Photo/Illutration Elementary school children play rugby in a competition in Fukuoka in March. (Yusuke Ogawa)

FUKUOKA--The age-old image of coaches and parents yelling at the players during elementary school rugby matches is a thing of the past under a system instituted here on a trial basis.

During matches, the Fukuoka Rugby Football Union was prepared to warn coaches or parents who repeatedly yell tactical instructions to players including “back off” and “pass the ball.”

Those calling out “tackle them” and “why can’t you do it” in an aggressive tone of voice could alike be admonished.

Coaches not adhering to the rule means their teams’ rights to compete in higher-tier tournaments could be revoked.

The new rule proposed by the Fukuoka Rugby Football Union aims to nurture young athletes’ autonomy.

The objective is getting children to play rugby actively by creating an atmosphere in which they can fully enjoy the competition while pursuing victory at the same time.

The decision came as a shift is being made from sports communities’ excessive focus on winning. In one instance, a national judo competition for primary school students was recently abolished.

Koji Nunomaki, chairman of the Fukuoka Rugby Football Union’s promotion and development committee, presented the plan to participating teams in the qualifying round in Fukuoka Prefecture of the 12th Try Dream Cup.

Nunomaki said he expects an environment to be created where coaches can warn each other over “what should not be uttered” under the new discipline.

“Trying to win is, of course, important but having children grow fond of their sport is much more important during their elementary school days,” he said. “Mentors and guardians have to change for all kids who choose to play rugby to realize its enjoyable aspect.”

In the June 25 qualifier, 13 clubs vied for victory. A total of six teams--not only the top three but also three selected by lot--advanced to the event’s main round catering to rugby players across the Kyushu region.

Those achieving excellent results in the higher round will be nominated for the nationwide Heroes Cup.

Those violating the new rule meant their teams would not be able to compete in the main round even if they won a qualifier.

The rugby union said it is considering applying the rule to other competitions likewise from now.

In 2022, Nunomaki read an Asahi Shimbun article about a volleyball event organized by Naomi Masuko, a former national team member, in which coaches are prohibited from scolding children.

The competition had started in 2015 with the top priority put on young athletes’ being able to enjoy the sport and have fun. Angry educators receive X-marked masks from Masuko as a form of warnings even during matches.

Similar approaches have more recently been increasingly adopted in soccer and handball.

Nunomaki decided to introduce a new mechanism as suspected abuse cases involving overzealous coaching were seen on occasion in Fukuoka Prefecture, which is home to many national rugby team members as well as junior and senior high school students’ clubs that perform well in state-level events.

“Verbal abuse, alongside corporal punishment, is never acceptable,” Nunomaki noted. “Educators must understand that children and guardians’ perception of the issue has changed dramatically from the Showa Era (1926-1989) and the Heisei Era (1989-2019).”

Sports communities are struggling to work out a solution to the problem concerning promotion and nurturing through various approaches.

The All Japan Judo Federation announced the abolition of a nationwide competition for elementary school children in March last year, on the grounds that “an extreme win-at-all-costs attitude can be found everywhere.”

So-called Silent League events are being increasingly held, allowing young athletes to play soccer free from adults’ intervention as well.

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