Youth football clinic held aboard FLEACT Yokosuka

Photo By Gregory Mitchell | Oakland Raiders Defensive Coordinator Jason Tarver, works with Nile. C. Kinnick High School and Yokosuka Middle School students on defensive agility drills during a youth football clinic held at Purdy Gym, July 10. (Photo by Greg Mitchell)  

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

07.10.2013

Courtesy Story

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka

YOKOSUKA, Japan - A youth football clinic held aboard FLEACT Yokosuka featured National Football League (NFL) Oakland Raiders Defensive Coordinator Jason Tarver recently visited Fleet Activities (FLEACT), Yokosuka to conduct a youth football clinic, July 10.

Joining Tarver were Stanford University Defensive Coordinator Derek Mason, Stanford University Offensive Assistant Tsuyoshi ‘TK’ Kawata and Japan X-League American Football team Obic Seagulls Assistant Coach Suzuki Takamasa.

“One of the biggest things that we see and we were just talking about this as well is body position for all sports fundamentals,” said Tarver. “How to hold the football, how to catch a football, how to tuck the ball away, how to control your weight distribution and then how that applies to each position.”

Tarver and Takamasa worked exclusively with the high school and middle school-aged players, while Mason and Kawata worked with the elementary students.

“We did some defensive positioning like what a linebacker would do, then how to control your body,” said Tarver. “What’s missed by students is just the fundamentals of movement and how to move – kind of learn your body so you can move on the football field. People get too much into the scheme; it still comes down to that guy is trying to block me.”

Tarver said focus was emphasized on educating young players on how to fundamentally learn to play the game of football correctly, regardless of the level.

“Today we had a lot of different aged kids, kids with different abilities; some kids had never played, some kids have played,” said Tarver. “I threw different things at them; I would stop in-between drills and after drills, to see who’s with me. Learning how to listen is really important. That little training that we did today is something valuable if they learn how to pick it up. The will to listen is a key trait in life and if you listen to your coach, you have a better chance to improve.”

Parents on hand were excited about their kids’ opportunity to work out with some of the most reputable coaches on both levels.
“I am just so full of pride that we can have this offered; stateside coaches coming to our young community because they don’t get this kind of exposure ever,” said Master Chief Chief Electrician’s Mate Michael O’Brien, Ship Repair Facility command master chief and father of Kinnick High School students Ian and Kyle. “Just to have a couple of hours is what these kids want and what they are thirsting for and Morale Welfare and Recreation and FLEACT, Yokosuka made it happen.”

“I wished we could have them come out for a week and have an actual football camp, promote it…not just about football, but also to learn discipline and to go that extra mile to work a little bit harder. It’s not about getting to the college or pro level but, they will learn some discipline from this.”

Yokosuka Seahawks head football coach James Price was in attendance as a spectator, to observe and even pick up a few pointers from a coaching standpoint.

“I think it’s outstanding for them to come here for these kids,” said Price. “These are coaches coming from a higher level of football. The drills that they are running today are good; these kids can take this stuff into the upcoming season and do real well. I think it’s a great opportunity; these guys are the pinnacle of the sport. We’re talking about the Oakland Raiders and Stanford University here.”

Upon completion of the football clinic Mason took time to emphasize something more important than football.
“Remember that you have the ability to do anything,” said Mason. “With hard work and determination, there are no limits but, you have to take care of what is most important, which is not football, but your education. Studying will help make an enormous impact on your life.”

For the clinic to become a reality, it had to rely on Kawata to come up with a plan.

“Well TK (Kawata) was thinking about what he could do for the Navy and the United States troops that were here that responded to the earthquake and tsunami in 2011,” said Tarver. “He, as well as the Japanese public thought that this base in particular did a good job, so he started thinking in his mind about how he could give back. He spends half his year in Stanford and half his year here, and he is always trying to expand football in Japan and overseas. This year he was able to have a couple of coaches on hand together and this is what it has come to.”

Some might consider Kuwata to be a pioneer for Japanese American football.

His resume speaks volumes in itself. Beginning his playing career at Josei University (1991-1994), he earned an All-Conference selection two times. From there he went on to play professionally for the OBIC Segulls from 1995 to 2003, where he was a part of three national championship teams. He was also a member of the Japan Gold Medal winning team at the IFAF Senior World Championship in 1999 and was named a three-time All-Japan selection on the offensive line.

Retiring from playing in 2003, he became the offensive line coach for OBIC Seagulls, then became a scout for youth player development in NFL Europe. Kuwata credits current San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, then head coach at Stanford, for giving him an opportunity to obtain one of his goals by adding him on as an assistant offensive coach in 2007.

“To be honest, it feels a little weird coming back home to Japan from California after being gone so long,” said Kuwata. “But what I can tell you is that football is football everywhere in the world. So if I know and if I have some way to make football better for young players, then that’s what I will do.”

Kawata’s return to Japan had more of a deeper meaning than just teaching base students. He is currently on a personal quest, working towards a more ultimate goal that he sees just over the horizon.

“My dream right now is to literally take some good young Japanese players to the US,” said Kawata. “I want to take some players to a football camp and I really want to produce a Japanese Ichiro of American football.”

After the clinic was completed, a luncheon was held where players had the opportunity to sit and talk football with kids. The coaches then had an opportunity to tour the USS Mustin (DDG 89) and to meet and greet with Commander, FLEACT Yokosuka Capt. David A. Owen.

Owen was presented autographed jerseys from Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro.

“From what I have heard from some of the parents in attendance, they are absolutely appreciative of what you guys have done for our kids,” said Owen.

Coach Tarver had a final message to the troops and their families serving abroad overseas.

“Thank you for what you do; you allow us to do what we want to do, and that’s a powerful thing,” said Tarver. “You guys allow the freedom and we couldn’t thank you enough. That comes from civilians and people from the mainland so that’s why we try to put a good product because we know you guys follow our sports and what we do at home big time. Every single one of you has your NFL affiliations; when we see the video cameras showing our troops getting together from wherever you are, believe me, as coaches, part of the reason we want to put out a good product and win is because you all are watching.”

• Date Taken: 07.10.2013
• Date Posted: 07.19.2013 04:05
• Story ID: 110445
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP