Another year, another chance to inspire the next generation of Japanese women coaches!
Earlier this month, Athlete Assessments’ CEO, Liz Masen made her way to Japan, for another year of presenting and engagement in the transformational events of the ninth annual Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy (JWLCA). Liz shared,
“It is truly such an honor to continue my involvement in the Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy. Year after year, it remains one of my favorite events, as you see participants leave the Academy feeling inspired and filled with newly discovered courage – it’s truly incredible to witness.”
Another year, another chance to inspire the next generation of Japanese women coaches!
Earlier this month, Athlete Assessments’ CEO, Liz Masen made her way to Japan, for another year of presenting and engagement in the transformational events of the ninth annual Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy (JWLCA).
Another year, another chance to inspire the next generation of Japanese women coaches!
Earlier this month, Athlete Assessments’ CEO, Liz Masen made her way to Japan, for another year of presenting and engagement in the transformational events of the ninth annual Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy (JWLCA).
Another year, another chance to inspire the next generation of Japanese women coaches!
Earlier this month, Athlete Assessments’ CEO, Liz Masen made her way to Japan, for another year of presenting and engagement in the transformational events of the ninth annual Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy (JWLCA).
Another year, another chance to inspire the next generation of Japanese women coaches!
Earlier this month, Athlete Assessments’ CEO, Liz Masen made her way to Japan, for another year of presenting and engagement in the transformational events of the ninth annual Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy (JWLCA).
Liz shared,
“It is truly such an honor to continue my involvement in the Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy. Year after year, it remains one of my favorite events, as you see participants leave the Academy feeling inspired and filled with newly discovered courage – it’s truly incredible to witness.”
Founded in 2015 by Etsuko Ogasawara, Executive Director of the Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport (JCRWS), the JWLCA brings together coaches with various positions, ages, sports, and affiliations from all over Japan. In the eight years since its establishment, the Academy has produced a total of 250 graduates, all of whom are still actively involved in their respective sports and fields.
The JWLCA’s stellar program is centered around sports-specific findings from research conducted by the JCRWS. To aid in the support of attendees, the JWLCA also offers complementary all-day childcare so coaches can actively engage in the Academy sessions.
These sessions invite women coaches to gain a better understanding of themselves as people, their coaching style, whilst empowering their ability as leaders. Additionally, educational opportunities within the Academy are tailored for women coaching at the entry through to the elite level and involve discussions around work-life balance and diversity inclusion.
Liz highlighted,
“These discussions can become really personal for participants, and I think that’s one of the incredible effects of the Academy, it creates a safe space for coaches to feel valued and open up about their experiences and challenges. There’s this shared appreciation where coaches realise, ‘Oh, there are others going through what I am too,’ and together we can unpack and work through this.”
Numerous directors, professors, and educators from the US Women Coaches Academy (WCA), WeCOACH, and the United Kingdom join Liz as active presenters and mentors at the Academy to provide leadership and coach education and training. Alongside Liz, actively involved members of the JWLCA include:
Etsuko Ogasawara
Executive Director
Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport (JCRWS)
Professor
Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University
Marlene Bjornsrud
Former Executive Director
Alliance of Women Coaches (WeCOACH)
Presenter
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women Coaches Academy (WCA)
Natsue Koikawa
Deputy Director
Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport (JCRWS)
Professor
Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University
Nicole LaVoi
Director
The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, University of Minnesota
Presenter
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women Coaches Academy (WCA)
Miyuki Kobayashi
Board Member and Director Empowerment Division, WE-League (Women Empowerment League)
Lisa O’Keefe
Secretary General
The International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport
Rieko Yamaguchi
Professor
Faculty of Business Administration, Josai
Liz Masen
CEO
Athlete Assessments
Presenter
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women Coaches Academy (WCA)
In preparation for Liz’s DISC workshop and presentation at the JWLCA, each coach completes their own Athlete Assessments CoachDISC Profile, which is available in Japanese. Coaches are required to bring their 40-page individualized DISC Profile report along with them to Liz’s dedicated session, which is focused on learning about their coaching style, preferences, and debriefing their results. Throughout the debrief session, Liz shared that the reports often confirm tendencies that coaches recognize in themselves, as well as uncovering patterns of behavior that are present within their natural actions and in contrast, their adapted actions.
Throughout the session, Liz encourages coaches to openly share the differences between their styles. This includes factors such as the way each coach communicates, the pace they are most comfortable working in, their methods for building relationships and importantly, the conditions they thrive best in. Additionally, participants also note any considerable contrasts between their individual natural and adapted styles, which indicate potential stressors or high energy requirements to maintain those behaviors, which may not be sustainable over long periods of time.
Liz shared,
“You really see coaches start to have those light bulb moments, like ‘That’s why I like to do things this way,’ or, ‘That’s why sometimes I may clash with this person.’ Then they start to reflect on their behaviors and what they maybe need to do differently to get the most out of a situation or someone they’re working with.”
Throughout the session, Liz encourages coaches to openly share the differences between their styles. This includes factors such as the way each coach communicates, the pace they are most comfortable working in, their methods for building relationships and importantly, the conditions they thrive best in. Additionally, participants also note any considerable contrasts between their individual natural and adapted styles, which indicate potential stressors or high energy requirements to maintain those behaviors, which may not be sustainable over long periods of time.
Throughout the session, Liz encourages coaches to openly share the differences between their styles. This includes factors such as the way each coach communicates, the pace they are most comfortable working in, their methods for building relationships and importantly, the conditions they thrive best in. Additionally, participants also note any considerable contrasts between their individual natural and adapted styles, which indicate potential stressors or high energy requirements to maintain those behaviors, which may not be sustainable over long periods of time.
Liz shared,
“You really see coaches start to have those light bulb moments, like ‘That’s why I like to do things this way,’ or, ‘That’s why sometimes I may clash with this person.’ Then they start to reflect on their behaviors and what they maybe need to do differently to get the most out of a situation or someone they’re working with.”
Many examples of DISC in action are shared throughout the JWLCA and through discussion and session engagement, participants come to recognize the importance of self-awareness and the need for adaptions to better enhance relationships and performance.
Reflecting further on the involvement in her session, Liz elaborated,
“It’s great to observe the impact of DISC on participants. Even after the session has finished, you can see coaches sharing their reports with one another and hear them speaking the language like, ‘今日は私の「影響力」エネルギーが高いです’ (‘My I energy is high today!)’”
Reflecting further on the involvement in her session, Liz elaborated,
“It’s great to observe the impact of DISC on participants. Even after the session has finished, you can see coaches sharing their reports with one another and hear them speaking the language like, ‘My I energy is high today!’”
Founders of the JWLCA first experienced the CoachDISC Profile and its transformative influence at the US NCAA Women Coaches Academy. The tailored insights into each coach’s DISC style have been made possible by their dedicated work translating CoachDISC into Japanese.
Reflecting on her continued involvement with the JWLCA, Liz concluded,
“The entire team behind the JWLCA are incredible and I feel so privilege to be involved in bringing their vision to life. The JWLCA’s inspiring dedication to recognizing the efforts and aspirations of women coaches in Japan, and commitment to ensuring their future growth and success as leaders is truly phenomenal.”
Where to from here?
At Athlete Assessments, our support for the people and organizations who provide opportunities and pathways for women and girls in sport is unwavering. We have an entire resources section dedicated to resources about women in sport including articles which highlight some of the amazing women and women-led organizations and academies we are fortunate enough to work with, like JWLCA, as well as information on gender disparity in sport and important statistics and facts.
If you would like to discuss how Athlete Assessments can contribute to your program or initiative through the use of our DISC Profiles and tailored programs, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us!
Recommended Articles
Athlete Assessments' Client Manager, Temika Smith reflects on her first experience at the Women Coaches Academy, hosted by the NCAA and WeCOACH.
Back in-person for the first time in three years, the wave of support for women in coaching grows with the eighth annual Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy in Japan.
If you’re familiar with us at Athlete Assessments, you might know we’re big believers in gender equality and are passionate about equal rights, equal pay, equal opportunity, and equal recognition, not only just for female athletes, but for women in general.
