Santa Rita High School (Tucson, Arizona) head coach JEFF SCURRAN will host a series of coaching clinics in Tokyo this month, aimed at helping to continue the development of local Japanese American Football coaches.  

 

Scurran will take time out from leading a US high school all-star roster, Team Stars & Stripes, against the Japanese junior national team (19 and under) in the second annual Global Challenge Bowl to instruct the coaches.

 

“The purpose of holding these clinics is to help coaches to gain a more precise knowledge and understanding of coaching football in order to help them in areas of player development,” explained Scurran.  “We are coaching the coaches rather than players, so that these coaches can in turn pass on the things they learn to young athletes playing American football in Japan.  Last year I found them willing and eager to learn and to then use that knowledge for the betterment of the game in their country.”

 

The clinics will kick off on Thursday, March 12 when Scurran makes a presentation to coaches and representatives from the Japanese Federation of American Football (JAFA) as part of the federation’s annual convention. 

 

As he did in 2008, as part of the activities surrounding the Global Challenge Bowl, Scurran will then host two clinics at Kawasaki Stadium on the morning and afternoon on Friday, March 20.

 

On the eve of the March 21 game, the clinic will be split into two sessions with the first two hours from 1pm to 3pm held outdoors on the football field and the second session from 3pm to 5pm held indoors in the classroom.

 

 

Following the 2009 Global Challenge Bowl, coach Scurran and Team Stars & Stripes offensive line coach JOHN STOREY from Villa Angela St Joseph High School (Cleveland, Ohio) will extend their stay in Japan to conduct additional coaching clinics on March 26, 27, and 28.  The sessions will be held at Rikkyo (St. Paul’s) University in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

 

Yuji Kakizawa, Director of General Affairs of Kantoh Collegiate American Football Association and Secretary General of Rikkyo University American Football Alumni Association, said, “I went to Coach Scurran’s clinic held last year in Kawasaki, and was moved by his deep knowledge, commitment to football, so I asked him to hold these clinics for the coaches of our teams.”

 

Approximately 30 to 40 coaches from the St. Paul’s Rushers team, Momoyama-Gakuin (St. Andrews) University in Osaka and Kyushu Sangyo University in Fukuoka are expected to attend along with coaches from several universities in Tokyo.  These coaches represent players at the primary school, junior high school, high school and university age groups.

 

 

Coaching Clinic Schedule:

 

 

Thursday, March 12       Japan American Football Association (JAFA) coaching            

      presentation at the JAFA annual convention        

 

Friday, March 20            1pm – 3pm     Outdoor Clinic at Kawasaki Stadium

                                         3pm – 5pm     Indoor Clinic at Kawasaki Stadium

 

 

Thursday, March 26       7pm – 9pm     Rikkyo (St.Paul’s) University

 

 

Friday, March 27            7pm – 9pm     Rikkyo (St. Paul’s) University

 

 

Saturday, March 28        10am – 5pm   Rikkyo (St. Paul’s) University