Academy Scout Roundtable: Part 2
Masashi Motoyama, Katsuya Narumi, Motoyoshi Suzuki

 

The job of an academy scout is not just about finding "skilled players."

It is about identifying those who fit Antlers' style of football and have the potential to compete for the top team in the future. It is also about facing the difficult challenge of "when and how to evaluate" children who are still in the midst of their development.

In our second installment, the three discuss the "eye for talent" they value and what it means to have "the Antlers way." (Part 2 of 3)

What are you looking for when you watch a match for the first time?

──What perspective do you use when checking out a player or a match for the first time?

Motoyama: The biggest thing is "internal comparison." I always view players through the lens of what is currently missing from our academy players and what kind of pieces we want to supplement from the outside. Since they are at a developmental age, I also look at their physical traits and how much more they are likely to grow. Antlers is a club that demands a high level of technical ability—even for the top team—so I always ensure they can properly "control and pass."

Suzuki: As someone in my first year, I really feel that. The level inside is very high, so when I go to scout outside, "whether they are better than what we have" naturally becomes the benchmark.

Narumi: For me, I first look to see if they have "something that shines." Is it their ability to attract the ball, their speed, their physicality, or their technique in not losing possession? Top-level players have something that makes you think "Whoa" the moment you see them. After feeling that "whoa" factor, I continue to watch them while imagining, "They can compete at this level, but what happens when they go higher?"

Motoyama: We talk a lot about "what level they can succeed at." Like, "They are dominating in this league, but I wonder about the next level up."

Narumi: Exactly. I try to look at that calmly.

Suzuki: Since I’m only in my first year, I’m currently focused on "seeing the whole picture." If a player catches my eye in a match, I go to watch their practice next. Do they change their attitude between matches and practice? How do they carry themselves during training? From there, I talk to coaches and parents to get a sense of "what kind of person they are."

Motoyama: There’s a bit of a "detective" side to that, isn’t there?

Suzuki: It really is (laughs). I am very conscious about not taking things at face value and checking them with my own eyes.

 

How do you identify the "Antlers way"?

──You often use the phrase "an Antlers-style player." How do you define that?

Motoyama: In short, it’s a "player who never gives up." Can they go in strong for loose balls? Can they track back until the very last second? That mentality is incredibly important. Also, having a good personality. Someone who hates to lose but can still respect their teammates and opponents. I consider that humanity to be part of the "Antlers way."

Narumi: Setting aside high technical and physical levels as a prerequisite, I often think about whether I can "imagine this player wearing the top-team uniform in the future." Not just being good, but can they hold their ground in difficult situations? Do they have the tenacity to try and shift the momentum of the game in our favor? Those are the players that catch my eye.

Suzuki: For elementary school students, I think "whether they like Antlers" is also a huge factor. Some kids tell me themselves during practice sessions or tournaments that they "want to join Antlers," and those players naturally stand out. I believe that a player who loves the club will continue to work hard and will be able to push themselves that extra step when things get tough.

Motoyama: It’s better to have players who love Antlers, right? Kids with "Antlers love" are the ones who grow.

Narumi: The kids in our academy are like that, too. Hearing them say they’ve been raised here and "want to go to the top" makes me really happy.

 

Not being "swayed" by information

──You must receive a lot of information from coaches and parents. Are you careful about how you handle it?

Motoyama: Honestly, people often only tell us the good stuff (laughs). That’s exactly why I have to verify the truth for myself. What the coach is saying, the impression I get with my own eyes, what the parents say, their relationships with teammates... After gathering various pieces of information, we verify the facts on our end to determine, "So this is what this player is like."

Suzuki: When we ask, "What do you think of this child?", parents naturally only say good things, too (laughs).

Narumi: You have to "deduct" from that and think critically. Scouting really has a bit of a "detective" side to it. Even if someone says, "He’s a great player," that’s never enough for us to just say, "Okay, let’s sign him." We have to watch them ourselves multiple times, visit their practices, and look at them from various angles. I think it’s a job where you have no choice but to accumulate experience, including both failures and successes.

Motoyama: We are still a bit "shallow" in some respects, so we have to increase our challenges and build up our successes and failures.

Suzuki: But you don’t learn anything unless you challenge yourself. I am mindful of the balance: not being too cautious, but remaining calm.

 

The reality and dilemma of early selection

──Elementary and junior high students grow at such different speeds. It must be difficult to time your offers.

Motoyama: Honestly, it is very difficult. For elementary students, the timing for scouting has been getting earlier and earlier over the past few years; things start being decided by the summer of 5th grade, and by November of 6th grade, most of the "good players" have already decided their paths. I’d actually like to take a longer-term view. If we watch them until the summer of 6th grade, their physique, soccer IQ, and technique change significantly. But if we do that, we’ll fall behind. That dilemma is always there.

Suzuki: These days, even when I go to watch a 6th-grade match, I often hear, "That kid has already made their decision."

Narumi: Recently, things start to be decided by the summer of 5th grade. Until a little while ago, the feeling was that it would happen once they reached 6th grade, but it just keeps getting moved earlier.

Narumi: It’s the same for junior high students. Some decide quickly, while others agonize over it for a year. Because we have to consider our internal roster and positional balance, there are cases where it’s better to act quickly and cases where it’s better to watch carefully. It also differs completely by region. Decisions happen very quickly in the Kanto region, but it’s a bit more relaxed in Kyushu and Shikoku, where there are tournaments where even 6th graders haven’t decided yet. In the midst of that, we coordinate with our internal timing to decide every year, "How will we move this year?"

Motoyama: During that three-day weekend in Shikoku recently, there were 6th graders who hadn’t decided yet. The regional differences are quite significant.

Suzuki: We all know that deciding early isn’t necessarily a "good thing." Even within the club, there are times when we solidify our roster early and then someone comes along who starts showing massive improvement. That’s why we talk a lot with the internal staff to adjust "how long we can wait this year" and "when to make offers to outside players."

Narumi: If the internal roster is set too early, kids who didn't move up might suddenly improve later on. And the opposite can happen too. So every year, we observe the trends and fine-tune our schedule.

Motoyama: It’s a difficult job, but it also means we are watching an "age of untapped potential." Because of that, it’s also very rewarding.