Interview with Tokyo Parasports Staff Certified Person (5)
Track and Field (Intellectual) Coach Masako Okazawa (2019/3/13)
- Masako Okazawa Born in 1965.
- Belongs to the Japan Athletics Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities, a specified non-profit organization.
- Since 1999, he has been involved in coaching track and field athletes with intellectual disabilities, and continues his training activities as a director of the Japan Athletics Federation for the Intellectual Disabled.
- Served as the coach of the Japanese team at the 2018 Asian Para Games (track and field).
Interview with Masako Okazawa, who has been working as a coach for intellectual disability track and field for nearly 20 years to develop athletes, in order to make the sport widely known as a director of the Japan Athletics Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities while continuing to teach special needs classes. Did.
“Create a place where track and field athletes with intellectual disabilities can play an active role!”
``Public understanding of ``intellectual disabilities'' that do not progress. ”
～How did you become involved in coaching athletics for intellectual disabilities? ~
When I started working as a teacher in a special needs class at a junior high school and was working with children with intellectual disabilities in classes and at sports tournaments in Tokyo, I decided to create a place for leisure activities for my fellow teachers and their alumni. It all started when I created a track and field club using my experience in track and field.
Then, at the invitation of a former colleague who was involved in national athletics activities, I volunteered to help run a tournament that became the basis for the Japan Athletics Federation for the Intellectually Disabled, which led to me becoming more serious about coaching. I did.
~It seems that you were also instrumental in establishing the Japan Athletics Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities. ~
When I started the company, I was still young and couldn't really contribute much, but I learned a lot from watching my predecessors in their 40s and 50s taking the lead and working hard.One of the difficulties we faced when establishing the company was that society still did not understand the term "intellectual disability."Even now, public understanding may not be advanced.
～Why do you think there is no progress in understanding? ~
I think this is because it is sometimes difficult to judge whether a person has a disability or not just by looking at them, and the efforts of athletes with intellectual disabilities often do not reach the public.
~What do the players think about this situation? ～
It may be difficult to smoothly accept the fact that your appearance makes people think, ``You can do this much, right?''They want people to understand that no matter how hard they try, it's not possible to get this far.
In my experience, male athletes in particular often lack words, which tends to give the impression that they are arrogant, unmotivated, and unresponsive.People tend to get misunderstood even though they have no intention of doing so.
When I first started coaching, I was looking for a place to practice, and if I told them I had an intellectual disability, they would sometimes turn me down, so I realized that I had to develop my players because society still didn't fully understand them. Ta.I thought about teaching these children the manners and etiquette that they can do through practice.As a coach, I not only help athletes improve their physical abilities, but also support them in their daily lives.
``He cares not only about practice but also about his daily life. ”
~Are there any things you should be careful about during matches and away trips? ~
Just one voice can make their mood go up or down.Athletes want to be told good things and be praised, but if they praise them too much, they will become satisfied and their competitive performance will not improve.If you want to improve your performance during a match, you won't be able to maintain motivation unless you give encouragement, not just praise.
In terms of daily life, there are also things like how to eat and how to wear clothes.For example, if you have to do laundry on a field trip, if you don't do it in a timely manner, you may run out of clothes before the match, which can cause anxiety for the players and make it difficult for them to concentrate on the match.
～Is there anything you keep in mind as a coach? ～
The players I am currently coaching are working adults, so unlike students, they are able to balance their work with work.Athletes are not employed as athletes, so they work from 9 to 5, sometimes overtime, and if they take time off, their pay will be reduced.Because of this situation, I try to pay attention to my work and the state of my workplace after matches and field trips.
～Is there anything that has influenced your teaching? ～
After all, it is the thoughts of the teachers and welfare facility staff who were the first to speak up and lay the foundation for the federation.It's important to improve your grades and win medals, but the idea behind our guidance is to create a place for people with intellectual disabilities to shine outside of their homes and workplaces, and to promote understanding of people with intellectual disabilities in the world. .
~How is it to balance teaching and competitive coaching? ~
My current workplace understands my work as a coach, so when I have an expedition, they send me off saying, ``Good luck,'' and the school I work at promotes Olympic and Paralympic education. Because of this, students often make photos and panels of their overseas expeditions and display them around the school.It is important to have a balance in interacting with the students and players you are responsible for.
~What is Coach Okazawa's method of refreshing himself? ~
This competition coaching is one of the things that refreshes me (lol).I feel tired after working from Monday to Friday, but I feel refreshed by coming to this coaching place and interacting with the players.Other than that, I enjoy being soothed by my dog at home and venting by going shopping.People around me look at me like I'm drinking, but I can't even drink a drop (lol).
``Environmental improvement at the Athlete Center*. ”
～How does it feel to be certified as a “Tokyo Parasports Staff”? ~
I am happy to have been selected by Tokyo.However, there are many other coaches and trainers besides me who work in Tokyo and do volunteer work.
In the future, as more people become certified as Tokyo Parasports Staff and the system becomes more widespread, understanding from the workplace and local community will expand, creating an environment where it is easier to participate in coaching activities from the workplace, and making it easier to balance work with work. I think it will move on.I'm grateful that this system started, but I wish it would have started sooner if possible (lol).
~What do you think about the state of environment preparation for the Paralympic Games? ~
I feel that the Paralympic Games are finally starting to be on par with the Olympic Games.
I often hear the phrase "athlete first," but the other day I came across the phrase "athlete center." *This is a phrase that says, "Let's think about various things centered around athletes."I would like to see a deeper understanding of athletes by focusing on athletes, creating facilities that are easy for athletes to use, and an environment that makes it easy for athletes to go on expeditions.
~This certification has made it easier to gain understanding from those around you. ～
I agree.School teachers sometimes ask me, ``I would like you to introduce athletes to me,'' as part of Olympic and Paralympic education, and ``Why is Professor Okazawa showing his face in the world of parasports?'' ”, and the number of people showing interest has increased.
～What kind of existence do you think “staff” is? ~
I think it's behind the scenes. I don't have the feeling that ``I raised them,'' and I am indebted to many people for their help.As long as the players perform well, that's fine, and I don't think there's any need for the staff to make a public appearance.For the players, I want to be someone they can talk to when they're feeling anxious, someone I can give advice to, and just my presence in the training environment for the players.
~Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, what are the future challenges for athletics for intellectual disabilities? ~
There aren't many types anyway.Unlike athletics for intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities, the Paralympic Games only have ``T20'' and ``F20'' classifications.Also, there are only four events that can be competed in: 4m, 400m, long jump, and shot put.Many people don't know that there are only these four events.
In the future, I would like to see more events in which people with intellectual disabilities can participate.It may not be possible at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, but I have high hopes for it in four or eight years.Even if athletes want to participate in the Paralympic Games, they find it difficult because the events are limited.The lack of participation in this event is a major issue for intellectually disabled track and field athletes.
~Please give some advice to people with intellectual disabilities who would like to start competing. ~
The first thing to do is to get them interested.It's difficult to aim for the Paralympics all of a sudden, so I'd like you to start by aiming for the Tokyo Paralympics Sports Tournament, then the National Paralympics Sports Tournament, and expand your potential even further from there.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are just around the corner, but the challenges for the athletes will continue in four, eight, and 4 years. Another problem faced by athletes with intellectual disabilities is that there are many cases where athletes with intellectual disabilities end up quitting because there aren't many competitions they can participate in and their grades aren't improving.Now that I've started competing, I hope I can continue for a long time.
~Last question, are you doing anything to help your players win? ~
(Showing his nails) This is it (lol).It's golden now.I usually keep it a little more subdued, but when I'm at a game, I sometimes put a Japanese flag on my nails.I'll also be cheering by wearing game socks.
Home page of the Japan Athletics Federation for the Intellectually Disabled (NPO)
Athletes with intellectual disabilities whose disabilities are hard to tell from the outside.As a result, he says he has a lot of trouble getting understanding from those around him.Coach Okazawa is working hard to reach out to the public and work together with the players to create a place where these players can thrive.I look forward to the day when the number of participating events will increase and many athletes with intellectual disabilities will be able to participate in the Paralympic Games.