a dormitory, we provide materials that include explanations of costs, house rules, and schooling, and we talk to them saying, "We would like to take care of your child under these conditions." However, there are cases where a child has already decided from the start that "I want to go to Antlers no matter what," and the documentation is just a formality... I am very happy when that happens.

Motoyama: Truly, if the child says "I want to go," that is the best-case scenario. Parents naturally have concerns about finances and daily life, so we explain those things thoroughly and think it through together.

──When conveying the appeal of Antlers to players and parents, what points do you emphasize?

Motoyama: First is the environment. The dedicated academy pitch, the Academy House, and the atmosphere adjacent to the top team. When kids actually see the stadium, the youth practices, and the top team training, almost all of them get stars in their eyes. Even so, there are times when we aren't chosen, but I believe it is an environment I can recommend with such confidence that I can accept that as "that's just how it is."

Narumi: The fact that our top team remains strong is also a huge weapon. When I went to Fukuoka and asked a junior high student, "Which Antlers player do you like?", they replied, "Minato Yoshida." He’s a youth player who hadn't even signed a professional contract yet. That shows how much the success and presence of our current youth team reaches across the country. Because the top team, the youth team, and the entire academy are all connected, I think it helps them imagine, "If I come here, I can aim for that, too."

Suzuki: I think the support system after joining is also a point worth appealing. Since I am a parent myself, I understand very well what parents are worried about and where their anxieties lie. That is exactly why I talk to them with the stance of, "We will support not only your child but your entire family."

 

What scouts "always carry" and the kind of scout they aim to be

──Are there any items you "must bring" for your scout work?

Motoyama: An umbrella (laughs). It rains unexpectedly quite often. Besides that, a notebook, a pen, and business cards. Since there are kids around, I keep some candy in my bag, and I'll pass it to kids I know, saying, "Here you go."

Suzuki: That's the Tetsuko Kuroyanagi method (laughs).

All: (Laughs).

Narumi: I'm the type who can get by with just a smartphone and business cards. I do almost all my note-taking and recording on my smartphone. And a watch. A wristwatch is surprisingly important for keeping track of match times and substitution timing.

Suzuki: I carry Frisk (laughs). It's a job where I talk to a lot of people, so I want to be polite. From now on, as it gets to winter, cold-weather gear is also a necessity. Since it’s a job where I spend long hours outside, I have to stay healthy myself, or I might miss seeing a good play.

Motoyama: Well, no matter what tools you have, what’s finally needed is "an eye for spotting players" and "a heart that truly cares for the players."

Narumi: I think the three of us have that well-shared.

Suzuki: Yes. I will keep working hard so that the three of us can keep bringing great players to Antlers!

──Finally, tell us about the kind of scout you each "want to be."

Motoyama: First, to look closely within our own system. I believe the most important thing is to properly develop and promote the good players who are already growing within the club. On top of that, it would be ideal to be able to bring in kids from areas where there are few J-League clubs or places that aren't as environmentally blessed, who I feel "would grow even more if they came to Antlers." I want to see an increase in players who attend our schools from kindergarten and go all the way through the junior, junior youth, youth, and top teams. It would be ideal to create a relationship where the players who arrive from the outside provide stimulation to those who have been here all along.

Narumi: First, I want to study Antlers, the club itself, even more. While utilizing my experience in coaching on the field, I want to internalize what this club values, and then become a scout who can "accurately identify and acquire good players." And it’s not just about acquiring them and being done with it; I want to be a presence that continues to care about them and stand by the players and their families afterward.

Suzuki: I’m still in my first year and there’s so much I don’t know, but I want to be a scout that makes players and parents think, "I'm glad I encountered Antlers." To do that, I need to be the person who loves Antlers the most. I believe it's important to be someone who believes in the club's merits and can convey them better than anyone else.

Motoyama: You wrapped that up nicely at the end there (laughs).

Narumi: That was a perfect closing (laughs).