Tetsu Sugiyama, who took office as the goalkeeper coach for the Kashima Antlers youth team this season, did not immediately transition to a youth development role after retiring as a player. He spent his first four years at a soccer school. His students ranged from three-year-olds to junior high schoolers—some just starting out, others dedicated to the sport with dreams of becoming professionals. Reflecting on those four years, Sugiyama repeatedly said the same thing:

"I’m truly grateful that I started at the school."

A perspective he wouldn't have gained as a goalkeeper coach alone. That time has shaped the mentor that Tetsu Sugiyama is today.

 

――You’ve started the season as a youth goalkeeper coach. How does it feel now?

It feels like I've returned to the competitive side of soccer. The school is soccer, of course, but the youth level is a world of competition. Watching footage, analyzing matches, and dealing with wins and losses—in that sense, it feels like I’ve returned to the front lines of the sport for the first time in a while.

 

――Is it significantly different from your time at the school?

It is. At the school, you have all kinds of kids. Some have just started playing, while others are very competitive. I was also in charge of the 3- and 4-year-old classes. We use a ball, but the priority is just to make them enjoy soccer. Among them, you’ll find some incredibly talented kids, but then you’ll have others who just start playing in the dirt (laughs). Having the time to engage with such a diverse group of children was huge for me.

 

――Some might see that path as a detour when considering a career as a goalkeeper coach.

That’s true. But I never saw it that way. In fact, I’m glad now that I started at the school. If I had started directly as a youth goalkeeper coach, I think I would have missed out on seeing so many things.

 

――For example?

As a goalkeeper coach, your focus naturally tends to center on the keepers. You think about the team as a whole, of course, but your primary job is to develop those specific players. It was different at the school. I was in charge of competitive and specialized classes, which pushed me to think about how to make the entire team grow. Who to pair with whom? What kind of environment fosters growth? What kind of words trigger change? I started to consider all those aspects.

 

――That’s a perspective that goes beyond the role of a goalkeeper coach.

It is. At one point, I genuinely thought that maybe my future path wouldn’t be as a goalkeeper coach. That’s how much I enjoyed the challenge of looking at the team as a whole.

 

――I imagine the school involved a lot of work outside of coaching as well.

It did (laughs). There were events, travel preparations, and I had to keep an eye on attendance numbers. A soccer school isn’t just about soccer. You’re dealing with revenue, management, and a whole host of other tasks.

 

――Did experiencing that firsthand give you new insights?

It did. Being a school staff member is incredibly tough. I had plenty of people looking out for me, but the younger staff members were doing everything. Not just coaching—they were running events, making preparations, and thinking about how to attract more students. They deserve a lot more recognition.

 

――That’s a realization you can only come to through experience.

Exactly. The youth level is an environment where you can really focus on development, but that’s only possible because of the support from the staff at the school and junior levels. That’s why I believe we must never forget their presence.

 

――What led to your decision to coach at the youth level?

It wasn't an easy decision to make. However, in this business, opportunities don't come around all that often, so I decided to accept the position at this particular time.

 

――Once it was decided, how did you prepare for the youth team?

I gradually shifted my mindset. I thought back to what kind of training I did during my playing days, or how my own goalkeeper coaches spoke to me. I took notes and reflected on my career. But the more I looked back, the more I realized how significant those four years at the school were.

 

――I see.

Now, I’m not just looking at the goalkeepers. Of course, I am a goalkeeper coach, but I’ve learned to look at the team as a whole and focus on the individual. How can I help this player grow? What environment helps them improve? I’ve learned to think in those terms. That is without a doubt what I learned at the school.

 

――That’s something you can only say now.

It really is. Back then, there were many times when I thought it was tough, or I felt like I wanted to move on to development sooner. But looking back now, I truly believe that those four years at the school are why I am where I am today.