Coaches studied abroard
　Thirty-five coaches who were selected from all parts of Japan made a one month tour to study football coaching in England, Holland and West Germany last July and August. They attended the coaching course at Bisham Abbey in England and then studied practical coaching at Chelsea, England, Ajax Amsterdam, Holland, and Borussia Monchengladbach, West Germany.

　Report from Varna
　The age of Mr. Brundage is rapidly coming to an end and a new era in international sports is approaching. This was my impression of the two Olympic meetings which were held in Varna, Bulgaria, last October. While covering the Olympic Congress and the 74th session of the International Olympic Committee, I heard a great deal about amateurism and giganticism of the Olympic Games, and also criticism of the move to invite the People's Republic of China to participate in international sports activities. In fact, these three problems are also connected with Japanese football itself.
　One of the most impressive speeches was made by Sir Stanley Rous, the F.I.F.A. president, on the second day of the Olympic Congress. Representing the international Federations of many sports, Sir Stanley made this comment on the "amateur rules" of the Olympic Games: "Rather than continue to try to draw the lines round the meaning of the word 'amateur', it would be better to establish qualification tests and standards, universally agreed and universally applicable."
　Contrary to Sir Stanley's opinion, the word "amateur" has absolute authority in Japanese sports circles. The National Federations of many sports which are affiliated to Japanese Amateur Sports Association (JASA) can only accept those sportsmen who comply with the amateur regulation of JASA, and the regulation is very similar to the present eligibility rules of Olympic Games. This means that the Japanese Football Association cannot accept the registration of professional or non-amateur players for its clubs. It is, I believe, precisely this situation that is preventing the further development of Japanese football.
　However, the discussions at the Varna Congress against "amateurism behind times" were an effective blow against the conservatism of Japanese sports and it showed the way ahead for the introduction of professionalism to Japanese football.
　Concerning the giganticism of the Olympic Games, the IOC session confirmed the reduction of the number of teams to compete in the finals of team events. However the football event was allowed as an exception to have 16 finalists in Montreal, 1976. I believe that it would have been a great blow against the football activities in Asia if the number of finalists had been reduced to 12 from the present 16 teams, as happened in the other team events.
　The Japanese efforts to invite sportsmen from the People's Republic of China to international sports activities were not supported by a majority in the two meetings at Varna, and it has caused some confusion in Japanese sporting circles. Especially in football, to settle the relationship with mainland China is a pressing problem. Inspite of the prohibition of F. I.F.A. against having football relations with a non-afiliated country, many Japanese clubs are eagerly requesting friendly matches with teams of this neighbouring country which has a quarter of the world's population.

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