The Antlers Academy has three branches—Kashima, Norte, and Tsukuba—each connecting Junior teams to the Youth level. Among J.League clubs, Antlers is unique in having three Junior and three Junior Youth teams. Beyond mere quantity, the club has built a structural strength that bolsters its developmental capabilities by balancing both the "quality and breadth" of its training.

 

Academy Manager Shuto Suzuki says this three-branch system is "a great strength that enables the club to cultivate players from within."

 

"Some clubs bring in promising players from outside every year to ensure their Youth teams have 10 to 13 players per grade. While we do consider that at Antlers, we also have many players who have grown up within our three Junior Youth teams, having understood the club's philosophy and standards. Being able to base our promotions on internal development is a major strength for the club."

 

Kashima, Norte, and Tsukuba. While deeply rooted in their respective regions, each branch conducts its training based on the "Antlers way." It is an environment where players share the same values while challenging one another every day.

 

"As a prerequisite, every team must clearly demonstrate the 'Antlers way.' It is fine for each region or branch to have its own color, but the 'Antlers way' must come first for those unique characteristics to have any real meaning. Once the club's foundation is deeply ingrained, players can begin to express their own strengths. Currently, not all of our teams are playing the 'Antlers-style' football seen at the Youth level, which is a challenge we are addressing."

 

Matches between the branches take on an intensity akin to an "internal derby." These high-pressure games naturally heighten the players' motivation and foster competition as they push each other to the limit.

 

They also take a creative approach to overseas expeditions. Much like the annual Brazil tour, where players from all three branches are selected for three separate squads, there are times during the Korea tour when they form a single squad selected from all three. Players who spend their daily lives at different branches come together on a high-level stage. That experience fuels individual growth. The club has effectively created an environment where players can gain high-level training similar to a national training center program from within the club itself.

 

"Communication arises from the rivalry, and teammates with the same aspirations inspire one another. I believe that environment is our greatest strength."

 

It is not just about competition; it is a relationship where "teammates with the same DNA" raise each other's level, supporting the players' growth.

 

Of course, there are challenges. As the number of bases grows, so too do the differences in coaching and environments. This is why Suzuki keeps his focus, stating, "I want to replicate the type of development we achieve at the Youth level in every age group and at every location."

"The essence is not that we have three branches. The most important thing is for the club to continuously share the philosophy of 'how we develop players' in any form, and for each team to continue expressing that on the pitch."

 

By maintaining the core of the "Antlers way," the club polishes its players from within. While preserving that identity, the individuality of each region comes to life. What the academy branches are cultivating is not just the ability of the players, but the very future of the club itself.