Three goals brought onto the pitch. Goalkeeper training that anticipates the next play. Physical, medical, and rehabilitation specialists assigned according to age groups—delving into the specialized domain of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s youth development revealed not just well-equipped facilities, but an environment that observes and supports each player from multiple angles. Meanwhile, the basic techniques of Antlers' goalkeepers were highly praised locally. Rather than simply importing global standards, the focus is on "nurturing an individual player" by integrating what Antlers already possesses with new perspectives discovered on-site. (Part 3 of 4)
When Haki Takahashi (Kashima JY GK Coach) first observed goalkeeper training at Borussia Mönchengladbach (Borussia MG), three goals had been brought onto the pitch.
"I was surprised when I first went to see their training. In Japan, you defend one goal, but they had brought three full-sized goals onto the pitch for GK training."
Even for drills starting from the same position, the situation the GK faced changed depending on which goal they stood in. For one player, it might be reacting to a shot; for another, it might be defending a cross. If they won the ball, they would then aim for a different goal. It wasn’t just about defending; it always included continuing the sequence into the next play.
"Anticipation of what comes next was heavily emphasized. I think they work backward from the goal of how to apply it to a real match."
The "see, think, decide" approach that Borussia MG demands of its players was also applied to the specialized position of goalkeeper.
Takahashi says he had been interested in youth development in Germany—a country known as a "GK powerhouse"—even before he went there. What he saw on the ground was a philosophy different from what he had previously considered common sense.
"In Japan, the focus is mainly on performing each individual play reliably and accurately, aiming to build a mistake-free game through that accumulation. However, they prioritized performing a sequence of actions smoothly above all else, placing great importance on how efficiently they could progress toward that goal."
For example, when catching a ground ball. In Japan, players learn the technique of bending one knee to ensure a secure catch so the ball doesn't slip behind them. Conversely, the philosophy Takahashi saw on-site looks at whether an attack is waiting to follow; if so, they acknowledge that dropping to one knee might slow down the subsequent action.
The same applied to situations where they received shots from close range. Rather than always throwing their body to the ground to respond, they used their feet for low balls and their hands for high ones. What mattered wasn't performing a single movement in a fixed form, but how effectively they could resolve the situation and transition smoothly into the next play.
"If you don't need to go to the ground, that's fine. Not falling allows you to move immediately and initiate the next action. They really emphasized the transition to the next play."
There was a great deal of ingenuity in the training designed for this purpose.
They used balls of different sizes and markers of multiple colors. Players would hide one eye when receiving a cross. While watching the ball, they would also have to recognize colors flashing in different locations.
In an actual match, a player's view can be obstructed by opponents. They must grasp not only the ball but also the positions of teammates and opponents. They weren't just repeating techniques; they were creating situations within training that could occur in a match.
At the same time, there were strengths of Kashima that only became visible because he went there.
"The local staff praised the GKs we brought with us, noting that their basic technique was very high."
Takahashi didn't reach a single simple answer from this.
If you accumulate training faithful to the basics, you raise GKs with high technical skills. If you emphasize the transition to the next play, you raise GKs who can respond to those situations.
"I felt that the balance between the two is extremely important."
Instead of replacing his methods with what he saw in Germany, he is looking at how to add new elements while keeping the basic techniques Kashima has valued as a foundation.
After returning to Japan, Takahashi has begun trial and error in his actual training sessions.
For first-year junior high students, he starts by building foundations. As they get older, he gradually introduces match-like situations, increasing the scenes that demand cognition and anticipation.
"It's pointless to broaden cognition if the basics aren't there in the first place. If we can use these approaches wisely depending on the age group or change our approach based on the individual, I think we can better impart what fits each player. I really feel that it's better for us to have a diverse set of tools in our drawer."
The Antlers' GK coaching staff is also discussing what kind of GKs they want to raise.
"First and foremost, as Antlers, we want GKs who are strong in decisive moments and have solid fundamental skills. On top of that, we are talking about adding each coach's unique 'color,' whether it's our own strengths or the Antlers' play model, to create GKs who have their own individual strengths."
Changes are slowly appearing in the players as well.
The GKs who went to Germany this time have shown improved anticipation and quicker first steps since their return, and data tracking goals conceded in official matches by category shows a decrease in goals from close range.
"Of course, this is due to the players' own abilities and hard work. But as a result of the players actually putting in the effort, I really feel that we are seeing results, however small they may be."
Looking deeply into the single position of goalkeeper.
By doing so, it becomes clear that what is needed to nurture that player is not just a training menu.
One of the things that left an impression on Takahashi was a room where only the GK staff gathered.
Borussia MG has a position that oversees the GK department, and GK coaches in charge of each age group communicate across categories. Furthermore, after matches, they break down goalkeeping into six fields and evaluate each on a five-star scale. They create reports detailing the reasons for the evaluation and share them among the staff.
"Reviewing with video and focusing on an individual player wasn't that different from Japan. But the part where they break it down more finely and evaluate with numbers every match was different."
What existed there were the "people" to look at goalkeeping professionally, and the "environment" to share that expertise.
When expanding the perspective outside the pitch, the same was true in other areas.
What Toshihiro Fukuhara, who is in charge of conditioning, felt strongly in Germany was not just the size of the facilities, but the depth of the staff present.
"I really felt the difference in the sheer scale of the club. The quality of the facilities and the number of staff members were different."
Within the Borussia MG facilities, there is a medical facility also used by the general public, and Fukuhara had the opportunity to watch youth players undergoing rehabilitation there. He also spoke with local staff such as physical therapists.
At Antlers, a single staff member may be responsible for multiple areas. In contrast, at Borussia MG, the deployment of specialized staff became more robust as the players' age increased.
In the system Fukuhara confirmed on-site, there were no physical coaches for U-8 to U-11; from U-12 to U-14, one physical coach covered three categories. From U-15 onwards, a PT (physical therapist) was embedded in each category, and two rehabilitation trainers worked across the U-15 to U-23 range. They do not apply a uniform system for every age; they change the way specialized staff are involved to match the players' growth stages.
"It really comes down to the number of staff. Even in youth development, they have PTs, rehab staff, trainers, and physical coaches. That was certainly well-developed."
Examining injured players. Rehabilitation. Building a body to return to the pitch. And enhancing daily performance. If you look closely at the process of supporting a single player, each has a different expertise.
There were also differences in equipment. The medical facility Fukuhara visited was equipped with various training machines, creating an environment where rehabilitation could be carried out effectively.
However, the conclusion Fukuhara brought home was not simply that "Germany is ahead."
"I went in with a bit of a complex, respecting them too much, but I felt again that, in reality, Japan isn't losing at all."
Everything happening in the treatment and rehab rooms isn't vastly different from Japan.
Looking at the players, he didn't feel a huge difference in physique among the junior high age groups. In terms of technique and quickness, Japanese players also have their own strengths.
By seeing the global environment, he could see not only what was lacking but also what Antlers is currently doing right.
"I have a sense of being able to organize what we are doing now, what we need to do in the future, what we can do, and what we can't."
Fukuhara is already sharing what he saw regarding the environment with the medical staff involved. When thinking about the club's environment in the future, the systems and facilities he saw locally will serve as one of the benchmarks.
Looking deeply at the specialized position of GK. Building bodies. Treating injured players and returning them to the pitch through rehabilitation.
While they may appear to be different domains, the same single player is at the center of each.
Knowing global standards isn't about building the same facilities, gathering the same number of staff, or doing the same training.
How closely can you observe the individual right in front of you? What kind of expertise is needed to help that player grow?
GKs have a GK perspective. There are specialists who build bodies, and when someone gets injured, there are those involved in treatment and rehab.
By each looking at a single player from a different angle, the resolution of youth development increases.
From inside the pitch to outside of it.
The depth of expertise seen in Germany has become a new benchmark for Antlers to think even more deeply about the job of "nurturing an individual player" moving forward.